January 24, 2023

*) Constant Russian shelling and attacks in Ukraine Russian forces have been shelling and attacking Ukrainian positions on the front lines of the conflict around the clock according to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In his nightly video message, Zelenskyy said the battle for the Donbass region and for the south goes on. He added that Ukraine is aware of how Russia is massing its forces and knows how to respond. *) Seven dead in new California shooting At least seven people have been killed in a mass shooting at two locations in the coastal northern California city of Half Moon Bay. The suspect was arrested after he drove to a police parking lot apparently to hand himself in. He is cooperating with investigators, according to the county sheriff. The shootings came after a gunman opened fire and killed 11 people at a dance club in Los Angeles over the weekend. *) UN seeking to reverse ban on women workers in Afghanistan The UN humanitarian chief has arrived in Afghanistan in a bid to reverse the Taliban administration’s ban on Afghan women and girls going to schools and working for humanitarian organisations. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths was joined by two major international aid organisations and the UN children’s agency, UNICEF. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said last month’s ban on Afghan women working for NGOs is sowing fears that the already dire humanitarian situation will get even worse. *) Without respect for Islam, Sweden gets no NATO boost: Türkiye Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that Sweden should not expect any good news from Türkiye on its NATO bid “if it does not show respect to Islam.” The remarks came after Rasmus Paludan, the leader of Denmark’s far-right Stram Kurs Party burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm. The anti-Muslim act was done under police protection and with permission from the Swedish government. *) Dutch leader of far-right group desecrates copy of Quran The Dutch lea