Religion
China imposes sanctions on US officials over Xinjiang
China has announced sanctions on four members of the U.S. government’s Commission on International Religious Freedom in retaliation for penalties imposed on Chinese officials over complaints of abuses in the country’s northwestern Xinjiang region
India Sikh Temple
Pakistan police: mob kills Sri Lankan over alleged blasphemy
Pakistan police say a Muslim mob has attacked a sports equipment factory in the eastern Punjab province, killing a Sri Lankan and burning his body over allegations of blasphemy
Pakistan again lifts ban, fourth so far, on China's TikTok
Pakistan’s media regulating authority has again lifted a ban on the popular Chinese video-sharing service TikTok, this time after four months
Pakistan drops draft on chemical castration for rapists
A lawmaker from Pakistan's ruling party says the government dropped a controversial clause allowing for chemical castration of convicted rapists from a proposed bill, after a council of clerics said such a punishment was against Islam
India Sikhism
Modi vows to repeal India farm laws after prolonged protests
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi says his government will withdraw the controversial agriculture laws that prompted yearlong protests from tens of thousands of farmers and posed a significant political challenge to his administration
Despite mistrust, Afghan Shiites seek Taliban protection
A strange, new relationship is developing in Afghanistan following the takeover by the Taliban three months ago
Taliban: Bomb hits mosque in Afghanistan, wounds at least 15
A Taliban spokesman says a bomb exploded in a mosque during Friday prayers in a town outside the eastern Afghanistan city of Jalalabad, wounding at least 15 people