Iraq, Pakistan, Madagascar.

Today's three stories you should know.

Aug 29, 2022

Iraq

Stunning development in Iraqi politics today. The country’s most powerful Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr - hugely influential - has announced he is quitting politics and shutting down all of his political offices. Sadr has been at the center of a deadlock that has stopped a government being formed since elections last October after he withdrew all of his MPs from parliament. On hearing the news, his supporters - many of whom have been engaged in a sit-in at the parliament since the end of July - stormed the presidential palace and there were reports of several being killed.

Pakistan

Pakistan continues to struggle with horrific monsoon flooding as millions of people remain stranded and the official death toll climbed to 1,136. The government has declared a national emergency and asked the international community for help. Some of that help started to arrive over the past two days, with aid flights arriving from Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, carrying tents, food and other items. The country’s climate minister says a staggering one-third of the country has been affected.

Madagascar

At least 11 people were killed in Madagascar today when police fired on a machete-wielding crowd of between 300 - 400 people who had gathered outside a police station demanding four suspects inside be handed to them to be dealt with. The men had been arrested for kidnapping an albino child and killing the mother. Kidnappings, killings and mutilation of albino people are relatively common in Madagascar due to superstitious beliefs that their body parts can be used in rituals that bring good fortune. There is even a cross-border trade in the region with body parts being secretly sold to wealthy individuals.