Pakistan, Thailand, Nigeria.

Today's three stories you should know.

Aug 02, 2023

Pakistan

The death toll from a suicide bombing in Pakistan has risen to 63 as the country grapples with a surge in attacks. More than 120 people were also wounded in the blast that targeted a rally for the religious political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal in the northwest. ISIS later claimed responsibility. With attacks on the rise since the Taliban came to power in neighboring Afghanistan two years ago, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said suicide bombers are being helped by “Afghan citizens.”

Thailand

The party that won most votes in Thailand’s general election in May appears to have been blocked from forming a coalition government despite having enough seats to do so. The progressive Move Forward Party gathered huge support from young voters tired of successive governments linked to the military. But to form a government it needs a majority vote in both the elected House and the 250-member Senate. The conservative Senate, though, selected by a previous military government, is intent on blocking it. Move Forward’s former allies in the Pheu Thai Party now say they will try to form a government themselves. The whole episode has left many young people with an inescapable question: what’s the point in holding elections at all?

Nigeria

Here’s a crazy story that underlines the human will to survive and live a better life. Four Nigerians have been rescued off the coast of Brazil having crossed a staggering 5,600 kms of ocean hidden above the rudder of a cargo ship for 14 days. They ran out of food after 10 and had been trying to survive by drinking sea water. The footage filmed by the Brazilian police who rescued them is remarkable and linked below.