Tunisia
Thousands of Tunisians rallied today in support of President Kais Saied, who in July shut down parliament, sacked the prime minister and seized sweeping executive powers. Demonstrations against the president, whose opponents call his moves a coup, have grown in the last two weeks but media reports estimated today’s rallies were bigger. Saied says he was was forced to take action after the government failed to adequately tackle the coronavirus and an economic crisis. Police today arrested an MP who had been critical of Saied, and a TV journalist who had interviewed the politician, for "conspiring against state security and insulting the army.”
More from the New Arab here.
Libya
The Libyan coastguard has intercepted more than 550 people on two Europe-bound boats off its Mediterranean shore, according to the UN refugee agency. The interception comes a day after authorities rounded up more than 4,000 migrants from other countries in a crackdown. Libya has become the main hub for people fleeing to Europe from poverty and war in several African and Middle Eastern countries. More than 1,100 people have been reported dead in the waters off Libya so far this year.
More from AP here.
Bangladesh
Bangladeshi police said today that they have arrested five men in connection with the murder of Mohibullah, a prominent and popular Rohingya leader who was shot dead at a refugee camp this week. More than 730,000 Rohingya fled into Bangladesh from Myanmar after the army launched a violent crackdown against them in 2017.
More from Al Jazeera here.