Local elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir are underway, but face a boycott from the recently outlawed Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The dispute centers on 12 regional assembly seats reserved for refugees from India-administered Kashmir, sparking protests and security concerns that have delayed voting in some areas.
Malaysia has ordered the UNHCR to temporarily halt refugee registrations while it implements a new national registration program (DPP). Rights advocates warn this move could leave newly arrived asylum seekers without proof of protection, creating a dangerous gap in a country without formal asylum law.
Twin earthquakes (7.2 & 7.5 magnitude) in Venezuela have killed at least 1,450, with nearly 70,000 unaccounted for. Rescue hopes dwindle as time passes, with only one recent survivor found in La Guaira, the hardest-hit area.
As World Refugee Day is marked, millions are returning to their home countries, including Syria and Afghanistan. While some displacement has declined, returnees face significant challenges like lack of housing, jobs, and healthcare, raising concerns about their safety and well-being.
