NEWS OF THE DAY
Deadly stampede: A stampede in a southern Moroccan village left at least 15 people dead and ten others injured Sunday as food aid was being distributed, the Interior Ministry said. The crush took place in Sidi Boulalam, in the province of Essaouira, as an aid group was distributing food at a market. Distributions of food aid are common in the North African nation. They are organized by private sponsors and groups as well as by the authorities. A drought has greatly hurt agricultural output in Morocco, contributing to the high cost of basic food items.
Gay rights: Turkish officials have banned all events by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex rights groups in the country’s capital of Ankara. The ban took effect Saturday for an “indefinite” period and applies to all LGBTI film screenings, theaters, panels and exhibitions. The Ankara governor’s office announced Sunday that the ban was imposed to protect “public security.” It said the events may cause animosity between different groups and endanger “health and morality.” Although homosexuality is not banned in Turkey, rights activists say LGBTI individuals face discrimination.
Afghan violence: Taliban militants attacked three checkpoints in western Farah province, killing six police officers, authorities said. Mohammad Naser Mehri, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said eight other officers were wounded in the attack late Saturday. Eight insurgents were killed and at least five others were wounded in the battle, he said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
Myanmar crackdown: China’s foreign minister said Sunday that the international community must help fight poverty and promote development in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, which has seen scores of Rohingya Muslims flee amid a military crackdown. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the comments after meeting in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw, with the country’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as its president, Htin Kyaw, and its powerful military chief, Min Aung Hlaing. More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine for neighboring Bangladesh since late August, when the military launched what it called “clearance operations” in response to insurgent attacks.
Israel probe: Police arrived at the official residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday in what was believed to be part of an investigation into corruption allegations. Police have previously questioned Netanyahu over allegations that he received gifts from Hollywood and business figures. A separate probe is looking into secret talks with the publisher of a major Israeli newspaper in which Netanyahu allegedly requested positive coverage in exchange for reining in a free pro- Netanyahu daily. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Aid for poor: Celebrating Mass with disadvantaged people in the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis on Sunday denounced those who dismiss poverty as “not my business” and defined indifference to the needy as a “great sin.” After Mass, the pope lunched with 1,500 poor people from Italy, Poland, France and elsewhere as the Catholic Church marked its first World Day of the Poor, an event created by Francis to draw attention to those living on the margins of society. “To do no wrong is not enough,” Francis said. Not using our lives to help others is a “great sin where the poor are concerned.”