INDIA: The government today called this week’s deadly car explosion in the capital a terror attack carried out by “anti-national forces,” though it did not release any new evidence linked to the blast. Authorities said today that several suspects had been arrested in the disputed Kashmir region as part of the investigation into the blast on Monday near the historic Red Fort monument that killed eight people and injured several others.

IRAN: The UN’s nuclear watchdog (IAEA) said in a report today that it has not been able to verify the status of Tehran’s near weapons-grade uranium stockpile since Israel and the United States launched their unprovoked attacks on the country in June.
The agency warned that it had lost “the previously declared inventories of nuclear material in Iran” at facilities affected by the strikes and stressed that this issue must be “urgently addressed.”
The report said the agency’s “lack of access to this nuclear material in Iran for five months means that its verification is long overdue.”

TAIWAN: The island nation evacuated more than 8,300 people from coastal and mountainous areas and closed schools before a tropical storm was due to hit its south today.
Fung-wong had super typhoon strength when it battered the Philippines on Sunday, causing flooding, landslides, power outages and at least 27 deaths.
Still holding tropical storm strength this morning, it was expected to continue losing wind speed and size as it approached Taiwan.
Heavy rains and flooding injured at least 51 people as of this morning, according to the National Fire Agency.

ROMANIA: Thousands marched through the capital today, demanding higher wages, lower inflation and tax reductions for workers as the government pushes on with austerity.
Protesters honked horns and banged drums, and some held placards that read: “We want decent salaries” and “Don’t hit those who save you,” the latter accompanied by a photo of an ambulance worker.
The rally was organised by the National Trade Union Bloc, made up of dozens of trade unions.