BANGLADESH: Tens of thousands of activists of former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party rallied in the capital Dhaka today, demanding a fresh national election and the rapid introduction of reforms.

The country is ruled by an interim government led by Nobel peace prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who took power after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was driven out by mass protests.

YEMEN: Forces of the Houthi-led government shot down what they described as a US drone early today, potentially the latest destruction of a flying US spy device, as the militants continue their attacks on the Red Sea corridor.

The US military acknowledgedvideos circulating online that show what appears to be a flaming aircraft dropping out of the sky and a field of burning debris in Yemen’s al-Jawf province. 

PAKISTAN: Authorities across much of the country’s east ordered the closure of all public parks, zoos and museums, historical places and playgrounds for 10 days today as a record-breaking smog wave choked 18 districts of Punjab province, making tens of thousands of people ill.

Toxic smog has shrouded the city of 14 million people and other parts of Punjab since last month. 

UNITED STATES: The Transport Workers Union local 234, which represents thousands of workers in Philadelphia, has agreed to postpone a strike, saying that progress was being made in ongoing contract talks.

Union members had voted last week to authorise a strike starting today, when their one-year contract with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority was due to expire.