Vietnam drops two-child policy in population shift
The Vietnamese National Assembly has approved amendments to the Population Ordinance, removing previous limits on the number of children per family, Xinhua reported.
Under the new law, couples are now free to decide the number of children they have, as well as the timing and spacing of births.
The Ministry of Health reported a record-low fertility rate of 1.91 children per woman in 2024—below the replacement level of 2.1 which prompted the move in reaction to a persistent drop in birth rates, according to Xinhua.
India’s active COVID-19 cases cross 4,000
India’s active COVID-19 cases have grown to 4,026, with Kerala (1,416) reporting the most, followed by Maharashtra (494), Gujarat (397), and Delhi (393), according to the Union Health Ministry.
Five more deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, increasing the total to 37 this year. Cases increased from 257 on May 22 to more than 4,000 on June 3, The Hindu reported.
As stated by the officials, majority of illnesses are mild and can be treated at home. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed that the spike is caused by Omicron sub variants LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1, with no signs of increased severity.
UN aid trucks come under attack in Sudan
A UN aid convoy was attacked Monday night in el-Koma while en route to famine-stricken el-Fasher, killing four and injuring two, according to a UN spokesperson.
The Sudanese government blamed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), while the RSF accused the army. The UN has not identified the attackers, according to BBC.
El-Koma, controlled by the RSF, was targeted by airstrikes the day before, killing or injuring 89 people. Local sources blamed the army, but no official comment has been provided.
The ongoing civil war between the army and the RSF, which began in 2023, has displaced more than four million people and caused a massive humanitarian crisis, BBC reported.
Israeli forces kill 27 near Rafah aid site, dozens injured
Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution center in Rafah on Tuesday, killing at least 27 Palestinians and injuring 90, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The incident occurred near the Flag Roundabout, close to a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). It marks the third such attack in the area in recent days, BBC reported.
The Israeli military claimed it targeted individuals who strayed from designated routes. Authorities in Gaza report over 100 deaths near the aid hub since GHF began operations on May 27.
The Red Cross reported 184 injured brought to its field hospital, with 27 later confirmed dead. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, according to BBC.
