Parts of Indian-administered Kashmir are tense after five civilians were killed in two separate attacks in the same area in less than 24 hours. Four people were killed and nine injured after militants fired at three houses in Rajouri district on Sunday evening. On Monday, a child died and four people were hurt after a blast took place near the same houses. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear. Top police officials have started an investigation into the incidents. Sunday’s attack has triggered protests and strikes in Rajouri as people blamed the local administration for the security lapse. Manoj Sinha, the administrative head of the region, has condemned “the cowardly terror attack in Rajouri” and announced financial assistance for the families of the victims. “I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,” he tweeted on Monday.(BBC)…[+]

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as the new president of Brazil – the third time he has held the country’s highest office. The veteran left-wing politician, known widely as Lula, also led the country between 2003 and 2010 – and defeated Jair Bolsonaro in October’s poll. In his first speech, Lula vowed to rebuild a country in “terrible ruins”. He decried the policies of his predecessor, who went to the US on Friday to avoid the handover ceremony. A sea of Lula supporters gathered in front of Congress since early in the morning – decked out in the red colour of his Workers’ Party. They travelled to see their leader sworn in – but also for a celebration. More than 60 artists – including Samba legend Martinho da Vila – were booked to perform on two giant stages decorated in the national flag as part of a music festival dubbed “Lulapalooza”. “Love has won over hate,” read one banner carried by a man dressed as Lula – complete with a presidential sash.(BBC)…[+]

A third of the global economy will be in recession this year, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned. Kristalina Georgieva said 2023 will be “tougher” than last year as the US, EU and China see their economies slow. It comes as the war in Ukraine, rising prices, higher interest rates and the spread of Covid in China weigh on the global economy. In October the IMF cut its global economic growth outlook for 2023. “We expect one third of the world economy to be in recession,” Ms Georgieva said on the CBS news programme Face the Nation. “Even countries that are not in recession, it would feel like recession for hundreds of millions of people,” she added. Katrina Ell, an economist at Moody’s Analytics in Sydney, gave the BBC her assessment of the world economy. “While our baseline avoids a global recession over the next year, odds of one are uncomfortably high. Europe, however, will not escape recession and the US is teetering on the verge,” she said.(BBC)…[+]