World Tour: Terror in Mali and pollution in India

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Coming up next on The World and Everything in It: World Tour with Africa reporter Onize Ohikere.

ONIZE OHIKERE, REPORTER: ISIS claims terror attack in Mali—We start today here in Africa.

Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for a deadly terror attack on an army outpost in Mali. At least 54 people died. A separate attack on a military convoy killed one French soldier.

Jihadist violence in Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso has grown increasingly common in recent months. Some aid groups have compared the violence to the start of Boko Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria.

French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly visited Burkina Faso on Monday.

PARLY: Florence Parly [fade under]

She said the fight against terrorism required international cooperation.

More than 500 people have died at the hands of Islamic militants in Burkina Faso since last year. Nearly 500-thousand have fled their homes. Christians have increasingly become targets. The Federation of Evangelical Churches and Missions lists at least five pastors and missionaries who have been murdered by terrorists.

India battles high pollution levels—Next we go to India.

AUDIO: New Delhi under severe pollution [fade under]

Officials in the capital New Delhi shut down schools and banned construction work for at least three days after the city’s air quality reached crisis levels. The Environment Pollution Authority declared a public health emergency on Friday.

Residents say the pollution is impossible to escape, even indoors.

On Sunday, the city’s international airport had to divert some flights because of the thick smog.

New Delhi usually experiences a seasonal drop in air quality in October and November each year. It’s caused in part by agricultural fires outside the city. Firecrackers used in the Hindu festival of lights celebration known as Diwali also contribute to the smoky haze.

Clashes continue in Kashmir—Meanwhile, clashes continue north of India’s capital in the disputed region of Kashmir.

India officially revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status last week. Violence erupted in the region after the government announced the plan in August.

AUDIO: Clashes inn Kashmir [fade under]

Protesters tried to disrupt a visit from European lawmakers last week by setting up roadblocks and throwing rocks at security forces. On Monday, an attacker threw a grenade into a busy market crowd. One person died and 25 others suffered injuries.

The region of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan. Both countries claim a right to the land. They have fought two wars over control of the region.

United States sets record-low refugee cap—And finally, we end today in the United States.

President Trump officially set the refugee resettlement cap at 18-thousand for fiscal year 20-20. That’s the lowest number of refugees allowed into the United States in 50 years.

The U.S. government did not allow any refugees into the country in October. Aid groups said they hoped the president’s order would clear the way for new refugee arrivals.

But they also urged the administration to reconsider raising the cap to historic levels. Previous administrations welcomed about 90-thousand refugees each year.

That’s this week’s World Tour. For WORLD Radio, I’m Onize Ohikere reporting from Abuja, Nigeria.

Vehicles wait for a signal at a crossing as the city enveloped in smog in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

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