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India: New Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay cracks down on state-run TASMAC liquor shops In his first major decision since becoming the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Vijay has ordered 717 state-run TASMAC liquor stores near religious places and schools to shut down. What now for the role of high representative in Bosnia? Christian Schmidt's departure as high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina doesn't look like a routine diplomatic handover. It seems to indicate that international powers want something different from the role. EU negotiators agree new rules on vital medicines A new agreement aims to tackle the drug shortages that have plagued the bloc. Among other things, it would make it easier to use public funds to support the production of essential medicines. US: LA area mayor to plead guilty to acting as Chinese agent The mayor of a Los Angeles suburb with a heavy Chinese-American presence has resigned after admitting to acting as a Chinese propaganda agent. Eileen Wang now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail. Ukrainian children held in Russia: militarized, 'reeducated' A Ukrainian initiative to repatriate abducted Ukrainian children reports that at least 20,000 girls and boys are being held by Russian families and authorities. Can these children ever find their way home? Religion steers Bengal politics in Bangladesh, India — again Bengal, a region known for its secular traditions, is seeing a rise of religion in politics as Islamists grow stronger on the Bangladesh side of the border and Hindu nationalist BJP takes power in India's West Bengal. Nigeria's solar boom faces cost and policy barriers Nigeria's rising solar imports signal a search for alternatives to unreliable grid power and high fuel costs. But adoption is being held back by steep upfront prices, limited financing and policy uncertainty. What will happen to Iran's nuclear material? Iran is believed to have over 440 kilograms of enriched uranium, which could be turned into weapons-grade nuclear material. Despite Trump's pledge to get the "nuclear dust," Tehran has kept it out of US reach. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer 'not walking away' after local election mauling Keir Starmer has said he takes "responsibility" for Labour's poor election performance, but also for putting matters right again. "I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will," he said. Somali piracy disrupts global shipping and trade routes As ships reroute around Africa to avoid Middle East conflict zones, piracy off Somalia is back. The resurgence is driving up insurance, transit times and security costs, putting new pressure on global supply chains. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin let out of prison early Thailand's influential former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be required to wear an electronic monitor during his four-month probation period. Syria: Court charges Bashar Assad's cousin Atef Najib with war crimes amid 2011 uprising Syria's judiciary has charged Atef Najib with acts "amounting to war crimes" as Bashar Assad's cousin is accused of orchestrating a crackdown on 2011 protests that subsequently degenerated into a decade of civil war.