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News Roundup: India Protests, BTS Pause, & a Beaver Problem

Muslim Protests Continue Over Comments by Indian Politicians

Protests by Muslims across southeast Asia have continued this week. The protests are over comments made by two members of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), the political party  that currently controls India. In early June, two spokespeople for the BJP made comments about the Prophet Muhammad that Muslims found insulting. Muhammad created the religion of Islam.

At least 17 countries in Asia and the Middle East have officially complained to India about the comments. There were large protests in several of these countries. In Bangladesh, tens of thousands of people have protested, and many are calling for a boycott of products from India. The comments have also led to violent and deadly protests in India.

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At least 17 countries have officially complained to India about insulting comments made by members of India’s ruling party. In Bangladesh, tens of thousands of people have protested, and many are calling for a boycott of products from India. Above, protests in Bangladesh yesterday.

The BJP has suspended one of the people involved, and kicked the other person out of the party. The party put out a statement saying that it respects all religions.

But under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has focused on the needs of Hindus above those of others. About 80% of Indians are Hindu, like Mr. Modi. Only about 14% of India’s people are Muslims. Mr. Modi’s government has taken many actions to make life harder for Muslims.

Last Friday in the state of Uttar Pradesh, a protest over the comments turned violent. On Sunday, the local government used bulldozers to knock down houses belonging to several Muslim protesters.

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Mr. Modi’s government has taken many actions to make life harder for Muslims. Last Friday in the state of Uttar Pradesh, a protest over the comments turned violent. On Sunday, the local government used bulldozers to knock down the houses of several Muslim protesters (above).

BTS to Take a Pause to Work on Solo Projects

The hugely popular K-pop group BTS surprised fans on Tuesday with a video announcing that the group was going to take a pause. In the emotional video, the members of the group talked about the pressures they felt as stars. They said that they had worked so much as a group that they hadn’t had much time to think about themselves as individual people.

The group members made it clear that the band wasn’t breaking up. Instead, after nine years together, they are taking time to work on their own projects. All of the band’s members say they are working on solo albums.

The members of BTS discuss their future plans while seated around a table with festive balloons overhead.
The hugely popular K-pop group BTS surprised fans on Tuesday with a video announcing that the group was going to take a pause (above). The group members made it clear that the band wasn’t breaking up. Instead, after nine years together, they are taking time to work on their own projects.
(Source: BTS, Screenshot, via YouTube.)

The news has come as a shock to millions of the group’s fans, known as the “BTS Army”. J-Hope, one of the group’s rappers, says it’s healthy for the band members to take some time for themselves. “I think BTS will become stronger that way,” he said.

Beaver Takes Out Power and Internet

On June 7, hundreds of customers in British Columbia, Canada lost internet and cell service. Around 20 people lost power. Workers from BC Hydro, an electric company in the area, went to investigate. They were surprised when they found the cause of the problem: a busy beaver.

The beaver had chewed through the trunk of an Aspen tree. The tree had fallen over, damaging telephone poles and cables. The tree caught on fire, but local fire fighters were able to put out the flames. It took about eight hours to repair the damage.

A beaver in front of a small tree at the edge of a pond.
On June 7, hundreds of customers in British Columbia, Canada lost internet and cell service, and around 20 people lost power. A beaver had chewed through the trunk of an Aspen tree, which fell over, damaging telephone poles and cables. The beaver shown above was not involved.
(Source: yrjö jyske, via Flickr.com.)

This isn’t the first time a beaver has taken out internet service in Canada. Last year, a beaver took out service for hundreds of customers by chewing through a cable.

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