2 killed in B’desh campaign:

Police remove the body of a shooting victim from the Metropolitan Cathedral in Campinas, Brazil on Dec 11. A man opened fire in the cathedral after Mass on Tuesday, killing four and leaving four others injured before taking a bullet in the ribs in a firefight

with police and then shooting himself in the head, according to authorities. (AP)

place it on a blacklist of countries that violate religious freedom, branding it “politically motivated” and defending its treatment of minorities.

“Pakistan does not need counsel by any individual country (on) how to protect the rights of its minorities,” a statement from the foreign ministry said, adding that Islamabad “rejects” the designation. (AFP)

Two people have been killed in pre-election violence in Bangladesh, police said Wednesday, as early campaigning is marred by clashes between armed rivals that has left scores injured.

More than 100 people have been hurt in violence on the campaign trail since Monday, when candidates from the two major parties hit the hustings ahead of the Dec 30 poll.

Police said two supporters from the Awami League, the ruling party headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, died from injuries sustained in brawls with opposition rivals late Tuesday. (AFP)