IRELAND: Ireland will hold a vote in November to remove “outmoded” references to a woman’s place being in the home from the constitution, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

Article 41.2 of the constitution says that Ireland recognises that “by her life within the home, woman gives to the state a support without which the common good cannot be achieved” and that “mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home”.

UNITED NATIONS: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sacked its top official in the western Pacific, Dr Takeshi Kasai, after dozens of staff members accused him of racist, abusive and unethical behaviour that may have compromised the UN health agency’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

In an email sent to staff on Wednesday, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Dr Kasai’s appointment had been “terminated” after an internal investigation resulted in “findings of misconduct”.

PAKISTAN: Police have used water cannon and fired tear gas to disperse supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan in the eastern city of Lahore.

More than 40 supporters of Mr Khan were arrested on Wednesday for defying a government ban on holding rallies in the city, police said.

IRAN: The United States is imposing more sanctions on Iran, hitting people and firms accused of violating women’s rights during nationwide anti-government protests over the treatment of young women and girls.

Included in the sanctions are two prison officials, several firms that manufacture equipment for Iranian law enforcement and the commander in chief of the Iranian army.