Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a hardline ally of Hamas that also holds hostages, on Saturday (4 October) endorsed the group’s response to a US plan to end the war in Gaza – a move that could help pave the way for the release of Israelis still held by both parties. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that […]
Read MoreSome 137 activists detained by Israel for taking part in a flotilla seeking to deliver aid to Gaza are being flown to Istanbul, Turkey’s foreign ministry said on Saturday (4 October). The individuals include 36 Turkish nationals, as well as citizens from the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, […]
Read MorePolitical and trade tensions between India and Bangladesh have disrupted the sari industry, hurting luxury weavers in Varanasi while giving cotton sari traders in West Bengal a boost. Relations between the neighbours have been strained since August last year, when former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi after being ousted in an […]
Read MoreIslamabad: Widespread protests and violent clashes have erupted in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, driven by long-standing economic grievances and political demands from the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Why it matters The current unrest is the third major wave in two years, showing deep-rooted dissatisfaction with governance and subsidies in the region. Deadly escalation clashes have […]
Read MoreBy Alan Robles A wave of fake news and conspiracy theories has taken aim at the Philippine military, with viral claims of coup plots, foreign interference and high-level defections spreading rapidly on social media. Observers warn the campaign is fuelling political instability by exploiting public outrage over recent major corruption scandals. Several trace the effort […]
Read MoreSanae Takaichi came out top in a male-dominated race to lead Japan’s ruling party on Saturday, putting her on course to emulate her hero, former British leader Margaret Thatcher, and become her country’s first female prime minister. The fiscal dove’s surprise victory may jolt investor confidence in one of the world’s most indebted economies, while […]
Read MoreBy Julian Ryall A leading contender to become Japan’s next prime minister has sparked backlash from conservatives after suggesting the removal of Class A war criminals from the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, a “bold” idea that analysts say could help repair strained ties with neighbouring countries over Tokyo’s wartime history. Yoshimasa Hayashi, the chief cabinet secretary […]
Read MoreBy Yuanyue Dang in Beijing A Chinese military journal has described the People’s Liberation Army’s latest underwater unmanned systems as “disruptive” and highlighted their intelligent capabilities. According to Ordnance Industry Science Technology, the unmanned submersibles showcased during the large-scale military parade held in Beijing on September 3 possessed “zero-radius turning manoeuvrability”, enabling them to “operate […]
Read MoreAfghanistan’s Taliban foreign minister will visit India this month after the UN Security Council Committee temporarily lifted a travel ban, Kabul’s foreign ministry confirmed to AFP today (4 September). Amir Khan Muttaqi will become the first senior Taliban leader to visit India since they returned to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of the US […]
Read MoreUnrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir has eased after the federal government and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) signed an agreement on Saturday, ending a week of shutdowns and violent clashes that killed at least 10 people, says Dawn. Why it matters: The region had been paralyzed under a communications blackout as protests over elite privileges […]
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