Asia
Gaza: Biden and Netanyahu equally desperate?
Joe Biden has proposed a ceasefire plan for Gaza comprising three stages: negotiating a captive exchange, achieving a permanent cessation of hostilities, and rebuilding homes and public facilities. He has urged immediate acceptance…
India: Modi claims victory, but loses overall control
Following the national elections, Narendra Modi is set to lose his parliamentary majority. His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may need to form alliances to retain power. The current poll results suggest that while…
Papua New Guinea: thousands feared dead after landslides
Following the devastating landslides in Papua New Guinea on 24 May, rescuers have been reaching the hard-to-access northern Enga region, but the chances of finding survivors are now slim. Residents are using shovels…
North / South Korea: balloon warfare
North Korea has launched over 260 balloons filled with rubbish into South Korea, leading authorities to warn residents to stay indoors and avoid touching the balloons and attached plastic bags, which contain ‘filthy…
East / Southeast Asia: huge increase in synthetic drugs
A UN report has revealed record levels of methamphetamine and synthetic drug production in East and Southeast Asia, primarily sourced from the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. Historically known for…
Iran: five days of mourning for president
On 21 May Iran began five days of national mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi, as it grappled with the news of his sudden death at a time of heightened regional tensions and domestic…
Israel / Hamas leaders: ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants
On 20 May, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced plans to seek arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli ministers, and also for three senior Hamas officials. Hamas is charged with atrocities…
Myanmar: growing resistance to the junta
On a scorching day in Karenni state, from a hilltop overlooking an army base, former army captain Nay Myo Zin uses loudspeakers to address soldiers loyal to Myanmar's ruling military aiming to persuade…
Gaza: Israel now controls Rafah border crossing, negotiations continue
The Israeli military has claimed it now controls the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a crucial point for aid entry and civilian exit amid the ongoing conflict…
Japan: millions of abandoned homes in an aging country
Japan now has about 8.48 million ‘akiya’, or abandoned homes - over 13% of all residences. They are increasingly common across the country, particularly in rural areas. This problem, exacerbated by Japan's aging…
