Dario Salvi

Today's news: Iraqi population rises to 45 million; Vietnamese ‘wandering monk’ reportedly renounces poverty vow for supporters behind threats from Hanoi; After boycotting the Tokyo ceremony, South Korea yesterday pays tribute to fellow citizens ‘enslaved’ in Japanese mines during World War II.

The Moldovan-Israeli rabbi killed in Dubai was a member of a Hasidic group that, although not the largest, is known for its outreach. It boasts nearly 5,000 emissaries (shluchim) who run about 3,500 institutions, including Chabad houses. For Israeli activist, defining the rabbi’s death as an act of anti-Semitism is limiting. His movement is "very important", but with critical issues.

Today's news: Seoul and Kuala Lumpur signed a cooperation agreement in minerals and defence; Dozens of arrests in Islamabad among supporters of former PM Khan, who protest in defiance of bans; Buddhist monastery in Thailand under investigation for using corpses in meditation practices; Beijing tightens controls after series of mass killings.

For the Jordanian scholar, the plan that led to normalisation with Israel ‘seems dormant’ but remains a valid ‘basis’. The Middle East is a different reality today compared to the Tycoon's first term. The ‘zero conflict’ policy pursued by Riyadh privileges the economic sphere and opens up dialogue with Tehran. The centrality of the Palestinian issue to stop conflicts.

To meet rising demand, the Vietnamese government has announced that coal-fired plants, which still account for 48.7 per cent of total electricity production in the country, will operate for a record number of hours. In the meantime, the electric vehicle business is growing, with domestic manufacturer VinFast signing partnerships and conquering market shares.

President Pezeshkian at the UN appealed for unity and equal rights for minorities. NGO reports reveal a picture of intimidation and marginalisation for the religious community. State propaganda portrays them as ‘impure’ and ‘agents of foreign powers’ in the service of Israel and the West. Former UN rapporteur for Iran: ‘genocidal and persecutory’ intentions.

Today's news: Tehran supports Lebanon in ceasefire talks with Israel; The Chinese Communist Party expelled former Agriculture Minister Tang Renjian, who is under investigation for ‘corruption’; In the Punjab province hundreds of thousands of Muslims pray for rain against smog; After more than four months, the Vietnamese ‘wandering monk’ reappears in public, but avoids photos or gatherings with followers.

Card Zenari remembers the founder of Mar Musa on his seventieth birthday. The monastery remains his “most living” legacy. The tragedy of the missing is compounded by that of refugees and the displaced, the ongoing war, and last year’s devastating earthquake. Increasingly frequent, Israeli raids have cut links with Lebanon which are an “umbilical cord". Pope Francis’s proclamation of the martyrs of Damascus is a “breath of fresh air”.

Xi’s tour of the region began yesterday. One stop included the virtual inauguration of Chancay Port, a key trade hub between China and the region. His aim is to boost cooperation and multilateralism. Donald Trump's return to the White House is a challenge for the future.

The changes ordered by the emir cover seven ministries, including the posts of deputy prime minister and minister of state for defence (and intelligence). Elected seats in the Shura Council have been abolished while new Qataris will be eligible for appointment. A foreign ministry spokesperson calls "inaccurate" reports that Qatar will no longer mediate, but Hamas’s presence in the emirate appears to be on hold.

For the Israeli activist, who mediated the release of Gilad Shalit after five years of Hamas captivity, Israel’s prime minister is using antisemitism to cover up domestic scandals and exploiting the war for his own self-interest. He also criticises the Palestinian side, which must prepare the ground for elections postponed for far too long. Qatar's step back should be used to restart negotiations.

The Commission on Elections presented the lists ahead of next May’s vote. Papers were filed in an atmosphere of peace and free of irregularities. Some 25 seats are at stake, but a postponement is a real possibility after the president of the Philippine Senate and the speaker of the House filed petitions to this end.