CHINA - USA
An American seismologist of Chinese origin, who published a US-funded study on the detection of North Korean nuclear tests, has been detained in China for almost two years and is facing trial on charges of espionage. The story was revealed by his wife, after she had kept it secret in the hope that diplomacy and the governments of the two countries would reach an agreement for his release.
The case of Youlin Chen, reported here for the first time, represents a further source of tension in relations between Beijing and Washington, both nuclear powers and rivals in global trade. In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Chen, aged 54 and a US citizen since 2011, as ‘wrongfully detained’, making his release a top priority for the White House. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, he is the only American currently “wrongfully” detained in China.
GULF
The third consecutive night of US air strikes against the Islamic Republic, whilst the naval blockade of Iranian ports is set to resume today, although US President Donald Trump is leaving the door open for an agreement with Tehran that is still “possible”. “Military targets” in several southern port cities, including Bushehr and Bandar Abbas, were targeted, with coastal defence systems, drone and missile installations, and maritime infrastructure hit. In response, the Pasdaran claimed responsibility for an attack in Bahrain – including a building housing US troops – and in Jordan, as well as striking two oil tankers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Strait of Hormuz, which reportedly resulted in the death of a sailor. Meanwhile, the conflict is spreading to areas that had long enjoyed relative calm: yesterday, in fact, the Houthi rebels in Yemen fired missiles at Saudi Arabia after accusing the kingdom of bombing an airport under their control, breaking a four-year truce in the conflict between the kingdom and the Iran-aligned group.
MYANMAR - ASEAN
ASEAN hopes to see tangible progress from Myanmar regarding the Five-Point Consensus (5PC), the five-point peace plan which provides, amongst other things, for the release of all political prisoners, including the detained democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. This was stated by Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan during the first in-person meeting between the bloc’s foreign ministers and Myanmar’s top diplomat since the 2021 coup in Myanmar. “The most central point was that we all reaffirmed the key role of the Five-Point Consensus”, which “was and remains valid”, said Balakrishnan.
BANGLADESH
Dhaka and the International Monetary Fund have agreed on a new, wide-ranging loan programme, with reforms to be introduced gradually to reflect the country’s difficult economic conditions. This was announced by the Finance Minister as part of negotiations launched by the South Asian nation to replace the current $5.5 billion IMF bailout plan. This was a necessary step after the newly elected government chose to withdraw from the previous programme, stating that certain conditions conflicted with its priorities.
SOUTH KOREA
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison after being found guilty of illegally receiving opinion poll services worth approximately $180,000 free of charge from a political broker. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that he had breached political funding laws by receiving 14 different surveys at no cost and subsequently exerting influence over the appointment of a former lawmaker to repay him. Yoon, aged 65, is involved in eight legal cases. He is currently appealing against the life sentence handed down in February for the offence of insurrection linked to his brief declaration of martial law in 2024. Other cases include a Supreme Court ruling last week which imposed a seven-year prison sentence for obstructing the authorities’ attempt to arrest him.
IRAQ
Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi promises extensive government support to encourage the return of Christians who have fled decades of war, terrorism and instability, stating that their return is now a national priority. Whilst receiving the Chaldean Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona in Baghdad, the Prime Minister described “ethnic and religious diversity” as one of the country’s greatest “strengths” and reiterated that Christians remain “an essential partner” in shaping the nation’s history and future. He also called on Iraqi Christian entrepreneurs and investors living abroad to participate in the reconstruction effort, particularly in the health and education sectors. Once numbering around 2 million people, Iraq’s Christian population has dwindled to around 250,000 following more than 20 years of violence, sectarian conflict, forced displacement and mass emigration.
RUSSIA – EU
A report by Radio Svoboda shows that Russian experimental physicists and computer scientists are among the most sought-after in the global academic market. In Europe, the main obstacle is the strict application of European legislation on export controls and dual-use technologies. Consequently, peace-loving students and PhD candidates who left Russia between 2022 and 2023 are unable to find work at Western companies and universities, and are forced to move to China and Arab countries.
TAJIKISTAN – AFGHANISTAN
The Tajik authorities have reported that in the first half of 2026, security forces clashed seven times with suspected Afghan drug traffickers, resulting in the deaths of 17 people.
The president of the Drug Control Agency, Samad Zafar, stated that 1,513 kilograms of drugs had been seized at the border between the two countries over the past six months. He added that “analysis of the information indicates that the production of drugs, including synthetic psychotropic substances, is steadily increasing in Afghanistan”.
