INDONESIA
In addition to the 6 confirmed fatalities, 129 people are still missing following another ferry sinking in Indonesia.
The Virgo Transport 8 sank Sunday morning in the Java Sea with 243 people on board while traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin. So far, 108 people have been rescued. The ferry capsized after strong waves struck its starboard side. The causes of the accident are still under investigation. Maritime accidents are frequent in Indonesia, where ferries connect thousands of islands.
PERSIAN GULF
Oman announced the postponement of a meeting between Iran and the Gulf States, explaining that the conditions for constructive dialogue are not yet in place.
The talks, scheduled for today in the Omani city of Salalah, have been postponed with the aim of creating the necessary conditions to reach lasting agreements on regional security and stability. The postponement comes as attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the crisis triggered by the Houthis’ advance into the Strait of Bab el Mandeb continue to heighten tensions and disrupt a vital route for global energy trade.
JAPAN
Genta Koja, the candidate backed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party, won the election for governor of Okinawa, defeating the incumbent Denny Tamaki—who opposes the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma base from Ginowan to Henoko in the city of Nago—who was seeking a third term. The victory benefits the Takaichi administration, which will now be able to proceed with the controversial project. During the campaign, the issue of the bases took a back seat to economic issues. Koja will be the first governor born after Okinawa’s reversion to Japan in 1972.
CHINA
The “Global Times”, the English-language mouthpiece of the Beijing government, harshly criticizes in an article the warning issued by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei regarding the need to slow the development of artificial intelligence to prevent security risks. The statement is described as “a veritable Cold War playbook” that targets Chinese interests for commercial reasons and concerns related to international competition. “This,” writes the Global Times, “would risk turning AI security into a geopolitical issue, rather than addressing it as a global challenge requiring collaboration among the major powers in the sector.”
AFGHANISTAN
Afghan medical students enrolled in Pakistani universities have expressed concern over the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s (PMDC) intention to send them back to Afghanistan. Approximately 1,000 Afghan students, including 350 women, are studying medicine and dentistry in Pakistan.
The students are asking the government to allow those already enrolled to complete their studies, especially the female students, who have no opportunity to continue their education in Afghanistan. Approximately 200 students who have completed their mandatory internships and are awaiting admission to residency programs would also be affected by the measure.
RUSSIA-JAPAN
Japan has requested that the new Equal Earth projection map, previously approved by the UN General Assembly, be modified. Tokyo was outraged that the disputed islands of the Southern Kuril archipelago are shown on the map in the same color as Russia, as reported by the Guardian. Japan was among the 164 countries that supported the resolution, while Ukraine was among the six countries that abstained, as the map depicted Crimea in a different color from the rest of Ukraine.
TAJIKISTAN-KYRGYZSTAN
According to a new macroeconomic analysis, the Eurasian Development Bank forecasts 8.3% growth for Tajikistan’s economy by the end of 2026. In the first half of the year, the country’s economy already recorded 8.2% year-over-year growth, driven by strong investment activity, domestic demand, and increased foreign trade. According to the bank’s estimates, only Kyrgyzstan will exceed Tajikistan’s projected growth in the Central Asian region, with a 9% increase.
