SOUTH KOREA
Seoul plans to introduce stricter penalties for students caught using smart glasses equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) to cheat in the national university entrance exam; the proposed measures include the possible initiation of criminal proceedings and a three-year ban on retaking the exam.
The Ministry of Education announced the measures ahead of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) to be held in November. Those responsible could also be referred to the police for criminal prosecution, with charges including obstructing the performance of official duties by fraudulent means and interfering with commercial activities.
CHINA
A record number of 33 members were expelled from the Chinese Communist Party at the conclusion of the annual political meeting, which saw the highest number of empty seats ever recorded. The Fifth Plenum was attended by 279 members of the Central Committee, compared with 315 at the Fourth Plenum (October 2025) and 364 at the Third
(July 2024). Whilst previous plenary sessions had focused on economic reforms or social and development issues, this week’s meeting centred on internal Party discipline. Since coming to power in 2012, Xi Jinping has made the fight against corruption a cornerstone of his government, describing it as the ‘greatest threat’ to the Party. At least 16 of the 33 expelled members come from the armed forces. The Fifth Plenum also decided that the next 21st Party Congress will be held in the second half of 2027, at which time Xi is expected to secure a fourth term as China’s supreme leader.
YEMEN – SAUDI ARABIA – UN
In Yemen since August, against the backdrop of the military escalation between the pro-Iranian Houthis and the Saudi-backed government army, there have been 1,677 deaths and 7,395 injuries, according to figures provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Of the casualties, 559 were recorded between 20 and 25 October, averaging around 93 deaths per day. The fighting is centred on the governorates of Taiz, Lahj and Marib. Rebel militias are currently denying attacks on Saudi territory, after Riyadh claimed to have intercepted and destroyed a drone launched towards the Mecca region. The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, has also clarified that their operations are targeting Saudi oil facilities and military bases.
BANGLADESH
A court has imposed the death penalty in absentia on Md Mahbubul Alam Hanif, deputy secretary-general of the Awami League led by the ousted leader Sheikh Hasina and a former minister during the former prime minister’s time in power.
The death sentence was based on his role in the killing of six people during the 2024 riots, for which he was found guilty of murder; three other leaders of the same party received life sentences. The six died in the western district of Kushtia during the unrest that led to the former prime minister’s downfall.
SINGAPORE
In 2025, the number of cases of child abuse rose, against a backdrop of greater vigilance on the part of the public and frontline workers. The National Anti-Violence & Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) – a 24-hour telephone service for reporting domestic violence – received 16,525 reports in 2025, a 49 per cent increase on the 11,068 recorded in 2024. Last year also saw 2,476 new cases of child abuse identified where the levels of risk or safety concerns were classified as low or moderate; this represents a 16 per cent increase compared with the 2,128 cases in 2023 and a 4 per cent increase compared with the 2,373 cases in 2024. These situations fall under the ‘Tier 1’ category and include cases where children were subjected to excessive or inappropriate disciplinary measures by their parents. A further 1,917 new cases were classified as Tier 2, involving children exposed to serious risks or safety concerns, such as sexual abuse or serious injuries, including burns or fractures. The figures are contained in the annual report of the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).
PAKISTAN
An anti-terrorism court has sentenced the well-known human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to 10 years’ imprisonment in connection with a security breach. The judge handed down the sentence from Adiala Prison, where the couple have been detained since the start of the year. The court also imposed further sentences on the couple – one year and two years respectively – for separate charges of obstructing and assaulting public officials. The sentences will be served concurrently. Mazari – who has received international recognition for her campaign against the disappearances of political activists and for defending minorities and journalists – and Chattha have received support from activist NGOs, which have condemned their imprisonment. The couple were accused of undermining security plans for an international cricket team by organising a protest and blocking a road in an incident in 2024.
RUSSIA
The Russian Ministry of Digital Development is preparing new internet restrictions in Russia, proposing to route all traffic from foreign domains through website-blocking devices and to limit the amount of traffic permitted for users. The ministry intends to include these changes in the draft telecoms reform bill, which was first drafted last spring. An international traffic limit for Russian citizens is also planned. Currently, ‘technical countermeasures against digital threats’ filter internet traffic to block websites and slow down services within the domestic internet segment.
GEORGIA
Amnesty International and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association Gyla have expressed deep concern over reports of torture, sexual violence, beatings and threats against detainees in Georgian prisons.
The organisations have issued a joint statement, highlighting that there are also reports of reprisals against prisoners who report violence or express solidarity with other prisoners. Human rights activists have highlighted several high-profile cases: the alleged sexual assault and subsequent possible reprisals against Gyorgy Davitadze at Rustavi Prison No. 6; the alleged rape of a female prisoner by a prison officer at Laituri Prison No. 1; and allegations of a brutal beating of David Peikrišvili at Gldani Prison No. 8.
