SOUTH KOREA – UKRAINE
South Korea has recalled its ambassador from Ukraine, once again accusing Kyiv of breaching an agreement to keep secret the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine. Following the revelation, President Lee, who favours dialogue with North Korea, has faced heavy criticism at home: the opposition has accused him of trying to cover up the transfer to please Pyongyang. Meanwhile, Seoul has tested its first domestically produced hypersonic weapon in response to the North’s ongoing provocations.
VIETNAM
The city of Da Nang, known for its beautiful beaches, is urging tourists and locals not to give money to beggars in a bid to eliminate begging by the end of the year. According to the city’s website, a CCTV system will be used with the aim of securing a commitment from 100 per cent of hotels and restaurants not to tolerate begging on their premises. As visitor numbers rise, local authorities are increasingly focusing on the quality of the tourist experience in public spaces.
THAILAND
Young Thais are getting into debt at an increasingly early age. According to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, in 2025 credit card debt among those under 25 rose by 13.5 per cent year-on-year, the largest increase across all age groups. Personal loans in the same age group rose by 11.5 per cent, despite household debt figures generally being on the decline.
HONG KONG
The United States has downgraded Hong Kong to the lowest tier in its annual report on human trafficking, placing the city on a par with mainland China, North Korea, Russia, Iran and Afghanistan. US officials cited shortcomings in judicial proceedings and the identification of victims, an assessment which the city’s government has rejected as “totally unfounded”.
WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Since yesterday, the Houthis have stepped up their campaign of attacks against Saudi Arabia, seeking to disrupt airspace and oil facilities by launching missiles which this week have killed three people and severely damaged an aircraft after targeting Riyadh airport and Khamis Mushayt, home to a major airbase.
RUSSIA–UKRAINE WAR
In Crimea, electricity shortages have persisted for four months due to Ukrainian attacks on Russian logistical and energy infrastructure on the peninsula, and residents are becoming increasingly accustomed to dark streets, unreliable internet connections and other aspects of life ‘without civilisation’. The situation remains particularly critical in the northern regions and on the southern coast, where infrastructure is repeatedly being hit. “The whole of Yalta is running on generators, food prices are constantly rising and people are going mad,” says Vladislav Esipenko, a contributor to Crimea.Realities.
KAZAKHSTAN
An innovative test capable of detecting hidden additives in meat products has been developed in Kazakhstan. It will now be more difficult to deceive consumers, as the new technology can detect genetic traces of 17 animal species, including dogs and mice, in sausages and tinned foods. The Ministry of Agriculture has announced the development of the test, the technology for which was developed by researchers at the Kazakh Seifullin Agricultural Research University. During the grinding, heat treatment or mixing stages, it is impossible to determine the origin of the raw materials from their external characteristics, which allows producers to conceal the product’s true composition and to misrepresent the information on the label.
