Politics

The Foreign Ministry cites “serious security risks” linked to cyber scams, but the political motivation is clear, given that this is the only African state still maintaining diplomatic relations with Taipei. Last week, there was another crisis involving Taiwanese passports in Uganda.

The Bishops’ Conference has taken a stand against the government’s decision to raise the retirement age by two years. Behind the official justification of clearing the backlog of cases lie fears regarding the independence of the judiciary. The Anglican Church had also previously called for the measure to be withdrawn.

On Independence Day, the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference issued this year’s Pastoral Letter, which outlines the steps towards “a path of hope”. Concerns over the centralisation of power and the shrinking space for civil society: “The Church is not partisan, but neither is it apolitical”.

The Malaysian Prime Minister states that Taiwan is part of China and supports Beijing’s right to use force for reunification. Taipei was quick to criticise, warning that investments are at risk. At stake is the delicate balance in Kuala Lumpur’s relations (and trade) with both sides.

The Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Energy have stepped down (for different reasons). Meanwhile, the visit by Japanese Princess Akiko has strengthened cooperation on the ambitious project in the south of the country, which aims to create a new economic hub by combining tradition, innovation and technology.

The closer we get to Russia’s parliamentary election on 20 September, the more thoroughly the authorities flaunt their authoritarianism. And the most paradoxical aspect of this story is that both the government and the opposition, including the liberals of the Yabloko party, are actively taking part in the game.

The fifth plenum of the Central Committee, set for October, will not focus on the new Five-Year Plan but on the party's "rigorous" internal governance. Meanwhile, the anti-corruption drive is also affecting the military leadership at a time when the economy is slowing. For Xi Jinping, cohesion remains the top priority ahead of the 2027 congress.

The second round of elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir confirmed the lead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N; however, the election was boycotted by the opposition amid charges of fraud, along with protests by the local population. The decisive vote in the Poonch Division is scheduled for next Monday.

One of the thirteen states of the Malaysian Federation is headed to early elections on 1 August amid a successional dispute involving local political groups. The backdrop is economic interests, but also the delicate relationship between centuries-old traditions and relations with Kuala Lumpur.

In Bhutan, the outgoing mayor of the capital, Ugyen Dorji, has secured a second term with 67 per cent of the vote. However, voter turnout was the lowest on record. This was due to low turnout among young people, rules requiring many to vote in their home villages, and the exclusion of the diaspora.

The inquiry into allegations that thousands of Church members joined political parties has now extended to the ruling Democratic Party. The religious movement's founder, 95-year-old Lee Man-hee, has been in pre-trial detention for about a month. This case continues to fuel divisions in South Korean society.

A law has been passed that will allow the government to designate an alternative city in the event of major natural disasters. The measure cites the risk of earthquakes, but also revives the project – championed by the Japan Innovation Party – to transform Osaka into an alternative administrative centre to Tokyo.