Speaking at the regional summit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called on Asian countries to “close ranks” in the face of global challenges, primarily that of trade with the United States. Southeast Asia must maintain open markets while avoiding becoming embroiled in a trade duel between superpowers. The summit saw the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement upgraded. The Philippines will take over the association’s rotating presidency next year.

The population is “honoured” to have been chosen as the first destination of the pontiff's apostolic journey abroad, but it is also “exhausted”. From two years of war to attacks in southern Israel, many issues remain unresolved. Ortagus' mission for direct negotiations between the Jewish state and the Land of Cedars. The rift widens between Christians, Druze and Sunnis and the Shiite Hezbollah-Amal tandem.

Eight officers suspended from duty in Kathua district: they stood by and watched during an attack by Hindu fundamentalists on a minibus carrying participants in a Christian initiative. Behind the ‘anti-conversion’ initiative is the local BJP leader, already reported for other acts of violence.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union 35 years ago, the region - close to the Urals - proclaimed its autonomy, later cancelled by Vladimir Putin's “vertical of power”. In today's Urfa, home to thousands of soldiers now on the Ukrainian front, very little remains of those dreams and the word ‘sovereignty’ has been banned from public discourse.

Today's headlines: Trump signs new economic agreements, including on rare earths, at Tokyo summit with Prime Minister Takaichi; Indian minister accused of victim blaming against two Australian cricketers; Indonesia issues new rules for loans to local authorities;  Israel lifts state of emergency in the south of the country.

One of the survivors of 6 August 1945 spoke at the Community of Sant'Egidio peace summit in Rome, saying that she continues “to believe in human wisdom”. She was joined by the bishop of the Japanese martyr city, Alexis Mitsuru Shirahama, who said: "We have little time left.” For Susi Snyder, “Deterrence is not demonstrable.”