ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur: Tariffs and Myanmar Top the Agenda
Today’s Headlines: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation collapses before it even begins, as Israel declares its intention to "control" 75% of the Strip. China opposes Australia’s plans to retake control of Darwin Port. Pakistan allocates 2,000 megawatts of energy for Bitcoin mining and AI data centres. The monsoon has arrived in Kerala a week early.
MALAYSIA
The 46th ASEAN Summit (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) opened this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Regional leaders have gathered in the Malaysian capital to discuss key regional and global issues, including US tariffs, the conflict in Myanmar, and maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
GAZA–ISRAEL
The CEO of a US- and Israeli-backed organisation, intended as an alternative to UN agencies to manage humanitarian aid in Gaza, has resigned. Jake Wood, head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, stated: "It is not possible to carry out this plan while upholding the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I refuse to abandon." His resignation comes after a New York Times investigation revealed extremely close ties between the little-known US-registered NGO and the Israeli government. Meanwhile, the Netanyahu administration has announced plans to take control of 75% of the Gaza Strip through its ongoing military offensive.
CHINA–AUSTRALIA
China’s ambassador to Canberra, Xiao Qian, has criticised the Australian government's intention to return local control over Darwin Port, asserting that the Chinese company currently operating the strategically important port in the north should not be penalised. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had stated during his election campaign that his government was working on a plan to force the Chinese firm Landbridge to sell the 99-year lease it acquired in 2015.
PAKISTAN
In a bid to position Pakistan as a global hub of digital innovation, the government in Islamabad has announced it will allocate 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity in the first phase of a national initiative to power Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centres. The government has recently legalised cryptocurrencies to attract international investment into the country.
INDIA
Monsoon rains struck Kerala’s coast on Saturday, 24 May – eight days earlier than usual – marking the earliest arrival in the past 16 years and raising hopes for a bountiful harvest and relief from an exhausting heatwave. The monsoon, which is vital to the country’s economy, provides nearly 70% of India’s rainfall, essential for crop irrigation and replenishing groundwater and reservoirs. Almost half of India’s farmland, which lacks irrigation infrastructure, relies on these annual rains from June to September.
RUSSIA
Food prices in Russia continue to surge, with potatoes now costing three times more than a year ago. This is hitting low-income households particularly hard, as wages lose value due to rampant inflation and the majority of people have no savings. The data comes from the Central Bank’s “Public Opinion” fund.
ARMENIA–AZERBAIJAN
Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Armen Kazaryan, reported that so far, 9,541 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh have applied for Armenian citizenship out of a total of 115,000 displaced people. Many have already received citizenship, including 2,000 minors. The government’s integration programme – which includes housing guarantees and information campaigns – is proving increasingly effective.
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