Congress leader Gandhi arrested amid protests against electoral commission

Today's headlines: US extends tariffs on China for another 90 days; Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's approval rating hits an all-time low; The Arakan Army says it will not allow elections in territories under its control; Israel prevents Italian priests fighting for peace and human rights from entering the country.

INDIA

Dozens of opposition members, including Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, were arrested yesterday in New Delhi during demonstrations against the electoral commission, accused of “stealing” the elections on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the updated voter lists were published in the state of Bihar, where voting is scheduled for November.

USA – PAKISTAN

The United States has added the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Majeed Brigades to its list of foreign terrorist organisations, following the visit of Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to the United States in recent months. In addition, Washington and Islamabad recently reached a trade agreement that should allow US companies to contribute to the development of Pakistani oil reserves in Balochistan and reduce trade tariffs imposed on Pakistan.

CHINA – US

US President Donald Trump has extended the tariff extension on China by another 90 days, allowing the two countries to gain time and perhaps pave the way for a summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for the end of the year.

TAIWAN

The approval rating for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has fallen to its lowest level since he took office in 2024 following recent political setbacks. Only 28% of respondents said they were satisfied with Lai's administration, down from 32% in a previous poll in May. Some analysts interpreted the result as a sign that voters are tired of anti-Chinese rhetoric and want the government to focus on economic issues instead.

SOUTH KOREA

According to a report by the Ministry of Defence, the South Korean army has been reduced to around 450,000 troops, a 20% decline in six years. According to the authorities, the reasons lie in the low birth rate, which stands at 0.75 children per woman. A study published in July estimated that the country would need at least 500,000 soldiers to defend itself against a possible attack from North Korea, which is estimated to have 1.3 million active military personnel.

MYANMAR

The Arakan Army, one of the ethnic militias fighting against the Burmese military junta, has announced that it will not allow elections in the territories under its control, which include 14 of the 17 municipalities in the western state of Rakhine. "We will not allow elections to take place in the territories we control. No election led by the Myanmar government has ever benefited the Rakhine people," said Khaing Thu Kha, spokesman for the Arakan Army.

ISRAEL

Don Andino Capovilla, a member of Pax Christi, was arrested yesterday at Tel Aviv airport for “national security reasons” and will have to return to Italy today. The Venetian priest, parish priest in Mestre, is known for his initiatives in favour of human rights and the most vulnerable, always based on non-violence. The day before, Don Paolo Pasetto and four members of the Sulle Orme Association were also prevented from boarding a flight to Tel Aviv departing from Fiumicino.

UZBEKISTAN

There has been much debate in Uzbekistan over plans for a new tourist resort, Sea Breeze Uzbekistan, on the banks of the Charvak reservoir near the capital Tashkent, next to which there is said to be an “arsenic cemetery” dating back to the Soviet-era chemical plant Soyuzmyšjak, a claim denied by the authorities but which does not convince the population.

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