In Paris, King Abdullah II signed a cooperation agreement with Macron covering defence and security. The strategic role of the Hashemite Kingdom in a region torn apart by conflict. Lebanon, Gaza, the Occupied Territories and Syria, as well as water, are the other areas of strategic agreement.
Today’s headlines: Naga teenager killed in Manipur; Pakistan: Aleema Khan, sister of the former prime minister, arrested; Singapore’s online safety commission: 500 reports in two months, with the youngest victim aged 7; Houthis report dozens of deaths following air raids in Yemen.
The incident was reported this morning south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). One of the soldiers is said to be in serious conditions. Currently, no official information regarding the cause has been released. Incidents involving landmine explosions have previously been a source of tensions between South and North Korea.
In the wake of an attack against a mosque in Kohat, Pakistan hit targets in Afghanistan. At the heart of this new escalation is the Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, an alliance of various jihadi groups, including al-Qaida, which has a strong presence according to the UN. Bishop Shukardin says that places of prayer should be respected.
The building, which had been closed by the Assads, was damaged in December 2024 during clashes between government forces and rebels. Civil and religious authorities, as well as Christian and Muslim leaders, attended the opening ceremony. Vicar of Aleppo: “Young people cannot read or write. It is essential to revive education”.
Today’s headlines: At least three people killed in Pakistani raids in north-eastern Afghanistan; Typhoon Dujuan in Japan: transport services and tourist resorts closed; Tensions sky-high in the West Bank after the killing of a settler; 100 Palestinian teachers prevented from reaching their schools; Putin’s ‘United Russia’ dominates the Duma elections.
Two evangelical house churches have been attacked by “vigilantes” from the Hindu nationalist right. The Bangiya Christiya Parisheba has documented 26 cases of persecution over the last three months, but reports to the police have not been followed up.
The various drinks offered to guests in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan embody not only gastronomic preferences but also a cultural code rooted in the geography and history of each of the three countries. A journey through flavours, ancient trade routes and identities.
Qin Weizhong, 55, had led the metropolis, a symbol of China's tech race, since 2021. His surprise departure comes just weeks before the APEC summit in Shenzhen. The expulsion of two high-ranking military officials from the Party has also been confirmed. The Central Committee is set to meet on 26–29 October to discuss strict self-governance.
Whilst public use of AI in agriculture and healthcare is becoming increasingly widespread, the issue of the effectiveness of these new tools is becoming ever more apparent in a region where many communities speak different languages that are not widely spoken globally. The challenge of developing tailor-made models for ASEAN countries.
Director Kedare resigns from IIT Bombay following students' demands for an independent inquiry into the death of a 19-year-old classmate amid allegations regarding the institute’s complicity in caste-based discrimination. A similar incident was reported in August at IIT Delhi.
Just as the Duma elections were taking place, hundreds of thousands of worshippers queued for hours outside the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour to venerate the relic of the hand of Saint Spyridon, the miracle-working bishop who, according to tradition, denounced the heresy of Arius at the Council of Nicaea.
Leo XIV at the Angelus: when the ‘law of love’ puts an end to self-interest, humanity gains ‘joy, wisdom and a future’. God’s plans are ‘more human’ than those of men and women. Commentary on the parable of the labourers in the vineyard: “The revelation of God’s goodness is for everyone”. Concern over the humanitarian crisis in Somalia.
More than the deposits themselves, the expertise acquired in mining institutes has ensured China's control over a large share of global production, a disadvantage the West will need years to overcome. To counter the lucrative wages offered by US companies, Beijing is pre-emptively withholding passports from qualified personnel.
More than 60 countries have gathered in Singapore for the first Global Cooling Pledge Assembly to address extreme heat while simultaneously curbing the growth of energy consumption (and emissions). In South Asia, this problem already results in the loss of millions of workdays and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable groups.
A note titled “A Journey of Hope” was released today. In it the Dicasteries for the Doctrine of the Faith, for Promoting Christian Unity, and for Interreligious Dialogue review the 60 years since the conciliar declaration on interreligious dialogue was issued. Despite identity-based tensions, “humility, courage, and discernment” must be nurtured. Openness to dialogue with new religious movements is possible.
A rally held recently outside the Israeli embassy blends resentment over the behaviour of certain tourists, fears regarding the expansion of foreign capital, and nationalism (fuelled by the government itself in its confrontation with Cambodia). Among the organisers is former Yellow Shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul.
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