Nine generals expelled from China's Communist Party on the eve of the plenary session

Today's headlines: 59 South Koreans detained in Cambodia for online fraud have been repatriated. Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojav resigned after a parliamentary vote of no confidence. Pakistan and Afghanistan have extended the ceasefire while they meet in Doha. Hamas has returned the body of another alleged dead hostage.

CHINA

The Chinese Communist Party has expelled nine generals in what has been one of the largest public crackdowns on the military in decades. According to the Ministry of Defence, the nine - who have also been expelled from the army - were suspected of serious financial crimes, but the action is believed to be motivated by a political purge. The news comes on the eve of the plenary session, during which the Central Committee will discuss the country's economic development plan and vote on new members.

SOUTH KOREA - CAMBODIA

A group of 59 South Koreans detained in Cambodia for alleged involvement in online scams has been repatriated in handcuffs. The group arrived at Incheon Airport this morning after South Korea sent a delegation to Cambodia to discuss the kidnappings of its citizens by scam centres. Approximately 200,000 people - including 1,000 South Koreans - are involved in scams in Southeast Asia, some lured by the prospect of well-paid jobs and others forced into it.

MONGOLIA

Mongolian MPs voted to dismiss the prime minister and president, plunging Mongolia back into political chaos. Zandanshatar Gombojav resigned after losing a vote of confidence just four months after taking office, accused of attempting to bypass parliament in the appointment of a new justice and home affairs minister. His predecessor, Oyun-Erdene, also resigned after losing parliamentary support due to allegations of corruption and street protests.

PAKISTAN - AFGHANISTAN

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to extend the 48-hour ceasefire until the conclusion of talks in Doha. A Pakistani delegation had already arrived in Doha, while the Afghan delegation was expected to reach the Qatari capital today, according to anonymous sources. A temporary truce between the neighbours on Wednesday had ended days of violent fighting that left dozens dead and hundreds injured.

GAZA - ISRAEL - SAUDI ARABIA

Israeli troops in Gaza received the remains of another alleged hostage that Hamas handed over to the Red Cross late yesterday evening. If identified, 18 bodies of dead hostages remain in the Gaza Strip after there were 28 at the start of the current ceasefire. Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately holding some of the bodies, while Hamas says it is unable to locate them due to the level of destruction in Gaza. Meanwhile, Trump claims that Saudi Arabia has informed him of its willingness to join the Abraham Accords - signed in 2020 by Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

BANGLADESH

Prosecutors in Bangladesh have called for the death penalty for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the bloody crackdown on student protests last year, which led to her resignation. Hasina, who fled to India, is on trial for crimes against humanity. According to a leaked audio recording, she ordered security forces to “use lethal weapons” against protesters. Up to 1,400 people were killed. She denies the allegations.

GEORGIA

In Georgia, a scandal erupted over the visit to Tbilisi by the acting president of the OSCE, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, who wanted to meet with pro-Western protesters on Rustaveli Avenue. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze then decided to cancel his scheduled meeting with her for her “participation in an illegal gathering”, but Valtonen herself stated that she had chosen not to meet him.

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