Over 13,000 deaths (out of a total of 17,000) in Asia-Pacific due to extreme weather events in 2025

Today's news: economy and security at the centre of today's meeting between the Japanese Prime Minister and the South Korean President. Colombo has asked Beijing for help in post-typhoon reconstruction. Activists in Bahrain concerned about the conviction of opposition leader Sharif.

ASIA

A planet “running a fever” due to climate change, with the Asia-Pacific region among those facing the most critical challenges. This is what emerges from Munich Re's 2025 report released today, which cites, among other examples, the twin cyclones that killed over 2,000 people and were among the worst disasters of last year. In 2025, Asia-Pacific will account for 13,600 of the 17,200 total climate-related deaths worldwide, with global losses of £224 billion, including £73 billion in the region from natural disasters such as fires, floods and severe storms. Weather disasters, fuelled by climate change, accounted for 92% of all losses.

JAPAN - SOUTH KOREA

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met today in Nara, the Japanese prefecture where the government leader is from, with the aim of strengthening security and economic cooperation. Other topics at the centre of the talks included the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, the fate of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea, and cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

SRI LANKA - CHINA

Colombo has asked Beijing for help in rebuilding key infrastructure damaged by the devastating Typhoon Ditwah, which left 641 people dead. The announcement was made yesterday by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, who reportedly made the request during talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who stopped off on the island after visiting Tanzania and Lesotho.

MYANMAR - UN

The historic trial of Myanmar, accused of committing genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority, opened yesterday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's highest judicial body. It is the first such case in over a decade and could also have repercussions on the case brought by South Africa against Israel over the war in Gaza. The Burmese authorities have denied all charges.

BAHRAIN

Activists in Bahrain are expressing concern for opposition leader Ebrahim Sharif, who was sentenced to six months in prison after criticising the kingdom's ties with Israel. Sharif, a popular and outspoken left-wing activist, has been detained since November on charges of “spreading false news on social media” and “making offensive comments against Arab brother states and their leaders”.

INDONESIA - PAKISTAN

The Indonesian Defence Minister met with the head of the Pakistani Air Force in Islamabad to discuss a potential deal that includes the sale of fighter jets and killer drones to Jakarta. This was reported by security sources familiar with the meeting, which comes as Pakistan's defence industry is promoting a series of procurement negotiations, including agreements with the Libyan and Sudanese national armies as part of a regional expansion project.

RUSSIA

A court in St Petersburg has issued an arrest warrant in absentia for Elena Popova, founder of the Conscientious Objectors' Movement 15 years ago. The woman had already been arrested in July for fake news against the army and placed under house arrest with a ban on leaving the country, but a month later she managed to leave Russia by taking a taxi to Belarus and then boarding a flight to Tbilisi. Now, from abroad, she continues to support the right of men not to take up arms.

A. CENTRAL ASIA - IRAN

The five Central Asian countries are maintaining strict confidentiality regarding the unrest in Iran, aware that any destabilising scenario in the Islamic republic could upset the balance throughout the Middle East and neighbouring states.

Faced with condemnation from many European governments for the repression by Iranian security forces, which Tehran considers “legitimisation of the unrest”, and support from Moscow and Beijing for the ayatollahs, the nations of the region are keeping a low profile and holding their breath.