Thaksin Shinawatra leaves Thailand, Parliament votes on minority government

Today's headlines: another 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan, the third in six days; South Korea, the United States and Japan move towards joint military exercises after the Beijing parade; Islamic State claims responsibility for suicide bombing in Baluchistan; Pope Leo XIV renews request to Israeli President Isaac Herzog for ceasefire and aid to Gaza; Israeli army claims to control 40% of Gaza City.

THAILAND

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has left the country and is currently headed for Dubai, police authorities reported, one day before the parliamentary vote for the new minority government, scheduled for today, and ahead of a ruling that could send him to prison in a few days, after 15 years of self-imposed exile. The Pheu Thai party he founded is in crisis, cornered by the king's decision not to dissolve parliament.

AFGHANISTAN

Another earthquake measuring 5.6 struck the remote south-eastern region of Afghanistan last night, the third in six days, while the death toll from the first earthquake continues to rise. The tremor prompted residents of Nangarhar and Kunar provinces to flee their shelters in fear. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Sunday's earthquake left more than 2,000 people dead and at least as many injured.

SOUTH KOREA - JAPAN - UNITED STATES

South Korea, Japan and the United States will conduct annual “Freedom Edge” military exercises starting on 15 September. Openly to improve air, naval and cyber capabilities against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The announcement comes after the leaders of North Korea, Russia and China appeared in Beijing this week to attend the impressive parade, which showcased China's military power.

PAKISTAN

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed 15 people and injured more than 30 near a political rally in Pakistan. Hundreds of members of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) had gathered for a rally in a stadium in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, when a bomb exploded in the car park on Tuesday evening. The inhabitants of Balochistan are regularly exposed to attacks, often deadly, by both the Islamic State and separatist groups.

ISRAEL - GAZA

The Israeli army has declared that it has control of about 40% of Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the Strip, which it is preparing to occupy. In recent days, Israel has intensified its bombing of the Gaza City area. Yesterday alone, at least 64 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip. Yesterday, Pope Leo XIV received Israeli President Isaac Herzog in audience: he reiterated the importance of the ceasefire, access to military aid and the two-state solution as “the only way out of the ongoing war”.

RUSSIA - CANADA

Russian opposition figures abroad Vladimir Kara-Murza, Julia Navalnaya and Ilya Yashin appealed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to welcome Russians opposed to Vladimir Putin's regime who are threatened with repatriation from the US due to Donald Trump's tightening of immigration policy. They risk severe sentences if they are deported to Russia, with their asylum requests being rejected, as has already happened to several dozen.

KAZAKHSTAN

In Almaty, Kazakhstan, journalist and blogger Mirbolat Myrzatajuly was arrested on charges of inciting social, national and religious hatred. His car was stopped at a service station without explanation, probably for posting criticism on his Facebook page of the government for granting land ownership to foreigners, calling the decision ‘a threat to national security’.

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