Displaying items by tag: Asia

The USA has stated that Israel has not violated laws regarding the blocking of aid to Gaza, even though a thirty-day deadline for increased humanitarian access has passed without full implementation. While acknowledging that Israel has made some progress, such as opening a new land crossing and resuming aid deliveries in northern Gaza, the USA says that further improvements are necessary. However, the UN reports that aid into Gaza is at its lowest level in a year, with the humanitarian situation growing increasingly dire, particularly in northern Gaza, where famine is imminent. The UN calls the ongoing Israeli blockade a violation of international law and a humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian groups report that conditions in Gaza have worsened, and aid is still being obstructed. Meanwhile, more people have died following further exchanges of airstrikes between Israel and Hezbollah: see

Record-breaking smog is blanketing eastern Pakistan and northern India, creating hazardous conditions which are even visible in satellite images. A dense haze stretches from Pakistan’s Punjab province to India, impacting tens of millions. Lahore’s air quality index hit a hazardous 1,200, far exceeding the danger threshold of 300. The fine pollutant PM2.5, linked to serious health risks, registered 110 times over safe levels. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with over 30,000 cases of respiratory issues reported. Schools, government offices, and public spaces have been closed for a week. Children are particularly vulnerable, as UNICEF warns that over 11 million under-fives are exposed to toxic air. Authorities are urging cooperation with India to address this cross-border crisis. The climate crisis and reliance on fossil fuels compound the issue, contributing to deadly pollution worldwide.

Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed defence minister Yoav Gallant amid Israel’s ongoing conflicts with Gaza and Lebanon, citing a lack of trust. Gallant’s opposition to ultra-orthodox military conscription and his differing views on hostages have long put him at odds with Netanyahu: he had also publicly dismissed Netanyahu’s oft-repeated goal of ‘total victory’ over Hamas, saying that Israel’s military success had created the conditions for a diplomatic deal. His replacement, foreign minister Israel Katz, vowed to prioritise Israel’s security, emphasising the return of hostages and a decisive stance against Israel’s enemies. Gallant, seen as a moderate influence in Netanyahu’s coalition, was considered to be a stabilising figure. His dismissal sparked major protests across Israel, with citizens decrying the decision as a threat to national security. US officials expressed concern over the timing, especially in the middle of two wars. Meanwhile, on 7 November Israel allowed the evacuation of 231 seriously ill and injured patients from Gaza, the biggest since the conflict broke out. However, WHO said there were still up to 14,000 people waiting for evacuation for medical reasons.

On 3 November Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores Island in eastern Indonesia, erupted, triggering a deadly disaster. The eruption unleashed explosive lava, volcanic ash, and fiery rocks, and at least ten have died. In response, authorities raised the volcano's alert level to the highest, evacuating residents from the area within a seven-kilometre radius. Some settlements, about four kilometres from the crater, were struck by burning lava and rocks. The government declared a state of emergency for 58 days, enabling emergency aid for around 10,000 affected residents. In addition to the immediate danger of lava, authorities warned of potential flash floods and cold lava mudflows. There have been two other violent volcanic eruptions this year in Indonesia, highlighting the nation's vulnerability.

Just a few hours before the US presidential election began, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea east of the Korean peninsula. The missiles were fired from a province south of Pyongyang. South Korea confirmed the launch but has not released further details. Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, condemned the recent US-South Korea-Japan trilateral air drills involving B-1B bombers, calling them ‘hostile’ and ‘invasive’. She argued that such actions justified the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear programme. This missile test follows a significant launch on 31 October, when North Korea tested what is believed to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile. South Korean officials had earlier warned that North Korea might engage in provocative actions around the US election, raising regional tensions and global concerns.

The recent decision by the Israeli parliament to ban UNRWA from operating in Israel and Gaza has met with widespread condemnation. Israel has justified the decision by citing alleged links between some UNRWA staff and Hamas, but said it will continue cooperating with other UN agencies on humanitarian assistance for Palestinians. UNRWA has been labelled a terrorist organisation, and all official contact with the Israeli government has been blocked. This decision, opposed by the USA and other nations, raises concerns over worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where more than 1.9 million have been displaced. A UNICEF spokesman has warned that without UNRWA, critical necessities such as food, water, and medicine could not be distributed effectively. That would likely cause the collapse of Gaza’s fragile humanitarian system.

An Indonesian woman known as Suzy has reportedly lost over RM4 million (£700,000) to a Malaysian-based foreign currency investment scheme. She began investing in 2020, and received a 20% annual return in 2021 and 2022. However, the company cited licensing issues last year and ceased dividend payments, leaving her unable to access her funds. She has now filed a police report, joining 69 others from Singapore, Indonesia, and Brunei. An expert said that the scheme had resulted in estimated losses of RM100 million (£17.5 million) for over 500 Malaysian locals. He urged authorities to take this cross-border case seriously and take action to protect the country's good name from being seen as a fraud syndicate hub.

South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed that his government ‘won’t sit idle’ following reports that North Korea has sent three thousand troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. In a meeting with the Polish president, Yoon said that this deployment violates UN resolutions and threatens global security. South Korea’s spy agency says North Korea aims to send up to ten thousand troops to Russia by the end of 2024, though both Moscow and Pyongyang deny the claims. In response, Yoon indicated that South Korea is preparing diplomatic, economic, and military countermeasures in collaboration with allies, including possibly providing Ukraine with weapons systems. While South Korea has so far only supplied Ukraine with non-lethal aid, the situation may prompt a shift in policy. Tensions in the Korean peninsula have intensified as North Korea has reportedly used Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an opportunity to enhance its nuclear and missile programmes. The two leaders also discussed expanding defence cooperation, including new arms deals for Polish military upgrades. See

India and China have agreed to resume patrols along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, signalling a potential reduction in tensions following their 2020 clash in Galwan Valley in which twenty Indian soldiers were killed. Both nations have longstanding territorial claims in this region. However, a day after this agreement was announced, Indian army chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated that significant trust issues remain, and restoring confidence between the nations is crucial for further progress. He said that both nations need to be reassured before carrying out a disengagement process: patrolling along the border would help that process, as ‘we will be able to see each other and check that we are not creeping into buffer zones’.

As Indonesia witnesses a leadership transition, its thirty million Christians are cautiously hopeful for positive change under president-elect Prabowo Subianto and vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Subianto, a former military general, secured 58% of the vote in this year’s election. Indonesia, the second-largest Muslim country in the world, is home to a Christian minority (11% of the population). While the government allows Christians to worship freely, evangelism remains illegal, and Muslim converts often face social persecution. There are concerns about Subianto’s past support from conservative Islamic groups who might influence his policies. In the past the government has not actively persecuted Christians, but it has not always defended them either, particularly in areas like Aceh, where Islamic law is enforced. Christians are praying that the new leadership will uphold religious freedoms and protect their rights in a predominantly Muslim nation.