Displaying items by tag: Asia

In a stunning U-turn of diplomacy, Syrian president Ahmed al Sharaa - once known as Abu Mohammed al Jolani, former leader of the al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front - has arrived in Washington for historic talks with Donald Trump. He rose to power following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and now leads Syria’s fragile transitional government. Once a fugitive with a $10 million US bounty, he is being welcomed as a potential partner in rebuilding his war-torn nation and countering extremist threats. Washington’s gamble is clear: support Sharaa to stabilise Syria, curb Iranian and Russian influence, and prevent renewed civil war. Yet challenges loom large: sectarian clashes persist, and doubts remain about his transformation from militant to unifier. The visit, the first trip by a Syrian head of state to the USA since the country gained independence in 1948, could redefine alliances and reshape Middle Eastern geopolitics for a generation.

A devastating suicide bombing near the high court killed twelve people and injured more than twenty, shattering nearly two decades of relative calm in Islamabad. The attacker, unable to enter the judicial complex due to tight security, detonated explosives near a police vehicle. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility, though the Taliban distanced itself from the assault. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, while prime minister Shahbaz Sharif accused ‘Indian terrorist proxies’, without providing any evidence to support his claim. The Taliban were also suspected of being responsible for an attack the previous day on a cadet college in the north-west of the country (see). International condemnations followed swiftly, emphasising solidarity and the urgent need for regional cooperation against extremism. The attacks come at a time of increased tensions with India, and peace negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan broke down last week, following violent clashes between their forces in October. Also this week, a huge explosion in Delhi, close to the historic Red Fort, killed eight and injured many others: it is not yet known who was responsible. See

On 17 October India’s supreme court of India rejected a religious conversion case against officials of a noted agricultural university in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, after a protracted legal battle which started in April 2022. The officials, and also staff of a mission hospital, had been accused by a Hindu nationalist of coercing a woman into converting to Christianity and then forcing her to bring nearly sixty other women for a conversion meeting. The court found no credible evidence to substantiate the allegations, and stated that the complainant did not have the legal right to file the complaint. It also recognised serious procedural deficiencies and violations of due process. Delighted Christian community leaders have claimed the ruling as a historic victory which strengthens faith in the justice system and affirms the constitutional promise of religious freedom. It provides a crucial precedent for cases under similar state-level anti-conversion laws, and stands as a reminder that even in cases involving sensitive socio-religious issues, the principles of due process and statutory integrity remain paramount.

Pakistan’s reception of Sikh pilgrims from India on 4 November marked a rare moment of goodwill amid lingering hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. After deadly border clashes in May shut down the Wagah-Attari crossing, the arrival of over two thousand pilgrims to celebrate Guru Nanak’s 556th birth anniversary signals a cautious reopening of people-to-people ties. Pilgrims were warmly welcomed with flowers and rose petals before travelling to Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak’s birthplace, and other sacred sites. Pakistan’s high commission in New Delhi said that its decision was consistent with efforts to promote ‘inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony and understanding’. For many Sikhs, visiting these shrines represents both spiritual renewal and a poignant reminder of Punjab’s divided heritage since partition. Yet, tensions remain high, with the Kartarpur Corridor (allowing visa-free access to the temple) still closed and both nations trading accusations over recent violence in Kashmir.

On 29 October, Hamas reported that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza had resulted in at least 104 Palestinian deaths, including 46 children. Israel's defence minister accused Hamas of an attack in Gaza which killed an Israeli soldier, and of breaching the terms on returning deceased hostages' bodies. Although Hamas denied involvement in the attack, asserting its commitment to the ceasefire, the IDF said it had targeted what it described as ‘terror targets and terrorists’, killing numerous individuals, including thirty armed group commanders. The strikes caused significant destruction, hitting homes, schools, and residential blocks: each side has accused the other of ceasefire violations. Despite the violence, Donald Trump downplayed the likelihood of renewed hostilities, supporting Israel's right to retaliate. The conflict shows the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the ongoing volatility in the region – which has also been highlighted by the call by Amnesty International to investigate whether a US airstrike on Yemen in April was a war crime. See

South Korea stands at a delicate crossroads, balancing its security alliance with the USA and its economic reliance on China. Recent rallies in Seoul captured this tension vividly, with protesters denouncing both Donald Trump and the Chinese Communist Party - reflecting deep divisions over the nation’s direction. President Lee Jae Myung faces immense diplomatic pressure as he hosts both Trump and Xi Jinping on 30 October, hoping to ease trade disputes while maintaining South Korea’s fragile political stability. In August, when Lee visited the USA, things seemed to go well, with Trump reducing tariffs on South Korean goods from 25% to 15%. However, relations soured after immigration officials detained more than 300 workers at the Hyundai plant in Georgia, and Trump has increased his trade demands. Meanwhile, anti-China sentiment has grown, fuelled by old grievances and modern fears of interference. Breaking news: Trump has hailed his meeting with Xi as ‘amazing’, even though it did not result in a formal trade deal: see

After a peace agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur on 26 October, Donald Trump and senior US officials had expected the immediate release of eighteen Cambodian soldiers captured by Thailand. However, Thailand’s prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul has imposed conditions on their release, primarily the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border. At a bilateral meeting on 28 October, Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet reiterated Cambodia's commitment to the agreement and appealed for the soldiers' release, but Anutin stated that this would start only after significant and speedy progress on the withdrawal of the weapons, a condition agreed upon by both parties. The first phase of the withdrawal has already taken place, with Cambodia moving a number of battle tanks back to their base. The situation underscores the complex diplomatic negotiations involved.

Cambodia and Thailand have convened a two-day Joint Border Committee (JBC) meeting in Chanthaburi province to advance long-stalled talks on their shared frontier. The session follows June’s historic JBC meeting in Phnom Penh — the first in over a decade — which helped revive bilateral dialogue after tensions briefly escalated into armed confrontation between border troops. The agenda includes reviewing progress on boundary demarcation, addressing issues raised at September’s General Border Committee meeting, and approving the use of new mapping technologies such as LiDAR and orthophotography to speed up surveying along the 800-kilometre border. Cambodia’s delegation, led by Lam Chea of the State Secretariat of Border Affairs, and Thailand’s, headed by Prasas Prasasvinitchai, aim to confirm additional boundary pillars and strengthen cooperation under the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding. Phnom Penh reaffirmed that disputed zones like Ta Moan Thom and the Emerald Triangle should be settled through international legal channels, not unilateral mapping. Both sides expressed hope that continued dialogue will prevent renewed conflict and foster stability.

Zion Church, one of China’s largest and most influential house church networks, is facing a severe government crackdown under new online religious restrictions. Founded in 2007 by Pastor Jin Mingri (Ezra Jin), the 10,000-member movement operates across 40 cities. In October, coordinated raids led to over 30 arrests, with 22 believers—including many leaders—still detained in Guangxi Province. Pastor Jin and four others have been charged with “illegally using internet information” under China’s new Online Code of Conduct for Religious Professionals, which bans unregistered online ministry. Observers say this marks a new phase of persecution targeting large, cross-regional, and digitally active churches, as authorities intensify efforts to “Sinicise” Christianity. Homes and bank accounts have been seized, families and lawyers harassed, and further arrests are expected. Despite fear and grief, Chinese believers are responding with unity and steadfast prayer, calling this the “10.9 Church Persecution.” They ask the global church to intercede for protection, endurance, and revival as they stand firm under growing repression. See

Israel and Hamas have taken a crucial first step toward ending the devastating two-year war in Gaza, releasing hostages and prisoners under a US-brokered ceasefire. The exchange brought immense relief and celebration across Israel and Gaza, even as both sides remain wary. Yet, the deeper challenges - Hamas’s refusal to disarm, Israel’s reluctance to accept a Palestinian state, and questions over Gaza’s future governance - still threaten the deal’s stability. For many, the sight of freed hostages reuniting with loved ones offered a rare moment of shared humanity amid years of grief. In Gaza, war-worn families welcomed returning prisoners but faced the grim reality of shattered homes and a crippled economy. As Donald Trump signed a declaration for peace, witnessed by twenty world leaders (see ), both Israelis and Palestinians have to grapple with the cost of vengeance and the fragile hope of renewal. The region stands at a crossroads between restoration and relapse into conflict.