Displaying items by tag: Asia

On 8 May Pakistan claimed it shot down twelve Indian drones overnight amid escalating tensions following Indian airstrikes which have killed 31 people across Pakistan. General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, describing India’s actions as a ‘blatant act of aggression’, said the drone incursions had targeted major cities including Rawalpindi, where Pakistan’s military has its headquarters. Flights have been suspended in major cities of both nations, and a state of emergency declared in Pakistan’s Sindh region. India has not responded to the drone accusations but claimed its earlier strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure connected with the deadly militant attack in Kashmir on 22 April, even though Pakistan has denied involvement in it. Pakistan's prime minister has vowed revenge, while pressure builds on its army chief to respond. Both sides have exchanged shellfire along the contested Kashmir border. Iran has offered to mediate, as global concern mounts over the risk of broader conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

At least 33 Palestinians have been killed in two near-simultaneous Israeli airstrikes on a crowded restaurant and marketplace in Gaza City, according to medics and the Hamas-run health ministry. The Thailandy restaurant, operating as a community kitchen, and a busy market on al-Wahda street were struck, leaving horrific scenes of civilian casualties. Israel’s military said it was investigating the reports. Two days earlier, there were airstrikes on two schools serving displaced families, killing at least 48 people. Israel says it is expanding its military campaign against Hamas, aiming to eliminate the group and rescue the remaining 59 hostages. Critics warn that civilian infrastructure is being targeted and mass displacement and famine are imminent due to a blockade. Gaza’s Hamas-run government accuses Israel of war crimes. The UN has reiterated that Israel is responsible for ensuring access to food and medical aid, and cases of malnutrition are rising alarmingly: see With over 52,000 Gazans reported killed since October 2023, international pressure is growing to halt the violence and resume ceasefire negotiations.

Israel’s total blockade of Gaza, cutting off food, water, and medicine on 2 March, has reached sixty days. The humanitarian crisis is deepening, with the UN warning of imminent famine and the World Food Programme reporting all bakeries shut down and food stocks exhausted. Displacement and ‘no-go’ zones enforced by the IDF prevent access to farmland and supplies. Soup kitchens are close to closure, families are resorting to unsafe food, and prices have risen over 500%. Aid trucks remain stuck at borders. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with deaths rising due to the lack of basic medical supplies. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice is hearing arguments on Israel’s humanitarian obligations. The USA has defended Israel’s actions and its refusal to cooperate with UNRWA, citing security concerns. The international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and prevent the total collapse of Gaza’s food and health systems. Meanwhile, opposition to Netanyahu’s determination to continue the war, especially from military reservists, is growing: see

Japanese prime minister Ishiba Shigeru and Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr have reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to peace, stability, and resistance to foreign aggression in the Indo-Pacific. The leaders highlighted expanding defence, economic, and diplomatic cooperation, especially amid increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Without naming China directly, both underscored maritime security as a shared concern. Marcos praised Japan's contributions, including coastal surveillance equipment, which have upgraded the Philippines' defence capabilities. He noted that amid growing international divisions, cooperation between the two countries was ‘more important than ever’ to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific. Japan has also supported the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) through loans for large patrol vessels. These ships are actively deployed in Philippine waters to assert sovereignty and monitor Chinese activity. Both leaders described the alliance as grounded in shared values and mutual respect, marking a new chapter in their long-standing diplomatic relationship.

A brutal terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir has left 26 people dead, including tourists and locals, and sent shockwaves across India. On 22 April gunmen opened fire at a popular resort in Pahalgam, targeting visitors gathered at Baisaran meadow. Among the victims were an Indian naval officer on his honeymoon, a tourist guide supporting his family, and multiple members of one family vacationing together. Eyewitnesses report that some attackers questioned victims about their religion before opening fire, although motives remain unconfirmed. Survivors and families describe scenes of chaos, loss, and unthinkable grief. Locals fear the attack could devastate tourism-dependent livelihoods. Kashmir's streets fell silent as businesses shut in protest, while Indian leaders, including prime minister Modi, vowed a strong response. A manhunt is under way, and as families bury their dead and demand justice, the nation mourns a deep and painful wound. India has already closed the border with Pakistan, which has denied involvement with the terrorists, and there are fears that there will be further military escalation. See

The Safe Motherhood Programme, which has drastically reduced maternal and neonatal mortality in Nepal, is at risk due to severe funding shortages. Rs 380 million (£2 million) is urgently needed to reimburse hospitals and continue essential services. An additional Rs 600 million (£3.3 million) will be needed this fiscal year to sustain operations. Launched two decades ago, the programme offers free delivery services, antenatal checkup incentives, and transportation allowances. It helped raise institutional deliveries from 18% to 80% and cut the maternal mortality rate from 539 per 100,000 live births in 1996 to 239 by 2016. However, nearly 130 maternal deaths have already occurred in the current fiscal year. The WHO has warned that progress toward the goal of reducing maternal mortality to 75 per 100,000 by 2030 could stall without immediate investment. The report stresses that broader efforts, like ensuring girls’ education, improving family planning, and tackling health inequalities, are crucial to safeguarding maternal and newborn lives.

Donald Trump is intensifying his efforts to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions. After withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), he reimposed sanctions, citing Iran's support for militias like Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran has subsequently ignored some of the deal's restrictions and enriched more and more uranium nuclear fuel: analysts fear it could soon be capable of making a nuclear warhead. Trump has reinstated his ‘maximum pressure’ strategy, imposing additional sanctions, but he has now agreed to direct discussions between US and Iranian officials in Oman. However, the USA is demanding full dismantlement of Iran's nuclear programme, a request Tehran will find difficult to accept. Iran’s hardliners view nuclear deterrence as essential, and past negotiations show how challenging these discussions can be. Israel insists on the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capacity, while military action remains a possibility if talks fail.

On 9 April Israel carried out an airstrike in northern Gaza, reportedly killing a senior Hamas commander, Haitham al-Sheikh. The IDF said the operation targeted a high-ranking terrorist and said there were multiple measures to minimise civilian casualties. However, Palestinian sources reported at least 23 killed, including women and children, though the numbers remain unverified. Local accounts described missiles striking a building near tents housing displaced families. Hamas condemned the strike as a ‘massacre’, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad also denounced the attack. Al-Sheikh is the third commander of the battalion killed since the war began in October 2023. His predecessors, Wisam Farhat and Jamil Amar Wadia, were also eliminated in IDF operations. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme is desperately short of funding for its aid programme in Gaza: see

China has announced an 84% tariff on all US imports, up from 34%, in retaliation to Donald Trump’s increased tariffs on Chinese imports (now 104%). This move escalates tensions in the ongoing trade war and sent global stock markets into further decline. Global oil prices also fell, adding to fears of a recession. However, US markets later showed some recovery after treasury secretary Scott Bessent hinted at potential trade agreements with allies. Trump is encouraging businesses to move to the USA, claiming zero tariffs and favourable conditions for companies. While China has expressed reluctance to engage in a full-scale trade war, it said it needed to protect its economy. Despite concerns over higher inflation, Trump remains optimistic about revitalising US manufacturing. He has now announced a pause in imposing the harsher tariffs, which has encouraged the stock markets. For a view about what this pause will mean, see

A catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on 28 March, with the effects being felt as far away as Thailand and China. The death toll has already surpassed two thousand, with over 3,400 injured and many still trapped under rubble. Collapsed bridges and crumpled roads have delayed rescue efforts, and the secretive ruling junta has taken the unusual step of appealing for international assistance. In Mandalay, people are digging through debris with bare hands due to equipment shortages, while temperatures soar above 39°C (102°F). Communication breakdowns have forced rescue teams to rely on social media to locate victims. With rising temperatures and limited resources, rescuers fear more deaths are inevitable. Despite the odds, emergency workers remain committed to saving lives while grappling with overwhelming loss and unbearable heat.