Asia

Seoul says North Korean forces arrived in Russia to fight Ukraine

South Korea’s intelligence agency says that North Korea has dispatched troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine, a development that could possibly intensify the standoff between Pyongyang and the West.

Tehran denies ports of Afghans killed while sneaking into Iran 

Iran’s ambassador to Kabul has denied reports that dozens of Afghan nationals have been shot and killed by Iranian border guards while trying to sneak into the Iranian territory illegally.

Ukraine warns of growing alliance between Russia, North Korea

Russia's deepening alliance with North Korea necessitates a strong response from Ukraine and its international partners, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.

Iran attends quadrilateral meeting on Afghanistan

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi attended a meeting with his counterparts from Russia and China, as well as Pakistan's defense minister, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

10 Democrats vote to censure Biden, Blinken, Pentagon chief over Afghanistan withdrawal

The House on Wednesday voted in favor of legislation to condemn multiple Joe Biden administration officials over the Afghanistan withdrawal of 2021 — and 10 of those who voted in favor were Democrats.

Japanese company dismisses making exploding walkie-talkies: Report

The Japanese maker of the brand of walkie-talkies linked to the recent deadly explosions in Lebanon, announced it could not have made the exploding devices. 20 people were killed and thousands injured in the pager blasts.

Iranian daily: Tehran should retract all privileges given to Taliban

The Iranian government should withdraw all of the privileges it has so far granted to the Taliban, a Tehran-based newspaper believes, arguing the ruling regime in neighboring Afghanistan is ‘terrorist’ in nature and deems it obligatory to kill Shia Muslims.

Thousands rally in Pakistan to demand former PM Imran Khan’s release

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Islamabad, demanding the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been behind bars for more than a year over what his party calls politically motivated charges.

At least 6 killed in Kabul blast

An explosion in Afghanistan's capital Kabul killed at least six people, the country's interior ministry and police have announced.

Turkey applied to join BRICS: Report

Turkey has formally asked to join the BRICS group of emerging-market nations as Ankara seeks to enhance its global influence and forge new ties beyond its traditional Western allies, according to people familiar with the matter.

Armenia says delivered 10th package of proposals on peace treaty to Azerbaijan

Yerevan has handed over to Baku the 10th package of proposals on a peace treaty and reiterated its readiness to establish peace in the region, the Armenian foreign ministry has announced.

Iranian pres, Malaysian PM call for ceasefire in Gaza 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have held a telephone conversation over bilateral ties between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur as well as some other issues of mutual interest.

Kremlin spokesman: Putin anxiously waiting to meet Iran President Pezeshkian 

Russia has invited Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to participate in the summit of BRICS members in Kazan, Russia.

UNESCO says 1.4mn Afghan girls banned from schools since Taliban return to power

At least 1.4 million girls in Afghanistan have been denied access to secondary education since the Taliban re-took power in 2021, with the future of an entire generation now "in jeopardy", the United Nations' cultural agency announced Thursday.

China says supports Iran in defending its security, national dignity

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stated Beijing supports Iran in defending its "sovereignty, security and national dignity" amid Tehran’s promise to punish Israel over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital.

US and UK ambassadors to skip Nagasaki bombing memorial after Israel disinvited

The American and British envoys to Japan have announced they will boycott an upcoming ceremony commemorating the victims of the 1945 US atomic bombing because the city’s mayor did not invite the Israeli ambassador.

Pezeshkian: Iran will not forget China’s assistance in countering US sanctions

Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, referred to China as a strategic partner in Iran's foreign policy and emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not forget China's assistance in countering the oppressive US sanctions.

Russia, China reject US ‘election interference’ claim

The US’ accusations that Russia is trying to influence the upcoming US presidential election are absurd, and Moscow resolutely refutes these allegations, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. In response to accusations recently levied by US intelligence officials, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stressed Beijing has never interfered in US elections and has no intention to do so.

US raises Ukraine war in talks with India

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar have discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the sidelines of a summit in Japan, according to a statement from Washington.

A third of all nations on earth under US sanctions: Report

The US government currently imposes sanctions on one third of the world in a situation that disproportionately affects low-income countries – 60 percent of which are under US sanctions of some kind – according to an analysis of the White House’s long-standing policy of economic warfare by the Washington Post.

US admits spread of disinformation about Chinese Covid vaccine

The US military has admitted that it ran a clandestine campaign aimed at discrediting China’s Sinovac vaccine in the Philippines and across Asia and West Asia, Reuters has reported.

China says Ukraine signaled willingness for peace negotiations with Russia

Ukraine is ready for peace talks with Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has stated during talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday.

Japan puts sanctions on four Israeli settlers in West Bank over acts of violence

Tokyo has imposed asset-freeze sanctions on four individual Israeli settlers for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, the government's top spokesperson announced on Tuesday.

Palestinian groups, including, Hamas, Fatah, agree to achieve ‘comprehensive national unity’ under PLO

14 Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Fatah, have agreed in the Chinese capital of Beijing to achieve "a comprehensive national unity" under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Three Bangladeshi nationals given life in prison by UAE

The United Arab Emirates has imprisoned dozens of Bangladeshis, three of them given life sentences, for protesting against the government of their home country.

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