Asia
Gaza: what we know so far about ceasefire agreement
After three days of indirect talks in Egypt, Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have ‘signed off’ on the first phase of his twenty-point peace plan to end the Gaza war. The…
ASEAN: China’s shift towards green technology may inspire others
The strengthened commitment by China to cutting emissions and expanding renewable energy production may well accelerate Southeast Asia’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Analysts note that, as one of ASEAN’s key investors and…
Malaysia: hacking device easily available on internet
In Malaysia, a pocket-sized multipurpose hacking device capable of reading and emulating credit cards, cloning simple RFID tags, and recording older car key fob codes is being sold openly on popular e-commerce platforms.…
Gaza: Hamas likely to reject Trump’s peace plan
A senior Hamas leader has said the group is likely to reject Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, arguing it favours Israel while ignoring Palestinian concerns. The plan requires Hamas to disarm, surrender…
Iran: offering hope to young people
Generation of Hope, a SAT-7 PARS youth programme, has returned for its second season with a mission to uplift and support young people in Iran and beyond. The show, hosted by 16-year-old Ilya…
Afghanistan: Taliban shut down all communication networks
Afghanistan has entered near-total isolation after the Taliban government ordered a nationwide communications shutdown, drastically reducing connectivity to less than one percent of normal levels. The move follows weeks of restrictions on fibre…
Indonesia: president defends free meals programme despite food poisoning cases
Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto, has defended his ambitious free meals programme after thousands of cases of food poisoning raised public concern. Launched in January, the initiative provides meals for children and pregnant women;…
Indonesia: a tiny island files climate lawsuit against cement firm
Recent protests in Indonesia over economic hardship have coincided with a landmark climate lawsuit filed by four residents of Pulau Pari, a tiny island only three metres above sea level which has already…
Taiwan / China: super typhoon causes widespread devastation
On 24 September Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest tropical cyclone globally this year, slammed into Yangjiang, southern China, after killing 17 people in Taiwan and battering Hong Kong with destructive winds and torrential rain.…
Nepal: the challenges facing new PM
New prime minister Sushila Karki, a former chief justice known for her uncompromising stance against corruption, faces an immense challenge just weeks after taking office. Chosen after huge protests which toppled her predecessor…
