Lead poisoning investigation in China alleges cover up by kindergarten

An investigation into the lead poisoning of hundreds of children in western China has revealed an alleged cover-up by the management of the kindergarten at the centre of the scandal.

Trump says Thailand, Cambodia agree to hold immediate ceasefire talks

U.S. President Donald Trumpsaid on Saturday the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to meet immediately to quickly work out a ceasefire, as he sought to broker peace after three days of fighting along their border.

Taiwan says China is ’clearly’ trying to interfere in its democracy ahead of recall vote

China is ’’clearly’’ trying to interfere in Taiwan’s democracy and it is up to Taiwan’s people to decide who should be removed from or stay in office, the island’s government says ahead of a recall vote for around one-fifth of politicians.

US wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dies aged 71

Hulk Hogan, one of America’s best-known wrestling stars, has died at the age of 71, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has confirmed.

Japan’s 2025 Defence White Paper flags China as ’Greatest Strategic Challenge’, warns of growing CRINK threat

Japan has published its Defence of Japan 2025 white paper, which details escalating threats from a more united bloc of authoritarian countries, specifically China, Russia, and North Korea, as reported by the Eurasian Times.

No survivors in Russian passenger plane crash

All 49 people on board the Angara Airlines An-24 passenger plane which crashed in Russia’s far east Amur region have died, TASS news agency reported citing preliminary information from emergency services.

Indian medical team to visit Dhaka to help burn victims from deadly jet crash

A medical team is likely to visit Dhaka shortly to support burn victims of the recent fighter jet crash in the Diabari area of Bangladesh’s capital, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said on Wednesday.

Trump says US has struck trade deal with Japan

President Donald Trump says the US has agreed to a ’’massive’’ trade deal with Japan, one of the country’s largest trading partners.

Militants use drones to drop bombs on security forces

Militants in Pakistan have started using commercially acquired quadcopter drones to drop bombs on security forces in the country’s northwest, police said, a potentially dangerous development in the volatile region.

China bans Wells Fargo banker from leaving the country

An Atlanta-based banker working for Wells Fargo has been prevented from leaving China, the latest incident that threatens to amplify concerns among Western executives about the potential consequences of visiting the world’s second-biggest economy.

Mid-air fight erupts on KL-Chengdu AirAsia flight over noise dispute

A mid-air brawl erupted on an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu after a group of women allegedly refused to stop making noise while cabin lights were dimmed.

Japan’s PM Ishiba to quit after election drubbing and Trump trade deal, source

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to step down following a bruising upper house election defeat, a source told Reuters, as the embattled premier announced a long-sought trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump.

India and Kuwait boost air connectivity with 50% capacity increase

Kuwait and India signed a new air services agreement with an aim to increase weekly air capacity by 50 per cent, as reported by the Gulf News. This partnership will allow the airline operators to raise seats up to 18,000 per week, each direction, up from the previous limit of 12,000.

China begins construction of controversial mega-dam in Tibet

Construction of a controversial ’’mega-dam’’ on a river flowing through Tibet and India has begun, Chinese state media reported, with Premier Li Keqiang attending a groundbreaking ceremony.

Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns as Vice President of India, citing medical reasons

Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar has officially resigned from his post with immediate effect, citing health reasons and the need to follow medical advice. The resignation, addressed to the President of India, was tendered under Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution.

Navigating sovereignty- Sri Lanka’s SOP on research vessels amid Indo-Pacific power contests

In the vast and contested waters of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka finds itself navigating an increasingly complex diplomatic tide. Scientific research vessels—once viewed as benign tools for oceanographic exploration—have now become flashpoints in a broader geopolitical power struggle.

Monsoon mayhem: Over 200 dead, 560 injured as relentless rains lash Pakistan

Over 200 people have lost their lives, including nearly 100 children, amongst those killed since the onset of Monsoon in late June, Geo TV reported on Saturday, citing Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

China’s military export model faces major setback

China’s ambitions to become a global power face a crisis. The May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict revealed that Chinese military hardware consistently fails in combat conditions, with Pakistan, Beijing’s largest defence importer, suffering operational disasters across air, land, and naval domains.

Japan’s PM vows to stay on despite bruising election loss

Japan’s ruling coalition has lost its majority in the country’s upper house, but Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said he has no plans to quit.

Top Republican on China panel objects to resumption of Nvidia H20 chip shipments

The head of a House of Representatives panel on China told U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that resuming sales of Nvidia’s H20 chips to China threatens to advance Beijing’s AI capability, stepping up his criticism of the decision and saying the original ban was ’’the right call.’’

Man wearing heavy metallic necklace dies after being sucked into MRI machine

A 61-year-old man has died after he was sucked into a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at a medical centre while he was wearing a heavy metal necklace.

ECB awarded hosting rights for the next three WTC Finals

During the ICC Annual Conference 2025, it was confirmed that England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have been awarded hosting rights for the next three World Test Championship Finals.

Taiwan’s longest Han Kuang drills end with sharp focus on countering China’s military playbook

Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo has praised the armed forces for their exceptional performance during the Han Kuang military exercises, the longest-ever live-fire drills held in the country’s history, according to Taipei Times.

Shah Rukh Khan injured while filming for King, flown to US for treatment: report

Shah Rukh Khan has suffered a back injury on the sets of his upcoming film, King. The actor, who was last seen in Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki, has been working on his next film with director Siddharth Anand and was reportedly shooting in Mumbai when the injury happened.

Japan’s defense white paper sounds alarm over China’s ‘Gray Zone’ activities

In its latest defense white paper, Tokyo for the first time sounded the alarm over China’s “gray zone” activities – particularly the expanding role of the China Coast Guard, which is strengthening its cooperation with the Chinese military.

Next India-Russia summit to be held in Delhi, dates under discussion: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday confirmed that India and Russia are set to host a summit in Delhi, with dates to be mutually decided.

Trump diagnosed with vein condition causing leg swelling, White House says

The White House said on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump is experiencing swelling in his lower legs and bruising on his right hand, after photographs emerged of Trump with swollen ankles and makeup covering the afflicted part of his hand.

Persecution by law: Religious minorities under siege in Pakistan

Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy laws have become a lethal tool for persecuting religious minorities. Enacted to punish “insults” to Islam with penalties up to death, these laws are increasingly misused to target Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, Shia Muslims, and even the remnants of Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage.

Alarming rise of terror networks in Bangladesh

The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024 has unleashed a dangerous wave of extremist activities across Bangladesh, creating significant security challenges not only for the nation itself but for the entire South Asian region.

Fifty people killed in a mall fire in Iraq

Fifty people were killed in a massive fire in a hypermarket in al-Kut city in eastern Iraq, the state news agency (INA) reported on Thursday, citing the province’s governor.