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Asia

Pakistan Rules Out Makkah Defence Pact Expansion for Now

Currently there are no plans to expand the Makkah Mutual Defence Agreement beyond the three founding members, a spokesperson of the Foreign Office said on Thursday. Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye must first enhance the “inner structure and cooperation” of the alliance at the press briefing held at the Foreign Office in… Continue reading Pakistan Rules Out Makkah Defence Pact Expansion for Now

Asia

India BRICS Summit Faces Unity Test Over Iran War

REUTERS/Bhawika Chhabra

The BRICS Leaders’ Summit is set to take place in September 12-13 in New Delhi as the grouping is grappling with internal differences on the war in Iran. This roundtop takes place over six months after U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, which joined BRICS in 2024. The war has caused a significant decline in the volume of oil passing… Continue reading India BRICS Summit Faces Unity Test Over Iran War

Asia

Japan Sends CH-47 Helicopters to Indonesia to Fight Wildfires

Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo

It is worth pointing out that Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, for the first time, are operating outside the country, with the deployment of three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to assist in tackling the problem of forest and peatland fires in Indonesia. The helicopters landed in West Kalimantan on Thursday on board the transport ship JS Kunisaki, which has a capacity of 8,900… Continue reading Japan Sends CH-47 Helicopters to Indonesia to Fight Wildfires

Asia

Indonesia Wildfire Emissions Become World’s Highest

This aerial photo taken from a commercial aircraft shows haze from Indonesian forest fires blanketing a bridge in Kuching, the capital city of Malaysia's Sarawak state on the island of Borneo on September 5, 2026. (AFP)

Wildfire emissions of carbon have been the world’s highest this week, in Indonesia, as fires have been burning in parts of Borneo and Sumatra. According to Fire Emissions Watch, a service that relies on data from the European Union’s Copernicus climate monitoring system, between September 1 and September 7, the fire emissions were 19.7 million metric tons, which is more… Continue reading Indonesia Wildfire Emissions Become World’s Highest

Asia, Technology

Singapore Minister Says AI Is Changing Jobs Rather Than Replacing Them Entirely

(Photo: CNA/Alyssa Tan)

SINGAPORE: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly replacing some work tasks but not jobs in most cases, Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Monday. AI was altering working practices, and not creating mass unemployment, Ong said at the National University of Singapore’s annual Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum. Some organisations are using AI to automate tasks that used to be… Continue reading Singapore Minister Says AI Is Changing Jobs Rather Than Replacing Them Entirely

Asia

Russia and North Korea Open First Road Bridge Across Their Border

(Photo: Handout by the Russian Transport Ministry via AFP)

Russia and North Korea have opened their first road bridge linking the two countries, marking another step in their closer economic and political ties. The bridge spans the Tumen River and was officially opened during a ceremony Monday with officials on both sides. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin took part in the event via video link. The Russian government predicts… Continue reading Russia and North Korea Open First Road Bridge Across Their Border

Asia

Nepali Woman Found Alive 11 Days After Family Thought She Had Died in Floods

In a dramatic rescue, a 64-year-old Nepali woman was found alive within the mud and debris of her home, buried by devastating floods 11 days ago and her family in disbelief. Chandrika Shrestha came from Betrawati in Nuwakot district of Nepal where she was missing since the disaster on August 26. Her family thought she was dead and had even… Continue reading Nepali Woman Found Alive 11 Days After Family Thought She Had Died in Floods

Asia

Nepali Woman Rescued Alive 10 Days After Flood Buried Her Home

A 64-year-old woman was rescued alive in the NUWAKOT area of Nepal, 10 days after a huge flood buried her house with mud and debris. Members of Armed Police Force clearing the disaster hit area discovered Chandrika Shrestha on Saturday in Betrawati of Nuwakot district of Nepal. Rescuers pulled the woman out of the buried house, covered in mud. Later,… Continue reading Nepali Woman Rescued Alive 10 Days After Flood Buried Her Home