Western firms pulling back from China: Reports

China is gradually losing its appeal as an investment destination for Western companies, according to reports released this week by the EU Chamber of Commerce in China and the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

At least 64 feared dead in Nigeria boat accident

At least 64 people were feared dead following a boat accident on a river in Zamfara State in northwest Nigeria, local officials said on Saturday

Balochistan secession gains momentum amid ongoing repression by Islamabad

The movement for Balochistan’s secession appears to be gaining traction amid ongoing exploitation and repression by Islamabad. Deepening mistrust between the Pakistani state and the Baloch people—fueled by discriminatory policies and heavy-handed governance—seems to be a primary factor behind the heightened discourse on secession.

Human Rights Watch asks China to release Taiwanese political activist

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has demanded that the Chinese government immediately release and revoke the conviction of Yang Chih Yuan, a Taiwanese political activist.

Protest over power outages causes gridlock in Karachi

Thousands of commuters and motorists remained stuck in multiple traffic jams on several key thoroughfares after residents of Punjab Colony and Gizri took to streets and blocked both tracks of the main road leading towards Boat Basin and Sunset Boulevard in protest over prolonged power outages in their area.

Former Peruvian leader Alberto Fujimori dies at 86

Peru’s former President Alberto Fujimori, who was convicted of human rights abuses and corruption, has died aged 86, his daughter has confirmed.

UK declines to speculate on potential sanctions against some individuals in SL over war crimes

Britain has declined to speculate about future sanctions against individuals in Sri Lanka accused of war crimes claiming it could reduce their impact.

Japan Inc sours on China after long years of brushing off risks

Japanese companies are increasingly abandoning an approach to business in China that once seemed immune to politics, a stark shift after years when they were the biggest single investors in their neighbour’s economy.

India IT Sector To See Robust Double-digit Growth: Nirmal Bang Equities

The Indian IT sector is poised for strong earnings growth in the coming years, with a projected double-digit earnings per share (EPS) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5 per cent from FY24 to FY27, according to a recent industry analysis report by Nirmal Bang Equities.

More than 150 dead in Vietnam as typhoon floods capital

The death toll of Typhoon Yagi has risen to 152 in Vietnam, according to government estimates, as one of the country’s largest rivers reaches its highest level in two decades, flooding the streets of Hanoi.

China’s aggressive border tactics: Threatening regional stability for territorial gains

The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) territorial strategies have significant implications for regional security in Asia.

Germany to tighten border controls after stabbing

Germany is set to expand border checks following a knife attack which left three people dead in the town of Solingen in August.

Economic downturn fuels rising obesity rates among China’s youth

It might seem surprising, but there’s a growing concern that economic downturns could be contributing to rising obesity rates among youth in China. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 37% of China’s population is classified as obese or overweight.

China could seize control of Taiwan’s offshore Kinmen Islands within 6 months: Report

China could seize control of Taiwan’s offshore Kinmen Islands within the next six months, believing that the United States would not take a forceful response to its aggression, according to a new report by American nonprofit research group and advocacy think tank, Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

’India can play big role in resolving Russia-Ukraine conflict’: Italian PM Giorgia Meloni after meeting Zelenskyy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that India can play a role in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. She made the remarks after meeting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

India records first suspected mpox case, male patient in isolation

India’s health ministry says it has recorded a suspected case of mpox found in a man who recently travelled from a country suffering an outbreak of the virus.

U.S. pitches deal to thwart Chinese military base in Africa

The U.S. is assembling an economic and security assistance package for Gabon in a bid to prevent China from establishing a military footprint in the strategically positioned Central African nation, according to people familiar with the matter.

Jan-Aug: 147pc spike in terror incidents

Pakistan has recorded an unprecedented 147 percent spike in terrorism-related incidents in the first eight months of 2024, with 821 terror attacks and 486 fatalities compared to the same period of 2023 in which the country witnessed 555 incidents of terrorism and 305 fatalities.

Forty-eight killed in Nigeria fuel tanker crash

At least 48 people have been killed in the central Nigerian state of Niger after a fuel tanker collided with a lorry carrying passengers and cattle, the country’s disaster agency said.

India’s foreign exchange reserves continue to rise hitting fresh high of USD 684 billion

India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 2.299 billion, reaching a fresh record high of USD 683.987 billion, during the week that ended on August 30, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India on Friday.

Thousands protest in France over Macron’s choice of PM

More than 100,000 people protested across France on Saturday against the appointment of the centre-right politician Michel Barnier as the new prime minister.

U.S. voters targeted by Chinese influence online, researchers say

A Chinese social media influence operation is impersonating U.S. voters, denigrating U.S. politicians and pushing divisive messages ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election in the United States, new research by intelligence company Graphika showed.

New York governor employed Chinese ’agent’ as aide - prosecutors

New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s former deputy chief of staff has been charged with acting as an undisclosed agent for the Chinese government. The aide and her husband are accused of influencing Hochul’s policies to serve the interests of Beijing, while laundering millions of dollars in the process.

At least 17 pupils killed in Kenya school fire

At least 17 pupils have died after a school in central Kenya caught fire on Thursday night, police said.

China: Presales of properties sinks to 18-year low amid halting projects

The Chinese real estate market which once was a major contributor to the Chinese economy has reached the lowest share of new-home sales in 18 years as potential home-owners are shying from making purchases as after a string of cash-strapped developers halted construction, Nikkei Asia reported.

EU to tighten hydrogen subsidy rules after China concerns

The European Commission is working on tighter rules to ensure EU funding for hydrogen projects benefits European companies, after local industries raised concerns over cheap Chinese imports, the EU’s head of climate change policy said on Monday.

Canadian yards call for 100% tariffs on Chinese-built ships

Canada has joined a growing chorus of shipyard nations taking aim at the world’s dominant shipbuilder.

World Bank raises India’s growth to 7 pc from 6.6 pc for FY25

World Bank has revised the growth from a previous forecast of 6.6 per cent to 7 per cent for FY25, according to the latest India Development Update (IDU) released on Tuesday.

Pope Francis, in Muslim-majority Indonesia, warns against religious extremism

Pope Francis on Wednesday urged political leaders in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, to guard against religious extremism, which he said distorted people’s religious beliefs through ’’deception and violence’’.

New Zealand hikes tourist tax prompting warning

New Zealand will steeply increase an entry tax for foreign tourists in a move some fear could deter visitors.