Asia

• Gaza: ceasefire fragile after Israeli airstrikes kill 100+ 31 October 2025
  On 29 October, Hamas reported that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza had resulted in at least 104 Palestinian deaths, including 46 children. Israel's defence minister accused Hamas of an attack in Gaza which killed an Israeli soldier, and of breaching the terms on returning deceased hostages' bodies. Although Hamas denied involvement…
• South Korea: president’s delicate balance as he hosts Xi and Trump 31 October 2025
  South Korea stands at a delicate crossroads, balancing its security alliance with the USA and its economic reliance on China. Recent rallies in Seoul captured this tension vividly, with protesters denouncing both Donald Trump and the Chinese Communist Party - reflecting deep divisions over the nation’s direction. President Lee Jae…
• Thailand / Cambodia: peace agreement, but soldiers not yet released 31 October 2025
  After a peace agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur on 26 October, Donald Trump and senior US officials had expected the immediate release of eighteen Cambodian soldiers captured by Thailand. However, Thailand’s prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul has imposed conditions on their release, primarily the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the…
• Cambodia, Thailand convene joint committee meeting to advance vital border discussions 24 October 2025
  Cambodia and Thailand have convened a two-day Joint Border Committee (JBC) meeting in Chanthaburi province to advance long-stalled talks on their shared frontier. The session follows June’s historic JBC meeting in Phnom Penh — the first in over a decade — which helped revive bilateral dialogue after tensions briefly escalated…
• China: update on Zion Church following arrest of Church leaders 24 October 2025
  Zion Church, one of China’s largest and most influential house church networks, is facing a severe government crackdown under new online religious restrictions. Founded in 2007 by Pastor Jin Mingri (Ezra Jin), the 10,000-member movement operates across 40 cities. In October, coordinated raids led to over 30 arrests, with 22…