标签： Asia

A significant international forum, the ‘2025 Forum on the Development of Xizang, China,’ convened in Nyingchi city, Southwest China’s Xizang autonomous region, on Wednesday. The event, organized by the Xizang regional government, attracted over 400 participants from 44 countries and regions, including government officials, diplomats, experts, and media representatives. The forum, themed ‘Discovering a beautiful Xizang and writing a new chapter on the plateau,’ focused on key areas such as international communication, the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) governance guidelines, Xizang’s image-building, and its development philosophies and practical pathways. Mo Gaoyi, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and director of the State Council Information Office, emphasized the importance of Xizang’s modernization as China formulates its 15th Five-Year Plan. He highlighted the exchange of governance experiences, improving people’s well-being, and enhancing civilizational exchanges. Shahbaz Khan, director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, praised Xizang’s transformation, noting its modern infrastructure and expanded opportunities. The forum, which has been held since 2007, included four sub-forums on international communication, sustainable local industries, youth engagement, and environmental protection. Prior to the main event, participants visited a high-altitude pasture, a local village, and a wetland park in Nyingchi.

Cyclone Montha wreaked havoc along India’s eastern coastline, resulting in the tragic death of a 48-year-old woman in Andhra Pradesh. The victim succumbed after a palm tree collapsed on her amidst the storm’s ferocious winds and torrential rains. The cyclone, which made landfall around midnight, has inflicted significant damage across the region, including the destruction of crops spanning over 38,000 hectares and the toppling of numerous power lines and utility poles. Local authorities are actively engaged in restoring electricity to affected areas and clearing debris from roads. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued warnings of extremely heavy rainfall and wind gusts reaching up to 90 kmph in the coastal states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal. Although the cyclone is anticipated to weaken into a deep depression later in the day, its impact has been far-reaching. Unusual weather patterns triggered by the cyclone have also led to unseasonal heavy snowfall on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest, prompting authorities to suspend visitor access to the iconic peak. Rescue operations, as captured in videos from ANI, depict personnel diligently working to mitigate the storm’s aftermath amidst ongoing rainfall.

India is set to repatriate approximately 500 of its nationals who escaped a notorious cybercrime hub in Myanmar and sought refuge in Thailand, according to Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The announcement came on Wednesday, following a military raid by Myanmar forces on the KK Park compound, a well-known center for transnational cyber scams. The operation, which began last week, forced hundreds of foreign workers, including Indians, to flee across the border into the Thai town of Mae Sot. Over 1,500 individuals from 28 countries are currently being sheltered by Thai authorities. Prime Minister Anutin stated that the Indian ambassador will collaborate with Thai immigration officials to expedite the legal verification process for the repatriation. An Indian aircraft is expected to land directly in Mae Sot to transport the victims back home. This marks the second such operation this year, as India previously repatriated thousands of its citizens from similar scam centers along the Thai-Myanmar border. The KK Park compound, operated primarily by Chinese criminal gangs and guarded by Myanmar-aligned militia groups, has long been a hub for online fraud and human trafficking. The United Nations estimates that billions of dollars have been generated from these illegal activities, with hundreds of thousands of people coerced into working in these centers since the COVID-19 pandemic.

US President Donald Trump has defended Israel’s recent air strikes on Gaza, stating that Israel ‘should hit back’ if its soldiers are killed. The strikes, which resulted in at least 38 fatalities according to Gaza’s civil defence agency, were ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Hamas was accused of violating the fragile ceasefire. Hamas, however, denied the allegations and reaffirmed its commitment to the US-brokered truce. Trump emphasized that ‘nothing was going to jeopardise’ the ceasefire, even as tensions escalated. The conflict, which began with Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, has already claimed thousands of lives. Despite the ceasefire, the situation remains precarious, with both sides accusing each other of breaching the agreement. The return of hostages’ bodies has become a contentious issue, with Hamas claiming it needs more time to locate the remains buried under Gaza’s war-torn landscape. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance expressed confidence that the ceasefire would hold, despite the ongoing ‘skirmishes.’ On the ground, Gaza residents fear a resurgence of violence, with one local stating, ‘We want to rest. I believe the war will come back.’

In a tragic escalation of violence, Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people, with dozens more injured, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. The attacks, which occurred despite an ongoing ceasefire, have left rescue teams scrambling to recover victims from the rubble. Mahmud Basal, a spokesman for the agency, confirmed the casualties to AFP, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to assist the wounded and retrieve the deceased. Israel has justified its actions by accusing Hamas of attacking its troops and breaching the ceasefire agreement. This latest surge in hostilities underscores the fragile nature of the truce and raises concerns about the potential for further violence in the region.