标签： Asia

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian man in Nablus on Sunday, leaving him to bleed in the street before dragging his body through the streets, according to witnesses and local reports. The victim, identified as 42-year-old Majed Mohammad Dawoud, was shot during a raid on the al-Ain refugee camp in the early hours of the morning. Medical teams were reportedly prevented from providing immediate assistance, and Dawoud’s body was stripped and dragged by Israeli soldiers before being retrieved and taken to Rafidia hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The incident occurred as part of a broader Israeli military operation across the West Bank, involving raids, arrests, and assaults on civilians. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society reported that at least 20 Palestinians, including three children, were arrested during the operation. Meanwhile, armed Israeli settlers, accompanied by soldiers, launched violent attacks on Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest season. In Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah, settlers assaulted farmers and international volunteers, beating them with batons, setting fire to vehicles, and stealing harvested crops. Similar attacks were reported in villages near Nablus, Ramallah, and Bethlehem. The olive harvest, a critical economic activity for Palestinians, has been repeatedly targeted by settlers and Israeli forces, resulting in significant financial losses. According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Israeli settlers have carried out over 7,150 attacks against Palestinians and their property since October 7, 2023, killing 33 people and damaging or uprooting nearly 49,000 trees, including over 37,000 olive trees. The United Nations reports that more than 1,000 Palestinians, including 213 children, have been killed in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, marking a significant escalation in violence.

Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, declared on Sunday that the group remains fully committed to the ceasefire agreement with Israel, denying any knowledge of clashes in Rafah. This statement came in response to earlier reports from the Israeli military, which confirmed that air force fighter jets had conducted strikes in Rafah to neutralize a perceived threat. The Israeli military alleged that ‘terrorists’ had opened fire on their troops, an action they described as a blatant violation of the ceasefire. The Al-Qassam Brigades emphasized their adherence to the agreement, stating, ‘We reaffirm our full commitment to implement everything that was agreed upon, foremost of which is a ceasefire across all areas of the Gaza Strip.’ They further claimed no awareness of incidents in Rafah, citing the area as a ‘red zone’ under Israeli control and noting that communication with their groups there had been severed since the war resumed in March. The situation underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the ongoing tensions in the region.

BLS International Services Ltd, a prominent global provider of government-to-citizen services, has been granted a three-year contract by India’s Ministry of External Affairs to establish and manage Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in China. The agreement, effective from October 14, 2025, will see the opening of new centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, marking a significant step in India’s diplomatic and consular outreach in Asia. These centers will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, advanced digital processing systems, and multilingual staff to enhance the visa application experience for travelers. Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director of BLS International, expressed pride in securing the contract and emphasized the company’s commitment to delivering secure, efficient, and customer-focused services. The move comes amid strengthening people-to-people and trade ties between India, China, and the Gulf region, particularly in the post-pandemic era. BLS International, which has been operational in the UAE since 2011, manages visa and consular services for several embassies, including those of India, Spain, Italy, and Slovakia. Its extensive network of 23 centers in the UAE has positioned the company as a key player in India’s global consular service expansion. With operations in 70 countries and partnerships with 46 governments, BLS International processes millions of applications annually. The new contract not only extends the company’s reach from the Gulf to East Asia but also underscores India’s growing diplomatic and technological influence, supported by trusted service networks headquartered in Dubai.