first conviction of a Taiwanese activist accused of “separatism”.

Today’s news: 3,477 people have been displaced since October 7, including 1,485 children, in attacks by Israeli security forces in the West Bank. Mammal farms in China are threatening a new pandemic, with new viruses ready to jump species. The head of the Bangladesh Election Commission resigns. Kuala Lumpur continues its explorations in the China Sea, in a disputed area.

TAIWAN – CHINA

For the first time, Beijing has sentenced a Taiwanese political activist tried for nine years in prison. “separatism”. A sentence that has never been handed down before and has led Taipei to warn its compatriots against travelling to China. The sentence against Yang Chih-yuan was handed down by the court in the eastern city of Wenzhou. In the past, the charge has often been used against the Uighurs, a Muslim minority in the western region of Xinjiang.

ISRAEL – PALESTINE

Israeli security forces have withdrawn from the city of Jenin and a refugee camp in the area after 10 days of «violent aggression» The IDF has been in a state of siege, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. At least 21 people were killed and extensive damage was done to infrastructure. According to UNRWA sources, between 7 October 2023 (Gaza war) and 2 September, the IDF destroyed, demolished or confiscated 1,478 Palestinian structures in the West Bank, displacing 3,477 people, including 1,485 children.

CHINA

Dozens of viruses have appeared in fur farms, some new and species-hopping. Virologist Edward Holmes issued the warning, pointing out that after Covid-19, mammals, including mink, would be the main danger – and vector – of a new pandemicResearchers sequenced the genetic material from the lungs and intestines of 461 animals – minks, rabbits, foxes and raccoon dogs – that died of the disease in the country between 2021 and 2024.

BANGLADESH

The head of the Bangladesh Election Commission resigned yesterday after denying any political interference in the January elections that led to the re-election of the leader – now resigned and in exile – Sheikh Hasina. Kazi Habibul Awal and the other four commissioners left office, the last of a series of senior officials appointed by the previous government, including the director of the Central Bank and judges of the Supreme Court.

MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur, through its state-owned company Petronas, intends to continue exploring in search of oil and gas in the South China Sea, despite pressure from Beijing, which claims large areas in the region. This was stated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who wants to defend the country’s economic interests while describing China as a “friend”.

RUSSIA – INDIA

According to correspondence between the governments of Moscow and New Delhi, published by the Financial Times, Russia has agreed since 2022 on a secret channel to buy from India dual-use items banned by sanctions. The agreement mainly covers electronic items, but there is also talk of opening factories in India to produce components needed for military purposes.

KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zaparov commented on the closure of the independent news agency Kloop in the state-run Kabar news agency. He recalled that “for 30 years in the country anarchy was confused with democracy, and chatter with freedom of speech, but now our society is trying to recover from these diseases.”