ASIA TODAY Pyongyang launches an intercontinental ballistic missile

Today’s news: The Kdp first party in the parliamentary elections in Kurdistan with 39 seats and the task of forming the regional government. Millions of Indians celebrate the festival of Diwali today. Hanoi sentences blogger Duong Van Thai to 12 years in prison. A well-known Russian cycle tourist and video blogger, Igor Babko, 39, was allegedly kidnapped in Pakistan by a group of Taliban terrorists.

NORTH KOREA

This morning Pyongyang launched a intercontinental ballistic missilewhich flew for 86 minutes – the longest time recorded so far – and traveled more than 1,000 km, before falling into the ocean waters off the eastern coast. The ICBM reached an altitude of 7,000 km despite being launched at a high angle, confirming an even greater range capability. Seoul (and Tokyo) expect more launches in the coming days, coinciding with the US presidential elections.

IRAQ

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (Kdp) confirmed its top in the parliamentary elections of the semi-autonomous region of northern Iraq, winning 39 seats. This is clear from the definitive data provided by the Electoral Commission, which guarantees the party the leadership of the next government. The historic rivals of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (Puk) won 23 seats. Participation stands at 72%. Parliament consists of 100 seats, 5 of which correspond to minorities.

TAIWAN-UNITED STATES

In the coming weeks, Taiwan and the United States will begin talks to reach an agreement that avoids the double taxation on income, a step that Taiwan has been seeking for some time to encourage investment. Washington and Taipei do not maintain formal diplomatic relations, so the lack of a tax agreement means that Taiwanese companies and individuals are taxed on their income in both the United States and Taiwan if they work or live in both nations.

INDIA

Millions of Indians celebrate today Diwalithe festival of lights, one of the most important events in the Hindu calendar. The festival falls between October and November, but the date varies each year because it is linked to the moon. Worshipers light oil lamps and candles during the day to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Families worship Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth.

VIETNAM

Hanoi sentenced the blogger Duong Van Thai, 44-year-old, who disappeared from Thailand last year and reappeared in Vietnamese police custody, to 12 years in prison and three years of probation for anti-state propaganda. Thai’s family was not allowed to attend the trial, held behind closed doors at the Hanoi People’s Court in recent days.

PAKISTAN – RUSSIA

A well-known Russian cycle tourist and video blogger, Igor Babko, 39, was allegedly kidnapped in Pakistan by a group of Taliban terrorists. This was reported by the director of the British analysis center Faran Jeffery, who had intercepted communications related to a “Russian cyclist.” Now a ransom demand is expected, which has not yet arrived.

ARMENIA – AZERBAIJAN

The director of the Armenian security services, Armen Abazyan, announced the holding of a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart “as soon as possible.” The debate will focus on issues relating to Armenian prisoners of war still detained (33 for Baku, 80 for Yerevan) and those missing in war zones, without specifying the date or place of the meeting.