Politics

BLOOMBERG Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, were arrested by security officials in recent weeks, escalating political tension ahead of national elections this year. The police have detained more than 2,100 party workers, according to Fawad Chaudhry, Khan’s aide. He said the whereabouts of many are unknown. Senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the party Khan founded, ...

BLOOMBERG Japan and China finished setting up a military hotline aimed at reducing tensions between the two largest economies in Asia, just ahead of a rare meeting of their foreign ministers in Beijing. The installation of equipment and lines has been completed, Japan’s Ministry of Defense said on Friday in a statement, calling it a “linking mechanism” that will build ...

BLOOMBERG The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is calling on its wealthier member nations to contribute to a trust for the poorest countries that is short billions of dollars at a time of rising demand from economies in debt distress. The IMF needs about $6.3 billion to meet its fundraising target for the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, its main vehicle ...

LUCKNOW (INDIA) / WAM At least 35 people were killed and 16 were injured after the roof of a stepwell in a temple complex collapsed in central India, Reuters quoted a local government official as saying on Friday. The incident occurred in the central Indian city of Indore after a concrete slab covering the roof of a stepwell in a ...

BLOOMBERG King Charles III waded into European politics, praising Germany’s decision to reverse decades of defense policy by supplying Ukraine with arms. “Germany’s decision to send such significant military support to Ukraine is remarkably courageous, important and appreciated,” Charles said in a speech to the lower house of parliament in Berlin. Speaking to Bundestag lawmakers in German during his first ...

BLOOMBERG India will hold elections in the populous southern state of Karnataka in May, the results of which will indicate whether the opposition has cut into the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party ahead of general elections next year. Winning Karnataka — the state is home to Bengaluru, India’s IT hub — would energise Rahul Gandhi’s opposition Congress ...

BLOOMBERG Myanmar’s military government dissolved the National League for Democracy (NLD), the pro-democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi, after it failed to register as a political entity for upcoming elections. The Union Election Commission said 63 political parties, including 50 existing parties, have applied for registration to compete in the general elections the military is planning. The NLD was ...

BLOOMBERG Japan’s foreign minister is planning to visit China this weekend in the first such trip in about three years, Kyodo News and other local media reported, as Asia’s two largest economies seek to maintain stable ties amid rising tensions. Yoshimasa Hayashi is set to meet his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang during a two-day visit, Kyodo reported, citing government sources ...

BLOOMBERG White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, people familiar with the matter said, as the two sides look to ease tensions that have continued to build in recent months. Sullivan’s previously unreported call took ahead of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen scheduled visit to the US en route to Central America, a trip ...

BLOOMBERG Ukraine wants Russia’s nuclear energy sector and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be part of future sanctions packages, Ukraine’s energy minister told Bloomberg Television. Ukrainian forces downed 14 out of 15 Shahed-type drones launched by Russian troops overnight, Ukraine’s General Staff said on Facebook. Twelve of the unmanned aircraft were shot down over Kyiv, the city’s military administration said. ...