World

Endless columns of tanks have been rumbling down the boulevards, and fighter jets and helicopters have been flying overhead since the early morning. For many in Belgrade, the scenes in the capital are more reminiscent of war footage than of preparations for a military parade. For the second week in a row, the main streets of Belgrade have been blocked for rehearsals for the military event dubbed "Strength of Unity," which is due to take place this Saturday in front of the Palace of Serbia, an imposing government building in the capital. There is a lack of enthusiasm for the parade among citizens. Many are complaining about the difficulties they are experiencing getting around the city. Boulevards and main roads are repeatedly being closed and reopened; drivers are getting stuck in traf...

The Taliban on Friday released a British couple held in Afghanistan for more than seven months on undisclosed charges, an official said. The case of Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 80 and 75, underlined the Western concerns over the actions of the Taliban since they overthrew the country's US-backed government four years ago. What is the background to their detention? The couple had lived in Afghanistan for 18 years and ran an educational institution in the country's central province of Bamiyan. The Reynolds' family members repeatedly called for their release, saying they were being mistreated. The Taliban dismissed the abuse allegations.What prompted the couple's detention was never revealed by the Taliban. What did the Taliban and the UK have to say? "Two British nationals named Pe...

From stormed palaces to fleeing heads of state, a number of Asian countries are witnessing political transformations led by a generation born into the digital age. This digitally savvy Gen Z, a term referring to people born roughly between 1997 and 2012, has emerged as a formidable force, challenging authoritarianism, corruption and economic inequality with street-level activism. In Nepal, youth protests against a social media ban and corruption toppled Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli's government last week. Indonesia witnessed large-scale protests recently, triggered by lavish perks for lawmakers, among other grievances. President Prabowo Subianto's administration barely managed to hold on, scrambling to meet youth demands by firing ministers and rolling back the perks. In Bangladesh...

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed America’s embassies and consulates worldwide to stop scheduling student visa interviews as US President Donald Trump’s administration considers more expansive vetting of the social media profiles of applicants.The order, laid out in a diplomatic cable on Tuesday, is the latest effort by the administration to restrict international students’ entry to the US over claims that they might promote antisemitism or otherwise threaten national security.“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued … in the coming days,” some media outlets have cited...

The Trump administration’s top officials have urged a US court to uphold the president’s sweeping tariff powers, warning that a legal setback could upend an “asymmetric” trade truce with China, embarrass Washington and reignite conflict between India and Pakistan.The officials claimed that Trump used his tariff power to broker a ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad earlier this month and bring about a fragile peace. They further cautioned that trade negotiations with dozens of countries remained in a “delicate state,” with a July 7 deadline to finalise deals fast approaching.Trump’s use of tariffs as a policy tool has elicited criticism from his opponents over unclear goals, inconsistent messaging in a vaguely defined push to restore American manufacturing.Commerce Secretary Howard Lu...

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. China invested in a lagging Darwin port. Now profitable, Australia wants it backChina’s ambassador to Australia has described the Australian government’s plan to end a Chinese firm’s control of the strategically located Darwin Port as “questionable”, saying the company should not be punished.2. China should mull 4% GDP target, support jobs, for next 5 years: former officialA former senior economic planner has called for China’s annual growth target to be lowered for the next five years, factoring in the likelihood of a protracted rivalry with the United States and the need to solve deep-rooted structural problems in China.3. China’s mega bridges: build...

Japan has offered to support US efforts to rebuild its civilian and military shipbuilding industries – a strategic gesture analysts say could help counter China’s growing dominance in the sector and ease the impact of looming American tariffs on Japanese imports.Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced Japan’s desire to help the United States during a speech in Kyoto on Sunday, emphasising Japanese shipbuilders’ skills and the country’s long seafaring history.“The government wants to cooperate in the shipbuilding sector,” Ishiba said. “Japan has a substantial advantage in terms of icebreakers. Icebreakers are one key area of cooperation,” he added, referring to specialised ships designed to navigate through ice-covered waters, often used for polar research and Arctic or Antarctic operations...

After a meteoric rise in the US and Southeast Asia, Pop Mart International’s latest iteration of its hit Labubu character is winning deep-pocketed fans in the Middle East, a fresh sign that the Beijing-based toymaker’s ambition to become a “truly global company” is gaining momentum.Google trend data shows that interest in the character surged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the April 25 launch of the latest Big Into Energy series. Among the largest emirates, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah showed the strongest interest.Previously little known in the region, Labubu is also trending in the Middle East’s largest economy, Saudi Arabia, where Google search interest peaked during the week of May 18 before seeing a slight dip this week. The toy is most popular in Riyadh province, followed by...

Malaysian businesses are eyeing more sales to Gulf nations, whose burgeoning Muslim populations need a wider range of halal products – from pet food to cosmetics – and are willing to pay trusted sources for them.Majority-Muslim Malaysia is a global leader in halal products and has a rigorous certification regime recognised by scores of Muslim nations and bodies worldwide.Businesses selling to the six oil-rich nations of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain who make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – a bloc seeking a trade alliance with Southeast Asia – are looking for deeper market access to the Gulf as the US strangles access to its giant consumer base.Edwin Suhairi, who imports and exports cosmetic products between Malaysia and the Middle East, sai...