President Azad Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry has urged OIC member countries to join forces in resolving the Kashmir and Palestine issues. He emphasized the need for peaceful resolution, citing India's repression of political and human rights in Kashmir as a major obstacle. Chaudhry commended the OIC's support for Kashmiris' right to self-determination, stating that Kashmir has been transformed into an "open air prison" with basic rights and freedoms denied. He also criticized India's unilateral decision to abrogate Article 370, calling it a violation of UNSC resolutions and international human rights treaties.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1303850-oic-member-countries-urged-to-help-resolve-kashmir-palestine-issuesIndian Ambassador Suhel Ajaz Khan expects a large number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to be signed with Saudi Arabia, focusing on strengthening economic ties and defence cooperation. The talks are taking place in Jeddah, where Mohammed Bin Salman is the host.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/pm-modi-saudi-visit-ksa-fighter-jets-escort-prime-ministers-plane-watch-video-a517/French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian believes a peace agreement with the US can be announced soon, but its feasibility depends on Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions. He views Moscow's recent "Easter truce" as a marketing tactic to calm Washington's impatience. However, there has been a decrease in drone and long-range missile attacks, which could create conditions for further de-escalation.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/965857-france-germany-and-britain-set-red-lines-for-peace-talks-with-russiaSouth Korean President Lee vows to maintain the Kospi 5000 index while increasing pressure on businesses amid rising tensions over U.S. tariff negotiations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 fell due to Trump's criticism of Fed Chairman Powell, who is set to meet with South Korean officials later this week in Washington.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-22/business/economy/Kospi-opens-slightly-lower-as-Trump-uncertainty-continues/2290662Chinese Premier Li Qiang is planning a visit to Indonesia in May 2025, according to Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The visit comes after China's last trip to Indonesia in September 2023. During the upcoming meeting between Chinese and Indonesian officials, including Defense Ministers Dong Jun and Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and their counterparts, Wang Yi emphasized the importance of open cooperation and rejecting protectionism. The two countries also agreed to commemorate significant anniversaries, including the UN's founding and the Asia-Africa Conference, through closer multilateral strategic cooperation.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1999488/chinese-premier-li-qiang-scheduled-for-state-visit-toindonesia-in-late-may-2025Japan's Nikkei index fell 0.07% to 34,255.71 on Tuesday due to lingering concerns over US tariffs and President Donald Trump's criticism of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The broader Topix index edged up 0.05%. Strategist Hiroyuki Ueno attributed the market's caution to uncertainty about the impact of US tariffs on local and global firms. The Nikkei hit an 18-month low in April after Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, but has since rebounded to the key 34,000 level.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40358906/japans-nikkei-dips-as-us-tariffs-trumps-attacks-on-fed-chief-weighPakistani entrepreneurs met with their ASEAN counterparts to explore trade opportunities and strengthen ties between the two regions. The meeting was followed by a B2B session, where business figures from various sectors such as textiles, agriculture, and electronics showcased interest in investing in Pakistan. FPCCI Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon emphasized that trade relations between Pakistan and ASEAN are below their potential, citing a $11 billion cumulative trade deficit with the region.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1303777-pakistan-seeks-stronger-trade-ties-with-asean-blocFormer Pentagon special counsel Ryan Goodman suspects a cover-up at the Pentagon following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's second breach of confidential attack plans on a Signal chat. The first incident involved Hegseth inadvertently sending top-secret war plans to a journalist, prompting American Oversight to file a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act. A D.C. Circuit Court ruling ordered the administration to preserve federal records, but Goodman believes the Pentagon and DOJ had a narrow interpretation of the order, potentially hiding more incriminating evidence on a second device. Hegseth shared plans with his wife, brother, personal attorney, and about a dozen others, raising concerns that he is communicating sensitive information to unauthorized individuals.
https://www.rawstory.com/hegseth-signal/The Philippines and the US have launched a joint military drill, dubbed "Balikatan," which includes the deployment of a new US anti-ship missile system, NMESIS, for the first time in the Southeast Asian country. The drill, running from April 22 to May 9, involves 14,000 troops from both countries and aims to strengthen defense ties amid tensions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and US counterpart Pete Hegseth agreed to deploy the missile system to deter Chinese "aggression" in the Indo-Pacific region. The drill will also involve a midrange missile system called Typhon, which was deployed last year.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250422/p2g/00m/0in/002000c