As Bhutan sells its new Gelephu Mindfulness City mega-project to the world, exiled communities see a high-tech gloss over an unresolved past. buff.ly/ZVXY271

Dushanbe’s emergency hedge against Russia’s fuel crisis puts Tajikistan in the path of U.S. secondary sanctions. buff.ly/mg4V067

Last month’s parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the southern Philippines, the first ever, has settled one question but opened another. buff.ly/7jg4lMp

A patron at a well-known gay bar in Taipei recalls being “extremely shocked and confused” when around 30 police staged a dramatic raid on October 3 and took dozens of people away for questioning. buff.ly/PZNYEqh

China’s flagship talent visa can be found in the official application system, but most of the specifics on who can apply, and how to do so, are still missing. buff.ly/1EG3ALc

India’s possible role as a facilitator between Russia and Ukraine will be driven by its own economic interests, rather than any need to increase its political heft on the global stage. thediplomat.com/2026/10/what...

The Trump administration has reportedly begun direct talks with Myanmar’s military-installed government for the first time since the 2021 coup, marking a significant change in U.S. policy toward the country. buff.ly/L3kwkBT

An independent panel of experts said that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, 81, “has the capacity to understand the charges” and “the purpose and consequences” of the trial proceedings. buff.ly/nLf27sg

Reported discussions in Kandahar point to a possible expansion of the BLA’s external support networks as the group comes under pressure in Pakistan. buff.ly/GOyFUga

When it comes to Bangladesh, a course correction is needed in New Delhi. buff.ly/fmWf4V7

According to an OCCRP and Ozodlik investigation, Otabek Umarov, the Uzbek president’s son-in-law, obtained Emirati citizenship in 2023, while he was deputy head of the Presidential Security Service. buff.ly/cRECEr6

For Pakistan, the most worrying possibility is small, relatively cheap drone systems falling into the hands of terrorist groups. buff.ly/XDkNuJJ

China, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan are less exposed to the impact of cross-border terrorism – and less willing to risk smooth relations with Kabul over the issue. buff.ly/tDGJ9JE

ASEAN is looking for a third partner. Japan fits the bill — if it plays its cards right buff.ly/CA8wsyu

Why did Pakistan declare “an open war” against its one-time protégé? buff.ly/beFdcuM

According to the FBI, American nationals lost around $50 million to one network of online scammers based in India. buff.ly/Yzjk4Rk

Few gave the DPP’s Puma Shen much of a chance in traditionally pan-Blue Taipei. But the race is proving more competitive than expected. buff.ly/d3V33f7

Dushanbe’s emergency hedge against Russia’s fuel crisis puts Tajikistan in the path of U.S. secondary sanctions. buff.ly/mg4V067

As Bhutan sells its new Gelephu Mindfulness City mega-project to the world, exiled communities see a high-tech gloss over an unresolved past. buff.ly/ZVXY271

EOS-05 is a single satellite that is part of a broader initiative of India to strengthen its ISR capabilities buff.ly/4NSzlkg