October 5: Welcome to Asia Briefing, our daily round-up of the stories that matter across the continent. Today: Imran Khan’s party begins a five-day march towards Islamabad, the Asian Games close in Japan with China on top, the Flydubai cockpit attack investigation reaches Australia, and Yemen’s government says it has launched a major offensive against the Houthis.
Key highlights
- Pakistan: Thousands join the PTI march from Lakki Marwat. The government says it will not be allowed into Islamabad.
- Japan: The Asian Games end in Nagoya. China wins 169 golds and 341 medals.
- UAE and Australia: Australian counter-terror police examine the Flydubai co-pilot’s student years in Melbourne.
- Yemen: The presidential council launches operations to retake Houthi-held territory.
- Indonesia: Police arrest 12 terror suspects in six provinces. A magnitude 6.1 quake hits off Sumba.
- India: Protests demanding the election chief’s resignation enter a third day.
South Asia
Pakistan: the march begins. Supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan left Lakki Marwat on Sunday, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. They are due at Khairabad, about 50 miles from Islamabad, on Thursday. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that those who break the law will be pursued “one by one”. Full story: “We are not yes-men”: thousands join PTI’s march.
India: third day of protests over the election chief. In Mumbai, cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray led a march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of voter rolls. The Election Commission and the ruling BJP deny the allegations, Al Jazeera reported. Opposition parties plan a march to the commission’s office in Delhi on Tuesday. Full story (in Hindi): Mumbai’s “Virat Garjana Morcha”.
East Asia
Japan: Asian Games close. China finished with 169 golds and 341 medals, and hosts Japan with a record 269 medals. A 13-year-old Chinese swimmer, Yu Zidi, was named women’s MVP, and Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson took the men’s award. Organisers apologised for transport and housing failures. Full story: Asian Games close in Nagoya.
Taiwan: F-16V deliveries. Taiwan’s defence minister says more than two of the new jets will arrive this year, after the first pair landed on Friday. Background: Taiwan receives its first F-16V Block 70 jets.
Southeast Asia
Indonesia: 12 terror suspects arrested. The counterterrorism unit Densus 88 arrested 12 people with alleged links to a terrorist network in operations across six provinces that began on October 2, Antara reported, as carried by Bernama.
Indonesia: earthquake off Sumba. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off Southwest Sumba district in East Nusa Tenggara on Sunday. There was no tsunami risk, according to Antara.
Vietnam: aiming for a better credit rating. The government has revised its policy with the aim of raising Vietnam’s sovereign credit rating by 2030, VietnamPlus reported. This follows last week’s figures showing the economy grew 9.95% in the third quarter.
Thailand: airlines told to pay up. The Transport Ministry has told airlines to compensate passengers properly for disrupted flights, after baggage and service problems at Thai Airways, The Nation reported.
Central Asia
Kyrgyzstan: pensions under pressure. The number of retirees has risen by 25% in five years, putting growing strain on the pension system, The Times of Central Asia reported. The country has also begun requiring online religious preachers to hold official certification under a new law.
West Asia
Flydubai: the investigation spreads. Australia’s Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team is examining the links of the co-pilot accused of attacking Indian captain Smit Machchhar. The UAE’s prosecutor general has called the attack an attempted “terrorist act”. No motive has been established. Full story: Australian police probe co-pilot’s Melbourne years.
Yemen: government offensive. Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s presidential leadership council, has launched major military operations to retake territory held by the Iran-backed Houthis, Al Jazeera reported. Yemeni government forces claim more than 1,500 Houthi casualties in 24 hours. That figure comes from one side of the fighting and has not been independently confirmed.
Iran: “no military solution”. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there is “no military solution” to the conflict with the United States, while adding that Tehran is ready to resume fighting if it has to, according to Al Jazeera. Background: the US military build-up near Iran and the G7’s release of oil reserves.
Beyond Asia
Brazil: runoff on October 25. Flávio Bolsonaro won 47.04% and President Lula 45.15% in Sunday’s first round, according to The Rio Times. Brazil is a BRICS partner of India and China. Full story: Brazil heads to a runoff.
What to watch this week
- October 6: India’s opposition marches to the Election Commission in Delhi.
- October 7: The Reserve Bank of India announces its interest rate decision.
- October 8: The PTI march is due at Khairabad, where its next step will be announced.
- October 10: The Cockroach Janta Party’s rally in Delhi.
Yesterday’s edition: Asia Briefing, 4 October.
Sources
- Dawn: CM Afridi launches PTI long march to Islamabad from Lakki Marwat
- Al Jazeera: Mass protests demanding poll chief resignation shake India for third day
- Al Jazeera: Asian Games close in Japan
- Bernama: Top news headlines in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, October 5, 2026
- The Times of Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan’s ageing population puts growing pressure on pension system
- Al Jazeera: Police investigating Flydubai co-pilot’s Australia ties
- Al Jazeera live: Fighting intensifies in Yemen as Iran says “no military solution” to US war
- The Rio Times: Flávio and Lula head to Brazil runoff
The International Desk covers world and Asian affairs, diplomacy and conflict, with a focus on what they mean for India. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
