Korean Peninsula, Pyongyang launches a barrage of missiles in the night

Today's headlines: In Pakistan, Imran Khan's party announces nationwide protests; Chinese workers reveal chaos of the 'zero covid' policy; in the Philippines a notorious pro-Marcos influencers' group has disbanded; in Myanmar 29 female workers sacked for demanding minimum wage; Russia circumvents oil sanctions through a refinery in Sicily.

KOREA

Provocations continue on the Korean peninsula: according to Seoul's statement this morning, North Korea overnight fired a series of missiles towards a maritime 'buffer zone' between the two countries. Seoul and Washington, which believe Pyongyang's recent launches could culminate in a nuclear test, have extended their joint air exercises until tomorrow in response to the barrage of rockets.

CHINA

Several Chinese workers at a factory of Foxconn - the Taiwanese company that assembles iPhones and other technology products - recounted their experience with the 'zero covid' policy. Many quarantined workers managed to survive thanks to their stockpiles of instant noodles, others fled the complex, while disorganisation was rampant: at one point, the authorities of the city of Zhengzhou had to organise special buses to take employees back to their hometowns.

PAKISTAN

After the attempted assassination of Imran Khan yesterday, tensions remained high. Pakistan Tahreek-e Insaf, the party of the former cricket star, has announced that it will hold demonstrations throughout the country until the demand for early elections is met. But the PTI is now also demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who came to power in April after the vote of no confidence in Khan.

INDIA

In February this year, India banned the import of drones because Narendra Modi's government wants to develop a local industry that can design and assemble drones. "India has the potential to become a global hub by 2030," Amber Dubey, former secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, told the BBC. In reality, many questions remain about their safety and use in certain contexts.

PHILIPPINES

In the Philippines, there is a group of pro-Marcos vloggers (people who make and post videos on the Internet) formed with the aim of gaining access to Malacañang Palace, the presidential residence. In recent days, however, the United Vloggers and Influencers of the Philippines (UVIP) has disbanded: the head of the group has abandoned his role along with President Marcos' former press secretary, the person who had the greatest potential access to the presidential palace.

MYANMAR

In the Pou Chen factory in Yangon, where Adidas garments are produced, 29 female workers who had been on strike for several weeks were dismissed because they were demanding an increase in the minimum daily wage, from 4,800 kyat (.27) to 8,000 kyat (.78). Company officials informed the military authorities of the protest on the afternoon of the day it started, 25 October, causing 10 soldiers and police officers to arrive in four army vehicles.

RUSSIA

Russia's Lukoil has allegedly found a way to circumvent Western sanctions by exporting oil such as petrol and other derivatives to the United States through its Priolo refinery in Sicily, which uses up to 93% Russian oil in its production, making it 'Italian', according to revelations in The Moscow Times.

RUSSIAN CHURCH

The traditional Benedictine Council of the Old Russian Church on Rogožskaya Hill concluded in recent days. Delegates complained that they were not given space to express their opinions, due to the imposition of the president, Metropolitan Kornily, who urged everyone to support the military mobilisation without hesitation.

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