Hundreds stranded as rains lash Japan's Yakushima

Pakistan faces a severe shortage of life-saving medicines, including cancer drugs and vaccines, due to government delays in notifying official prices. While global supply remains stable, regulatory hurdles have stalled legal imports, raising concerns over patient survival and the potential rise of unregulated, counterfeit medicines.

Residents in Balochistan's Zehri and Surab regions are facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to a four-day curfew and military operations. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee reported acute food shortages, blocked healthcare access, and alleged house raids by security forces, urging international bodies to investigate these fundamental rights violations.

A drone strike on a Kuwaiti residential building has caused casualties and "material damage," following revelations that a previous Iranian attack on US forces was more severe than disclosed. While "robust air defences" are in place, dozens of personnel suffered "brain trauma" and other "urgent" battle injuries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Motegi Toshimitsu on Wednesday welcomed the decision made by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to implement a collective release totaling 400 million barrels of oil by the member countries, a statement by Japan's Foreign Minister said.

The Iranian envoy claimed that strikes on fuel storage facilities had caused toxic pollutants to enter the air.

Iran spent a third of 2026 in blackout, as per Netblocks.

Amid a severe military escalation in the ongoing conflict between the US-Israel and Iran expanded to target Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, the Embassy of India in Kuwait on Tuesday announced that all consular services are operating normally, with the Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) following Ramadan working hours (9:00 am - 3:00 pm), except on Fridays.

The seventh India-Japan military exercise, Dharma Guardian 2026, concluded in Chaubattia, Uttarakhand, on March 8. Focusing on counter-terrorism and urban warfare, the joint training enhanced interoperability and strategic ties. The exercise culminated in a successful 48-hour validation phase, reaffirming both nations' commitment to regional security and defence cooperation.

A government report highlights a severe crisis in Pakistan's education system, with over 25 million children out of school and most ten-year-olds unable to read properly. Low government spending, weak policies, and poor learning resources continue to affect education quality across the country.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday discussed defence technology and economic security with Special Advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister Sadamasa Oue in the backdrop of India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.