Japan's Yokohama glitters with night shows ahead of Christmas celebrations

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.

Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke wrote in a post on X, "Later in the evening, they were reunited with their five teammates who had made the same decision the night before. They will be safe here. They will be at home here. They are welcome here in Australia."

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.

Pakistani security forces reportedly conducted raids across Balochistan's Surab, Gwadar, and Turbat districts, leading to allegations of property damage and civilian mistreatment. Locals and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee claimed authorities destroyed homes and fuel stocks, severely impacting livelihoods during Ramadan, while night raids in Turbat sparked further human rights concerns.

Two persons were murdered in Bogura and Cox's Bazar, on March 6 and March 7, while crude bombs were thrown at a Hindu temple in Cumilla city during a puja on March 8, triggering significant panic, as per rights group the Bangladesh Jatio Hindu Mohajote (Bangladesh National Grand Alliance).