Russia, China blast deployment of US ‘Typhon’ missiles to Japan
Russia and China have criticized Japan’s plan to host US “Typhon” intermediate-range missiles during joint exercises next month, calling it a threat to regional stability, Al Jazeera reported.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned the deployment poses a direct strategic threat and said Moscow may take “appropriate military-technical measures” if Japan does not reconsider. The ministry also cited Japan’s accelerated militarization and close cooperation with the US.
China urged Japan to act prudently and respect regional trust, calling on Washington and Tokyo to prioritize peace and stability and avoid repeating historical mistakes.
According to Al Jazeera, the Typhon missiles, part of US efforts to strengthen antiship capabilities in Asia, will be stationed at the US Marine Air Station in Iwakuni, Honshu, ahead of the “Resolute Dragon” exercises from September 11–25.
Three dead after protests over death of taxi driver in Indonesia
Mass protests have erupted across Indonesia after 21-year-old ride-sharing driver Affan Kurniawan was killed by a police vehicle during a demonstration. Clashes have left at least three dead and several injured, including in Makassar, where the regional parliament was set on fire, BBC reported.
Protesters, many from Kurniawan’s employer Gojek, demand justice, higher wages, lower taxes, and stronger anti-corruption measures. Frustration over lawmakers’ new allowance, nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage, has fueled unrest.
President Prabowo Subianto, Jakarta officials, and police have expressed condolences and issued apologies. Seven police officers were found to have violated professional ethics. Despite this, demonstrations continued, with some protesters blocking police convoys and throwing projectiles, according to BBC.
Thousands attended Kurniawan’s funeral, highlighting the human cost of the tragedy. Gojek pledged support to his family, calling his death a profound loss.
US court rules many of Trump's global tariffs are illegal
A US federal appeals court has struck down most tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, ruling they exceed his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). According to BBC, the decision affects tariffs on China, Mexico, Canada, and dozens of other countries, but does not apply to steel and aluminium levies imposed under separate authority.
The court said setting tariffs is a core Congressional power and that IEEPA does not grant the president unlimited authority. The ruling responds to lawsuits from small businesses and several US states challenging Trump’s executive orders that imposed a baseline 10 percent tariff on almost all imports.
Trump condemned the ruling as partisan, warning it would weaken the US economically, while White House lawyers argued overturning the tariffs could trigger a financial crisis. The decision will take effect on 14 October unless the Supreme Court intervenes, likely setting up a high-stakes showdown over presidential power and trade policy, BBC reported.
North Korea’s Kim consoles families of soldiers killed fighting for Russia
Kim Jong Un has met families of North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, offering condolences and promising state support for their children.
According to Al Jazeera, he pledged to build a monument and name a street in honour of the fallen, saying the state would raise their children “as courageous fighters like their fathers.”
South Korea estimates about 600 North Korean troops have died and thousands more were wounded, though Pyongyang has not confirmed numbers. The meeting highlights deepening ties between Kim and Moscow after last year’s military alliance.
