Mornin'! Welcome to FirstFT Asia: Scoop on the India-Pakistan Tension
Escalating Conflict: India claims success in countering Pakistani drone attacks
Feeling Friday vibes? Let's dive into today's news:
- India-Pakistan tension heats up: The историско- geopolitical cat 'n' mouse game between India and Pakistan has hit new peaks. Yesterday's crossfire between the nuclear neighbors has brought them closer to war, igniting their most significant crisis in decades. Check out the latest squabbles and their repercussions.
Recent Developments: The Indian Defense Ministry declared that they've knocked out Pakistani drone and missile assaults on military targets in the country's north and west. Additionally, they've reported cyber-attacking Pakistan's air defense radars and systems at several locations, confirming the takedown of an air defense system in Lahore, Pakistan's second-biggest city. Pakistan's armed forces spokesperson disputed these claims, affirming they scrambled 25 intruding Indian drones across various cities, resulting in a civilian fatality and injuries to four Pakistani soldiers.
Casualty Count: The attacks have raised Pakistan's death toll this week to 32 fatalities and 61 injuries. India reported increased shelling over the Line of Control, the de facto Kashmir border, which both nations claim and control parts of. Resulting in the deaths of 16 civilians, including women and children, and 59 injuries. However, Pakistan claims that 40 to 50 Indian soldiers have perished since Tuesday.
Throwing the Rules Out the Window: Christopher Clary, a professor at the University at Albany in New York, commented on the situation, stating, "Attacks on cities by military drones have never occurred in the India-Pakistan rivalry. This is a serious allegation [by Pakistan] and a sign... indicating the old rules have been thrown out the window." He added, "The new rules have yet to be written, so we're in for a dangerous period." Learn more about the developments here.
- Trump Steps In: With escalating tension between India and Pakistan, the U.S. President's administration is determined to prevent Indian missile strikes against Pakistan from turning into a nuclear standoff.
- Perspective Pieces: India's offensive, in response to last month's Kashmir tourist attack, has sparked a swell of support for retaliation in Pakistan, led by a general known for his uncompromising stance. Academic Ayesha Siddiqa, a senior fellow at King's College London, delves into the volatile situation.
Apart from this, we've got a bunch of other stuff lined up for you:
- Economic Data: Keep an eye on China's April trade data and its inflation numbers, scheduled for release today and Saturday, respectively.
- US-China Trade War: Washington and Beijing will resume trade talks this weekend, marking the first conversation since President Trump ignited the tariff war against China.
- China-Russia Relations: Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend a Moscow parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's second world war victory. Prior to the summit, Chinese leader likened American "hegemony" to "fascist forces."
- Earnings Reports: Macquarie Group, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Nippon Steel are set to announce their earnings this week.
Quiz Time: Test your news IQ by taking our weekly quiz to see how well you've kept up with the news this week.
More top stories:
- Pope Leo XIV: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the new pope, making history as the first American to lead the Catholic Church's 1.4 billion followers. His unique profile as a compromise candidate promises to unite a divided church.
- US-UK Trade Deal: Despite the trade war ignited by President Trump, the UK secured its first deal since the conflict, scoring cuts to punitive tariffs on car and steel exports, but failing to roll back a flat 10% tariff on most goods. Critics argue the agreement might face legal challenges.
- Bill Gates vs. Elon Musk: In a heated exchange, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates accused Tesla CEO Elon Musk of "killing the world's poorest children" through perceived miscalculations in cuts to USAID. Gates suggested these missteps could lead to the resurgence of diseases such as measles, HIV, and polio. Catch his explosive remarks in an interview with the FT.
- Japan's Trade Crisis: Trump's trade war will reveal whether Japan's corporations have saved or miserably squandered their opportunities this summer.
- The Case for Universities: Despite the current educational crisis, institutions worldwide will survive, suggests Simon Kuper.
In the world of anime, Japanese anime has seen a shift from niche fandom to a powerful tool of Japanese soft power. By 2030, the global market for anime is projected to almost double, with private equity firms and Hollywood studios eager to purchase Japanese entertainment companies and their valuable IP. But, who will ultimately reap the rewards of this potential growth? Read more
Chart of the day: The world can handle big shocks without incurring long-lasting damage, but it'll look rough in the short term, states Alan Beattie.
Take a break from the news and catch our six films to watch this week, including The Wedding Banquet featuring Bowen Yang and Han-Gi Chan in a modern remake of Ang Lee's 1993 sham-marriage movie.
- The escalating India-Pakistan tension, reminiscent of a historic game of cat and mouse, has brought both nations closer to war and marks a significant crisis in decades, with both engaging in drone and missile assaults, cyber-attacks on air defense radars, and increased shelling over the Line of Control.
- With the U.S. President's administration aiming to prevent an Indian missile strike against Pakistan from escalating into a nuclear standoff, there are concerns that the old rules have been thrown out the window, signaling a dangerous period ahead.
- In the world of economics, investors are watching China's April trade data and inflation numbers, scheduled for release today and Saturday, respectively. Meanwhile, the US-China trade talks are set to resume this weekend, marking the first conversation since President Trump ignited the tariff war against China.
- In global politics, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend a Moscow parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's second world war victory. Prior to the summit, Chinese leader likened American "hegemony" to "fascist forces."
- The growing rift between technology tycoons Bill Gates and Elon Musk took a heated turn when Gates accused Musk of "killing the world's poorest children" through perceived miscalculations in cuts to USAID, setting off a high-profile exchange in the media.
