NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist party were leading in several races as vote counting began Thursday morning in India’s massive general elections. Election Commission data showed the Bharatiya Janata Party leading in contests for 206 seats, with its main rival, the Indian National Congress, ahead in 55 contests. “Mr. Modi’s going to be the next prime minister, we are… …read more

The United States military said it dispatched two Navy ships through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, according to News Corp Australia. The move will likely anger Beijing, at a time of already heightened tensions between the two major global powers due to an ongoing trade war between China and the United States. Taiwan has become a flashpoint for the Beijing-Washington relationship as China continues to claim ownership of the South China Sea. Washington has continued freedom-of-navigation patrols in spite of Beijing’s objections so Wednesday’s voyage will likely be viewed as a show of support from self-ruled Taiwan from the Trump …read more

Clashes between protesters and Indonesian security forces continued on Wednesday night as crowds continued to show their rage over the result of last month’s presidential election, according to Reuters. Central Jakarta was filled with instances of tear gas, rubber bullets, projectiles, and firecrackers as protesters tore apart street signs and set fire to security posts and food stalls. The capital’s governor, Anies Baswedan, said six people were killed during riots on the first night which was in the textile market neighborhood of Tanah Abang. State news agency Antara said three hospitals treated more than 350 people for injuries on Wednesday …read more

Customs and Border Protection temporarily suspended intake at the largest migrant processing center in Texas on Wednesday as the United States agency fights an outbreak of “a flu-related illness,” according to National Public Radio. McAllen Central Processing Center in southern Texas is also where a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy became ill last week before he was transferred to another Border Patrol station and died. A CBP spokesman said 32 individuals tested positive for influenza at McAllen and were all provided treatment either on site or in local hospitals “as appropriate.” A number of migrants complained of high fevers and other “flu-related” …read more

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing needed to make preparations for difficult times as it faces an uncertain international trade situation in the future on Wednesday in comments carried by state media. China and the United States have been locked in an escalated tariff war, with each targeting one another’s imported goods after talks broke down to resolve the dispute between Xi and American President Donald Trump. The tensions came to a head last week as Reuters reported the Trump administration blacklisted Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies, which curbs the company’s access to U.S.-made components and could be a devastating …read more