USA – SYRIA – GULF
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, while on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, announced that he will lift all sanctions on Syria to give the country “a chance to become great”. At the same time, a $142 billion defence agreement was signed with Riyadh as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader commitment to invest $600 billion in the United States.
INDIA – PAKISTAN – USA
Yesterday, the Indian government disputed US President Donald Trump’s claim that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, mediated by the United States, was partly due to potential trade concessions offered by the President. “The issue of trade was not raised in any of these discussions,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said.
MALAYSIA – RUSSIA
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Russia today for a four-day official visit, during which he will meet President Vladimir Putin. The day before his departure, the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s council determined that Moscow should be held responsible for the downing of flight MH17 as it flew over Ukraine’s Donetsk region on 17 July 2014. The aircraft was en route to Kuala Lumpur, and nearly 300 people lost their lives in the incident.
CAMBODIA – CHINA
Beijing and Phnom Penh today began joint military exercises featuring advanced Chinese military equipment, including warships and robotic attack dogs. Around 900 Chinese troops and over 1,300 Cambodian soldiers are taking part in the drills, which will run until 28 May, according to a statement from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
CHINA
In rural China, there are "retreat homes for young people" that allow individuals to take a break from the stressful pace of work. Popular on social media, these facilities attract mostly people in their 20s and 30s – often referred to as “lying flat” youth in China – who stay for several weeks or months and often engage in group activities. The trend coincides with a high urban youth unemployment rate, which has reached 15%.
JAPAN
Children in Japan continue to suffer from mental health issues, according to a recent UNICEF report. The youth suicide rate was the fourth highest among the 43 countries included in the study. In terms of physical health, however, Japan ranked first. Other studies indicate that increasing isolation is leading more young people to commit acts of violence.
ARMENIA – AZERBAIJAN
Armenia’s commissioner for cultural heritage, Ovik Avanesov, has condemned the destruction by Azerbaijan of the Armenian Majraberd memorial complex in Askeran, Nagorno-Karabakh. Satellite images show that the site, which was dedicated to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, the Second World War, and the “Artsakh Liberation War”, has been demolished.
