In addition to Russia, Armenia’s prime minister is looking to China and India to boost the country’s development. New Delhi plays an important role in military-industrial and security matters. China is looking for Armenian raw materials. In the background, ties with the European Union (along with the United States) remain the primary political objective.
Today's news: South Korean doctors on strike on 18 June against government reform; Economic crisis and joblessness cause growing school dropout in Laos; At least seven security men killed in an explosion in Pakistan; Armenian archbishop calls for street protest against government territorial concessions to Azerbaijan.
The archbishop of Tavowš, the area most affected by the latest disputes with the Azeris, is now the leader of the forces opposing negotiations with Baku. Supported by the katholikos Karekin II himself, he has asked to be suspended from his pastoral duties, but he nevertheless takes to the streets in his episcopal vestments, not escaping the jostling of the police forces. And he makes no secret of his ambition to lead the country after overthrowing the ‘traitor’ Pašinyan.
Long under attack from opposition parties and movements and even the Apostolic Church for his policy of ‘normalising’ the conflict with Azerbaijan and emancipating himself from Russia's protection, the Armenian president categorically rules out the possibility of early elections. Kremlin keeps watch, knowing that Yerevan will not be able to do without Moscow's military and economic support.
Today's news: Up to 75 per cent of the Palestinians in Gaza are forcibly displaced, the Israeli army advances to Rafah, attacks in Jenin and authorises the return to three settlements in Samaria; Between 2016 and 2023, the Chinese authorities drove out more than 700,000 Tibetans; The Indonesian parliament wants to change the media law in a restrictive way; Bangladesh ruling party member found dead in India, three compatriots detained.
Today's news: UN 'deeply alarmed' by renewed violence in Rakhine State in Myanmar; Officials from Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan met after mob violence in Bishkek; Two Chinese warships docked in Cambodia for joint military exercises; Over 130 people died over the weekend in Afghanistan from flooding in the north and centre.
Today's news: at least 36 victims in Guangdong in highway collapse; Ankara wants to join South Africa in genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice; Bhutan is a pioneer in South Asia for primary health care (PHA); Heat wave and mismanagement cause a fish die-off in a reservoir in southern Vietnam, hundreds of thousands of animals dead.
Reconstruction work lasted over a year. The entire Christian community, from Greek Melkites to the Evangelicals, gathered for a day of celebration. The service was led by Primate Youssef Absi. Caught between warrying Armenians and Azerbaijanis, the historic church of St John the Baptist in Shushi has been destroyed.
Today's headlines: Qatar and Bangladesh sign a memorandum on migrant workers. Myanmar’s military retakes a village on the Mon-Karen border. Taiwan denounces Chinese military activities after Blinken's departure. Syrian woman gets seven life sentences over the Istanbul attack of November 2022. Russia has lost its dominant position as India’s main arms supplier.
Today's news: over 243 million children in East and Southeast Asia at risk from heat waves:; Beijing denies top management access to two US companies for selling arms to Taiwan; The Taliban want to black out Facebook (and social media) by blocking the few sources of information; Islamabad negotiates the renewal of the rescue plan with the International Monetary Fund; Over 98,000 people evacuated in Kazakhstan due to flooding.
The Armenian National Assembly held an extraordinary closed-door session, requested by opposition parties, to discuss border demarcation procedures in the disputed territories. Baku now insists on the 'restitution' of eight villages in the Tavowš region, while Yerevan claims that Azerbaijan has occupied 'all or part' of 31 of its localities.
Pašinyan 'preaches' using psalms and gospel images to defend his policy. Karekin II and the clergy reply that his task is to 'heal the wounds of his people who have suffered great losses'. Behind the clash is the wound of the renunciation of Nagorno Karabakh while tensions with Azerbaijan have risen again.
In early March 2024, the two foreign ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Hakan Fidan met in Antalya, declaring their readiness for a complete re-establishment of diplomatic relations. Armenians look to Turkey to limit the influence of the Russians, while Erdogan cultivates the ambition to act as a bridge between East and West.
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