Relations between Moscow’s eastern neighbours remain largely in limbo, as they seek to reduce their dependence without severing ties with Russia for good. Meanwhile, in Bishkek, Xi Jinping has, yet again, rejected Putin’s call to unblock the ‘Power of Siberia 2’ gas pipeline project.
Even on Chinese social networks today, everyone is talking about what is happening in Russia, as official media reported the news as "anti-terrorism" mobilization. A crisis that fuels the dangers of disintegration in Russia is Xi Jinping's worst nightmare. Putin phoned Kazakh President Tokaev, who responded to him by calling what is happening "an internal Russian natter."
Today's headines: Moscow on tenterhooks over Wagner Company mutiny, which claims to have taken control of Rostov; Indian oppositions in Patna discuss "common front" against Modi (but Kejrival and Congress remain divided); Islamabad government confirms: 350 Pakistanis aboard migrant ship wrecked in Aegean Sea; Beijing heatwave breaks records for most number of days above 40 degrees; First Ocha convoy in Idlib after earthquake.
The patriarchal accusations against pacifist priests astonishingly contain an explicit mention of "Tolstoyan heresy." Fr. Viktor Burdin responds to Kirill's excommunication of "universal value" with the question "who can stop me serving God?", which another Orthodox priest from Moscow, the Italian Fr. Giovanni Guaita, often repeats in his homilies.
For Lavrov in the crisis over the Lačin corridor, the U.S. and the EU are only trying to "penetrate the region to harm the legitimate interests of the Russian Federation." While Lukasenko intends to put himself forward as the "noble father" of the Csto, the Eurasian military alliance. Meanwhile, Yerevan returns to denounce the "ethnic cleansing" pursued by Baku.
Today's headlines: the US imposes new sanctions on Burma's coup junta, but without hitting major projects. In China at least 31 people died in a restaurant explosion. The South Korean president arrived in Vietnam today. Pakistan will grant the port of Karachi to the Emirates in exchange for emergency funds. The Catholic Archbishop of Moscow interviewed by Ria Novosti about the Vatican's peace initiatives.
Thousands of documents have been published on Arkadij and Boris Rotenberg, among those closest to Putin and owners of the 'president's castle' denounced by Naval'nyj. In the network of frontmen in charge of their financial and personal affairs, even a cousin of Queen Elizabeth. Even after the invasion of Ukraine business not touched by sanctions especially in Monaco, Cyprus and Luxembourg.
Today's headlines: Japan's emperor and empress visit a cemetery for independence heroes in Indonesia; Glaciers in the Hindu Kush are melting at an "unprecedented" rate; An activist for independent Sikh state is killed in Canada; Five Palestinians killed in Jenin; In Taiwan kindergarten teachers accused of drugging children; Two Pakistanis aboard submarine lost in Atlantic.
Archaeologist Maria Očir-Gorjaeva: "Imperial states have their own parabola, the flattening of ethnic groups cannot last indefinitely. The independence of the peoples of the Caucasus would also and especially serve the Russians, in a federal unity left only to global issues."
Today's headlines: Thai government holds peace talks in Myanmar but Asean countries decline invitation; Nearly 100 deaths in India from heat waves; Qatar wants to reduce Iraq's energy dependence on Iran; Russia and Algeria vow they "will never be enemies."
The real measure of Ukraine’s counteroffensive will not be military but its psychological and informational impact on public opinion, at home, in the West, and in Russia itself. Meanwhile, the aura of Ukraine’s top military man, General Zaluzhnyi, is shining almost as brightly as Zelensky’s.
Today's headlines: Pyongyang fires two short-range ballistic missiles, "inevitable" response to exercises between South Korea and the US; Tehran denies Hajj permit to Iranian Sunni leader critical of protest crackdown; Taliban officials in Norway to attend peace forum; Indonesian special needs students victimized by serious deficiencies in education system; Japan studies limits on access to Mt. Fuji; New tobacco law in Russia.
Today's headlines: Philippines launches tourist tours to disputed territories on Spratly Islands. Indonesian Constitutional Court rejects request to change electoral system. Japanese opposition ready to file no-confidence vote against Kishida. Indian nun arrested on conversion charges released on bail. Last year nearly 3800 people died on migration routes from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe, the largest increase from Lebanon. With the vacations come an increase in children begging in Turkmenistan.
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