North Asia

Orthodox consider the Russian Tsar the 'Westernist' Antichrist. The Russian president on the outcome of the war against Ukraine: in 10 years time we will have a better standard of living. The people wait with resigned submission.

Today's headlines: Asian companies' profits drop for the first time in two years; Hong Kong seeks students to be quarantined to celebrate Covid-free July 1; Northern Thai poultry farm replaces antibiotics and medicine with cannabis; Pakistan prepares for former President Musharraf's return; dozens of activists and pacifists arrested on Russia Day.

The European Parliament reports "violations of press freedom and dangers to the safety of journalists" in the Caucasian country. The Georgian Dream government has not adopted sanctions against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Opposition calls for change of direction to obtain candidate country status.

Today's headlines: Pyongyang launches artillery strikes; Seoul approves strengthening of defence capabilities with the US and Japan; fresh Covid outbreak in Beijing; one of the earliest Islamic burial sites, dating to mid 7th century, discovered in Syria; Duma bans use of 'anglicisms' in public.

Max Scheler argued that the best demonstration of the Russian culture of resentment are the 'humiliated and offended' heroes of Gogol, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. Today, the Russians think they have done their part after the end of the Cold War, while 'the others' have taken advantage of it. This anger has exploded in Ukraine, showing the whole world how little has been understood about a people not only proud of their traditions, but able to expose the hypocrisies and weaknesses of others.

Today's headlines: Asian commodity producers' fears rise in Asia over protectionist policies in response to Ukraine war; Catholic village in Myanmar hit by military for second time in a month, houses set on fire; an Indian cardinal expresses 'great concern' over expropriations of 150,000 families; Syria blocks flights from Damascus airport following Israeli attack.

The war on Ukraine and Western sanctions open up a new scenario for Russia. Moscow aims to create an economic space in 'Greater Eurasia'. The role of China, India Turkey and Iran. Objective: to build a new economic world free from the enslavement of the West.

Since 1991, the Russian president has been searching for 'red mercury'. It is an element that does not exist in nature, part of a super-secret Soviet project to build weapons of mass dstruction. In the winter of 1991-1992, Putin was a key player in the foreign sell-offs of Russian energy resources.

There are now only a few thousand people. The definition of territories and the integration of peoples continues to Russias' priority. Moscow would like to reduce all its ethnic groups - Ukrainians included - to the tame folklore of the Khanty and Mansi.

At every political, social and even religious level, the direct line of command has become increasingly important for Putin and his inner circle, as the main propaganda tool to convey the image of a super-efficient president, close to everyone’s problems, invested even with a divine mission, which the country cannot do without.

Even before the invasion, the separatist authorities in Lugansk and Donetsk had imposed general recruitment. The men are trying hard to avoid conscription. The subsidies promised to them by Putin never arrived. In the event of death in combat, the families receive less than 200 euros in compensation.

On a state visit to Iran, Tajik President Rahmon met with Iran’s Khamenei and Raisi. The delicate situation in neighbouring Afghanistan and the search for an ally to replace Russia in the border dispute with Turkey-backed Kyrgyzstan are speeding up the thaw in relations that began in the summer 2019.