More than half of the members of North Korea’s main decision-making body has been replaced. Kim Jong-un's loyalists remain central, but some nuclear programme veterans have been removed. The strongman celebrates his “great successes” in the military and economic areas despite sanctions and isolation, reinforced by the axis with Russia. The approach to South Korea remains uncertain.
Less restrictive land use is threatening the 72-year-old structure located in southeast Sri Lanka. Two pillars have been destroyed with five more at risk. Farmers allege favouritism towards a government-affiliated cooperative. For decades, illegal sand mining has generated huge profits.
A ruling has called for a halt to the forced exhumation of the bodies of tribal people who converted to Christianity, which often meets with opposition from villagers. Similar incidents have also occurred in Orissa, where a family was denied burial of their son in the village cemetery.
The skater who brought the Olympic title in women's singles figure skating back to the United States after 20 years is the daughter of a dissident who fled in 1989. In 2022, her family reported “attention” from Chinese agents before the Beijing Games. A story mirroring that of Eileen Gu, the freestyle star who grew up in a California family and chose the People's Republic of China.
Today's headlines: two years and eight months added to the prison sentence of a Thai activist accused of violating the lèse-majesté law; Deutsche Welle journalist arrested in Turkey; The ninth Party Congress has begun in North Korea; Mining and oil production decline in Kazakhstan.
A group of US Congressmen is pushing for the inclusion of members of the disbanded Wagner company, which has reorganised into smaller groups under the control of the Moscow Ministry of Defence, among foreign terrorist organisations. Among the countries where they are most active are Mali and the Central African Republic.
