Today's headlines: Syrian Kurds ready to coordinate with Bashar al-Assad's troops against possible Turkish attack; US and South Korea launch 8 ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan; China's services crisis continues; Laos on the ropes due to inflation; Constitutional referendum in Kazakhstan; Russian communist youth revolt over the invasion of Ukraine.
PAKISTAN
Former premier Imran Khan will be arrested as soon as the deadline for his bail expires, says Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah. Khan has to answer for several offences: riots, sedition, mayhem and armed attacks on the authorities. The former prime minister was granted bail on 2 June for a period of three weeks.
SYRIA-TURKEY
The Kurds of the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) say they are ready to coordinate with the government of Bashar al-Assad to repel a possible Turkish attack on parts of Syrian Kurdistan. An SDF commander said yesterday that the Damascus authorities should not send troops, but only activate their air defence systems.
KOREA-USA
Seoul and Washington fired eight ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan today. The exercise is a response to the firing of as many rockets by North Korea yesterday. According to South Korean authorities, Pyongyang's test involved short-range ballistic missiles.
CHINA
China's services sector contracted for the third month in a row, signalling a difficult recovery of the national economy even after the easing of restrictions due to the re-emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in Beijing and Shanghai. Tertiary sector activity covers 60% of China's economy and half of urban employment.
LAOS
Prices in the country have risen exponentially over the past year: from 2% in January to 9.9% in April, according to World Bank data. Faced with rising inflation, the population crosses the border into Thailand to buy gas and food. The loss of purchasing power of Laotians is mainly due to the devaluation of the national currency, the kip.
KAZAKHSTAN
At the close of voting for the constitutional referendum in Kazakhstan, turnout stood at 68.4%, with peaks of over 80% in Turkestan, while Almaty had the lowest turnout at just over 50%. The changes are supposed to make the country's political life more democratic, but the opposition fears they are only cosmetic; journalists were not allowed in some polling stations, and there were several protests.
RUSSIA
The Russian Communist Party Kprf actively supports the war in Ukraine, but younger deputies (the 'komsomoltsy') and regional deputies openly criticise it, deeming it 'imperialist' and contrary to the principles of Marxism-Leninism. Many have left the formation in protest, and others have been expelled for 'violation of party discipline'. In Surgut, Siberia, only six members remain after 57 people left the party.