​Three Palestinians killed in shootout with Israeli security forces

Today's headlines: Nepal must move base camp on Mount Everest due to melting glaciers; covid-19 and war fuel illegal migration of Burmese to Thailand; Beijing launches campaign to "nationalise" public schools; Taliban says women without headscarves "to look like animals"; in Armenia, protests against PM over policy of dialogue with Azerbaijan. 


ISRAEL - PALESTINE

Israeli security forces killed three Palestinians in a gunbattle in the early hours of today in the Jenin area of the West Bank. Military sources said the soldiers were on patrol when they were attacked by some people in a suspicious vehicle parked at the side of the road. "They returned fire, neutralising the assailants," says a note. 

NEPAL

Nepal is preparing to relocate its base camp on Mount Everest, as global warming and human activity have made it unsafe. The centre, used by almost 1500 people in the spring season to climb the world's highest mountain, is located on the rapidly thinning Khumbu glacier. A new space must now be found at a higher altitude. 

THAILAND - MYANMAR

The number of migrants entering Thailand illegally from Myanmar has increased in recent months. This flow comes mainly from the border region, where more and more people are trying to escape from Covid and war. In the past five months, Thai police have arrested nearly 20,000 migrants who were illegally crossing the border, many of them in grave danger.

CHINA

The Chinese authorities have launched a campaign to nationalise public schools. The reform aims to bring all institutions under the direct control of the Communist Party (CCP). At least 38 private primary and secondary schools in 10 districts of Xi'an now answer to the Ministry of Education. In Shanghai, 20,000 private school places have been taken over by the municipality. 

AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban religious police in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan, put up posters accusing women who do not wear the veil of 'trying to look like animals'. The pictures show two women, one in a burqa and the other in a veil, with only their eyes showing. Also in the crosshairs are short, tight and fine dresses contrary to the decree and the norms of Koranic students. 

RUSSIA

At the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, which opened on 15 June, no significant Western partners are taking part, and only six of Russia's more than 100 billionaires are on the programme. In her opening speech, the President of the Bank of Russia, Elvira Nabiullina, declared that 'the conditions of the Russian economy have changed forever'.

ARMENIA - AZERBAIJAN

There is no end to the protests of the opposition in Armenia against Prime Minister Nikol Pašinyan, whose resignation is being demanded for his giving way in negotiations with Azerbaijan. The government is planning to deprive the opposing deputies, who systematically desert the sessions of parliament in order to promote street demonstrations, of their mandate.