Today's headlines: China vs US for warship passage in South China Sea; Honduras envoy headed to Beijing to establish diplomatic relations; Kurdish opposition will not present candidate in Turkish presidential election; Two dissidents arrested in Cambodia; Russian police raid homes of members of the humanitarian association Memorial.
INDIA
A Gujarat court has sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in first instance to two years in prison for 'defaming' Narendra Modi. In the 2019 election campaign, the premier's main opponent had said that all thieves in the country share the surname 'Modi'. Gandhi is now free on bail and can appeal.
CHINA-US
Washington denied that its destroyer USS Milius was driven away by Chinese naval units near the Paracels, disputed islands in the South China Sea. In a statement Beijing spoke of an intrusion into its territorial waters. The US responded that the warship is carrying out legitimate routine missions in the area.
HONDURAS-TAIWAN
Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina is on his way to China to establish diplomatic relations with the Chinese government. The move implies the abandonment of formal relations with Taipei, which had lasted for decades.
TURKEY
In a blow to Erdogan, the pro-Kurdish Hdp party said yesterday that it and its allies will not present a candidate in the upcoming presidential elections, paving the way for a united front with other oppositions.
CAMBODIA
Cambodian authorities arrested two dissident activists for insulting King Norodom Sihamoni in Facebook posts. The two have links to opposition leader Kem Sokha, who was recently sentenced to 27 years in prison.
RUSSIA
The Moscow police carried out a series of searches in the flats of members of the Memorial association, which was closed down ex officio months ago. In their sights were the president Oleg Orlov, his deputy Nikita Petrov and the centre's administrator Jan Račinskij, as well as a dozen other members of the group.
KAZAKHSTAN
The US Ministry of Finance returned .7 million to Kazakhstan's main uranium production company. A year ago, as part of the sanctions against Russia, Kazatomprom's accounts had been frozen for a payment made to a supplier through the Russian Sberbank.