Burmese boycott water festival in protest of military takeover

Today's headlines: Three Palestinians killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank; "outlawed" Hong Kong pro-rights statues on display in Taiwan; the World Bank cuts growth forecasts for India (and South Asia); Damascus among possible venues for the meeting between Francis and Kirill, the Moscow Patriarchate praises the Pope for his "balanced position" on the conflict; in Turkmenistan police raids on beauty centres. 

MYANMAR

The Burmese New Year (Water Festival) was a low key celebration in Myanmar with silent streets and boycotts of events. An event that usually draws large crowds, especially among young people. This year, it is not the anti-Covid restrictions that have emptied the streets and squares of the Thingyan water festival, but rather the majority's silent protest against the military takeover in February 2021.

TAIWAN - HONG KONG

Statues of activists, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, banned from Hong Kong under Beijing's National Security Law may find "refuge" in Taiwan. The works include the "Pillar of Shame" about the Tiananmen massacre. "They have no other place, so we will keep them here," said Tzeng Chien-yuan, leader of the New School for Democracy. 

PHILIPPINES

Philippine army sources report that the number of victims of Tropical Storm Megi, which struck the central regions in recent days, has risen to 123. At least 920,000 people have been affected, and over 200,000 have been displaced and relocated to 660 evacuation centres. Damage to agriculture amounted to almost 8 million euro. The military continue to search for the missing. 

ISRAEL - PALESTINE

The Israeli army killed three Palestinians in as many locations in the West Bank. One was a boy, only 14 years old, near Bethlehem, who was shot as he was about to throw a Molotov cocktail (according to the military) and 34 year old lawyer Mohammed Assaf, near Nablus. The third victim was also recorded yesterday near Ramallah, during clashes following an arrest. 

INDIA

The World Bank cut its growth forecast for India (and South Asia). Among the reasons are the drastic deterioration in supplies and the increasing risk of inflation, linked to the war in Ukraine. The forecast is for a % from the initial 8.7% for Delhi and a cut of one percentage point for the sub-continent. Strong increases are expected in the food sector. 

VATICAN - RUSSIA

The meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill could take place in Jerusalem, after the papal visit of 12-13 June to Lebanon and Jordan, or in Damascus, as the Russians would prefer. Metropolitan Ilarion explains that the meeting requires "scrupulous preparation in this difficult political situation" and praises the pontiff for "his balanced position on the Ukrainian issue".

RUSSIA

A violent fight broke out in the Saratov penal colony, in the south of European Russia, on religious grounds. One Muslim convict was stabbed to death and about ten received serious injuries. The cause of the brawl was the observance of Ramadan rules, which conflict with the internal rules dictated by the "sacred" gang leaders.

TURKMENISTAN

Police officers from the velayat of Mari, in Turkmenistan, are carrying out thorough checks in all the beauty salons in the area, announcing the prohibition of certain cosmetic practices. Botox injections, removing wrinkles from the face, growing eyelashes, swelling lips and applying false nails are prohibited. On penalty of heavy fines and imprisonment for up to 15 days. 

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