China-United States in second day of London rare earths talks

Today's news: Indian state of Manipur rolls out curfew and internet blackout; The Taliban ban the publication of photos of suicide victims; Israel strikes the port of Hodeidah in Yemen; Serious potato shortage blights Russia.

CHINA

Chinese and US officials will meet today for a second round of trade talks in London, in an attempt to consolidate the truce on tariffs. The United States has accused China of moving too slowly with the export of rare earths. After a first round of talks in Geneva last month, diplomats from the two countries have chosen to meet at Lancaster House, with the UK Foreign Office acting as mediator.

JAPAN

Japanese authorities have reported an explosion at an unexploded ordnance depot in Okinawa, leaving four soldiers with minor injuries. Although there are about 30,000 US soldiers stationed on the island, no Americans were involved in the incident, the base said. The depot stores mostly World War II ordnance: the Battle of Okinawa was one of the bloodiest of the conflict.

INDIA

Indian authorities have once again imposed a curfew and internet blackout in the north-eastern state of Manipur following the arrest of five leaders of Arambai Tenggol, a radical armed group that says it wants to protect the Meitei ethnic group. Among those arrested is the group's leader, Asem Kanan Singh, who is accused of being involved in “various criminal activities” following the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban authorities in the south-eastern province of Khost have banned the online publication of images of people who have committed suicide. They have also instructed local religious leaders to warn young people about the moral and religious consequences of suicide. ‘Most of the suicides in the last four years have involved young people,’ a source told the Amu news agency, citing unemployment, psychological stress, family problems and drug addiction as the main factors contributing to the phenomenon.

ISRAEL – YEMEN

The Israeli navy has struck the port of Hodeidah on the Red Sea in Yemen for the first time. The Houthi-run Al Masirah television station said Israel targeted the port's docks with two strikes. The Israeli army claims that the port is used for arms transfers.

RUSSIA – BELARUS

The potato crisis in Russia is becoming increasingly serious, with potatoes now “more expensive than pineapples” and supplies from Belarus, which is itself facing severe shortages, having run out. Many commentators point out that “for Belarus, the potato (bulba) is not just a foodstuff, but a national symbol”. Belarusians consume an average of 178 kg per person per year, Ukrainians 131 kg and Russians 112 kg, ranking first, second and third in the world.

KAZAKHSTAN

In Kazakhstan, 140 people have been arrested on charges of “trading in private personal data”, according to Polisia.kz, a network that stole data from state databases and distributed it via Telegram to various groups of collectors. During raids on the offices of these “collectors”, over 400 pieces of IT equipment were seized, and the investigation is still ongoing to clarify all the methods used in this cyber piracy.

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