In Taipei the memory of the Tiananmen massacre

Today's news: Lee Jae-myung pledges to “unite the people” in his first speech as South Korean president; Israel launches a series of attacks on Syrian territory against weapons belonging to the Damascus “regime”; Philippine authorities raise the alarm over an HIV “emergency”; Over 200 inmates escape from a Karachi prison, taking advantage of the chaos caused by a series of earthquakes.

TAIWAN - USA - CHINA

The world will never forget and must keep alive the memory of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, carried out by the Chinese Communist government in 1989 against pro-democracy protesters. This was stated today by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of an event that remains a taboo for the Chinese regime, around which strict censorship prevails. The leader of Taipei added that the island “refuses to forget history” because “democratic societies choose to preserve the truth.” Today, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also praised the courage of the Chinese people and the victims of the bloody repression.

SOUTH KOREA

In his first speech as South Korea's new president, Lee Jae-myung pledged to “unite the people”. The 61-year-old leader of the Democratic Party (DP) won 49.42% of the approximately 35 million votes cast (the highest turnout for a presidential election since 1997), while his rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP) stopped at 41.15%. He promised deregulation to stimulate innovation and growth, and a willingness to reopen dialogue with Pyongyang while maintaining a strong alliance with Washington (despite tariffs).

ISRAEL - SYRIA

The Israeli army launched a series of attacks in southern Syria in response to rocket fire on the Golan Heights. Fighter jets bearing the Star of David struck “weapons belonging to the Syrian regime”, which is considered “responsible for the current situation” and which “will continue to suffer the consequences as long as hostile activities from its territory continue”, according to an IDF statement. Sources in the Arab country speak of “violent explosions” in the city of Quneitra and the Daraa region.

INDIA

Penguin chicks born at Mumbai Zoo are to be given names in the Marathi language, extending the directive that previously applied to human children to animals. The controversial proposal was launched by Byculla BJP leader Nitin Bankar, who argues that the birds, which are unable to fly, should be considered residents of Maharashtra from birth.

PHILIPPINES

Health authorities have raised the alarm over a public health “emergency” linked to an increase in HIV infections, which has particularly affected young men. In the first three months of 2025, an average of 57 new cases were reported per day, an increase of 50% on 2024. Ninety-five per cent of new cases were male, 33% were aged between 15 and 24, and 47% were aged between 25 and 34. Only 55% of HIV-positive people are diagnosed in the Philippines.

PAKISTAN

Over 200 inmates escaped from a prison in the southern metropolis of Karachi, taking advantage of permission to leave their cells granted by prison guards following a series of earthquakes that hit the area. The escape began around midnight and ended in the early hours of yesterday morning. The prisoners seized the guards' guns and forced them to open the gates. At least one prisoner was killed and three prison guards were wounded in the shootout.

RUSSIA

Eight OPEC+ countries, including Russia, have decided to accelerate oil production in July to 411,000 barrels per day. This decision has led to a drop in the price per barrel to below , partly due to the protectionist policies of US President Donald Trump. However, the Russians are counting on the price remaining within , the level set in the budget.

TURKMENISTAN

A group of Turkmenistan human rights activists, together with the Progres fund, has published a report on the latest cotton harvest in the country, as part of the “Campaign for Fair Cotton”. The report highlights how, despite all the promises, state employees, students and military personnel continue to be used as forced labour for the harvest.

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