Japan seeks technology to develop energy from ammonia

Today's headlines: Pyongyang launches third missile in a fortnight, Thailand resumes negotiations with separatist groups. In Indonesia, 100 lashes to a woman for adultery in Aceh province. Uzbekistan reduces electricity supply to Afghanistan, in Iraq fresh missile attacks on American embassy.

NORTH KOREA

North Korea has said it will react in a "strong and determined" manner to American sanctions imposed after missile tests in recent weeks. Also this morning, what appears to be a ballistic missile was launched from its shores. Experts say Pyongyang's intent is to destabilise the South's election campaign.

SOUTH KOREA - RUSSIA

South Korean presidential candidate Jeong Kyeong-ho told Tass that in case of victory he will propose to Russia to lease six regions in the Russian Far East where many Koreans live, namely Sakhalin, Amur, Khabarovsk, Magadan, Kamchatka and Chukotka. According to the leader of the Revolutionary Dividend Party, this would be the first step towards the formation of a free economic development zone in north-east Asia, on the Pusan-Vladivostok line.

JAPAN

Japan has signed trade agreements with Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore to strengthen cooperation in terms of energy production: Tokyo is aiming to develop a technology for ammonia combustion by 2030 and is trying to lead other countries in the region that today mainly use coal.

INDIA

Tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims have gathered for a religious festival called Magh Mela and experts fear it could lead to an increase in contagions. However, the authorities in Uttar Pradesh refused to cancel the event. In the last two days, the country recorded more than 442,000 new cases.

THAILAND

Talks between the Thai government and a rebel group calling for the independence of Muslim border areas resumed after a two-year halt due to the pandemic. The government delegation and representatives of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in recent days. More than 7,300 people have been killed in bombings and shootings since 2004.

INDONESIA

Yesterday, an Indonesian woman received 100 lashes for adultery. Her partner, who denied the affair, received 15. The case took place in Aceh, the only province in Indonesia to apply Islamic law and allow caning.

UZBEKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN

Uzbekistan has cut electricity exports to Afghanistan by 60 per cent after failing to agree on details of a 0 million 2022 supply deal. This was announced by the Afghan energy company Dabs, according to which the Uzbeks complained of technical difficulties at the Talimarzhan power station. As a result of this reduction, 16 provinces in the country have been left without electricity, and power is distributed with hiccups throughout Afghanistan.

IRAQ

Yesterday, three missiles were fired at the US embassy in Baghdad and another rocket hit a nearby school, injuring a woman and a child. The attack was not claimed, but the Green zone has been repeatedly targeted by pro-Iranian militias since the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.