Laotian government opponent seriously injured in an attack in France

Today's news: fifth night of war between Israel and Iran, while in Gaza Hamas reports a new massacre of civilians at an aid distribution point; No progress on tariffs in the meeting between Trump and Ishiba at the G7; In China, new “austerity” measures for public officials' dinners; Rosatom to build nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan; Growing alarm over video game addiction in Singapore.

LAOS

Laotian activist in exile Joseph Akaravong was injured in an attack in south-western France by an unidentified assailant. Stabbed three times in the throat and chest on 14 June in the centre of the city of Pau, he was rushed to hospital. Akaravong is one of the most prominent public critics of the communist government in Laos. He was forced to leave the country in 2018 after criticising the collapse of a dam in the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric project in Attapeu province, which killed dozens of people, and was granted political asylum in France. He often posts content on social media about the socio-economic conditions in Laos and comments critical of the government.

ISRAEL-IRAN-GAZA

After yesterday afternoon's bombing of the Iranian state television headquarters, waves of Israeli air raids and Iranian missile strikes on various areas of Israel continued for the fifth consecutive night. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health reported a new massacre with dozens of civilians killed in Khan Yunis at an aid distribution point. On the diplomatic front, the G7 summit in Canada approved a document calling for de-escalation between Tel Aviv and Tehran and a ceasefire in Gaza, but US President Donald Trump, who left the summit early, called on the civilian population to leave Tehran.

JAPAN-SOUTH KOREA-UNITED STATES

The bilateral meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada was disappointing in terms of differences over tariffs. ‘We have not yet reached a comprehensive agreement because we remain far apart on some issues,’ Ishiba told reporters after what he called a ‘frank’ discussion with Trump. Things went even worse for South Korea's new president, Lee Jae Myung, who was also attending the G7 summit as a guest: his planned meeting with the US president in Canada did not take place due to Trump's sudden return to Washington.

SINGAPORE

In Singapore, there is alarm over the increase in cases of video game addiction among young people linked to increasingly attractive products and the spread of smart devices. Therapists at the We Care Community Services addiction recovery centre report a 30% increase in people seeking help for these addictions compared to 2019. Many cases involve games that feature microtransactions such as “loot boxes” or other mechanics that tempt players to make in-game purchases to receive random virtual items, with dynamics very similar to gambling.

CHINA

Some Chinese government officials have been ordered not to dine in groups of more than three people, following a series of deaths linked to excessive alcohol consumption during banquets. New austerity regulations, issued in May and aimed at Communist Party members and public sector workers, now ban lavish banquets, unnecessary infrastructure projects, luxury cars and ornamental plants during work meetings.

RUSSIA

The independent news agency in Saratov in southern Russia, 'Saratov News. FreeNews-Volga' has announced that it has ceased all activities after 13 years following pressure from the Russian authorities, who repeatedly blocked the site for “violations of the law” after it supported Boris Nadezhdin in the elections against Vladimir Putin and published news about the assassinated opponents Boris Nemtsov and Alexei Navalny.

KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan's nuclear energy agency has finally announced its choice of company to build the country's first nuclear power plant, which has been the subject of lengthy discussions: it will be Russia's Rosatom, whose proposal was deemed ‘the most convenient and appropriate’ compared to those of China National Nuclear, Électricité de France and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, without, however, disclosing the figures of the agreement.