Malaysia: 10 dead in a collision between two Navy helicopters

Today's news: Indonesia's Constitutional Court rejected two appeals on elections; Japan is investigating the disappearance of a Chinese professor; Heat wave disruptions continue in South Asia; New agreements between Iraq and Turkey on Kurdish repression; Bans against migrant workers in Russia multiply.

MALAYSIA

Ten people died this morning after a collision between two Navy helicopters that were carrying out an exercise for a Royal Malaysian Navy parade. "All victims were confirmed dead at the scene and sent to Lumut military base hospital for identification," the Navy announced.

INDONESIA

The Indonesian Constitutional Court yesterday rejected two appeals filed by presidential candidates who lost the elections. Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo had asked for a re-run of the polls due to alleged irregularities and widespread fraud, but the court found there was insufficient evidence. Allegations of nepotism against current President Joko Widodo for running his son were also dismissed.

CHINA - JAPAN

The Japanese government has announced that it is pursuing the case of a Chinese professor who until last year was employed at a university in Japan and has now apparently disappeared after returning home. According to sources, Professor Fan Yuntao, 61, had been contacted by the Chinese authorities before his disappearance. Last month, Kobe Gakuin University had also stated that it no longer had any contact with Professor Hu Shiyun, who had also returned to China.

SOUTH ASIA

Millions of people are suffering from a heat wave that has forced schools to close, disrupted agricultural activities and increased health complications. April has always been the hottest month in South Asia, but in Bangladesh temperatures reached 42 degrees and the humidity in the capital Dhaka was 73% these days.

TURKEY

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said relations with Iraq are entering a new phase after the signing of an agreement to strengthen cooperation against Kurdish militants, boost trade and manage water resources. This is a turning point after years of strained relations: Erdogan's visit to Iraq was the first by a Turkish leader since 2011.

RUSSIA

In Russia, bans on migrants' work are multiplying further, affecting some 35 areas of economic activity in more than ten regions of the Federation, mainly in the Siberian regions, but also in Central Russia and Crimea. Educational activities, food production, fishing and the optics trade are prohibited.

KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan is planning a large investment together with China and Russia for the production of polyethylene, to the sum of .7 billion and a capacity of 1.25 million tonnes per year, discussed by Premier Olžas Bektenov with the head of the China Petrolchemical Corporation, Xiao Dong, and the president of Russia's Sibur, Mikhail Karisalov.

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