Massive Russian attack on Kyiv: at least 13 dead and over 80 injured

Today’s headlines: the Syrian president appoints the final 70 members of parliament, including 15 women; The (Chinese) Myitsone mega-project in northern Myanmar gets back on track; Two churches in the UAE that had been closed due to the war have reopened. Kerala Assembly opposes Delhi’s reform on foreign funding for NGOs; Hanoi scraps the two-child policy and offers incentives to families.

RUSSIA – UKRAINE

At least 13 people have been killed and over 80 injured in the heavy night-time attack launched by Russia against Ukraine, with a barrage of missiles and drones targeting Kyiv. Several neighbourhoods have been evacuated and residential areas hit, whilst explosions have shaken buildings across the capital. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned that Moscow was preparing a ‘massive’ raid. Among the casualties is also a ‘significant number’ of children, according to the head of Kyiv’s military administration, Tymur Tkachenk.

SYRIA

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed the final 70 members of the new Parliament, paving the way for its first session to be held next week. At least 15 of the new MPs are women and a further 13 had been imprisoned under the previous regime of Bashar al-Assad, which was overthrown at the end of 2024. At present, there is no further information on how many members belong to religious and ethnic minorities. Last October, regional electoral colleges selected two-thirds of the 210-seat People’s Assembly, which is responsible for legislation during the transition period. After only six seats were won by women and 10 by candidates from minority groups, electoral officials said that Sharaa would use his appointments to redress the imbalance.

CHINA – MYANMAR

Myanmar’s new government aims to complete a controversial project involving a .6 billion dam at Myitsone in the northern state of Kachin within about eight years. The news comes shortly after the visit to Beijing by President (and former junta leader) Min Aung Hlaing, the main backer of the mega-hydroelectric power station in the far north of the country, which has been torn apart by more than five years of civil war. In the past, the suspension of work had infuriated China, but at the time the resentment of the local population, combined with fears over the environmental impact, had prevailed. The Myitsone dam is expected to export over 90 per cent of the 6 gigawatts (GW) of energy generated to its neighbouring giant. This capacity would rank Myitsone among the largest hydroelectric projects in South-East Asia.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The Vicariate of Southern Arabia announces the reopening of churches in Dubai and Jebel Ali, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The announcement was made by the Vicar, Monsignor Paolo Martinelli, who particularly emphasised the full resumption of activities at the churches of St Francis of Assisi and St Mary following three months of restrictions linked to the Gulf war between Iran and the United States (and Israel).

In the statement, the prelate expresses his gratitude to the authorities for their care and vigilance, and thanks the clergy and the faithful for their responsibility, patience and witness to the faith during this period.

INDIA

The Kerala Legislative Assembly yesterday officially passed a resolution urging the Union government to completely withdraw the draft bill amending the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act 2026, and the corresponding rules notified on 22 June. The resolution, tabled by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, was adopted by an overwhelming majority following a vote in which 111 members voted in favour and only two BJP legislators opposed it. The issue has fuelled intense discussions between regional leaders and the central government regarding its potential impact on welfare organisations and those linked to minority communities, as well as on regional politics, whilst the Indian Church has organised prayer meetings.

VIETNAM

A year after scrapping the long-standing two-child limit, the communist regime in Hanoi is offering incentives to families to have more children in response to a country that, even before it becomes wealthy, risks already being an ageing society. A new population law, which came into force yesterday, extends maternity leave from six to seven months for mothers having a second child and provides financial assistance. The new scheme subsidises prenatal and neonatal screening and provides one-off cash bonuses of up to 8 – around two-thirds of the average monthly salary – for mothers who meet certain criteria.

KAZAKHSTAN

In a joint session of both houses of Parliament, President Kasym-Žomart Tokaev announced that Kazakhstan “is transitioning to a new economic model, which will require new approaches to governance”. He summarised the path of development and outlined the new phase of growth, emphasising that “previous working methods are no longer adequate to tackle modern challenges” and international crises, in the face of which the country “maintains a balanced approach”.

GEORGIA

The Ministry of the Interior has published a statement on its official website authorising protests until 8 July, specifying that demonstrators may protest on the steps in front of the parliament building and in its immediate vicinity. It is specified, however, that demonstrators must not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic, must comply with public safety regulations, and must not interfere with the normal functioning of government bodies, companies, institutions and organisations.