Today's headlines: along with the foreign minister, the governor of the Chinese Central Bank is also removed; In India protests in support of the Kuki minority of Manipur; Population decline in Japan at record low, but record number of foreigners;  Russian and Chinese delegations in first post-Covid North Korean visit; Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra may return to Thailand on 10 August.

MYANMAR

According to some sources, the Burmese coup junta may transfer former leader Aung San Suu Kyi from a prison in the capital Naypiydaw to house arrest, after the Nobel Peace Prize laureate was captured with other government representatives on 1 February 2021 and subsequently sentenced to more than 30 years in prison on bogus charges. Confirmation or otherwise of the news is expected to come from the military next week at the unveiling of a giant statue of a seated Bhudda, a symbol used by the ethnic majority to which the army belongs.

INDIA

Hundreds of people, including the Prime Minister of the Indian state of Mizoram, marched yesterday in solidarity with the indigenous Kuki people, who in the neighbouring state of Manipur have been fighting against the Meitei ethnic group since the beginning of May. The locals are ethnically linked to the Zo tribes, of which the Kuki are a part, and host at least 12,000 refugees on their territory. The authorities have said that they will continue to put pressure on the central state to lower the level of violence.

JAPAN

The number of Japanese fell to an all-time low of 122.4 million, while foreign residents almost reached a record 3 million. According to government figures, as well as being the largest year-on-year drop in population, the decrease was recorded in all 47 prefectures in the country for the first time since 1968, a figure that the executive says indicates the need to improve employment opportunities for women and young people.

CHINA

Along with the foreign minister, Beijing also sacked central bank governor Yi Gang yesterday and appointed in his place Pan Gongsheng, known for taking a tough stance against currency speculators and also being involved in state bank reforms, tightening regulations on the property market and banning cryptocurrencies. Since 2016, Pan has also headed the main foreign exchange regulator ciense

NORTH KOREA - RUSSIA - CHINA

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, North Korea will once again host its allies: a Russian delegation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in the country today and together with Chinese officials led by Politburo member Li Hongzhong tomorrow will take part in the 70th anniversary celebration of 'Victory Day', commemorating the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1953, during which a large-scale military parade is expected.

PHILIPPINES

Typhoon Doksuri battered the northern coast of the Philippines today before moving towards south-eastern China, with winds reaching 175 km per hour. Entire trees were uprooted, electricity was disrupted and 12,000 people took refuge in emergency evacuation centres.

THAILAND

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been in exile since 2006, plans to return to the country on 10 August, his daughter, current leader of the Pheu Thai party, said today. The former premier risks exacerbating the ongoing political crisis and could be arrested on corruption charges. The Pheu Thai, an ally of the party that won the last elections, the Move Forward, is trying to form a government that can win the approval of Thailand's conservative and pro-military sections.

ISLAM

A small group of extremists known as 'Danish Patriots' burned copies of the Koran in front of the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in Copenhagen, following a similar incident in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm. Denmark and Sweden said they deplored these actions, but could not prevent them in favour of freedom of speech.

RUSSIA - CAMBODIA 

In order to monitor the regularity of the presidential elections in Russia in 2024, observers from Cambodia have been called in, as Election Commission member Konstantin Mazurevsky, who himself works as an observer at the National Assembly in Phnom Penh, announced, but no independent observers will be allowed.

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