Pyongyang imposes first national lockdown

Today's headlines: Cardinal Zen and others arrested with him are released on bail; India's heatwave hits livestock and wildlife; protesters in Sri Lanka attack a museum dedicated to the Rajapaksa family; a Pussy Riot singer has escaped from Russia by disguising herself as a delivery man.

NORTH KOREA.

Although it is likely that the coronavirus had been circulating for some time, North Korea announced a nationwide lockdown yesterday for the first time. State media reported an outbreak in the capital Pyongyang without reporting the number of cases. The population is unvaccinated and the health care system inefficient.

HONG KONG.

Cardinal Joseph Zen, 90,  was released on bail following his arrest yesterday along with three other well-known Hong Kong personalities: singer Denis Ho, lawyer Margaret Ng, and academic Hui Po-keung, was released on bail. The four-who were the trustees of a fund to benefit victims of the 2019 anti-Beijing protests-still face charges under the National Security Law of "colluding with foreign forces."

CHINA

This morning a Tibet Airlines plane caught fire before takeoff-all 113 passengers on board and crew were evacuated. There were no fatalities. The incident occurred less than two months after the fatal crash of a China Eastern Airlines aircraft.

INDIA

Not even animals can stand India's scorching heat: thousands of birds that have dropped to the groundin recent weeks have been rescued by veterinarians in Gujarat, a 10 percent increase over last year. Heat waves have dried up normally available water sources. Special wards have been set up in hospitals for heat-related illnesses.

SRI LANKA.

In an appeal to the nation, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not mention resigning, generating even more discontent. A museum dedicated to the Rajapaksa family in the southern region of Hambantota was stormed by protesters.

VIETNAM

Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has expressed interest in the economic framework for the Indo-Pacific proposed by the United States, but added that he needs to study its details. Since Trump's withdrawal from a series of economic agreements in 2017, countries in the region have criticized the United States for delays in devising a new strategy to counter Chinese influence.

RUSSIA

Singer Maria Alekhina, a member of Pussy Riot, managed to escape Russia while avoiding internment in a colony for "health issues," having broken Covid prevention rules during a rally for Naval'nyj last September (she had been in and out of jail since then). The escape was successful thanks to a disguise as a courier from a commercial firm.

NAGORNO KARABAKH

Armenian Ambassador for Extraordinary Affairs Edmon Marukyan unveiled to the press that as early as April Armenia delivered to Baku its official response to the peacebuilding proposal, calling for security for the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh and a decision on the final status of the region occupied in the 2020 war.

• AsiaToday