State funerals for Iranian generals and scientists killed in the war with Israel
Today's news: Hong Kong's League of Social Democrats meets tomorrow to ratify its dissolution under pressure from Beijing; Hundreds of protesters take to the streets in Bangkok calling for the prime minister's resignation; At least 11 people die in flash floods in north-western Pakistan; Seoul police arrest six US citizens who wanted to smuggle rice and Bibles into North Korea.
IRAN - ISRAEL - USA
The state funerals of at least 60 senior army officers and nuclear scientists killed in the 12-day war with Israel are being held today in Iran, while on the fourth day of a fragile ceasefire, US President Donald Trump is threatening new attacks. State television is showing the funeral processions of the “martyrs”, with coffins draped in Iranian flags and portraits of commanders in uniform. President Massoud Pezeshkian is attending. Meanwhile, the foreign minister admits serious damage to nuclear sites, while the White House chief denies rumours that the US is considering a nuclear deal in exchange for 30 billion dollars in aid.
HONG KONG - CHINA
A pro-democracy party in Hong Kong has decided to dissolve itself due to pressure from Beijing. One of the last opposition movements, the Social Democratic League, with 19 years of history behind it, has announced a press conference tomorrow to formalise the end of its activities, confirming the gradual disappearance of pro-democracy parties from the territory.
THAILAND
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Bangkok today demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whose government is facing growing popular anger over disputes over the border with Cambodia. These are the most impressive demonstrations since the Pheu Thai came to power in 2023, as the prime minister struggles to revive a fragile economy amid instability in the governing alliance.
PAKISTAN
Flash floods in the mountainous region of north-western Pakistan have caused at least 11 deaths in the last few hours. According to emergency officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, among the victims - linked to the start of the monsoon season - are several children. At least 10 people have died in the Swat Valley, where dozens of homes have also been damaged.
SAUDI ARABIA - AFRICA
The death penalty for dozens of immigrants from the Horn of Africa, held on death row in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking offences, could be carried out “at any moment”. This has been reported by prisoners and family members of at least 50 people from Ethiopia and Somalia imprisoned in Najiran prison on the border with Yemen, who will soon be killed by beheading. The executions, according to a source, “are expected to begin shortly after Eid al-Adha”.
KOREA - USA
South Korean police have arrested six US citizens who were trying to transport at least 1,300 bottles filled with rice, dollars and Bibles to North Korea. The group had attempted to smuggle the bottles by sea from a border island west of Seoul before being spotted by a military patrol. Since becoming president in early June, South Korea's Lee Jae Myung has pledged to improve relations with Pyongyang after years of tension between the neighbours.
RUSSIA
The head of the Presidential Council for Civil Society Development and Human Rights, Valery Fadeev, has proposed expelling from Russia the families of migrants whose children do not attend Russian schools. ‘The violation of children's rights to education is punished in many countries by the deprivation of parental rights,’ he said, adding that these rights must be defended ‘even if they are not Russian citizens.’
CENTRAL ASIA
According to the World Bank report on ‘Air Quality Management in Central Asia,’ more than 65,000 people in the region die prematurely each year. The economic loss associated with pollution-related deaths is estimated at .8 billion, 6.2% of the total GDP of the five countries. Among the reasons are emissions from fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes and dust from degraded land.
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15/07/2023
