Taiwan, Beijing against presidential candidate Lai for US stop on tour

Today's headlines: Kakar is Pakistan's interim prime minister until elections; 30 missing in Jade mine landslide in Myanmar; New attack on an Iranian Shia shrine in Shiraz; Suspension of Radio Veritas broadcast lifted; Russia's birth rate drops to all-time low.

TAIWAN-CHINA-USA

The stopover in the United States by Taiwanese Vice President William Lai, who is vying to become the next president in January's elections, has once again raised tensions with Beijing. Lai - who is in San Francisco on his way back from a trip to Paraguay, one of only 13 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan - declared that he will not back down in the face of authoritarian threats, while reiterating his willingness to dialogue with China. Beijing denounced Lai's stay in the United States, calling him a separatist 'troublemaker'.

MYANMAR

A landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar has left more than 30 people missing. The incident occurred in Hpakant, a remote mountain town in Kachin State, about 950 km north of Yangon. The area is the epicentre of the world's largest and most profitable jade mines.

PAKISTAN

Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar was appointed by President Arif Alvi as Pakistan's interim prime minister until the elections. Kakar was appointed through an agreement between outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and outgoing opposition leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz.

IRAN

A gunman broke into the Shia shrine of Shah Cheragh in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz and opened fire on worshippers. The assailant hit four people, killing one. The same holy place had been the target of a similar action last October that had killed 13 people.

ASIA

Card. Charles Maung Bo, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, revoked an order four months ago to suspend the activities of Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) in the Philippines. The order of 28 March was related to a dispute over ownership between the Federation and the Philippine Bishops' Conference. In the revocation statement Bo appealed to 'all those associated with the work of RVA to continue their work with total commitment'.

RUSSIA

According to the statistical institute Rosstat, the birth rate in Russia has fallen to an all-time low, despite all fertility appeals, with a further 3% drop in the first six months of 2023, with 616,000 children born, about 20,000 fewer than the previous year in almost all federal subjects, especially in the regions affected by the war on the border with Ukraine.

ORTHODOX-UKRAINE

After many conflicts with the pro-Russian monastic community, the Ukrainian police have set up a vast cordon of protection around the Kiev Caves Lavra, closing access to all buildings in the lower areas of the hill, and allowing only a few churches to be opened for prayer by the faithful, entrusted to the priests of the autocephalous Pzu Orthodox Church. In the meantime, Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), former superior of the Upz Church of the Kiev Lavra, was released on bail and is confined under house arrest in a village in Kiev province with an electronic bracelet and awaiting trial.

• Asia
• Today