Today's news: the US rejects the UN Security Council resolution on Gaza; First phone call between Pope Leo XIV and Russian President Vladimir Putin; Trump signs ban on entry from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iran and Yemen; Umar Patek, one of the 2002 Bali bombers, opens a café and intends to use the proceeds to compensate the victims; Phnom Penh and Bangkok to meet on 14 June to discuss borders.

IRAN

Laleh Saati, 46, a Christian convert and former asylum seeker sentenced to two years upon her return to Iran, was released on parole on 31 May after spending 15 months in prison. Under the terms of her release, she is not allowed to speak to the media or have contact with foreign countries, and she is banned from travelling for two years. Activists say she spent the last few weeks in the notorious Ward 209 of Evin Prison, under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence, and is in a “psychologically unstable state”.

UN - GAZA

The United States rejects the UN Security Council resolution on Gaza. Ambassador Dorothy Shea vetoed the ceasefire because it would end up “facilitating Hamas”. Meanwhile, Israeli security forces have recovered the bodies of two hostages during a special operation in the Strip: Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gadi Haggai, who had dual Israeli and US citizenship, were killed by militants in the attack on the Nir Oz kibbutz on 7 October 2023.

RUSSIA - VATICAN

Pope Leo XIV spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The telephone conversation took place yesterday afternoon and focused on the war launched by Moscow in Ukraine. The pontiff addressed the Kremlin leader, calling for a gesture that would promote peace and stressing the importance of dialogue between the parties to seek solutions to the conflict.

Pope Francis had made repeated appeals for peace, but had never had a direct conversation with Putin.

ASIA - UNITED STATES

President Donald Trump has imposed a ban on entry to the United States from 12 countries, some of which are Asian: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iran and Yemen. This was announced by the White House in a statement, according to which the ban will take effect on 9 June. There will also be “partial” restrictions - for migrants and non-migrants - on the entry of citizens from seven countries, including Laos, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

INDONESIA

An Indonesian man convicted of the deadly 2002 Bali nightclub bombings has opened a coffee shop after being released on parole and said he will use some of his earnings to help survivors of the attacks. Umar Patek, a member of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah, was jailed for 20 years in 2012 after being found guilty of the bombing that left 202 people blind. He was released on parole in 2022 and has asked for forgiveness.

CAMBODIA - THAILAND

Cambodia and Thailand have scheduled a joint meeting of the Border Commission in Phnom Penh on 14 June to discuss borders after the 28 May firefight that killed a Cambodian soldier and fuelled tensions. Both governments have pledged to engage in close consultations at all levels to resolve the issue “peacefully”.

CHINA - ASEAN

China has launched a special “ASEAN visa” for multiple entries for businesspeople and entrepreneurs from the 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries and observer Timor-Leste. Eligible travellers from the 11 Southeast Asian countries visiting China on business - along with their spouses and children - will be offered the special document, which allows multiple entries within five years, with each stay lasting up to 180 days.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad has begun the process of cancelling the passports of more than 7,800 citizens deported between 2019 and 2015 from various countries due to their involvement in begging or other illegal activities abroad. Most of them (about 5,600 of the total) were expelled from Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman and Qatar.

KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Health has decided to change the way medicine prices are set, eliminating advertising costs and reducing transport, customs and other costs in order to reduce prices by 30%. This was explained by Deputy Minister Eržan Nurlybaev, who considered various costs to be “unjustified” and wanted to offer the products at production price.

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