UAE ready to pump more oil: crude prices drop

Today's headlines: More and more Russian oligarchs call for a halt to the war in Ukraine; Independent Russian journalists flee to Georgia; Chinese internet users support Russian invasion; Russia and Japan clash over Kuril Islands;  200 Cambodian workers from the NagaWorld casino are released.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES-USA

The United Arab Emirates says it is ready to boost oil production in line with the United States an din direct opposition to Opec and Saudi Arabia, the oil cartel's majority shareholder. After Russia's attack on Ukraine, the price of crude oil reached 139 dollars a barrel; with Abu Dhabi's announcement it fell to 112 dollars.

RUSSIA

Russian oligarchs are increasingly speaking out against the war in Ukraine. After Oleg Deripaska, Evgenij Lebedev in the London's Evening Standard (which he owns), Mikhail Fridman of Alfa-Bank, Roman Abramovič, Evgenij Prigožin, Andrej Jakunin and the richest man in Russia, Uzbek Ališer Usmanov, also spoke out in favour of peace.

GEORGIA

Russian journalists who tried to independently cover the Kremlin's aggression against Ukraine have sought refuge in Georgia to escape repression by the Putin regime. However, the Georgian authorities have refused entry to some of them. Tbilisi did not take a clear position against the Russian invasion, causing resentment among a large part of Georgians.

CHINA-UKRAINE

Most of the posts circulating on Chinese social media support the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the decisions of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. Critics in China, however, complain that they cannot say what they think.

JAPAN

Tokyo yesterday voiced its opposition to Russia's decision to establish a free trade zone in the southern Kuril Islands, which the Japanese have claimed since 1945. According to the Japanese government, Moscow's move goes against bilateral agreements between the two countries to establish joint economic activities on the four islands.

INDIA

With the counting of state elections underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP is set to retain control of Uttar Pradesh, which will be crucial in the 2024 national vote. Surprise in Punjab, with Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Admi Party (chief minister of the Delhi metropolitan area) now seen as the winner.

CAMBODIA

Under pressure from the UN and the United States, the Cambodian authorities yesterday released 200 employees of the NagaWorld casino, who had been arrested the day before on charges of violating rules on combating the pandemic. Since December, workers have been protesting for higher wages and the release of 11 union leaders who supported their demands.

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