US-Iran mediator Munir flies to Beijing amid optimism and denials of deal

Today’s headlines: Ukraine strikes back with its drones following yesterday’s Russian raid on Kyiv. At least four people have died in the collapse of a building under construction on the outskirts of Manila. Delhi has a video opposing a new Google data centre removed from Instagram. A woman, Hong Kong’s first female astronaut, has been in orbit since yesterday as part of the Chinese Shenzhou-23 mission.

IRAN-UNITED STATES

Washington and Tehran continue to negotiate remotely the details of the agreement that is expected to offer a solution to the conflict in the Gulf by extending the ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Mixed signals are emerging from the United States, with Trump urging that ‘all the time necessary’ be taken, whilst Marco Rubio, speaking from Delhi, mentions a possible deal later today; in Tehran, however, the Pasdaran maintain that an agreement is still a long way off. Meanwhile, the chief mediator, the head of the Pakistani army, Munir, has flown directly from Tehran to Beijing, effectively confirming a Chinese role in the negotiations.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE

Ukraine responded last night with a new drone attack to the heavy raid with which Russia struck Kyiv again yesterday. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that almost all the major oil refineries in central Russia have been forced to halt or reduce production following the attacks. The Lukoil-Nižegorodnefteorgsintez refinery in Kstovo has suspended the distillation of Elou-Avt-6 crude, which typically processes 25,700 tonnes per day – equivalent to around 190,000 barrels – and accounts for 53% of the refinery’s total capacity; its closure will result in a sharp drop in production.

PHILIPPINES

The death toll has risen to four people following the collapse of a building under construction near the Philippine capital, whilst 17 people are still missing. Two workers trapped under the rubble were found alive after the collapse of the nine-storey building in Angeles, north of Manila, but died shortly afterwards despite rescue efforts. Among the victims was a Malaysian national staying at a nearby hotel, who was struck by debris. According to the fire brigade, many of those missing were workers who were sleeping on the construction site at the time of the disaster. The causes of the collapse are not yet known.

INDIA

An Instagram video by the Environmental Reporting Collective on the impact of a new Google data centre in Visakhapatnam, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, was removed following an order from the Indian government. The reel, part of a wider report still available on YouTube, highlighted the environmental and social consequences of the project on Dalit communities, who are accused of being forced to leave their land and homes. Before its removal, it had garnered 2.6 million views. The organisation is calling for the video to be reinstated and is defending its journalistic work.

HONG KONG-CHINA

For the first time, a Hong Kong astronaut is taking part in a Chinese space mission. Lai Ka-ying – a police superintendent with a PhD in computer science – is part of the crew of the Shenzhou-23 mission, which set off yesterday for the Chinese Tiangong Space Station. She is the fourth woman ever to take part in a Chinese space mission. The mission that began yesterday forms part of China’s preparations for future long-duration lunar and space missions, in competition with the United States and Russia.

JAPAN

Toshifumi Suzuki, founder of Seven-Eleven Japan and considered the father of Japanese convenience stores, has died at the age of 93. Born in Nagano in 1932, he joined Ito-Yokado in 1963 and in 1973 established a partnership with the US-based 7-Eleven, opening the first store in Japan the following year. He revolutionised the sector by using data to manage stock and focusing on ready meals and rapid product turnover. Having retired in 2016, he remained an influential figure in Japanese retail.

KAZAKHSTAN

Since the evening of 20 May, residents in various regions of Kazakhstan have been experiencing difficulties accessing the websites of Azattyk Asia and Radio Free Europe, both via smartphones and computers, and the issue also affects subscribers of various providers. The restrictions began shortly after the publication of an investigation into a construction firm whose co-founders were business partners and colleagues of relatives of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who began receiving multi-million-dollar contracts shortly after his election in 2019.

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