Ukraine invasion: a priest among 3,000 new arrests in Russia

Today's headlines: trade between Russia and China grows 38.5% in January and February; the Orthodox patriarchs of Moscow and Alexandria clash; South Korean widens sanctions against Moscow; More than 100 Rohingya refugees found starving on an Indonesian beach; Iran criticises Russian interference in US nuclear deal negotiations; Indian wheat exports hit record levels.

RUSSIA

A large number of protest rallies against the war in Ukraine took place yesterday in several cities across the country. The authorities arrested more than 3,000 people. Among them was 80-year-old activist Svetlana Gannushkina, who was arrested near the Kremlin along with other members of the historic humanitarian organisation, Memorial. An Orthodox priest was also arrested in Karabanovo.

CHINA-RUSSIA

In the first two months of 2022, Sino-Russian trade grew almost 40% in one year to $ 26.4 billion. However, this figure does not yet take into account the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

RUSSIA-EGYPT

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow urged Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria "to reconsider his decisions and stop supporting the schism in Ukraine". The head of the Russian Orthodox called for the withdrawal of the threat to reduce Leonid, the Russian exarch for Africa, to the lay state. Kirill also complained that "for eight years a massacre of people has been taking place in Donbass, but the world says nothing".

SOUTH KOREA

Seoul today imposed a ban on transactions with the Russian Central Bank and is preparing to adopt new sanctions against Moscow's aggression against Ukraine. The decision, say South Korean authorities, is in line with the punitive measures decided by the US and its allies.

INDONESIA

More than 100 Rohingya refugees have been found starving on a beach in the northwestern province of Aceh. Members of the ethnic group of Islamic faith tried to reach Indonesia by makeshift means. They left the Bangladeshi reception camps, where they arrived fleeing Myanmar to escape military repression.

IRAN

Tehran negotiators criticise Russian "interference" in talks to restore the nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and world powers. While an understanding seems within reach, the Iranians consider Russian intervention "not constructive". Moscow demands a written guarantee that the US will not sanction its cooperation with Iran.

INDIA

Forecasts indicate that India will export seven million tonnes of wheat this year, a record amount for the world's second largest producer of the cereal. With rising prices of agricultural products due to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Delhi expects to capture new foreign market share.

• AsiaToday