World Bank: Lebanon crisis orchestrated by national elites

Today's headlines: Pyongyang tests 5th missile since the start of the year; Australian Open lift ban on t-shirt in support of Peng Shuai; Moscow and Beijing pose 'double trap' for West; Omicron emergency in Turkmenistan; Since the coup a year ago 121 explosive attacks in Yangon; Pakistani opposition attacks PM Khan for his weak policy on extremists.

LEBANON

The World Bank says the economic depression that has hit Lebanon is orchestrated by the national elites as a way to maintain their control over the State and continue to live off its economic rents. It considers the Lebanese crisis as one of the worst since the mid-1800s.

NORTH KOREA

This morning, Kim Jong-un's regime fired what appear to be two cruise missiles into the waters off its east coast. This is Pyongyang's fifth missile test since the beginning of the year. The North Korean leader has vowed to strengthen the National Armed Forces with new generation technologies, such as hypersonic missiles.

AUSTRALIA-CHINA

After receiving a barrage of criticism, the organisers of the Australian Open Tennis Championships decided to lift the ban on some spectators entering the stands wearing a T-shirt bearing the words "Where is Peng Shuai?". The former Chinese tennis player disappeared and reappeared in November after reporting sexual violence from a Chinese leader. There are still doubts about her personal status.

RUSSIA-CHINA

A forum of military experts organised by the Rosbalt news agency put forward the hypothesis that Moscow and Beijing have agreed on a "double trap" against the West, which will be triggered by the simultaneous invasions of Ukraine and Taiwan.

TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan is in the midst of a wave of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. The authorities, who officially deny the spread of the virus in the country, have blocked access to cities for non-residents and suspended internal flights. Many other restrictions have been imposed without any explanation to the population.

MYANMAR

Since the military seized power on 1 February 2021, anti-coup forces have launched 121 explosive attacks in Yangon alone. The last two took place over the weekend. The attacks took place near administrative offices, police stations, schools and offices of companies providing public services.

PAKISTAN

The opposition in Islamabad attacked the government of Imran Khan for its policy of "appeasement" towards terrorist groups, especially Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the so-called Pakistani Taliban. The premier's critics claim that the openings to fundamentalist forces only serve to encourage Islamist militants.

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