Xi Jinping with 'ally' Putin for Victory Day parade

Today's news: New missile tests from Pyongyang. According to a study published in The Lancet, at least 30% of girls (and 13% of boys) in India are victims of sexual abuse before the age of 18; Vietnamese environmentalist back on trial for writing "down with communism"; Tehran welcomes the end of US strikes against the Houthis; Riyadh ready to sign a deal with the United States on mineral exploitation.

RUSSIA - CHINA

Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Moscow yesterday for a key three-day visit that includes participation in the major Victory Day parade scheduled for tomorrow, in a show of support for Vladimir Putin. Moscow and Beijing declared a "no-limits partnership" in the weeks leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, expanding military and trade ties. Today, the Russian press is praising the “resilient” relationship.

NORTH KOREA

The Pyongyang regime carried out a new missile test today, launching a series of short-range ballistic missiles. The report came from the South Korean military, one week after North Korea showcased the weaponry aboard its latest warship, attended by leader Kim Jong-un. Short-range ballistic missiles were fired “from the Wonsan area into the East Sea [Sea of Japan] between about 8:10 and 9:20 a.m. today.”

INDIA

At least 30% of girls and 13% of boys under the age of 18 in India have been sexually abused before turning 18. This is according to a study published in The Lancet, which focuses on estimates of sexual violence in over 200 countries from 1990 to 2023. The highest rates are in South Asia, ranging from 9.3% in Bangladesh to 30.8% in India. Globally, it is estimated that about one in five girls and one in seven boys are abused before reaching adulthood.

VIETNAM

A prominent Vietnamese activist and environmentalist, already imprisoned for a previous conviction, is facing new charges for writing “down with communism.” Trinh Ba Phuong, serving a 10-year sentence for “spreading” information about a 2020 land dispute that involved clashes between police and villagers near Hanoi, must now answer to charges of “propaganda against the state” for writings found on his prison cell walls.

IRAN - YEMEN

Tehran welcomes the end of US attacks on Yemen, as announced by US President Donald Trump, following the Houthi rebel movement’s agreement to halt assaults on commercial ships heading to the Red Sea or the Bab al-Mandab Strait. However, the ceasefire deal does not include Israel, which remains a target of Iran-backed militias.

SAUDI ARABIA - USA

Riyadh is drafting an agreement with the United States on cooperation in the mining sector. The memorandum is reportedly being discussed between the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the US Department of Energy, ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the kingdom next week. The project is part of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on oil.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong has passed a law making it easier for the government to create new land through reclamation of Victoria Harbour, despite objections and warnings from experts. For decades, land reclamation has been a key driver of economic growth. The current leadership has called the environmental regulations introduced in the 1990s “restrictive” and proposed a revision to speed up small-scale projects and grant more power to officials.

GEORGIA

The US Congress has overwhelmingly approved the Megobari Act, with 349 votes in favor out of 433 members. The law aims to “counter the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, the Iranian regime, and the Russian Federation in Georgia” and to sanction members of the government and the Georgian Dream party for rejecting European integration and repressing the opposition.