Abu Mazen meets Gantz in first official Israeli-Palestinian summit in years

Today's headlines: Moscow disbands "Memorial", the association that documented human rights violations; more civilian homes burned by the Burmese Army; Beijing aims for global dominance in robotics by 2025. Inauguration of the world's highest road in India in the foothills of the Himalayas.

ISRAEL-PALESTINE

Palestinian President Abu Mazen met yesterday in Israel with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz. The face-to-face meeting took place at the Israeli politician's residence in Rosh Ha'ayin. This is Abu Mazen's first meeting in Israel in 11 years and is seen by observers as a sign of a possible resumption of official contact with the government led by Naphtali Bennett. As Defence Minister, Gantz is also responsible for the Israeli government's administrative decisions in the West Bank.

RUSSIA

The Russian Supreme has dissolved the international historical-informational, humanitarian and charitable association 'Memorial', upholding the prosecutor's office's accusation that in recent years the self-determination procedure of its status as a 'foreign agent' had not been respected in its various activities. The association was founded in 1987 to document the repression of dissent in the USSR and to rehabilitate the memory of the victims.

MYANMAR

The Burmese army has burnt down more civilian houses in the village of Natchaung, in the Sagaing region. The village has been the scene of fierce fighting for days, costing the lives of at least nine people. In the meantime, a report published by Radio Free Asia has shone a spotlight on the bloody price being paid by women in Myanmar: at least 100 women have been killed since the beginning of the repression of protests after the coup in February.

CHINA

Beijing aims to become the world leader in robotics by 2025. A five-year plan released yesterday sets annual growth rates of more than 20% for the sector.

INDIA

In a virtual ceremony held from New Delhi, India yesterday inaugurated the world's highest road in Ladakh, the Himalayan region recently at the centre of armed clashes with the Chinese army over border disputes. The road is 52 kilometres long and includes 24 viaducts. It runs at a higher altitude than the base camp used to climb Everest.

SOUTH KOREA

3 out of 10 workers South Korean workers say they are still being bullied at work. This was revealed in a survey carried out after a law against bullying came into force in July 2019.

TURKMENISTAN

In Ašgabat, a number of houses were demolished after the forced evacuation of residents to make room for a new special military academy school named after the president's uncle, Berdimukhamed Annaev. The state-run Turkmenistan Today news agency reports the school will be built by a Turkish company and will be able to accommodate 700 students. Work will begin in January 2022 and be completed in August 2024.