After Iran, Saudi Arabia opens to resuming relations with Syria
Today's headlines: Kindergarten attendance drops in China; North Korea claims to have tested nuclear submarine drone: Russians fail to deliver promised weapons to India; In Laos fishing bans in tourist areas for Chinese Doctors fleeing Russia; Clashes in Georgian parliament.
SAUDI ARABIA-SYRIA
After the recent understanding with Iran brokered by China, Riyadh is in talks with Damascus to restore diplomatic relations, which were interrupted after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Discussions currently concern the resumption of consular services.
CHINA
For the first time in 15 years, the number of kindergartens in the country dropped in 2022. Compared to the year before, the Ministry of Education recorded 5,000 fewer. At the recent annual session of the national parliament, delegates presented more than 20 recommendations to combat the rapid demographic decline.
NORTH KOREA
Pyongyang reportedly tested a nuclear-capable submarine drone earlier this week. This was revealed today by the official KCNA news agency. According to the Kim Jong-un regime, the weapon would be capable of causing a 'radioactive tsunami' against an enemy country.
INDIA-RUSSIA
Due to the war with Ukraine, Moscow is unable to deliver 'vital weapon systems' to Delhi. This was stated by the Indian Air Force. For decades Russia (and before that the USSR) has been the leading supplier of weapons to India.
LAOS
Inhabitants of some villages in the central province of Borikhamxay are forbidden to fish in areas reserved for Chinese tourists, under penalty of arrest and prosecution. For the locals, fishing is their only means of livelihood.
RUSSIA
The Sistema website revealed that as soon as military mobilisation was announced in September 2022, as many as 250 Russian doctors fled to Kazakhstan. They rented a private plane, paying 40,000 roubles each (more than 500 euro); the bulk of the expense was covered by an unknown Russian billionaire, who 'invests in digital technologies'.
GEORGIA
A heated quarrel broke out in the Tbilisi parliament, in which MPs used the microphones in the polling stations as weapons to hit their opponents, with mutual accusations of corruption and espionage. The most heated clash took place between opposition members and those of the 'People's Strength' party, proponent of the much contested 'foreign agents' law.
15/07/2023