Chinese activist: a day of fasting to remember the Tiananmen massacre

Today's headlines: Iran sets record with 142 executions in May, at least 307 since start of year; Japan launches "special bonds" to finance child care plans; Annual inflation in Pakistan hits 38 percent, highest figure among South Asian countries; Jakarta offers  "golden visa" to attract talent from around the world; Bangladesh looks to Qatar for liquefied natural gas supply; A new church for the Russian Orthodox community in Manama.

CHINA
Jailed Chinese activist Xu Zhiyong is calling on the people to observe a day of fasting next June 4 to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, when Beijing bloodily suppressed the pro-democracy movement. Xu had also previously called on Communist Party leader and President Xi Jinping to resign. 

IRAN
With 142 executions (at least four per day), in the recently concluded month of May Iran set a record in the number of prisoners executed since 2015. According to data from Iran Human Rights (Ihr), 307 prisoners have ended up in the hands of the executioner since the beginning of the year, up 75 percent from the same period in 2022. Seven people were hanged in connection with protests over Mahsa Amini.

JAPAN
The Japanese government, through the mouth of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, announces the creation of "special bonds" to finance the childcare programs included in the 2030 plan, among the executive branch's priorities. An attempt to meet the needs of families and counter the progressive aging of the population in the Rising Sun. 

PAKISTAN
Year-on-year inflation in Pakistan hit 37.97 percent in the just-concluded month of May, making it the highest figure in all of South Asia and well above Sri Lanka, which was second at 25.2 percent. The month-on-month increase in May was 1.58 percent, with prices of vegetables, pulses and poultry driving the growth. 

INDONESIA
The Indonesian government wants to attract talent from around the world, soon launching a program based on a so-called "golden visa" that would make the country a more attractive place to work, thanks in part to extended residence permits. For President Joko Widodo and Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno, it is a "radical breakthrough" to attract investment and skilled foreigners. 

BANGLADESH - QATAR
Bangladesh, desperate for cheap petroleum products, is set to sign a long-term contract with Doha to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar. The terms of the agreement, explains Petrobangla Chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker, call for the supply of two million tons of gas per year, for the next 15 years, starting in 2026. 

RUSSIA-BAHRAIN
The Russian Orthodox Church is planning to build a new place of worship in Bahrain's capital, which is now heavily visited by Russians. This is reported by the patriarchate's website, quoting Primate Kirill's words during a visit to artist Vasily Nesterenko's exhibition in Moscow entitled "We are Russians, Thank God," which features a portrait of the Arab king of Manama on a white horse.

AZERBAIGIAN
Over the past year and a half, more than 10 nations have turned to Azerbaijan for gas supplies, or increase those already in place, as President Aliev reiterated at the Caspian Oil and Gas exhibition during Baku's "Energy Week." The country is now becoming "Europe's most important supplier, and the geography of our market is expanding."

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