India: new investigations into the Adani group
Today's headlines: The United States denies any involvement in government change in Bangladesh. Myanmar releases a Japanese citizen. Lao authorities do not want online scam centres. Water shortages continue in Uzbekistan. Russia too starts to crack down on Falun Gong.
INDIA
The Adani group, an Indian conglomerate criticised in a report by Hindenburg Research, faced a major share sell-off by the end of trading yesterday, with losses of US$ 2.43 billion. A new investigation has accused Madhabi Puri Buch, the chief of market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), of ties to offshore funds used by the Adani group.
BANGLADESH
The United States played no role in the ouster of Bangladesh's former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, the White House said. “We have had no involvement at all. Any reports or rumours that the United States government was involved in these events are simply false,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre stated.
LAOS
Online scam centres in northern Laos have until the end of the month to leave, or they will be subject to police action, local authorities said. The Special Economic Zone along the Mekong River is home to several businesses, often illegal, run by Chinese nationals. In the first half of 2024, 400 call centres were active in the area compared to 305 the previous year.
MYANMAR – JAPAN
Myanmar authorities have released, Hiroshi Kasamatsu, a Japanese executive of the Aeon retail chain, just hours after he was sentenced to a year in prison for violating food price control. Kasamatsu was taken into custody at the end of June. His release is thought to be motivated by a desire to improve trade relations with Japan.
RUSSIA – CHINA
Russian authorities are cracking down on the Chinese Falun Gong spiritual movement, with searches in southern Krasnodar and other regions, confiscating banned Falun Dafa literature, deemed extremist. Falun Gong has been banned in China since 1999, and Moscow is trying to please Beijing.
UZBEKISTAN
Despite laying new piping, many settlements in Uzbekistan remain without drinking water, and to survive residents have started digging wells again, which are closed with locks to deny access to outsiders. Others are forced to buy water from distant locations or improvised markets, or take it from irrigation dams.
UNITED STATES – TURKEY – IRAN
The United States has asked Turkey and other allies to convince Iran to ease tensions in the Middle East after the killing of Hamas’s political leader in Tehran. “We ask all of our allies that have any relations with Iran to prevail on them to de-escalate, and that includes Turkey," said Ambassador Jeff Flake. After years of tense relations, the United States is also trying to involve Turkey with Russia.
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