Malaysia PM pledges help to resolve conflict in southern Thailand

Today's headlines: the death toll form the quake in Turkey and Syria exceeds 21,000; South Korea resumes issuing visas for those arriving from China; Japan and Philippines strengthen military entente; Pakistan reaches agreement with International Monetary Fund; Tensions between Moscow Patriarchate and Vatican.

MALAYSIA-THAILAND

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim promised yesterday to do everything possible to facilitate a peaceful solution to the armed rebellion in southern Thailand. Since 2004, more than 7,300 people have died in armed clashes between security forces and rebels active in the provinces bordering Malaysia, inhabited mainly by people of Malay and Muslim origin.

TURKEY-SYRIA

There are currently more than 21,000 victims of the earthquake that devastated the region on the Turkish-Syrian border. The hardships of the population are amplified by the cold weather, while the 100,000 relief workers involved are hampered by logistical problems, such as a lack of vehicles and blocked roads.

SOUTH KOREA-CHINA

Starting tomorrow, the authorities in Seoul will reactivate the issuing of entry visas for travellers arriving from China. The decision is motivated by improved sanitary conditions in China after the recent surge in Covid-19 infections.

JAPAN-PHILIPPINES

During their meeting yesterday, Philippine President Marcos Jr and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida promised to strengthen military relations between their countries. Among other things, Tokyo gained greater access for its troops in the Philippines at a time of increasing tension with China.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad said today that it had accepted the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for the release of .1 billion in aid. The payment is part of a .5 billion financial rescue agreement signed in 2019; it will be used for the recovery of the national economy, which has been in severe crisis for some time.

RUSSIA

The exarch of the Moscow Patriarchate for Africa, Metropolitan Leonid (Gorbačëv), asked the president of the Pontifical Dicastery for Christian Unity, Card. Kurt Koch, to officially apologise to Patriarch Kirill for the accusations of heresy he made in a comment on patriarchal support for the military operation in Ukraine.

KYRGYZSTAN

The Kyrgyz government intends to accept Russia's proposal to open a bio-laboratory on its territory for research into infectious diseases, as announced by Biškek Deputy Health Minister Bubužan Arykbaeva.

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