Monsoons: India halts rice exports, global price fears

Today's headlines: Xi Jinping meets Kissinger, the architect of thaw with the United States in the seventies; In Afghanistan, 60% of civilian landmine victims are children; Of the 37 political prisoners "disappeared" from Daik-U prison in Myanmar, 6  found dead: the coup junta claims they attempted to escape.

INDIA

India has halted rice exports again. The move has international food markets fearing a further rise in inflation. The government is imposing an export ban on non-basmati white rice after retail prices rose 3% in a month as late but heavy monsoon rains caused damage to crops. India accounts for more than 40% of world rice exports and the cut in shipments could inflate global prices already pushed up by the crisis over the Ukrainian grain export deal and erratic weather.

CHINA-USA

Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing with US diplomat Henry Kissinger - former security adviser and Secretary of State to Nixon and Ford. "We will never forget our old friend and his historic contribution to promoting the development of US-China relations and strengthening the friendship between the Chinese and American people," Xi said. Kissinger, who played a key role in normalizing relations between the two countries in the 1970s, also met with defense and foreign ministers who outlined China's position on Taiwan, saying that independence is "incompatible with peace across the Taiwan Strait."

MYANMAR

Six of the 37 political prisoners who "disappeared" from Daik-U prison in the Bago region were killed by the Myanmar regime, the Political Prisoners Assistance Association (AAPP) confirmed. The 37 political prisoners have been missing from the prison, also known as Kyaiksakaw, since June 27, when the junta said it was transferring them. during the transfer a vehicle was crashed and the prisoners attempted to escape by being killed by "warning shots".

RUSSIA

The vice-premier of Chechnya Jakub Zakriev, nephew of President Kadyrov, has been appointed as general manager of "Danone Russia", nationalized by Putin in recent days, while the "Baltika", Carlsberg brewery will be managed by another Caucasian, Tajmuraz Boploev of North Ossetia, who had already been general manager of the company.

THAILAND

Thailand's election-winning Move Forward party has asked its main political ally, the Pheu Thai party, to lead government formation after its candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, failed to win support in the bicameral parliament on July 13. Secretary Chaitawat Tulathon told a press conference that Move Forward would support any Pheu Thai candidate in the vote scheduled for July 27. Meanwhile, on the streets of Bangkok, groups of protesters have organized a series of demonstrations in support of Limjaroenra between today and Sunday.

AFGHANISTAN

The International Committee of the Red Cross reports that 640 children were killed or injured in 541 incidents involving explosions of landmines and explosives residues between January 2022 and June 2023. This is almost 60% of the total number of civilian casualties (1,092 people) caused by unexploded ordnance. “Although fighting has decreased, people's lives continue to be disrupted as efforts to clear landmines and other unexploded weapons have been unsuccessful. This has resulted in an increase in casualties since August 2021,” explains the ICRC.

KAZAKHSTAN

According to Human Rights Watch director for Europe and Central Asia, Hugh Williamson, the closure of Kazakhstan to the participation of international observers in the judicial hearings against members of the police forces, which claimed the lives of 238 people in January 2022, goes against all the ethical principles that Astana formally claims to adhere to.

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