Moscow against Seoul over arms to Ukraine after agreement with Pyongyang

Today's news: US foundation withdraws award to Palestinian journalist Maha Hussaini used as a source by South Africa at the International Court of Justice; Locust invasion puts strain on farmers in Vietnam;  In Tamil Nadu 34 people die of toxic alcohol consumption; Recent clashes puch more Rohingya to enter Bangladesh.

RUSSIA - NORTH KOREA - SOUTH KOREA

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned South Korea that sending arms to Ukraine would be a "very big mistake" after Seoul said it would consider doing so in response to the new pact between Russia and North Korea to come to each other's aid in the event of an attack. "As for supplying lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine, that would be a big mistake. I hope it will not happen," Putin told a press conference on Thursday during a visit to Vietnam.

PALESTINE - UNITED STATES

The Washington-based International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) was condemned for withholding its award for bravery in journalism from Palestinian journalist Maha Hussaini. Hussaini's reports revealing Israel's field executions of Palestinians were used as evidence by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case accusing Israel of genocide.

VIETNAM 

Hundreds of farmers in Vietnam are facing tough challenges to save their crops and maize from a locust invasion - which began on 6 June, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - within 11 provinces including Nghe An.1,031 hectares of forests and crops in the northern provinces recently increased by about 400 hectares. The density of locusts has also reached 7,000-8,000 per square metre.

INDIA

At least 34 people died after consuming smuggled toxic alcohol in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The incident occurred in Kallakuruchi district, where several residents fell ill after consuming the liquor on Tuesday night. At least 80 people are hospitalised for symptoms; the death toll could rise further. Two people were arrested in the course of an investigation.

MYANMAR - BANGLADESH 

The escalation of violence in Myanmar's western Rakhine State in recent months may have prompted some Rohingya Muslims to cross the border into Bangladesh, even as Dhaka insists it cannot accept any more refugees from its neighbour. The Rohingya have faced persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for decades and currently number more than 1 million displaced in the 32 camps in Cox's Bazar. 

CHINA

China's first nuclear-powered steam generation project for industrial use has entered production as Beijing accelerates nuclear power diversification and promotes a low-carbon energy transformation. Named Heqi No 1, it officially went into operation on Wednesday. It uses steam generated by two of the turbines at the Tianwan power plant as its heat source.

KAZAKHSTAN - UKRAINE

In Kiev, there was an attempt on the life of a dissident journalist from Kazakhstan, Aydos Sadykov, author of the YouTube channel Bese, which is mirrored on Telegram reporting on Kazakh events with strong criticism of the government. Hit by a bullet to the head, his condition is very serious, and his wife speaks of 'professional killers sent to Ukraine by the Kazakh government'.

ARMENIA - TURKEY

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pašinyan, congratulated the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyp Erdogan, by telephone on the Muslim holiday of Kurban-Bayram, receiving in turn his best wishes for the holiday of Vardavar, the Transfiguration of Christ, expressing his willingness to "regulate relations" between the two countries without preconditions.

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