New investigation confirms Indian arms shipment to Israel

Today's news: North Korea launched a hypersonic missile that exploded in the air; The Chinese probe Chang'e-6 returned to Earth with samples from the hidden face of the Moon. Myanmar's ethnic militias conquer more territory; The Philippines awaits clarification of a Pentagon propaganda against the Chinese Sinovac vaccine during the pandemic.

INDIA - ISRAEL - GAZA

Investigations have confirmed that India is continuing to sell arms to Israel even during the conflict. A merchant ship, which had been prevented from docking in Spain in mid-May, had left the Indian port of Chennai. The ship contained several tons of explosives, and experts confirmed that much of the collaboration between India and Israel revolves around the production of missiles and the supply of drones.

NORTH KOREA

This morning North Korea launched what appeared to be a hypersonic missile, but it exploded in midair, the South Korean military reported. The Japanese coast guard also confirmed the missile test. Earlier in the week Pyongyang had criticised the deployment of a US aircraft carrier to participate in joint exercises with Seoul and Tokyo.

CHINA

The Chinese lunar probe Chang'e-6 has returned to Earth with the first samples from the hidden face of the Moon, the hemisphere not visible from our planet. After landing in the Inner Mongolian desert, President Xi Jinping said he hoped to continue exploring deep space and "reach new heights in unravelling the mysteries of the universe, for the benefit of humanity and to advance the nation".

MYANMAR

Myanmar's ethnic militias that had launched Operation 1027 in October captured new territory against the military junta in Shan and Rakhine states. In the north, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army accused the military of repeatedly violating a ceasefire brokered by China in January. In the west, the Arakan Army took control of Ngapali beach

PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is still waiting to receive clarification about a propaganda campaign by the Pentagon against the Chinese Sinovac vaccine implemented between 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic. The campaign was aimed at countering China's growing geopolitical influence around the world, including in South-East Asia. Senator Imee Marcos, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and sister of the president, described the US propaganda as 'evil, dangerous and immoral'.

RUSSIA

Russia's private clinics are reporting a sharp increase in patients suffering from alcohol addiction, both old and new, a trend that has been ongoing since the beginning of the war in Ukraine and does not seem to be abating, with percentages of between 30 and 40 per cent, as narcologist and psychiatrist Ruslan Isaev explains, "it's a worldwide trend with the current tensions, and Russia is no exception".

MONGOLIA - UZBEKISTAN

The governments of Mongolia and Uzbekistan have concluded several agreements as a result of the negotiations between Presidents Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh and Šavkat Mirziyoyev on inter-state cooperation in trade, economic and financial matters until 2027, and according to Mongolian media reports, Uzbekistan will open its own embassy in Ulan-Bator.

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