Putin in Beijing to strengthen alliance with Xi Jinping

Today's news: US President Biden meets Netanyahu tomorrow; Ahead of atatck on Israel, Hamas reportedly received millions of dollars in cryptocurrency from a crypto-exchange in Russi; Indonesian President Joko Widodo changes laws to have his son elected as vice-president.

CHINA - RUSSIA

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia - one of the world's leading oil producers - has consolidated its energy ties with China, the world's second largest oil consumer after the United States. The value of bilateral trade rose to .2 billion last month, the highest since February 2022. Meanwhile today Vladimir Putin lands in China to meet his "Dear Friend" Xi Jinping and strengthen their relationship within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which brings representatives of 130 countries to Beijing.

AFGHANISTAN

The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) presented a report in Kabul on the effects of climate change and ways to combat it in Afghanistan, where average rainfall this year fell by 37% compared to last year. More than 1,700 people have died due to the effects of climate change, such as floods. “The rate of precipitation, but also snow and rain has decreased and we are studying adaptation strategies,” said the deputy director of NEPA.

INDIA

To adapt to climate change, India will install the first part of an early warning system next year in some glacial lakes at high risk of flooding. The country is in fact trying to respond to this month's floods that killed at least 60 people. There are 56 glacial lakes at risk and the urgency to monitor them has increased after Lake Lhonak in the eastern Himalayas burst its banks two weeks ago causing extensive damage in Sikkim, a small mountainous state between China, Nepal and Bhutan.

ISRAEL - USA

Tomorrow US President Joe Biden will visit Israel and hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reaffirm "Washington's ironclad commitment to its security", said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who gave the announcement after hours of talks with Netanyahu's staff, worried that the war between Hamas and the Israeli army could turn into a wider and more lasting conflict still involving many civilians.

RUSSIA - HAMAS

According to the Dossier agency, Hamas terrorists received 90 million dollars in cryptocurrencies shortly before the assault on Israel, money passed from the Russian crypto exchange Garantex, which could be linked to the security services of Moscow's FSB. Another research center, Ellittic, has identified the same financing schemes for Palestinian terrorists.

INDONESIA

An Indonesian court has issued a ruling that changes the criteria for eligibility to hold the country's highest offices. The news will pave the way for the eldest son of outgoing president Joko Widodo to run for vice president in the elections on February 14th.

In a decision that did not please the Constitutional Court which had established that candidates under 40 could aspire to the presidency or vice-presidency, provided they had previously held a regional elective office.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev paid a visit to the reconquered territories of Nagorno Karabakh, raising Azerbaijani flags in various locations, from the city of Martakert near the Sargansk reservoir to the capital Stepanakert, to which the Azeri name was returned of Kankhendi and appointed Azerbaijani police general Sardar Safarov as commander of the city.

JAPAN

The Unification Church - a religious group widespread in the United States and East Asia which is considered by many to be similar to a sect - defended itself yesterday in Japan against the government's request to revoke its status as a "religious body", calling the move a violation of religious freedom and human rights. “We contest (the charges) on all fronts,” said Nobuya Fukumoto, one of the group's lawyers.

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