Ukraine effect: Indian wheat exports boom

Today's headlines: May Day tourism hit in China by lockdowns for Covid; Two people arrested in South Korea for spying for the North; Opposition party leader detained in Cambodia; Iran builds underground nuclear centrifuge facility; Sanctions hit Russian airlines.

INDIA

Indian wheat exports are booming after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the consequent drop in exports from the two countries in conflict. Thanks to a series of agreements signed in February and March, India exported 7.9 million tons in the fiscal year that ended in March, a 275 percent jump over the previous year.

CHINA

Various lockdowns and anti-Covid controls in the country will limit travel during the five-day May 1 vacation. The Ministry of Transportation expects 100 million departures, a 62% drop from last year.

SOUTH KOREA.

South Korean police revealed today that they have arrested two people, including an army captain, for spying for North Korea. Those arrested allegedly sold military secrets to Pyongyang in exchange for a cryptocurrency payment.

CAMBODIA

Cambodian authorities yesterday arrested Seam Pluk, leader of the National Heart Party, an opposition force to Premier Hun Sen's regime. The charge against him is that he forged documents to participate in local elections in June. He is also accused of ties to the CNRP, the main opposition formation before its ban in 2017.

IRAN

The Islamic Republic has built an underground facility in Natanz to produce centrifuges needed to enrich uranium, which is used in nuclear power. The move appears to be an attempt to protect the facility from possible outside attacks.

RUSSIA-CENTRALASIA-CAUCASUS

The Russian airline "Uralskye Aviolinii" has suspended all flights to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, making travel between these countries very difficult, without explanation. This is evidently a consequence of the sanctions, as the aircraft in question are Airbus A320s, whose maintenance is currently impossible due to lack of spare parts.

RUSSIA

The young Vera Kotova, resident of Krasnoyarsk in Siberia, was arrested for "discrediting the army". She had traced in the snow the writing "No to war!", in front of the monument to Lenin in the city park. However, the judge did not confirm the arrest, releasing the girl without a fine.