Today’s news: aftershocks in southern Taiwan after yesterday’s earthquake, which left at least one victim and 150 injured; clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan continue, one hundred dead; a Zhejiang megachurch held prayer services with sacred music tied to traditional Chinese culture; the Turkish president and the Pakistani prime minister agreed on the terms of the supply of Russian gas.
CAMBODIA
A number “frightening” of Cambodians had to sell their home and property to pay off credit card bills or debts accumulated through small loans. This is the conclusion of a microfinance study, according to which many families have signed loan agreements at 18% interest. In one year, almost 34,000 sales were made to pay off debts.
TAIWAN
A series of aftershocks were recorded in southeastern Taiwan, including a 5.5-magnitude earthquake that was also felt in the capital. Yesterday afternoon, the main earthquake, of 6.9 degrees of magnitude, caused cuts in highways and collapsed some houses in Yuli. The provisional balance is at least one victim and 150 injured.
KYRGYZSTAN – TAJIKISTAN
The clashes on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan continue, accusing each other of provocations. So far, a balance of almost 100 dead. According to Bishkek, the Dushanbe army fired medium-range missiles at Batken airport, damaging much of the city’s infrastructure. The Tajiks did not comment on this accusation.
CHINA
A megachurch in the coastal province of Zhejiang, in the country’s southeast, held prayer services chanting sacred music Allusive to traditional Chinese culture. The Sicheng Church in Hangzhou held two Sunday services under the theme “Local Adaptation of Sacred Music.” Both performances used the erhu, a musical instrument with a bow and two strings.
TURKEY – PAKISTAN
At the Shanghai Cooperation Summit, Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif and Turkish President Erdogan met and agreed on terms for the gas supply from Russia to Pakistan, using existing infrastructures through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Ankara considers Islamabad a “priority partner in Asia”.
INDIA – NEPAL
Heavy monsoon rains, causing flooding and landslides, left nearly 50 dead between Nepal and India in recent days. In western Nepal there are 22 dead and a hundred houses submerged by mud and debris, and at least 11 injured. Across the border, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in northern India, the official balance confirms 26 victims.
RUSSIA
Putin approved the resignation of the president of the Court of Accounts Aleksej Kudrin, one of the few liberal-leaning politicians in the environment of the Kremlin leader, with whom he has been a close friend since his youth. Kudrin, who opposes the war in Ukraine, will not leave Russia, but will be engaged in the technological development and communication of the Yandex portal.
Add Comment