ASIA TODAY Five killed in clashes between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the Lachin corridor

Other news of the day: the Philippine Coast Guard sighted more than 40 Beijing vessels in a disputed area of ​​the South China Sea; Pakistani police issued arrest warrants for former Prime Minister Imran Khan; Qatari Emir ‘Baffled’ by Delays in Aid to Syria After Earthquake; The illegal sale of pangolins increases in Laos.

ARMENIA – AZERBAIJAN

At least five people died yesterday in a firefight between the Azerbaijani army and the Armenian police. The confrontation was sparked by the arrest of an Armenian police vehicle by the Baku army on a road disputed by both parties in the Lachin corridor, blocked by the Azerbaijanis for more than 80 days. According to the Baku government, there were weapons on board the vehicle, allegations that Yerevan called “absurd”.

CHINA – PHILIPPINES

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sighted this weekend more than 40 Chinese ships near Pag-asa, one of the islands occupied by Manila in the disputed area -with Beijing- in the South China Sea. Among the boats there was also a military ship and another from the coast guard. According to the Philippine government, they were stationed within the 12 nautical mile border.

PAKISTAN

Police issued an arrest warrant for former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan to ensure that he appears in court to answer allegations of abuse of power. Hundreds of supporters of the 70-year-old cricket champion – who later became a politician – yesterday blocked police from entering his home. On February 28, he had left the hearing in the corruption trial.

SYRIA

The emir of Qatar said he was “perplexed” by the aid delays to the victims of the earthquake in Syria, stressing that it is “wrong” to use humanitarian issues for “political purposes”, as Christian leaders have already denounced. Words that sound like support for Damascus, after Doha has for years financed rebel groups in the war. According to the World Bank, the earthquake damage amount to more than 5,100 million euros.

LAOS

In Laos, illegal Internet sales of pangolin and parts of the animal, despite campaigns to protect a species that is considered threatened and endangered. Similar to an anteater, the animal is coveted in China, Vietnam and Hong Kong because its scales would have medical benefits, although there is no scientific proof of this. Vientiane is one of the crossroads of that trade.

RUSSIA

The Vagnerjonok youth club, “il Wagnerino”, was organized in Saint Petersburg by the Wagner Company with the support of politicians, journalists and bloggers, along with war veterans. During class hours, they take primary and secondary students to “educate themselves in patriotic love.” In the first meetings, the spetsnaz show movements and war strategies.

GEORGIA

At least 36 people were arrested during a demonstration in front of the Tbilisi parliament to protest against the new law on “foreign agents”, copied partly from the Americans and partly from the Russians. Among them were also journalists, such as Publika agency director Zura Vardiašvili and Tabula reporter Beka Džikurasvili.