ASIA TODAY Iran applies to join the BRICS group

Other news of the day: Tensions between China and Tuvalu over the South Pacific nation’s relations with Taiwan. Covid-19: Chinese companies will have to pay $1,500 for each North Korean worker who is quarantined. In the Philippines, appeals filed against President-elect Marcos Jr. are dismissed. Sri Lanka prohibits the sale of fuel to “non-essential” vehicles. Under Russian control, the population of Mariupol is forced to hunt pigeons for food. Azerbaijan begins demining operations in the reconquered Karabakh territory.

IRAN

Tehran yesterday submitted its application for membership in the group of emerging countries BRICS, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. However, Delhi has been skeptical about expanding a forum largely dominated by Beijing.

TUVALU-TAIWAN-CHINA

Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister yesterday withdrew from the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon. Simon Kohe made the decision in protest, after China prevented three Taiwanese representatives accredited in the delegation of the small island state of Oceania from attending the event.

CHINA-NORTH KOREA

Chinese companies protest at the border with North Korea: they will have to pay 1,500 dollars for each North Korean worker who is subjected to quarantine because of Covid-19. The Chinese government implemented the measure after cases were discovered among the North Korean community in the border city of Dandong.

PHILIPPINES

The Supreme Court of the Philippines today rejected petitions calling for the president-elect to be disqualified Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.. After his victory in the elections last month, the new Head of State will take office on June 30.

SRI LANKA

The Colombo government suspended the sale of fuel for “non-essential” vehicles. The measure will be in force for two weeks, while the country is plunged into a serious economic crisis. During this period, only buses, trains and vehicles dedicated to providing medical services and food transportation will be able to refuel.

UKRAINE-RUSSIA

The situation in Mariupol, where a true humanitarian catastrophe is being experienced, is becoming more and more critical. Journalist Denis Kazanskij’s reports on his Telegram channel show local citizens hunting pigeons with special traps. People feed on this type of prey due to the almost total lack of food.

AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijani President Aliev described the works in Karabakh as “one of the most difficult and ambitious reconstruction projects”. The authorities are currently engaged in clearing the land of mines. According to the central government in Baku, the Armenians laid “more than a million mines, which have caused the death of more than 200 Azerbaijani citizens since the end of the conflict.”