Today’s news: Tensions flare up again in New Caledonia after the extradition of the independence leader to France. Lottery ticket sales in China increase by almost 20%. The Dalai Lama in the United States to undergo surgery. Bahrain and Iran meet to restore diplomatic relations.
RUSSIA
In the Russian Republic of Dagestan, a series of coordinated attacks by Islamist militias hit several churches and a synagogue last night, killing at least 15 people, including police officers, an Orthodox priest and some civilians. The attacks targeted the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, on the occasion of the Orthodox holiday of Pentecost. Dagestan has a long history of attacks carried out by Islamist militias.
NEW CALEDONIA
Pro-independence protesters once again burned police vehicles and blocked roads in New Caledonia, after the extradition to France of the protest leader, Christian Tein. The French High Commissioner in Nouméa stated that protesters set fire to the town hall of the municipality of Koumac and destroyed some areas of Paita. The protests began in May, after France approved reforms to allow thousands of French residents who have lived in the territory for at least 10 years to vote.
CHINA
In the first quarter, sales of all types of national lotteries They exceeded 149.5 billion yuan (20.6 billion dollars) in China, which represents a year-on-year increase of 19.7%, according to data from the Ministry of Finance. In comparison, national general budget revenue fell 2.3% year-on-year in the first quarter. According to several observers, the increase is due to many young people looking for a shortcut to wealth amid the difficulties of China’s economic recovery after the pandemic.
TIBET-UNITED STATES
He Dalai Lama He was greeted in New Jersey by thousands of Tibetans chanting and waving flags upon his arrival in the United States yesterday to undergo knee surgery. It was the first trip abroad since November 2018 for the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader who lives in exile in Dharamsala, northern India.
SOUTH KOREA
Two large local government-run hospitals in Seoul have put 90 billion won (more than 60 million euros) the economic damages caused by the prolonged strike by resident doctors if the confrontation is not resolved before the end of the year. The protest caused a decrease of more than 20% in bed utilization, while the number of outpatients decreased more than 10%. Despite strong opposition from doctors, the government confirmed at the end of last month the increase in admission fees for some 1,500 students to medical schools, a measure for which current residents have been on strike since February.
BAREIN-IRAN
Bahrain and Iran have agreed start conversations aimed at restoring relationships diplomatic relations between both countries, after a meeting between their respective foreign ministers in Tehran, according to the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting took place on Sunday during al-Zayani’s visit to Iran, where he is attending the Asian Cooperation Dialogue summit. Manama suspended relations with Tehran in 2016 following tensions between Bahrain’s ally Saudi Arabia and Iran.
UZBEKISTAN
In Uzbekistan, construction of an atomic energy plant begins near Lake Tuzkan, in the Džizzak region, 55 km from the border with Kazakhstan, sponsored by the Russian Rosatom near population centers for more than 3 million people in Šimkent and the Turkestan region, a project that has been in preparation since 2017.
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