the prime minister unharmed, a detainee

Today’s news: thousands of people in Iran and the Arab world take to the streets for Al Quds day. Hong Kong police have arrested two young men for firing water pistols during a festival. Indonesian President Widodo pardons a woman sentenced to death for more than 20 years for drug offences. According to Delhi, the government unit that “controls” the news would not have censorship functions. Chinese exports to Russia reached +136% annual in March.

JAPAN

Less than a year after the attack that killed former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, fear of Japan returns. During an open-air speech scheduled for this morning, the current Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, was evacuated unharmed after a suspect threw a smoke grenade. Those present heard a loud explosion, but no injuries were reported. The police are investigating the facts.

IRAN – ISRAEL – PALESTINE

Thousands of people demonstrated yesterday in Iran and other Arab countries (Iraq, Lebanon, Syria) on the occasion of “Jerusalem Day” in support of the Palestinian cause. An event that falls on the last Friday of Ramadan and that this year comes amid an escalation of violence in the Holy Land. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranians have celebrated the al quds day in solidarity with the Palestinians.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong police arrested two young men, aged 25 and 26, for having “fired” water guns at agents and a Chinese television crew during a popular festival in Kowloon. They were arrested after articles appeared in pro-Beijing newspapers claiming that those who use toy guns want to “cause trouble.” Even a squirt gun becomes a matter of “national security.”

INDONESIA

In a decision described as “unprecedented” by activist groups, Indonesian President Joko Widodo granted him the pardon to a woman who has spent more than 20 years on death row for drug trafficking. Merri Utami, 49, had been sentenced to death in 2002 for importing heroin. The woman has always defended herself by saying that she acted deceived.

INDIA

The government unit with which Delhi wants check the news on social networks will not have censorship functions towards journalists, nor consequences for the press. The recently modified regulation obliges online platforms (including Facebook and Twitter) to make “efforts” to avoid “false or misleading” news about the executive. For activists and publishers, this is a draconian measure against press freedom.

RUSSIA – CHINA

In March 2023, Chinese exports to Russia shot up +136% annually, and imports from Russia also grew by 40.5%, according to data from the Chinese Customs Administration. The import-export figures with Europe and the United States remained stable; Beijing’s total gain from foreign trade was 88.19 billion US dollars, double that of last year.

AZERBAIJAN – IRAN

The Azerbaijani press attacks Iran, the historical enemy that “supports Christian Armenia against Muslim Azerbaijan.” They accuse Tehran of carrying out secret negotiations with Russia and China to obtain fuel for its ballistic missiles, as they publish Political and zerkalo.azviolating international sanctions regimes to wage war “in Ukraine and the Caucasus.”