Hong Kong
[Image: Lam Yik/Reuters]
Today was the 32nd anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square massacre - a ruthless crackdown on pro-democracy protests in which some estimates say thousands of people were killed. In Hong Kong, annual commemorations were much more muted than in previous years after a heavy security presence effectively stifled them. As mentioned in a previous newsletter, China is tightening its grip on the territory and this is the latest visible example.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Belarus
Roman Protasevich, the young journalist detained by Belarus after it diverted a passenger plane to arrest him, has appeared on state television, making a tearful confession and praising the authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenk. The interview is very difficult to watch and rights groups have noted marks on Protasevich’s wrists, which may indicate that he has been tortured. His family today said they believe he was coerced into the confession that he organised anti-government protests and attempted to topple the government.
More from BBC here.
Syria
The head of the inter-governmental chemical weapons watchdog the OPCW today said the organisation has concluded that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons 17 times during the country’s long and bloody civil war. The government has not responded to the allegations.
More from the Associated Press here.