Authorities say at least 94 people have died and more than 100 injured in clashes on the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border – the deadliest in years. The battles come as regional power Russia focuses on its invasion of Ukraine.
Besides Pope Francis, the United States is among those raising the alarm about clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan that killed as many as 200 people. On Sunday, the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at Azerbaijan while visiting Armenia’s capital Yerevan in remarks expected to fuel tensions.
In the East, however, security and economy-focused blocs led by Beijing and Moscow are looking to take on new members of their own, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, two influential Middle Eastern rivals whose interest in shoring up cooperation on this new front could have a significant impact on global geopolitical balance.
Tajikistan’s autocratic Islamic government has told Protestant church leaders that it will not register new churches, effectively banning congregations, Christians familiar with the talks said Thursday.