A new statement from China has just caused alarm for Putin and Lukashenko. Beijing is actively investing in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which will enable the delivery of cargo to Europe while bypassing Russia and Belarus. This is a worrying signal for Moscow. China is increasingly seeking to reduce its reliance on the Northern Corridor running through Russian territory. The new route passes through Kazakhstan, then across the Caspian Sea, through Azerbaija

900 snakes escaped from a snake farm in Hengzhou, China after heavy rainfall and floods caused the farm to collapse. Local media reports indicated that the floods were a result of the annual flooding season exacerbated by Typhoon Maysak. According to Chinese outlet, The Paper, some stranded villagers were bitten by escaped snakes but could not seek treatment immediately as roads were cut off. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that most of the escaped snakes were non-venomous, though s