Geopolitics

Myanmar's Suu Kyi: Prisoner Of Generals

After more than a year under house arrest ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been transferred to solitary confinement in prison, the latest blow struck by the military against the country's democracy figurehead.The Nobel laureate, 77, has been held since a coup ousted her government on 1 February last year, ending a brief democratic interlude for the country and sparking huge protests.Months before, her National League for Democracy (NLD) swept nationwide elections and she had be

24 June 2022
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Philippines Ends China Talks For SCS Exploration

The Philippines said on Thursday it has terminated talks with China for a joint energy project in the South China Sea (SCS) after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered an end to negotiations.Manila signed an agreement with Beijing in 2018 to cooperate on oil and gas development as a way to benefit from the resources in the waterway while setting aside the territorial dispute.Duterte, who has taken a softer approach to Beijing's claims over most of the sea, allowed Philippine companies to res

24 June 2022
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China To Tout Its Governance Model At BRICS Summit

China will host the 14th BRICS Summit on Thursday in what analysts see as a chance for Beijing to promote its governance and development model at a time of global instability.Chinese President Xi Jinping will join with the leaders of Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa via video link to discuss issues of mutual concern as part of the summit themed around ushering in a “new era” for global development. Ahead of the summit in Beijing, Chinese state media have praised the BRICS – an

23 June 2022
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Wrist-Worn Trackers Detect COVID Before Symptoms

Health trackers worn on the wrist could be used to spot COVID-19 days before any symptoms appear, according to researchers.Growing numbers of people worldwide use the devices to monitor changes in skin temperature, heart and breathing rates.

23 June 2022
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Thailand Cannabis: From Drug War To Weed Curries

Thailand legalised cultivating and consuming cannabis this month, reversing a hard-line approach of long prison sentences or even the death penalty for drug offences. 21 years ago, I had one of the more searing experiences of my journalistic career.

22 June 2022
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US Vows To Enforce Ban On Xinjiang Imports

The United States (US) on Tuesday promised enforcement as a landmark ban took effect on most imports from Xinjiang, the Chinese region where rights groups say the Uyghur people are being forced into slave labour.The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which will be felt especially in the textile industry, took effect six months after it was signed into law by President Joe Biden following bipartisan support in Congress."We are rallying our allies and partners to make global supply chains

22 June 2022
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Philippines: Sara Duterte Sworn In As VP

The eldest daughter of outgoing Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has been sworn in as vice-president.Sara Duterte vowed to unite the Philippines at a ceremony in Davao.It was there that the 44-year-old took over from her father as the city's mayor over a decade ago – before pursuing a career in national politics.She took the oath beside her running mate, Ferdinand Marcos Junior, who will soon replace her father as president."The days ahead may be full of challenges that call fo

21 June 2022
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Bankrupt Sri Lanka Opens IMF Talks

Sri Lanka closed schools and halted non-essential government services on Monday, starting a two-week shutdown to conserve fast-depleting fuel reserves as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) opened talks with Colombo on a possible bailout.The country of 22 million people is in the grip of its worst economic crisis after running out of foreign exchange to finance even the most essential imports including food, fuel and medicines.On Monday schools were shut and state offices worked with skelet

21 June 2022
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BA.4 And BA.5 Omicron: How Worried Should We Be?

Two new fast-spreading subvariants of Omicron are causing fresh surges of COVID around the world.BA.4 and BA.5 were first identified in South Africa and may soon become the dominant strains in Europe and the United States (US), health experts say.What Exactly Are BA.4 And BA.5?Ever since it first emerged, COVID has been mutating or shape-shifting.

20 June 2022
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Leviathan: China’s New Navy

The Chinese navy, under instruction from President Xi Jinping, has undergone a modernisation and expansion programme that is nothing short of spectacular. Friday’s launch of its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, for sea trials underscores just how far it has come, and how fast.The first two carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, were ex-Soviet designs; the Liaoning initially bought for scrap from Ukraine and refitted.

20 June 2022
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