Geopolitics

War In Ukraine: Latest Developments

Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:Ukraine Strikes Kherson Ukraine said it has struck Russian military positions in the southern Kherson region where Kyiv's army is fighting to reclaim territory captured by Moscow early in the invasion."Our aircraft carried out a series of strikes on enemy bases...

11 June 2022
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What China Wants At Cambodia’s Biggest Naval Base

At a ceremony this week, Cambodian and Chinese officials proclaimed their friendship as they announced a new construction project. Holding spades decorated with red bows, they turned over soil to signal the start of building work at Cambodia’s biggest naval base, Ream.

10 June 2022
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Biden Faces Discord At Americas Summit

United States (US) President Joe Biden faced open criticism Thursday at an Americas summit, along with complaints about foreign pressure by Brazil's far-right leader, as he sought progress on issues from migration to climate change.Biden is welcoming leaders from across the hemisphere in Los Angeles in a choreographed bid to show that democracy can work, amid rapid inroads by China in a region long seen by Washington as its turf.But just after Biden made his pitch at the Summit of the Am

10 June 2022
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COVID Origins: WHO Says More Research Must Be Done

Health experts say further research is needed to determine how COVID-19 first began – including a more detailed analysis of the possibility it was a laboratory accident.That stance by the World Health Organization (WHO) expert group marks a sharp reversal of the United Nations (UN) health agency’s initial assessment of the pandemic’s origins, when it concluded last year that it was “extremely unlikely” that COVID-19 might have spilled into humans from a lab. In a report released on T

10 June 2022
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Lower World Growth Due To Ukraine War: OECD

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned Wednesday that the world economy will pay a "hefty price" for Russia's invasion of Ukraine as it slashed its 2022 growth forecast and projected higher inflation.The Paris-based organisation, which represents 38 mostly developed countries, is the latest institution to predict lower gross domestic product (GDP) growth due to the conflict, which has sent food and energy prices soaring.In its latest economic o

9 June 2022
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Moderna Announces New Omicron Vaccine

United States (US) biotech company Moderna on Wednesday announced positive results for a new vaccine that targets both the original COVID strain and Omicron, and sees the shot as its "lead candidate" for a booster this fall.The so-called "bivalent" vaccine was tested in a trial of 814 adults and shown to produce 1.75 times more Omicron-specific neutralizing antibodies, which have the power to prevent infection, compared to Moderna's original Spikevax vaccine.All of th

9 June 2022
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China Has ‘Swarm’ Ambitions With New Drone Carrier

Officially it is just a research vessel, but China's newly unveiled drone carrier is a clear sign Beijing is rushing to deploy an autonomous swarm of unmanned devices in its push for military supremacy in the Pacific Ocean.State media last month showed the launching of the Zhu Hai Yun – "Zhu Hai Cloud" – capable of transporting an unspecified number of flying drones as well as surface and submarine craft, and operating autonomously thanks to artificial intelligence.The 89-metre

8 June 2022
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Indonesia, Malaysia Condemn Prophet Remarks

Indonesia and Malaysia have both summoned India's envoys in their countries over "derogatory" remarks made about the Prophet Mohammed by two officials with the South Asian nation's ruling party, their foreign ministries said Tuesday.It comes as anger spreads across the Arab and Muslim world, with various Middle Eastern nations summoning New Delhi's envoys and a Kuwaiti supermarket removing Indian products.Remarks by a spokeswoman for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Mod

8 June 2022
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Cambodia, China Deny Naval Base Reports

Cambodia and Beijing on Tuesday denied a report that they are building a secret naval facility for the Chinese fleet, as Australia's new prime minister voiced concern and called for transparency.The Washington Post, citing unnamed Western officials, said a new facility at Cambodia's Ream base – strategically located on the Gulf of Thailand – was being built for the "exclusive" use of the Chinese navy.The base has been a running sore spot in United States (US)-Cambodian rel

8 June 2022
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India In Deeper Crisis Over Prophet Muhammad Row

India's diplomatic nightmare over controversial comments made by two senior officials of the country's ruling party about the Prophet Muhammad is showing no signs of ending.The UAE, Oman, Indonesia, Iraq, the Maldives, Jordan, Libya and Bahrain have joined the growing list of countries in the Islamic world that have condemned the remarks.

7 June 2022
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Australia PM And Jokowi Ride Bikes, Hold Talks

Australia's new prime minister and Indonesia's president rode bamboo bicycles together on Monday as they held talks to boost ties, as Canberra embarks on a diplomatic charm offensive aimed at countering China's growing assertiveness in the region.Anthony Albanese hailed relations with Indonesia and vowed to strengthen them on his first bilateral trip since being elected last month, heading to Southeast Asia's biggest economy in what has become a traditional tour for new Au

7 June 2022
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How China Plans To Become The Next Big Space Power

Three Chinese astronauts have begun a six-month mission, to work on the country's new space station.It is China's latest step towards making itself a leading space power for the decades ahead.What Is The Tiangong Space Station?Last year, China put into orbit the first module of its Tiangong or "Heavenly Palace" space station. It plans to add more modules, such as the Mengtian science lab, by the end of the year.Next year, it will launch a space telescope, called Xuntian.

6 June 2022
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