Geopolitics
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[ Daily Mail ] REVEALED: Google FUNDED virus research carried out by Wuhan-linked scientist Peter Daszak for over a decade, new report reveals, amid accusations Big Tech has silenced COVID lab leak theory
Google’s charity arm, Google.org, has provided financial backing for research and studies carried out by Peter Daszak and his EcoHealth Alliance charity The financial ties, which were first reported by The National Pulse , are disclosed in various scientific studies dating back to at least 2010 Google on Tuesday issued a statement saying the ‘one-off philanthropic…
[ CNA ] Self-radicalisation main terror threat in Singapore; far-right extremism an emerging concern: ISD report
Self-radicalised actors influenced by extremist materials online are the main domestic terrorism threat facing Singapore, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said in a report released on Wednesday (Jun 23). And while Islamist terrorism remains the primary concern, far-right extremism is an emerging threat, it said in the Singapore Terrorism Threat Assessment Report 2021.
Canada to begin negotiations with Indonesia on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
News release June 20, 2021 – Ottawa, Canada – Global Affairs Canada The Government of Canada is committed to building back from COVID-19 and deepening trade and investment ties with fast-growing markets around the world will generate growth, create jobs, and ensure a strong, resilient economic recovery. Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small…
[ CNA / AP ] Debate over Myanmar upends start to UN rights body session
The United Nations’ top human rights body opened its latest session on Monday (Jun 21) and was immediately embroiled in a debate over the representation of Myanmar, where a military takeover toppled the civilian government in February. Western countries said that two planned debates about the human rights situation in Myanmar at the Human Rights Council’s…
[ The ASEAN Post ] Myanmar Leader In Moscow For Security Conference
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing left the capital Naypyidaw Sunday on a special flight to attend the Moscow Conference for International Security, state-run MRTV said. He was attending at “the invitation of Russian Defence Minister,” it said, adding he had been “greeted” by the Russian ambassador to Myanmar at the airport. It did not give…
[ SCMP ] China tells its nationals to leave Afghanistan urgently as violence spirals
Citizens and organisations should strengthen emergency preparedness with security situation ‘becoming more severe and complicated’, Chinese embassy says Withdrawal of US and Nato troops has been blamed by Beijing for a wave of attacks Beijing has warned Chinese nationals to leave Afghanistan as soon as possible, amid a rapid rise in violence in the country as the…
[ Politico ] White House freezes Ukraine military package that includes lethal weapons
“The Biden White House has temporarily halted a military aid package to Ukraine that would include lethal weapons, a plan originally made in response to aggressive Russian troop movements along Ukraine’s border this spring. The aid package would be worth up to $100 million, according to four people familiar with internal deliberations. The National Security…
UN General Assembly voted 199-1 (36 abstain) to call for an end to arms sales to Myanmar’s military junta.
UNGA adopted resolution with an overwhelming vote to denounce arm sales to Myanmar’s military in the light of the military coup and violence. “The risk of a large-scale civil war is real. Time is of the essence. The opportunity to reverse the military takeover is narrowing.” UN special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, told…
[ The Irrawaddy ] Time Is Right for India to Step In and Help Solve Myanmar Crisis
The Myanmar junta chief’s candid admission that his regime is not in full control of the country ravaged by a civil war offers an opportunity for India to step in to mitigate the crisis. Last month, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing reportedly said in a television interview that he did not expect to see such an uprising…
[ Eurasianet ] In Karabakh, Turkish and Azerbaijani leaders cement alliance
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid his first official visit to Karabakh eight months after Azerbaijan’s victory in the war against Armenia. He and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on June 15 signed a new agreement aimed at boosting cooperation between the two countries on defense and economic issues. Erdogan was the first foreign leader…
[ Middle East Monitor ] UAE resumes flights to Syria
Direct flights between Syria’s Damascus and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s cities of Dubai and Sharjah will resume on 20 June, the Syrian Ministry of Transport announced yesterday. In an official statement, the ministry said that the national airline, Syrian Air, will operate three flights to Sharjah and four to Dubai every week.
[ BusinessWorld ] The European Union and ASEAN are natural partners and have a common agenda
“The EU launched in April 2021 an Indo-Pacific strategy, with one key message: we want to step up our engagement and work with our partners to boost trade and investment, economic openness, and a sustainable approach to connectivity in the region. Besides being an economic powerhouse, the EU is also ready to be a political…
[ Today ] Singaporean Dickson Yeo, who spied for China in the US, tried to gather info on Singapore for foreign handlers: ISD
A 40-year-old Singaporean who was previously jailed in the United States for spying for China has been served with a detention order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for acting as a paid agent of a foreign state. He was arrested by ISD on Dec 30 last year upon his deportation from the United States,…
[ Reuters ] Erdogan says Turkey can work with France on Syria, Libya
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday that their two countries could work together to tackle conflicts in Syria and Libya. Erdogan was speaking at a news conference after a NATO summit in Brussels where he met the French president and other leaders. The two countries have disagreed…
[ Japan Today ] China cautions G7 that ‘small’ groups don’t rule the world
“The days when global decisions were dictated by a small group of countries are long gone,” a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London said. “We always believe that countries, big or small, strong or weak, poor or rich, are equals, and that world affairs should be handled through consultation by all countries.” The Chinese…
[ SCMP ] Why Asean is wary about stronger ties with China
According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang told Asean that Beijing was keen to “explore the possibility of elevating relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership as a new benchmark of China-Asean cooperation”. But the phrase “comprehensive strategic partnership”, which signifies a higher priority in Beijing’s foreign affairs, did not appear in a lengthy joint statement…
[ Al Jazeera ] Turkey’s troops should leave Afghanistan under 2020 deal: Taliban
Taliban spokesman tells Reuters Turkey should withdraw troops as part of deal with the US for pullout of foreign forces. Turkey should withdraw its troops from Afghanistan under the 2020 deal for the pullout of foreign forces, a Taliban spokesman has said, effectively rejecting Ankara’s proposal to guard and run Kabul’s airport after the United…
[ Times of Israel ] Key passages from outgoing Mossad chief’s unprecedented TV interview
In an interview with Ilana Dayan on Channel 12’s “Uvda” documentary series Thursday night, recently retired Mossad chief Yossi Cohen spoke with unprecedented detail and candor about his career, actions to thwart Iran, his ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and more.
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