Link: https://www.euronews.com/2021/04/09/covid-19-australia-buys-20-million-pfizer-vaccines-after-sharp-turn-from-relying-on-astraz In light of recent news regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine’s connections to blood clotting, Australia announced it would stop administering the shot to people under 50. They’ve also signed a contract to buy 20 million more doses of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine in its place, doubling their amount. This poses a logistical nightmare for Australia: their plan had initially been… Read more »
Link: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/3/north-korea-expanding-and-enhancing-its-weaponry Kim Jong-Un’s expansion of his missile and nuclear programs has found them in hot water with much of the West and several powerful neighbors. Throughout his reign, 91 ballistic missiles and 4 nuclear tests have been launched, a military mountain over his father’s pyrotechnic accomplishments. North Korea holds enough fissile material to create roughly 90 bombs, for which… Read more »
Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56684775 Last January, Iran seized a South Korean tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, citing that it violated Iranian pollution regulations for ships passing through their waters. Tonight, it was released alongside its captain (crew were released in February): none of the captain or crew were harmed, and the ship with its cargo remains undamaged. Although Iran denies the… Read more »
Link: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/2/myanmar-refuses-to-accept-rohingya-girl-deported-by-india-report Last week, Myanmar authorities reported they would not accept a 14 year old refugee who India deported to repatriate her. She will be instead sent to a region of Bangladesh where her family lives. Human rights groups and UN activists strongly criticized India’s decision to deport the girl as inhumane, stating it would put her in “immediate risk… Read more »
Link: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/5/leader-of-vietnams-pandemic-response-sworn-in-as-president Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vietnam’s PM of 5 years, has this week been sworn in as the President of Vietnam. Most notably, Phuc was praised for his vigilant and strong leadership responding to the recent pandemic, ensuring that the populace was fed, employed, and safe through the crisis. However, prior to the pandemic he was known for renegotiating and… Read more »
Link: https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/laos-grants-25-year-concession-chinese-company-manage-power-grid Last September, Laos struck a deal with China to develop a series of dams along the Mekong in order to power Southeastern Asia provided that their deeply indebted power grid be given control to the China Southern Power Grid Company. Just recently, Laos negotiated a 25 year concession to this company to control the entire power grid of… Read more »
Link: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-china-southchinasea/philippines-duterte-calls-for-peaceful-resolution-of-china-boats-impasse-idUSKBN2BT12K This week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has stated his intentions to maintain stable relations with China in light of recent encroachments of warships and fishing explorations in the South China Sea. He particularly noted it will not affect vaccine cooperations between the two countries as China continues to supply the Philippines with Sinovac sales and promises of Belt… Read more »
