Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afhganistan/u-s-should-delay-complete-troop-pullout-in-afghanistan-report-to-congress-idUSKBN2A32VU An independent bipartisan group lead by retired Marine General Joseph Dunford and former Senator Kelly Ayotte reported to Congress yesterday that the United States should extend the upcoming May 1, 2021 planned removal of all troops from Afghanistan as agreed upon in a February 2020 U.S. Taliban agreement. The group also stated that the U.S. should… Read more »
Link to Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55892489 The 64 year old general has risen steadily through the ranks of Myanmar’s powerful military. He has spent his career in this influential military as commander-in-cheif for the past decade, resulting in significant political power before the 1 February coup. He has recieved international condemnation and sanctions from the international community for his role in the… Read more »
Link to article: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-slips-6-spots-to-86th-rank-on-corruption-index/articleshow/80533471.cms India’s ranking on the Corruption Perception Index-2020 dropped from 80 to 86. The index is released annually by Transparency International and ranks each country by levels of public sector corruption, the abuse of public office for private gain, on a scale of zero to 100. Zero signifies the highest level of corruption while 100 is the… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/2/bangladesh-bought-surveillance-equipment-from-israeli-company Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit has obtained documents and statements proving the Bangladesh army’s purchase of Israeli-made surveillance equipment that can be used to monitor the mobile phones of hundreds of people simultaneously. The equipment was bought in 2018 using a Bangkok-based middleman and Bangladeshi military intelligence officers. Bangladesh has no diplomatic relations with Israel and trade… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/3/rihanna-greta-thunberg-anger-india-by-supporting-farmer-protests Pop superstar Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg have angered the Indian government after tweeting in favor of the huge protests against the new farm laws. The farmers’ protests are one of the biggest challenges to Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he took power in 2014. Tens of thousands of farmers have been camped… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/01/worker-at-hm-supply-factory-was-killed-after-months-of-harassment-claims-family Twenty-year-old Jeyasre Kathiravel—a garment worker at an H&M supplier Natchi Apparels in Kaithian Kottai, Tamil Nadu, India—was found dead in a field after being abducted and murdered by her supervisor who has confessed to her murder. Ms. Kathiravel, who was working in the garment factory to pay for her education, was also reportedly raped. Police are… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/01/asia/china-fake-covid-vaccines-intl/index.html China announced today that it has arrested more than 80 people who have sold over 3,000 fake Covid-19 vaccines in China since September 2020 in the areas of Jiangsu, Beijing and Shandong. China’s Ministry of Public Security found that those involved in the fake vaccinations have been selling saline solution to unsuspecting customers. The companies who… Read more »
The Economist January 23rd-29th 2021 Social media accounts linked with China’s state media have been busy this month, however the audience for their stories might be diminishing, at least on Twitter. They have floated theories online, bashing the West while promoting and boasting of thier own achievements. Chinese media have spread rumors about the pandamic having started somewhere other than… Read more »
