TRENDS

14

Jul

Asian markets, Corona virus, COVID19, Nasdaq, Reuters, U.S.-China tensions

Reuters: Asian markets struggle to digest coronavirus spike

PEJOURNAL - Asian shares are showing a mixed picture on Tuesday after a volatile day in U.S. equity markets amid persistent concerns over the record number of new coronavirus cases worldwide and signs of an economic rebound. Australian S&P/ASX 200 futures lost 0.76% in early trading, Japan’s Nikkei 225 futures added 0.22%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures rose 0.39%. E-mini futures for the S&P 500 rose 0.21%. After a strong start in the United States, equity markets sold off when California announced it was slowing the state’s reopening, shutting bars and banning indoor restaurant dining statewide in response…

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14

Jul

EU, Fitbit, Google, Reuters

Reuters: Google offers data pledge in bid to win EU okay for Fitbit buy

PEJOURNAL - Alphabet Inc’s Google has offered not to use health data of fitness tracker company Fitbit to help it target ads in an attempt to address EU antitrust concerns about its proposed $2.1 billion acquisition, the U.S. tech company said late on Monday. The bid, announced in November last year, would help Google take on market leader Apple and Samsung in the fitness-tracking and smart-watch market, alongside others including Huawei and Xiaomi. “This deal is about devices, not data. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the European Commission on an approach that safeguards consumers’ expectations that Fitbit device…

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14

Jul

Afghanistan, Constitutional Reforms, Crimea, foreign policy, President Vladimir Putin, Russia, SCFR, Syria, Tartus, Ukraine crisis, Yemen

SCFR: Russia’s Constitutional Reforms and its impact on Moscow’s Foreign Policy

PEJOURNAL - Russia’s constitutional reform referendum will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the country’s future, but if we look at this referendum in its context of international reform, we will face two important principles that seem to play a significant role in explaining Russia’s foreign policy approach in the future. First, the amendment to Article 79 of the Russian Constitution emphasizes that if an international law is enacted that is contrary to the Russian Constitution, foreigners will not be allowed to rule against Russia, and the criterion will be the Russian Constitution. After the lapse of more than two…

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13

Jul

Donald Trump, Pentagon, San Diego, US, US Naval Base, USS Bonhomme Richard

Lack of reasons for the explosion in the US aircraft carrier in San Diego

PEJOURNAL - Nearly three hours after the explosion on the USS Bonhomme Richard aircraft carrier at San Diego Naval Base in the southwestern United States, the Pentagon or the Navy are still investigating the cause of the crash in a military and constantly guarded area, have not reacted yet. A few minutes ago, the official account of the US Army announced on Twitter that 18 sailors were injured in an explosion and fire on the aircraft carrier of the United States this morning, but did not mention the cause of the accident. CNN first reported the explosion, as: "several sailors…

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13

Jul

ASEAN, Belt and Road Initiative, China, COVID-19, IMF, pejournal, Political Economy Journal, South Asian, South China Sea, Sri Lanka

China’S string of pearls in peril

BY: Navomee Ponnamperuma* PEJOURNAL - In recent months, China has come under much scrutiny for its policies, starting from their mismanagement of the current global pandemic to the renewed hardline approach taken towards Hong Kong. Amidst the chaos, many in the West have overlooked the economic stronghold China has been building in the South Asian region, thanks to President Xi Jinping’s project of the century, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).  A project that certain academics refer to as China’s ‘debt-trap diplomacy’. Contrary to Western institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, China offers a…

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11

Jul

America, Conservatives, John Locke, Liberalism, newsweek

Newsweek: Liberalism Has Failed

BY: Patrick J. Deneen PEJOURNAL - Most people agree that a defining feature of America is that it is a liberal nation. In a way, that is not true of any other country—most of which have known different forms of political governance and political self-understanding. From its political inception, America has oftentimes been defined by its adherence to liberal philosophy. Conservatives such as George Will and Jonah Goldberg, and liberals such as Yascha Mounk and Barack Obama—for all their differences—believe that America is liberal, and that the way out of our current political brokenness is to restore its liberal foundations.…

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10

Jul

China, Chinese apps, Galwan Valley, India, Ladakh region, pejournal, Political Economy Journal, Sino-Indian, Xiaomi

Political Economy Journal: India-China border skirmish: A conflict that led to ‘Boycott China’ campaign in India

BY : Chaitra Arjunpuri * PEJOURNAL - When acclaimed innovator and Ramon Magsaysay and Rolex Awards winner Sonam Wangchuk released a video calling for “Boycott Made in China” on 28 May 2020, as a response to Chinese aggression along the Line of Control (LAC) in Ladakh region, not many realized how popular it would become. Set in Leh with the Himalayas and river Sindhu in the backdrop, Wangchuk sitting on a stone, appealed to people to boycott products made in China, “software in a week and hardware in a year”. “Within one week I am getting rid of my phone, which is made…

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10

Jul

Arash rocket, Defense Ministry, Iran military, military equipment, Rocket

Iran Military Forces Improve Accuracy of Homegrown Rocket

Iran military forces have turned a 122mm homegrown rocket into a guided weapon by increasing its accuracy, a commander said. Speaking to Tasnim, Director of the Jihad Research Organization General Ali Koohestani said the ‘Arash’ 122mm rocket has become a weapon with pinpoint accuracy following the recent tests. The commander said the Iran military experts have managed to transform Arash into a guided rocket, saying the homegrown rocket has hit the targets with pinpoint accuracy in a series of recent tests on the field. The Arash 122mm rockets can now hit the targets with an accuracy of 7 meters, he…

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10

Jul

China, South China Sea, USA

SCFR: Reasons for US Military Buildup in South China Sea

PEJOURNAL - Developments in recent years in the South China Sea, namely China’s efforts to increase its maritime territory by building artificial islands and claiming ownership of some islands in the sea that have caused some controversy with neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and the like has led the United States, along with its allies Australia and Britain, to increase its military presence in the South China Sea.Reza Mirtaher – American Affairs Expert US action to increase its military presence in East Asia or the region known as the Indo-Pacific can be analyzed on two levels; At…

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09

Jul

Afghanistan, CENTCOM, CIA, Kenneth McKenzie, Russia, Taliban, US soldiers

CENTCOM Commander is not convinced Russian bounty allegations

PEJOURNAL - US Central Command Commander Gen. Kenneth McKenzie is not convinced that American intelligence agencies assessments support allegations that Russia offered bounties to Taliban in order to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan. McKenzie told The AP and ABC News on Tuesday that although the reports are worrisome, he did not find a "causative link" between the intelligence on the Russian bounties and the deaths of US troops in Afghanistan. He said the intelligence case "wasn't proved" to him. “The intelligence case wasn't proved to me. It wasn't proved enough that I'd take it to a court of law, and you…

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