Geo Politics

CAMBODIA: In a major trial denounced by the United States and rights groups as politically motivated, a Cambodian court sentenced roughly 60 opposition activists to prison on, including famed lawyer Theary Seng, for planning to commit treason. More than 100 members of the defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) were charged with treason and incitement, including Theary Seng, a Cambodian-American …

TAIWAN: The box office smash — which is by far Tom Cruise’s most successful commercial debut — now incorporates the flag on his iconic bomber jacket, including in the Taiwanese edition. The film’s teaser from 2019 initially suggested otherwise. During the preview, the patches on Cruise’s jacket looked to have been swapped out and replaced with two unclear symbols in …

PHILIPPINES: Groups campaigning for energy sector changes urged President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to pick the country’s next energy secretary with prudence. The Institute for Power Sector Economics (IPSEC), based in Mindanao, said on Thursday, June 16, that the next Secretary of Energy should be able to steer the country toward renewable energy dependency in the future years. IPSEC director Dave …

MALAYSIA: Malaysia’s government has announced that it will abolish the death penalty and put an end to all executions, in a rare gesture against capital punishment in Asia that has been praised by human rights organizations. Malaysian law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced in a statement that mandatory death sentences for major crimes would be replaced with “alternative punishments” …

SRI LANKA: Shorter work weeks are becoming popular in places like Iceland and the United Kingdom, with the goal of increasing worker productivity and happiness. However, in crisis-stricken Sri Lanka, the notion is to deal with crippling food and fuel shortages. The South Asian country, which is grappling with shortages in the midst of its worst economic crisis in decades, …

Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced that it will strengthen rules regarding the use of electric bicycles and scooters. We will do this because of the increasing number of motorbike accidents. Victor Núñez, MMDA’s Department of Traffic Discipline, said authorities were tolerant of enforcing regulations on the use of electronic bicycles due to the lack of …

Beijing – On Wednesday, June 15, President Xi Jinping assured Vladimir Putin of China’s support for Russian “sovereignty and security.” This prompted Washington to warn Beijing that they risked ending up “on the wrong side of history.” China has declined to denounce Russia’s unprecedented military assault on Ukraine and has been accused of providing diplomatic cover for Moscow by criticizing …

Philippines – Some online users reminded  that  English could be used for public purposes after the newly elected Senator Robin Padilla stated that he wanted to discuss only  in  the Philippine Senate. The 52-year-old self-proclaimed “Best of the State-of-the-art Education” and new Senate freshmen are ready to discuss in the plenary on Tuesday, June 14, when reporters hold the 19th …

Philippines – President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. examined with the United Nations (UN) and European representatives elevated degree of responsibility regarding common liberties in the Philippines, as well as proceeding with the conflict on drugs inside the system of the law. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has a 2020 goal offering specialized collaboration with the Philippine government to …

Philippines – The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) dismissed government examiners’ solicitation to reprimand imprisoned resistance pioneer Leila de Lima and her legal advisor, and said the media proclamations being referred to are simple reverberations of the declarations of the observers. In view of this, Branch 206 Judge Gener Gito excused the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) appeal for scorn against …