Politics

Bloomberg Two US carriers conducted a military exercise in the South China Sea, signalling that US President Joseph Biden and his administration are taking a strong stance to oppose China’s territorial claims in the disputed waters. The dual carrier operations by the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group on Tuesday conducted a “multitude of exercises ...

Bloomberg Donald Trump’s second Senate impeachment trial begins on Tuesday Washington time. The trial is sure to be rich in political and constitutional significance even though it’s all but certain to end in acquittal, with most Republicans in opposition. The nine House managers prosecuting Trump will argue that he betrayed his oath of office as president by inciting the January ...

Bloomberg Supporters of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny plan a new protest action this weekend that aims to avoid the mass arrests during two previous nationwide demonstrations. Navalny’s top ally, Leonid Volkov called on inhabitants of major Russian cities to gather on Sunday at 8 pm outside their homes for 15 minutes holding up their mobile phones with a ...

Bloomberg Myanmar’s police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons to quell demonstrations throughout the country on Tuesday, leaving two people in critical condition after anti-coup protesters defied a ban on public gatherings. At least 20 protesters were injured after police used rubber bullets in the capital Naypyidaw during the most serious clashes, according to a network of medics ...

Bloomberg The European Union accused Eritrean troops of fuelling months-long conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and echoed a US call for their withdrawal. The presence of Eritrean forces is “exacerbating ethnic violence” in Tigray, the EU said in a statement. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s spokeswoman, Billene Seyoum, didn’t respond to requests for comment ...

Bloomberg The military coup in Myanmar has gone past the point of no return, according to a confidential UK foreign office assessment, in a sign that major democracies expect to have limited ability to influence the events unfolding inside the country. The bleak view from a senior British diplomat concludes the coup is irreversible, and that army chief Min Aung ...

Bloomberg China has formally arrested an Australian citizen who was formerly a news anchor for Chinese state television, escalating a case that has contributed to tensions between Beijing and Canberra. Cheng Lei, a Chinese-born Australian who most recently worked for state broadcaster CGTN, was formally arrested in China on February 5 following six months of detention, the office of Australian ...

Bloomberg India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to protesting farmers to call off their agitation and rejoin talks while reiterating his government’s commitment to continue purchasing crops at an administered price. Tens of thousands of farmers have been camping at Delhi’s borders since November in protest against three agriculture laws that they say will hurt farm incomes and leave them ...

Bloomberg A socialist economist who rejects fiscal austerity demanded by the IMF won the first round of Ecuador’s presidential election, and may face an indigenous anti-mining candidate in a runoff after an unexpectedly close fight for second place. Andres Arauz, the candidate most feared by bond investors, led with 32.2% of votes, with 79% of ballots counted, the electoral authority ...

Bloomberg Australia, Japan, the US and India plan to hold a summit to strengthen ties amid China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region, the Sankei newspaper reported, citing unidentified government officials. The four countries are preparing for the teleconference meeting, whose agenda will include the protection of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, according to the newspaper. India has, however, ...