INTRIGUE’S LATEST
The global affairs briefing you’ll actually look forward to reading.
Could the US let WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walk free?
President Joe Biden just said the US is “considering” Australia’s request to end the pursuit of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a move that could close over 14 years of legal and diplomatic drama.
US approves emergency weapons sale to Ukraine as ammunition woes deepen
The US State Department has approved the emergency sale of $138M in military kit for Ukraine to help keep Kyiv’s Hawk air-defence systems online.
Six quick signals from Kishida’s visit to the US
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has kicked off his US visit, hitching a ride with President Biden in ‘The Beast’ to crush some crab cakes over at BlackSalt last night, before continuing the week’s formal program today (Wednesday).
Latest Articles
Janet Yellen’s China trip in five quotes
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen just wrapped her six-day trip to China after meeting top Chinese officials and US business leaders on the ground there. It’s her second visit to China in less than a year, as part of Washington’s push to keep lines of communication open with Beijing.
The world condemns Ecuador’s raid on Mexico’s embassy
An international tit-for-tat culminated on Friday night with Ecuadorian police dramatically storming Mexico’s embassy to arrest Ecuador’s former vice president.
Biden warns Netanyahu of “unacceptable” Israeli strike on aid convoy
US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke yesterday for the first time since an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers on Monday.
The State of Southeast Asia – four key numbers
The ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, a Singapore think tank, just dropped its annual State of Southeast Asia survey. It’s an intriguing read that captures the vibe of officials, journalists, businesspeople, and experts across the ten countries in the region’s key bloc (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN).
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Geopolitics
Six quick signals from Kishida’s visit to the US
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has kicked off his US visit, hitching a ride with President Biden in ‘The Beast’ to crush some crab cakes over at BlackSalt last night, before continuing the week’s formal program today (Wednesday).
More Articles
The world condemns Ecuador’s raid on Mexico’s embassy
An international tit-for-tat culminated on Friday night with Ecuadorian police dramatically storming Mexico’s embassy to arrest Ecuador’s former vice president.
Biden warns Netanyahu of “unacceptable” Israeli strike on aid convoy
US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke yesterday for the first time since an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers on Monday.
The State of Southeast Asia – four key numbers
The ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, a Singapore think tank, just dropped its annual State of Southeast Asia survey. It’s an intriguing read that captures the vibe of officials, journalists, businesspeople, and experts across the ten countries in the region’s key bloc (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN).
Senegal’s new leader just went from prison to president-elect in 11 days
The road to leadership is often long and bumpy, but for Senegal’s new president-elect Bassirou Diomaye Faye, that journey has been, well, short and bumpy.
ECONOMICS
Saudi Arabia kicks off its ‘Davos in the Desert’
Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative, nicknamed ‘Davos in the desert’, kicked off on Tuesday as global business and finance leaders descended on Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton hotel for three days of talks.
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Hong Kong’s economy needs a hand
Hong Kong’s chief executive, John Lee, announced several major tax cuts during his annual policy address yesterday (Wednesday).
Hydroelectricity in the Himalayas
At least 14 people have died and over 100 are missing in the north-east Indian state of Sikkim, after a cloudburst caused a glacial lake to break its banks and overflow into the valley below.
Is the IMF ready for reform?
The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has told the Financial Times she would back reforms around IMF voting.
China’s real estate woes worsen
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange today (Thursday) announced the suspension of trade for shares in China Evergrande Group, the world’s most indebted property developer.
Technology
The US goes all in on Intel with $20B package
Washington has awarded US chipmaker Intel up to $8.5B in grants and $11B in loans to lift local semiconductor output. The package, announced yesterday (Wednesday), is the biggest yet under America’s 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.
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US House votes to advance TikTok ban if China parent company doesn’t divest
The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly (352-65) to pass a bill requiring popular social media app TikTok to sever ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or face a nationwide ban in its largest market, the US.
The 6G race is well underway
Ten Western-aligned countries (including the US, UK, Finland, Sweden, Japan and Korea) just published six shared principles for 6G telecommunication systems, to try to shape the development and rollout of this emerging technology.
The FBI disrupts China-based, state-backed hacking group
FBI chief Christopher Wray has told a US House subcommittee that his agency has disrupted a Chinese state-backed hacker group targeting US infrastructure.
SpaceX’s Starlink is about to face some competition from China
It’s been a big few days for Elon Musk’s aerospace firm SpaceX, sending the first text through its new Direct-to-Cell satellites, then launching its 300th rocket.
