YouTube, the Google-owned video platform, removed a roundtable discussion on COVID-19 attended by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis due to portions of the video containing what the company called “misinformation” on the virus that “contradicts the consensus of local and global health authorities.” The Tampa Bay Times reported that others in attendance at the roundtable included health experts...
Category: TRENDS IN GEOPOLITICS
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MYANMAR MILITARY RAMPS UP ATTACKS ON PROTESTERS
As we have been reporting in the Trends Journal, since 1 February, tens of thousands of protesters in Myanmar have taken to the streets to fight for democracy after a military coup overturned recent election results and arrested the civilian leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who reportedly won by a landslide this past November. On...
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BIDEN PLEDGES “UNWAVERING SUPPORT” FOR UKRAINE
President Biden had recently pledged “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty” amid Russia’s growing military pressure along its border. The Wall Street Journal reported that some of Biden’s top officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, also held phone conversations with their Ukrainian counterparts. “President Biden’s been very clear about this. If Russia...
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U.S. GLOBAL FREEDOM RANKING: THIRD WORLD
Freedom House issued a report last week that listed the U.S. below countries like Mongolia and Argentina in its global freedom rankings. The Independent reported that the position marks an 11-point drop over the past ten years and pins the blame on the political tension, the influence of money in politics, and racial inequality. “Dropping 11 points...
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BIDEN VS. CHINA’S BELT & ROAD INITIATIVE: U.S. LOSES
President Biden spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week to pitch a massive project to challenge China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), sometimes referred to as the New Silk Road. It was launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013. Al Jazeera reported Biden told Johnson that democratic countries in the region should have a...
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CHINA TO TAKE TAIWAN: A MATTER OF TIME
The Taiwanese military said last Friday that 20 Chinese combat aircraft, including four H-6K bombers and 10 J-16 fighters, conducted exercises that some familiar with the operation said looked like a simulation of an attack against U.S. warships sailing in the region, according to Reuters. Indeed, last month, we ran the article, “CHINA MILITARY. READY FOR WAR?,”...
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CHINA HITS BACK: DOUBLES UP ON SANCTIONS
As we reported in the Trends Journal last week, just a day before the U.S. meeting with Chinese officials on 19 March in Anchorage, AK, the U.S. slapped 24 Chinese officials with economic sanctions, which prompted one of the officials from Beijing to say, “This is not supposed to be the way one should welcome...
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BIDEN TO FIX BORDER SURGE?
Last week, President Biden faced growing criticism over his administration’s handling of the crisis at the U.S. border with Mexico. The administration announced more aggressive measures, and it tapped Vice President Kamala Harris to work out a diplomatic solution with Central American countries and Mexico. President Biden has been knocked by Republicans but also by...
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MYANMAR: ANOTHER DAY, MORE BLOODSHED
As we have been reporting in the Trends Journal, since 1 February, tens of thousands of protesters in Myanmar have taken to the streets to fight for democracy after a military coup overturned recent election results and arrested the civilian leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who reportedly won by a landslide this past November. The...
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MYANMAR PROTESTERS HIT WHERE IT HURTS
As we have been reporting in the Trends Journal, tens of thousands of protesters have been taking to the streets in Myanmar to fight for democracy after a military coup in the country on 1 February upended the country’s democracy and resulted in the arrest of its leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The protesters –...