CHINA-UNITED STATES
US President Donald J. Trump has announced that he has reached an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping to allow US chip giant Nvidia to export advanced artificial intelligence chips to China. The Biden administration had severely restricted these exports due to national security concerns and possible Chinese military uses. On his social network Truth, Trump wrote that 25% of the value will be paid to the United States of America, without providing further details on how the payment mechanism will work.
CAMBODIA-THAILAND
The provisional death toll from renewed clashes on the border between Thailand and Cambodia has risen to 10. Phnom Penh reported two more civilian casualties in last night's Thai air strikes, bringing the number of Cambodians killed to seven. For its part, Thailand reported that at least three of its soldiers had died. At the heart of the conflict is the dispute over the area near the Preah Vihear temple, over which both countries have claimed sovereignty for decades, used for internal reasons by both leaderships for nationalist purposes. A fragile ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump came into effect in early July after several days of fighting.
JAPAN
At least 34 people were injured by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale that struck north-eastern Japan late on Monday evening, causing disruptions to transport and water supplies. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake, which struck off the east coast of Aomori Prefecture at a depth of 54 kilometres, could be followed in the coming days by a quake of similar or greater magnitude in the same area. This is the first time the agency has issued such a warning for the coastal regions of Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast, which stretches from Aomori through Iwate and Miyagi prefectures.
SINGAPORE-MYANMAR
A 15-year-old girl from Myanmar is the first foreigner to have her long-term immigrant status in Singapore revoked for being found in possession of an e-cigarette cartridge containing etomidate (known as Kpod). She has been issued with a “Special Pass” allowing her to remain in Singapore to respond to police investigations into other offences. “At the conclusion of her case, she will be deported and barred from re-entering Singapore,” the authorities said. Under the strengthened anti-vaping framework that came into force on 1 September, foreigners found in possession of Kpods may have their pass or immigration status revoked.
SYRIA
A military parade in Damascus yesterday celebrated the first anniversary of the fall of Bashar al-Assad, who was deposed by a rebel offensive that ended Syria's long civil war. Addressing the crowd, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former jihadist leader, said that “victory is only the beginning”, promising once again to build a Syria for all Syrians, leaving behind its past of repression and violence. However, fears remain among minorities, who have suffered harsh reprisals in recent months, especially in the coastal region.
RUSSIA
The news of the death of Aleksey Okopny, deputy head of Moscow police's “Centre E” for combating extremism, known as the “watchdog of the regime”, has spread with many comments and reactions on social media. A message from the police stated that “Aleksey had heart problems and died as a result”. The text was then deleted in the face of a chorus of enthusiasm from various bloggers and internet users, who hailed the demise of the “great persecutor”.
ARMENIA
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented the “policy paper for the reform of the Apostolic Church”, to be implemented after removing Catholicos Karekin II, whom he called by his civil name Krtič Nersisyan, and electing a “patriarchal lieutenant”, according to the ‘internal mechanisms of the Church’ and then approving a new Code of Ecclesiastical Canons, which includes ‘rules for verifying the reliability of members of the clergy’.
