Modi and Blinken against Chinese expansionism in the Pacific

Today's Headlines: Beijing has banned some American mircochips; The vote count is underway in East Timor after the parliamentary elections, Xanana Gusmao's CNRT party in the lead; In Thailand, employment at its lowest in three years; Rayyanah Barnawi is the first Arab woman astronaut; The Armenian Patriarchate responds to President Pašinyan's criticism.

USA - INDIA - PACIFIC

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared their support for the Pacific islands today during a summit in Papua New Guinea. Washington and Delhi are trying to dissuade island nations from signing security treaties with China. Historians have pointed out that during World War II Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands were instrumental in the US liberation of the Philippines.

CHINA

China's cyberspace agency said that chips produced by US company Micron Technology pose a national security risk and will therefore be banned in China. 'We are evaluating our next steps and will engage in talks with Chinese authorities,' a Micron spokesman said. The announcement came a day after a joint statement by G7 leaders in Japan criticising 'economic coercion' by China.

TIMOR EAST

The vote count is under way after yesterday's parliamentary elections in East Timor: former independence leader Xanana Gusmao, head of the CNRT party, is given the lead with about 40 per cent of the vote at the half-count. There were 17 parties contesting the ballot, but the main battle is expected to be between the CNRT and the Fretilin, currently ruling in coalition with other parties.

THAILAND

The unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2023 dropped to its lowest level in three years, from 1.15% to 1.05% in Thailand. According to data released by national agencies, South-East Asia's second largest economy has grown faster than expected in recent months thanks to a recovery in tourism after the covid-19 pandemic. However, experts say the definition of unemployment in Thailand is very narrow and does not capture the extent of informal jobs and the informal economy.

SAUDI ARABIA

Two Saudi astronauts will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time to conduct a series of experiments. Rayyanah Barnawi is the first Arab woman astronaut to participate in such a mission. She will be joined by pilot Ali al-Qarni and two American astronauts.

MOLDOVA

The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, gave a television interview in which she stated that 'there were plans to overthrow the government in Chisinau this spring, which failed thanks to our secret services, but they will try again, because the Kremlin wants to install a pro-Russian government and use Moldova against Ukraine in this war'.

ARMENIA

The Armenian Patriarchate of Ečmjadzin has expressed its disapproval of commentsmade by the Prime Minister Pašinyan, who has always been polemical with the Armenian Apostolic Church, accused of being too involved in politics. Archbishop Aršakh Khačatryan said that "those who want to be involved in religion can try to enter the seminary, if they are able to take the exams".