China’s vision of having a world-class army by 2049 has been widely discussed and publicized. However, military experts have questioned this vision owing to several distinct weaknesses plaguing the Chinese PLA (People’s Liberation Army). Chinese PLA is currently the world’s largest active military force. It traces its roots to the 1927 Nanchang Uprising of the
Month: February 2021
Aung San Suu Kyi condemns coup, urges protests
Aung San Suu Kyi has reportedly released a statement urging residents of Myanmar to protest against the military after she was detained during an early morning coup. Myanmar’s military took control of the country and arrested Ms Suu Kyi and senior government politicians. She hasn’t been seen since being detained in the raids. The army
Read moreMan who admitted to role in beheading journalist to walk free
A journalist had his head cut off in a graphic video that sent shockwaves worldwide. A letter detailing what happened is now worthless. Daniel Pearl’s life ended in the most violent way at the hands of terrorists who filmed the journalist’s beheading and sent a video to the US consulate in Pakistan. The Wall Street
Read moreNot having sex can be good
A couple married for seven years took a six-month break from having sex, claiming the hiatus was a “game-changer”. Shona Hendley reports. It’s a common belief that sex is a vital part of a relationship. But in fact, hitting pause on the deed can actually do you and your partner wonders, like it did Brett and
Read moreMyanmar coup triggers anger, unease
(Reuters) – Swaggering supporters of Myanmar’s army chief swung through the streets of Yangon, waving national flags from pickup trucks to cheer on his coup against a democratically elected government. Footage posted on social media showed a crowd of several score gathered in the centre of Myanmar’s biggest city to celebrate Senior General Min Aung
Read moreGovt targets B300 bn investments in eastern corridor
The Thai government aims to boost investment in the country’s industrial east this year by 44% to around 300 billion baht, a deputy prime minister said on Monday, after a 45% drop last year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The amount would be a substantial increase over last year’s 209 billion baht
Read moreUDD trio acquitted of lethal grenade attack
The Criminal Court on Monday cleared three former members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) of involvement in a grenade attack that killed five soldiers, including Col Romklao Tuwatham, and injured many others during the violent street protests against Abhisit Vejjajiva’s government in 2010. The court acquitted Suksek Poltue, Pornkamol Buachatkhao, alias
Read moreMyanmar’s army chief challenges Biden, and bets big on China
(Bloomberg News) – By seizing power on Monday, Myanmar’s generals are providing US President Joe Biden with an early test of his efforts to counter the appeal of China’s authoritarian model in Asia. Army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who was bumping up against a mandatory retirement age this year, already faces sanctions from the US
Read morePolice and WeVo guards clash in front of Myanmar embassy
WE Volunteer (WeVo) protest guards and police clashed in front of Myanmar embassy on Sathorn road late afternoon today (Feb. 1) after the latter moved in to break up a peaceful rally against the coup mounted at the neighbouring country this morning, Siam Rath newspaper reported. The WeVo guards arrived at the embassy at 3.30
Read more#SaveMyanmar going viral in Twittersphere
SOON after Myanmar’s military seized power after detaining de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior members of her governing party early this morning (Feb. 1) the hashtag #SaveMyanmar quickly rose to the top of the day’s Thai Twitter trend, Sanook.com reported. The second hashtag going viral in Thai Twittersphere is #Coup. Many
Read more836 new coronavirus cases pushing total to 19,618
THAILAND logged 836 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours to this morning (Feb. 1) with this taking the cumulative confirmed cases to 19,618, Sanook.com reported. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s (CCSA’s) assistant spokeswoman Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan said at 11.30 a.m. that of this total, 12,514 patients have been released from hospital while
Read moreMyanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi detained
(Reuters) – Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior figures from the ruling party have been detained in an early morning raid, the spokesman for the governing National League for Democracy said on Monday (Feb. 1). The move comes after days of escalating tension between the civilian government and the powerful military that
Read moreApple quarterly sales hit record $100 billion
(New York) – It wasn’t just the newly released iPhone 12 that helped it reach the holiday season milestone despite disruptions created by the pandemic. Apple finished 2020 with a bang, logging its most profitable quarter ever despite disruptions created by the pandemic. For the three months ending in December, the iPhone maker pulled in
Read moreMarriages ruined by video-game addiction
A woman is at her wits’ end after her husband took over her son’s birthday present and became addicted to gaming, ignoring his family and neglecting his job. Video games are often successful because they have a way of luring you in and enticing you to keep coming back. It may have something to do
Read moreSmartwatch keeps domestic violence victims safe
New technology developed to help women experiencing domestic violence is giving victims an added layer of security, and their abusers more scrutiny. Secret and secure technology that can be programmed to a smartwatch could be the key to helping at risk women stay connected and get much-needed help at the time of crisis. The StandbyU
Read moreWall Street will never be the same again
(New York) – This week, the biggest story in the financial markets is the absurdist, (pretty-sure-I-hallucinated-it) drama involving GameStop, a struggling video game retailer that became the rope in a high-stakes tug of war between Wall Street suits and a crusading internet mob. The simplest explanation for what happened is that a bunch of hyper-online
Read moreNASA’s astro-chimp was a space pioneer
Sixty years ago, an intrepid chimpanzee called Ham was launched on a rocket from Cape Canaveral in the United States, and returned to Earth alive. In this process, Ham became the first hominin in space on January 31, 1961. “Ham” was an acronym for Holloman Aero Medical, but “Ham’s name inevitably recalls Noah’s youngest and
Read moreNavalny, WHO and Thunberg nominated for Nobel peace prize
Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, the World Health Organization and climate campaigner Greta Thunberg are among those nominated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. All three are backed by Norwegian politicians who have a track record of picking the winner, while outsiders for the prestigious award include former US President Donald Trump. Thousands of people, from
Read moreHong Kong seizes record HK$2.2bn worth of narcotics
(Hong Kong) Customs enforcers seized more than 3½ tonnes of illegal drugs worth almost HK$2.2 billion (8.46 billion baht) in 2020, the largest amount in a single year since records began nearly two decades ago. With the Covid-19 pandemic crippling global travel and shutting borders, international trafficking syndicates switched from using human couriers to transporting
Read moreCommerce Ministry launches new site
The Commerce Ministry has launched the MOC Online One-Stop Service to simplify business processes and to spare clients the hassle of visiting a ministry office or provincial commercial office. Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said the new website gathers 85 services covering new business registration, intellectual property, international and internal trade, earlier provided by nine agencies
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