While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Dec 1, 2024
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Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (left) is welcomed by Ms Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, upon his arrival in Hawaii, on Nov 30.
PHOTO: AFP
Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te kicks off Pacific tour with US stop
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te arrived on Nov 30 in the United States for the start of a week-long tour in the Pacific that he said would usher in a new era of democracy, but which has sparked fury in Beijing.
China considers self-governed Taiwan to be part of its territory and opposes any international recognition of the island and its claim to be a sovereign state.
Beijing especially bristles at official exchanges between Taiwan and the US, which does not recognise Taipei diplomatically but is its most important backer and biggest supplier of arms.
Mr Lai, who has been an outspoken defender of Taiwan’s sovereignty and whom Beijing calls a “separatist,” is on his first overseas trip since taking office in May.
Gautam Adani breaks silence on US indictment
Adani Group founder Gautam Adani responded for the first time on Nov 30 to allegations by US authorities that he was part of a US$265 million (S$355 million) bribery scheme, saying that his ports-to-power conglomerate was committed to world class regulatory compliance.
The indictment is the second major crisis to hit Adani in just two years, sending shockwaves across India and beyond.
One Indian state is reviewing a power deal with the group, France’s TotalEnergies decided to pause its investments, and political rows over Adani have disrupted India’s Parliament.
Trump threatens 100% tariff on Brics countries
VIA REUTERS
President-elect Donald Trump on Nov 30 threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on the Brics group of nations if they undercut the US dollar.
“We require a commitment... that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty US Dollar or, they will face 100 percent Tariffs,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website, referring to the grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and others.
The statement comes after a Brics summit held in October in Kazan, Russia, where the countries discussed boosting non-dollar transactions and strengthening local currencies.
Thousands rally again to oppose Georgia’s government
Many thousands of demonstrators gathered late on Nov 30 in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, building barricades, breaking windows and setting off fireworks outside parliament, in protest against the government which called off talks to join the EU.
Riot police responded by firing water cannon and tear gas into the crowds.
The demonstrations were by far the biggest since the increasingly anti-Western ruling party was re-elected in October in a vote the pro-EU opposition says was rigged.
Arsenal thump West Ham with five-star show to go second
Action Images via Reuters
Resurgent Arsenal romped to a 5-2 victory at capital rivals West Ham United in a Premier League derby on Nov 30, with all seven goals coming in a mind-boggling first half in the evening kickoff at the London Stadium.
Gabriel’s trademark ninth-minute header opened the floodgates and Arsenal ran riot, with Leandro Trossard tapping in after 26 minutes before Martin Odegaard’s penalty and Kai Havertz’s cool finish in the space of a minute sent some home fans heading for the exits.
Incredibly, West Ham responded almost immediately, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka slotting home before a stunning free kick by Emerson offered hope of an unlikely comeback.
