There is injustice in everything, and you are miserable.
Today in history:159 years ago today, the Swedish explorer Sven Hedin was born. In 1899, he made a second trip to the Taklamakan and discovered the ancient kingdom of Loulan on the way. The ancient kingdom of Loulan was founded before 176 B.C., and the scope of the kingdom stretched from the vicinity of Guyangguan in the east, to the ancient city of Niya in the west, to the Altun Mountain in the south, and to Hami in the north, occupying an extremely important position on the ancient Silk Road.
PoliticsFormer Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from prison on paroleAccording to Reuters and AFP, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from prison on parole on February 18. On the same day, the 74-year-old Thaksin returned to a family mansion in Bangkok after leaving the hospital with his daughter, Pei Dongdan.
It is understood that six months ago, Thaksin ended his 15-year exile and officially returned to Thailand, where he was sentenced to eight years in prison on the same day. A month later, Thaksin received a pardon from the King of Thailand and his sentence was reduced from eight years to one year. But on the first day of imprisonment, Thaksin was transferred to the hospital for undisclosed health reasons, and did not stay in prison for a single night.
Thai legal experts pointed out that according to Thai law, a person who has served a one-year sentence has the opportunity to obtain parole after serving six months of his sentence, and Thaksin can complete the remaining sentence at home or anywhere designated by the authorities after his release, and the Correctional Services Department will send ** to check from time to time.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Shehbaz is leading againIslamabad Comprehensive News, Recently, Pakistan's largest political party, the Muslim League, with the promised support of the second largest party, the People's Party, announced that former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead a new **. At present, the alliance is actively enlisting the People's Party to organize a coalition to stabilize the political situation. Shahbaz Sharif, 72, is the leader of the Muslim League, who was elected prime minister of Pakistan in April 2022 and stepped down in August last year.
It is reported that although the Pakistan Muslim League won 75 of the 265 seats in the parliament on the 8th of this month and became a big winner, it was unable to govern alone because it occupied less than half of the seats, and the parliament was vacant. The Muslim League and the BJP, which won 54 seats, have opened talks to form a coalition**, but the two sides have not been able to agree on a prime minister. Eventually, the BJP relented and agreed to support Shehbaz as Pakistan's prime minister, but had no intention of joining the new **.
Analysts point out that Pakistan needs a stable, politically authoritative leader to be able to make difficult decisions to get the country out of its economic crisis, which is currently experiencing sluggish economic growth and inflation at 28.
MilitaryThe United Nations established an independent team to review UNRWAReuters reported that recently, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres announced the establishment of an independent team to review the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which is responsible for assisting Palestine refugees. Twelve staff members of this agency have been accused by Israel of involvement in the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas against Israel on October 7 last year. The UN statement said the review team will be led by former French Foreign Minister Colonna, who will work with three European research organizations to assess whether the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is doing everything in its power to ensure neutrality and respond to allegations of serious violations.
It is understood that more than 10 countries, including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, have suspended funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and the agency has warned that if the funds are not restored, it will not be able to continue rescue operations in the Gaza Strip and the entire Middle East after the end of February. On that occasion, Spain announced that it would provide additional assistance of 3.5 million euros to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East so that the Agency could continue to operate in the short term. It is reported that Spain is one of the European countries that strongly criticized Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip.
North Korea develops a new rocket launcher control systemAccording to the Korean Central News Agency, the DPRK Academy of National Defense Sciences recently successfully developed a controllable rocket artillery and ballistic control system, and conducted a 240-mm controllable rocket projectile ballistic control test launch. This is the first time that North Korea has publicly tested a 240-millimeter controllable rocket launcher, and if the news is true, the range of North Korea's 240-millimeter rocket artillery has been extended and the accuracy has been greatly improved.
South Korea said that the South Korean side detected signs of North Korea's test firing of 240 mm caliber multiple rocket launchers, and the rocket launched by North Korea from near Nampo in South Pyongan Province flew dozens of kilometers before crashing into the western sea. This means that North Korea is targeting one of the existing major ** in the capital region such as Seoul in South Korea, and the performance of 240 mm caliber multiple rocket launchers has been improved.
In the past few weeks, North Korea has conducted multiple missile tests and ties with Russia have grown, with South Korea and its allies criticizing a series of moves that have heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, while North Korea has counter-blamed the United States and South Korea for raising tensions through large-scale military exercises.
EconomySoutheast Asia's ride-hailing platform giant has restarted merger talks
According to Bloomberg, recently, it was reported that Grab Holdings, the largest ride-hailing platform in Southeast Asia, and Goto Group have restarted merger talks. If the negotiations are successful, it will be the largest merger in the ride-hailing platform space in Southeast Asia. It is reported that Grab Holdings and Goto Group have been in intermittent merger talks in the past, but they have not been successful, and the main differences have emerged over the control of the merger and how to manage the key market of Indonesia.
According to people familiar with the situation, the two companies are in preliminary discussions about various options, one of which could be a potential acquisition of Goto by Grab for cash, ** or a combination of both. Another potential option is to spin off their respective key markets, with Grab gaining control of its Singapore base and a number of other markets, while GOTO retains control of the Indonesian market. According to authoritative economic experts, the high-profile deal may face intense scrutiny from regulators to avoid monopoly problems after the merger of the two industry giants.
SafetyOutbreaks of dengue fever in Brazil
According to AFP, recently, data released by the Brazilian Ministry of Health showed that since New Year's Day this year, there have been more than 260,000 suspected cases of dengue fever, four times that of the same period last year. The recent high temperatures have been the main cause of the acute mosquito-borne epidemic, and that last year's record high temperatures and the El Niño climate phenomenon have exacerbated the spread of dengue fever, said the president of Brazil's National Association of Health Officers.
Data shows that dengue fever has claimed 29 lives in Brazil so far this year, and another 173 deaths are still being determined to be related to dengu. The worst outbreak of dengue fever is in Minas Gerais, the second-most populous state in southeastern Brazil, and as cases gradually climb, health facilities in many metropolitan areas of Brazil are already overloaded.
CultureThe 32nd Havana International Book Fair Vietnam Space Pavilion was officially openedAccording to the Vietnam News Agency, the Vietnam Space Pavilion at the 32nd Havana International Book Fair was officially opened recently. More than 100 books, newspapers and magazines were exhibited in the exhibition area by the Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba in collaboration with the Truth National Political Publishing House, *Communist Magazine and the Journal of Political Theory of the National Institute of Politics in Ho Chi Minh City.
It is understood that the Havana International Book Fair is an annual event, first held in 1982, which brings together many book lovers and publishers to participate, and is a good platform to promote the beauty of Cuban literature and culture and to encourage people, especially young people, to read culture. This year's book fair will last until February 25, attracting a total of 45 countries and regions including Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Argentina and Palestine.
Financial NewslettersWall Street ** news, recently, gold and silver ** dived across the board, London spot gold latest closed near $1,991 ounce, since mid-December last year fell below the $2,000 mark again; COMEX gold futures fell to around $2,004 an ounce. International silver prices fell even more, falling nearly 3% from February 12.