Why Myanmar’s Travel-Shy Leader Could Be Difficult to Arrest

Reuters,

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s leader and military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, for crimes against humanity in the alleged persecution of the Rohingya, the world’s largest stateless population. Over 730,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar to Bangladesh in 2017 during a military crackdown, which the UN described as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” Myanmar denied these allegations, claiming security operations targeted militants. The ICC is now deliberating on whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that Min Aung Hlaing bears criminal responsibility for these atrocities. However, Myanmar does not recognize the ICC and the arrest of Min Aung Hlaing remains a challenge due to his limited overseas travel. The general, who is also Myanmar’s president and prime minister, rarely leaves the country, visiting mostly close allies like Russia and China. Despite the ICC’s announcement, the junta remains unyielding, and experts believe an arrest warrant will have minimal impact.

Can Dogecoin Reach $1 by the End of 2024?

Brave New Coin,

Dogecoin (DOGE), the most popular meme coin, has become a major talking point in the crypto market as it aims to reach $1 by the end of 2024. Originally created as a joke, Dogecoin gained immense popularity, especially after endorsements by high-profile figures like Elon Musk. Currently, the price stands at $0.40, with a recent surge in trading volume hinting at further growth. Dogecoin’s market cap has risen to $57.8 billion, surpassing major brands like Porsche, driven by strong community support and Elon Musk’s continued promotion. Despite varying predictions, many believe the combination of real-world adoption and market enthusiasm could propel Dogecoin’s value to $1 either by late 2024 or early 2025.

Huawei Sees Excitement for Mate 70 Phone Wane

Reuters,

Huawei’s newly launched Mate 70 smartphone is seeing lukewarm consumer response in China, which could potentially impact its overall shipments for the year. Analysts at Jefferies observed less online enthusiasm compared to its predecessor, the Mate 60. The previous model marked Huawei’s comeback to high-end smartphones but fell short of initial shipment estimates. Analysts predict the Mate 70 may also struggle to achieve the success of its predecessor due to limited improvements over the Mate 60. This decline in enthusiasm could benefit competitors like Apple and other Chinese brands. Huawei remains optimistic, but supply bottlenecks related to chip production and consumer fatigue could hamper the company’s targets for the Mate 70.

Gold Prices Set for Biggest Monthly Decline in Over One Year

Reuters,

Gold prices gained around 1% on Friday, supported by a weaker US dollar and geopolitical concerns, but were on track for their worst monthly performance since September 2023. Spot gold climbed to $2,664.11 per ounce, though it faced a weekly decline of about 2%. The precious metal has dropped more than 3% in November, largely driven by expectations of higher interest rates under the Trump administration, which increased the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold. While concerns in the Middle East have subsided with ceasefire talks, ongoing Russia-Ukraine tensions have kept investors wary. Silver, platinum, and palladium also faced losses in November, with all eyes on upcoming US economic data for clues about the Federal Reserve’s rate outlook.

Indian Banks Review Adani Exposure Amid US Bribery Allegations

Reuters,

Indian banks are reassessing their exposure to the Adani Group following US authorities indicting founder Gautam Adani over an alleged $265 million bribery scheme. Despite the allegations, some banks, including State Bank of India, have opted to continue lending to Adani projects nearing completion, while tightening scrutiny for future disbursements. Adani’s listed stocks, which saw significant losses, have partially recovered thanks to investor confidence and support from partners like Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company. Meanwhile, Israel has expressed its desire for Adani to continue investing there, showing resilience amid the allegations. The developments have led to heightened scrutiny of corporate governance and transparency within the Adani Group.

China Surrounds Taklamakan Desert with Giant Green Belt

South China Morning Post,

China has completed the encirclement of its largest desert, the Taklamakan, with a green belt spanning 3,050 kilometers to combat desertification. Located in Xinjiang, the Taklamakan Desert is the world’s second-largest sand-shifting desert, often referred to as the “sea of death.” The green belt, consisting of trees and shrubs along with solar-powered sand-blocking technology, aims to prevent sandstorms and boost local economic opportunities. Over 600,000 people contributed to planting the final stretch of the belt, which is equipped with water-saving irrigation systems to protect the surrounding ecology. The effort took 40 years, and experts believe it will play a vital role in safeguarding infrastructure and promoting sustainable development in the region.

Chronic Inflation Hits Russia as Huge Pay Increases Fuel Rising Prices

France 24,

Russia’s inflation rate spiked to over 9% in the summer of 2024 before settling at 8.5% in October, prompting the Central Bank to raise interest rates to 21%. The increased inflation is attributed to massive state spending on the war effort in Ukraine and skyrocketing public sector salaries. The defense budget has doubled since 2022, and increased military recruitment has led to a labor shortage, pushing wages up across several sectors. Although these wage hikes have improved living standards for some, the economic trajectory is deemed unsustainable by experts, with rising interest rates threatening to stifle business investment. Analysts expect the Russian economy to slow down in 2025, despite recent robust growth.

Voyager 1 Defies the Odds: NASA’s Distant Messenger Makes a Comeback

Daily Galaxy,

NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft has made an incredible comeback after a critical communication failure in October 2023. The probe, launched in 1977, is currently more than 24.9 billion kilometers away and has resumed transmitting valuable data to Earth. A malfunction had caused the X-band transmitter to fail, leaving engineers relying on the faint S-band signal, which had not been used since 1981. After weeks of efforts, the team managed to switch back to the X-band transmitter, allowing Voyager 1 to continue providing groundbreaking insights from the outer reaches of the solar system. Despite dwindling power reserves, Voyager 1 remains a testament to engineering resilience and continues to be humanity’s most distant messenger.