US blocks microchip exports to 140 Chinese companies

Today's news: 9 dead in Israeli raids in South Lebanon as ceasefire falters; Truong My Lang's appeal against death sentence rejected in Vietnam, must raise billion to avoid gallows; Public punishment at the Golden Temple in Amtistar for leader of a Sikh political party; In Georgia President Zurabisvili rejects Prime Minister's ultimatum to resign.

CHINA-UNITED STATES

The US announced a new package of restrictions on semiconductor exports to Beijing, with measures against 140 Chinese companies. This is a new step to block access to and production of chips capable of advancing artificial intelligence for military purposes. In recent years, China has intensified its efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in the semiconductor sector, but is still far behind the major players in this strategic sector. China has promised to take ‘resolute measures’ in response to these new constraints.

LEBANON

Nine people were killed in Israeli attacks on villages in southern Lebanon yesterday after Israel claimed to have targeted dozens of Hezbollah targets in retaliation for an attack claimed by the militia in the context of a fragile ceasefire. A committee involving France, Unifil, Israel, Lebanon and chaired by the US is tasked with maintaining communication between the parties and ensuring that violations are identified and addressed to avoid any escalation. ‘We ask the technical committee to verify the situation of the ongoing violations..which are at least 54,’ said Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, urging to ’force Israel to stop its violations and withdraw from the territories it occupies.’

VIETNAM

Vietnamese tycoon Truong My Lan lost her appeal against her death sentence for organising the world's largest bank fraud. The 68-year-old is now running for her life because Vietnamese law stipulates that to commute the sentence to life imprisonment she must repay 75 per cent of what she stole, an amount that in this case amounts to about USD 9 billion. In April, the court ruled that Truong My Lan secretly controlled the Saigon Commercial Bank, the country's fifth largest bank, and obtained loans and cash for over 10 years through a network of shell companies.

PHILIPPINES

A group of Philippine civil society figures including religious leaders have asked Congress to impeach Vice-President Sara Duterte for a series of allegations including fraud, incompetence and the accumulation of illicit wealth in her functions. The complainants also include the priest Flaviano Villanueva, who runs a support group for the families of victims of the war on drugs.

INDIA

In the Indian state of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, a senior leader of the local Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party, was subjected to ‘tankhah’, a public religious punishment in the Sikh tradition. To serve the ‘wrongs’ committed when he held government positions from 2007 to 2017, he had to sit with a placard around his neck at the entrance to the Golden Temple in Amritsar and perform ‘sewadar’, i.e. washing dishes and cleaning the shoes of worshippers. The Sikh tribunal also ordered the party to choose a new leader within six months.

GEORGIA

The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabišvili, has declared that she will remain president of the country until the ‘election of a legitimate parliament’, and will not leave the palace despite threats from Prime Minister Iraklij Kobakhidze, who has ordered her to leave before the election of a new president on 14 December, by a committee.

UZBEKISTAN

The Olympic Committee of Asia has revoked Uzbekistan's organisation of the Youth Games, initially scheduled for 2025, due to the insufficient level of preparation of the sports facilities, transferring the event to Bahrain. The government in Tashkent is building a sports village at a cost of 9 million, but it is seriously behind schedule.

The Olympic Committee of Asia has revoked Uzbekistan's organisation of the Youth Games, initially scheduled for 2025, due to the insufficient level of preparation of the sports facilities, moving the event to Bahrain. The government in Tashkent is constructing a sports village costing USD 289 million, but it is seriously behind schedule.

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