Good morning, readers!

If you are German, who’s into the “greens,” 😉 we have a great news for you today. But if not, it’s just another day of fire, fury, politicking… you know, the usual.

Today’s geopolitics hotspots:

Tasmania says no to Nazis

This is Tasmania, an island state of Australia. It just became the first in the country to ban Nazi salutes and symbols. It is expected to go in effect later this year.

🦘 Were Nazis a thing in Australia?

• The law comes after a series of incidents involving neo-Nazis in Australia, who have been instilling fear among the population by displaying swastikas, doing Nazi salutes, and threatening LGBTQ people.

• Tasmania’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice Elise Archer said that the law will help foster a safer community for all.

• The law will not affect the use of swastika for some religious groups, such as Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains.

If you're up for delving into the rabbit hole, read this.

🗓️ What’s next?

• The law is expected to take effect later this year.

• It will impose a three-month jail term for first-time offenders.

• Other states in Australia are also considering similar laws.

• The federal government is also looking into banning the sale and public display of Nazi paraphernalia.

China building a runway in the South China Sea

China is building what looks like an airstrip on a small island in the South China Sea, a region where several countries have competing claims. The island, called Triton, is part of the Paracel Islands, which are controlled by China but also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

🤔 Why are they doing this?

3 main intertwined reasons: Influence, economy, and military.

• Influence: The South China Sea is a vital waterway for trade and energy, boasting an estimated $5 trillion in trade passing through each year. By setting up camp here, China could control its traffic flow, giving them influence over the trade that passes through it.

• Economy: The sea is rich in natural resources such as fish, oil, and gas.

• Military: By extending their military reach beyond the mainland, they can wrest control over larger areas of the world.

🙅🏻 Not the first time.

China has been building artificial islands and military facilities on some of the reefs and rocks it occupies in the South China Sea, especially in the Spratly Islands. And this didn't go unnoticed—prompting China’s neighbors the US challenging their sea sovereignty claims with naval patrols.

🇨🇳 China’s response.

It is not clear what China’s intentions are with the new airstrip on Triton Island. China has declined to share information about it, stating only that the goal is to improve global navigation safety.

🌟 Today’s gem

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