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Xinjiang haunts companies, Biden slaps Russia: Weekend Reads

Global companies are finding it politically difficult to navigate their involvement in the Chinese region of Xinjiang where the authorities face accusations of human rights violations against the Uyghur Muslims.  

In Washington, President Joe Biden made key foreign policy moves, slapping sanctions on Russia in retaliation for alleged hacking and meddling in the U.S. election and announcing an American troop pullout from Afghanistan.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a lobbying scandal that critics say shows his Conservative Party is riddled with sleaze.

And in India, there's growing concern about a new double mutant coronavirus variant.

Dig deeper into these and other topics with the latest edition of Weekend Reads. Karl Maier 

The barricaded square in front of the Erdaoqiao Mosque in Urumqi, Xinjiang. All visitors must pass a security checkpoint.

Photographer: James Mayger/Bloomberg

Click here for this week's most compelling political images and tell us how we're doing or what we're missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net.

Secrecy and Abuse Claims Haunt China's Solar Factories in Xinjiang
Companies around the world are under pressure to sever ties with Xinjiang or show their supply lines are clean of any "touches" with the region where the Chinese authorities are accused of human rights abuses. Dan Murtaugh, Colum Murphy, James Mayger and Brian Eckhouse lay out what's at stake.

A Missed Opportunity Saw China Fall Behind on Covid Vaccines
Bruce Einhorn investigates how China missed a huge opportunity to develop the new mRNA technology to make a vaccine against the coronavirus that set back the country's inoculation drive.

Xi made the comments to a gathering of ambassadors in Beijing on Wednesday in a response to challenges facing next year's Winter Olympics from the pandemic and international criticism over the government's actions in Xinjiang.

Biden's Russia Sanctions Leave Some Wiggle Room for Diplomacy
U.S. sanctions against Russia over its alleged hacking of SolarWinds and meddling in last year's election weren't strong enough for some lawmakers and advocacy groups. Instead, as Nick Wadhams and Saleha Mohsin explain, it showed Biden still holds out hope for better ties with Moscow.

Biden Pulls the Plug on Afghan War at Risk of Turmoil Ahead
For Biden, withdrawing the remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan was a recognition of the inevitable after 20 years of war with no clear victory. But as Nick Wadhams outlines, the president's critics argue it will destroy American leverage over the Taliban and doom the country's few gains.

The U.S. is urging some of the biggest polluters to step up their fight against climate change in time for a White House summit from April 22. It may end up disappointed. 


Shaken Trust in U.S. Military Shows Damage of Scandals, Trump
Increasing politicization in the military, sexual assault scandals, and the role of dozens of enlisted U.S. troops and veterans in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection have weakened public trust in one of America's most revered institutions, Daniel Flatley and Roxana Tiron report.

It's a Fine Line Between Sleaze and Advocacy in Latest U.K. Scandal
A deepening U.K. scandal is exacerbating the reputation of lobbyists as backstabbing consultants with questionable ethics trying to influence those in power. Joe Mayes and Kitty Donaldson explain why.

India Has a Double Mutant Virus Variant. Should We Worry?
Public health experts are concerned that a new and possibly more virulent coronavirus variant could be racing through the nation of more than 1.3 billion people where Covid-19 infections are surging. Bhuma Shrivastava, Corinne Gretler and Bibhudatta Pradhan outline what we know so far.

Venezuela Politicizes Vaccine Access Via State Loyalty Card
You'll need a state loyalty card to be among the early recipients of a Covid-19 vaccine in Venezuela, Nicolle Yapur and Alex Vasquez report. President Nicolas Maduro's administration is restricting shots to holders of the Carnet de la Patria. Critics say that will prevent some government opponents from getting shots. 

Singapore Faces Biggest-Ever Succession Planning Challenge 
Heng Swee Keat's decision to step aside as the designated successor to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is testing Singapore's reputation for smooth political handovers. Faris Mokhtar explains that party insiders worried he lacked the charisma to rally the country during one of its most challenging periods.

Myanmar Crisis Looms With Warnings Economy Will Shrink 
Myanmar's economy is in free fall after a group of generals seized power on Feb. 1, with the World Bank projecting it will shrink 10% in 2021, by far the worst in Asia. The junta has killed hundreds of civilians, driving away foreign investors as western nations put on new sanctions.

Buddhist nuns walk past makeshift barricades erected by protesters demonstrating against the military coup in Yangon's Tamwe township.

Photographer: STR/AFP/Getty Images

A 23-Year-Old Coder Kept QAnon Online When No One Else Would
As the U.S. presidential campaign wound down, internet sites catering to adherents of the QAnon conspiracy movement collapsed. William Turton and Joshua Brustein write that it was down to a glitch with VanwaTech, a tiny company that provides network infrastructure. Its proprietor, 23-year-old Nick Lim, fixed it after he woke up from a nap at his mom's condo.

And finally ... For real estate hunters in the pandemic era, the priority is space. As the rich prepare for future lockdowns, Emily CadmanCharlie Wells and  Shawna Kwan write, they are looking for everything from championship-sized tennis courts, a penthouse bedroom that doubles as a garden and Instagram-worthy wine cellars.

A penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront in London.

Photographer: Ben Dale/Chelsea Waterfront/ Hutchison Properties

     

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