Author: Grace Tsoi

Pakistan and Turkey identified by European parliamentarian as serious threat
13Nov By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Pakistan and Turkey identified by European parliamentarian as serious threat

Amid rising terrorist attacks in Europe, French Member of European Parliament (MEP) Nicolas Bay asked the European Union (EU) to “showering” Pakistan and Turkey with subsidies and customs facilitiesFrench MEP Nicolas Bay’s remarks came during the European Parliamentary plenary of November 11, 2020. “MEP Bay’s comments were made in the context of a debate on the ‘fight against terrorism, freedom of expression and education’”, a press statement read.Speaking to the European Commissioner Ylva Johansson responsible for Home Affairs, Bay was critical of the support being given by the European Commission to the countries of concern. “You are showering countries like Pakistan and Turkey with subsidies and customs facilities. We want to sanction them!”, he said.Linking terrorism threats to migrati
Read More
Japan eyes US-style law to sanction Uighur human rights abuses
13Nov By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Business, China, World

Japan eyes US-style law to sanction Uighur human rights abuses

Amid growing criticism, against China for its treatment of Uighur Muslims, Japan is weighing a legal foundation for sanctions similar to those imposed by the United States and Europe.The Japanese government has asked the local companies that operate in China whether functioning in Xinjiang province could get them into trouble.This comes after a report in March by the Australian Global Policy Institute indicated that around 11 Japanese companies were among the 82 well-known global brands which relied on factories that use forced Uighur laborers.The report indicated that more than 80,000 Uighur workers were transferred out of the Xinjiang region, where China's Uighur population is concentrated, to around 30 factories across the country.Companies in the report, including Fast Retailing, maker...
Read More
China’s COVID-19 vaccine trials suspended in Brazil after ‘severe incident’
11Nov By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

China’s COVID-19 vaccine trials suspended in Brazil after ‘severe incident’

Brazil's health regulator Anvisa has suspended clinical trials of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine in the country following a "severe incident".On Monday, Anvisa said it had "ruled to interrupt the clinical trial of the CoronaVac vaccine after a serious adverse incident". It did not reveal what had happened, nor where it had taken place.It also did not give an indication of how long the suspension of the large late-stage trial of China's Sinovac coronavirus vaccine might last in Brazil.President Jair Bolsonaro hailed the suspension as a “victory” and said that their government would buy whatever coronavirus vaccine is certified by Anvisa.Writing on Facebook, the president said the halt of the CoronaVac trial was "another victory for Jair Bolsonaro".The vaccine, developed by Chinese firm Si
Read More
Pakistan’s Pulwama attack admission could warrant action from international organizations
2Nov By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Pakistan’s Pulwama attack admission could warrant action from international organizations

Tilak Devasher, a member of the Indian National Security Advisory Board has said Pakistan Federal cabinet minister Fawad Chaudhry’s admission on Islamabad’s role in Pulwama terror strike should be taken into consideration by UN and other international bodies for initiating tough action against Pakistan.Speaking in the Pakistan National Assembly on October 28, Science & Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said: “Humne Hindustan ko ghus ke maara (We hit India in their home). Our success in Pulwama, is a success of this nation under the leadership of Imran Khan. You and us are all part of that success.”Despite damage control by the Pakistan Foreign office, the Minister’s remarks were a public admission of the use of terror as an instrument of state policy.“The admission of Federal cabi
Read More
China broke its promises to Hong Kong, Taiwan: US State Dept
31Oct By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, World

China broke its promises to Hong Kong, Taiwan: US State Dept

US State Department's spokesperson, Morgan Ortagus, has called out China for breaking its "promises" to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and asked Beijing to be transparent and allow an investigation in the emergence of coronavirus from Wuhan province.In the recent months, tensions between the US and China have escalated over a range of issues including coronavirus, Hong Kong national security law, Indo-Pacific region."China, we have made no secret in the Trump administration that they are a strategic competitor on many levels. There are some areas in which we do have to work with China and we have been able to work with them, especially on establishing the new phase one trade agreement. But for the most part, you know again we have seen that there are global challenges and challenges in Asia, where ...
Read More
A 21 years old budding Calligrapher from Kashmir is making her family proud
30Oct By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

A 21 years old budding Calligrapher from Kashmir is making her family proud

Rani Meesaqun Nabi, a 21-year-old woman from Tral of Pulwama District in South Kashmir is earning accolades as a budding calligrapher. A third-year student in BUMS, Nabi developed her interest in calligraphy in the lockdown. And now she is also selling her handicrafts to people, thus venturing on a journey of a young entrepreneur. By practising calligraphy, Nabi aims at inheriting and taking ahead her father’s legacy who also mastered the art of calligraphy. The budding artist and entrepreneur, Nabi told in an interview with ANI, “I did (calligraphy) as a hobby before. But in quarantine, I got time to do it seriously.” Speaking about how people have started liking and buying her art, she said, “It’s good if people are interested in buying handmade art form. It’ll save it from dying out
Read More
Ex-Los Alamos Lab employee sentenced to probation for hiding China ties: US Justice Dept
29Oct By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Ex-Los Alamos Lab employee sentenced to probation for hiding China ties: US Justice Dept

The US Justice Department has said that a former employee for the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the US state of New Mexico has been put on five years probation for lying about a scheme to steal intellectual property for China."Turab Lookman, 68, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was sentenced on September 11 to five years of probation and a USD 75,000 fine for providing a false statement to the Department of Energy. Lookman is not allowed to leave New Mexico for the term of his probation," the Justice Department said.In 2018, Lookman, then an employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory, falsely denied to a counterintelligence officer that he had been recruited or applied for a job with the Thousand Talents Program, established by China to recruit individuals with access to foreign technology and...
Read More
Spanish police apprehend two people for smuggling dual-use equipment to Pakistani military companies
27Oct By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Business, World

Spanish police apprehend two people for smuggling dual-use equipment to Pakistani military companies

Spanish Police have apprehended two persons on charges of smuggling dual-use equipment and technology to Pakistani military companies which could be used for Missile Guidance systems, sources reported."The Spanish Police has apprehended two unidentified persons on July 1 from Alicante, South East of Spain. The two were convicted of smuggling dual-use equipment and technology to the Pakistani military companies," the sources said.The individuals were operating a company from three industrial warehouses in Alicante which specialized in the export of autonomous navigation technologies for UAVs. Much of their business dealings could be traced back to Pakistan. The company has received an estimated sum of 4 million Euro for the export.According to the police, the technologies could be extensive...
Read More
India should take a stand on Tibet policy amid CCP’s aggression on the border: Experts
26Oct By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, Conflict, Opinion, World

India should take a stand on Tibet policy amid CCP’s aggression on the border: Experts

The Indian government must review the One China Policy and take a stand on Tibet as India’s future and values is intertwined with Tibet’s independence amid China’s aggressive actions on the border, said experts on the issue.On the eve of October 1st, when China was celebrating its National day, commemorating 71years of Communist Party rule, Indian security and strategic affairs think tank Usanas Foundation had organized a Webinar to bring the global attention to the forgotten Tibetan cause.The focus of the webinar was on the 'Tibet Policy and Support Act of 2019', its impact on the future course of the United States of America's policy directives towards Tibet, and the possible spillover effect on New Delhi's 'One China policy' and the Tibetan resistance movement.The U.S Bill will certainl
Read More
US Senators urge Disney CEO to explain why it cooperated with Xinjiang authorities
25Oct By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

US Senators urge Disney CEO to explain why it cooperated with Xinjiang authorities

As the controversy around ‘Mulan’ movie grows, a group of US senators has called on the CEO of Disney, Bob Chapek, to explain the movie giant's cooperation with the authorities in the Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang during the production of the movie.Disney live-action remake of ‘Mulan’ is facing heat for partly being filmed in the Xinjiang region, where US senators have accused the Chinese authorities of oppression against ethnic Uyghurs."We are writing to inquire about The Walt Disney Company's cooperation with elements of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region's (XUAR) security and propaganda authorities in the production of Mulan. Disney's apparent cooperation with officials of the People's Republic of China (PRC) who are most responsible for committing atrocities--or for covering
Read More