China

LPGA Tour returns to Singapore, Thailand for 2 events
Asia, China, Singapore, World

LPGA Tour returns to Singapore, Thailand for 2 events

The LPGA Tour is headed to Asia for an abbreviated two-event schedule in Singapore and Thailand for the first time in 18 months and minus several tournaments because of continuing concerns over COVID-19. The HSBC Women’s World Championship begins Thursday at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, followed by the May 6-9 Honda LPGA Thailand at Chonburi near Bangkok. A third tournament was scheduled in China — the Blue Bay LPGA on Hainan Island — but the LPGA cancelled that event three weeks ago because of pandemic travel restrictions. The pandemic severely disrupted the LPGA Tour’s 2020 schedule, as it did to other major sporting events around the world. The LPGA played two tournaments in Australia in February 2020 — they were cancelled this year — and was expected to head to Bangkok, Singapore
12 killed as tornados hit Wuhan and central china
China

12 killed as tornados hit Wuhan and central china

Beijing, China: Wuhan was hit back to back by tornados along with central China and Suzhou in east China in which at least 12 people were killed.A tornado hit Shengze town of Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, on Friday night at around 7 pm, leaving four dead and 149 slightly wounded, Chinese state media Global Times reported.With a maximum wind force of 202 to 220 kilometres per hour, the tornado is rated at EF3 based on preliminary estimates.Also on Friday night, another tornado passed through two districts of Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei Province, killing eight people and injuring 280, the city's emergency management bureau said on Saturday.Twenty-Seven homes collapsed in Wuhan, and another 130 were damaged. Construction site sheds and two cranes were also damaged, while...
Persons spat on, painted graffiti on Chinese consulate: Canadian police in search.
China

Persons spat on, painted graffiti on Chinese consulate: Canadian police in search.

Vancouver, Canada: Some people spat on and painted graffiti on the Chines consulate. The Vancouver police is searching for those people. In one incident a man spat on the consulate's name plate then obstructed an employee; 13 days later a different man sprayed graffiti on the front gates, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP). "These are such disrespectful and intolerable acts," said Constable Tania Visintin of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD). The VPD released video and photographs of the incidents on Friday, as it sought help from the public to identify the culprits. On March 22, police said, a man parked a dark Ford Escape in front of the consulate near Granville Street and West 16th Avenue, reported SCMP. "He approached the front gate and spat on the plaque dedi...
Beijing developing second-strike capability.
Asia, Business, China, Conflict, Opinion

Beijing developing second-strike capability.

Beijing, China: After the report that China may be capable of second nuclear stick capability, the US and China arms have raced up.Francesco Sisci, writing in Asia Times said that the US commentariat is ringing alarms about China's nuclear rearmament and apparent new second-strike reaction capability.In recent days, two American journalistic heavyweights, David Ignatius and Fred Kaplan pointed to the ongoing nuclear and missile rearmament process in China. The fundamental point is that according to opinion-makers China has acquired second-strike nuclear reaction capability.This is a fundamental point in the balance of nuclear terror. The ability to react after a first nuclear strike means that even if an enemy were to attack first with a nuclear offensive, the attacked country would retai...
China threatens Australia over its big defence budget.
China, Politics

China threatens Australia over its big defence budget.

Australia announced big amount for defence in its federal budget which was read on Tuesday, reacting to which China threatened Australia to bring 'economic carnage'.has threatened to bring upon Australia in response to big defence spending announced in Tuesday's federal budget.The government outlined a huge boost for the defence force, more funding for spies and help for exporters to find new markets in a massive push back against an increasingly assertive Beijing.In response, Chinese newspaper the Global Times - a mouthpiece for the Communist Party government - has warned that Beijing will block more Australian exports after already banning a range of goods including barley, wine, beef and coal.In an article titled 'Canberra's defence spending means more economic carnage', the publicatio...
China and many other countries are suppressing religious freedom: US
Business, China

China and many other countries are suppressing religious freedom: US

Washington, US: US blamed China and other countries that they are supressing freedom of religion in their countries. They also said that for America human rights are first and foremost which could be seen in US’s foreign policy.The condemnation was similar to that lodged by the Trump administration, which had been criticized for prioritizing religious freedom over other rights, and reflected continuity in the U.S. position that China´s crackdown on Muslims and other religious minorities in western Xinjiang constitutes "genocide." Yet, a senior official said religious freedom is just one element in the administration's broader human rights strategy.Much as his predecessor did, Secretary of State Antony Blinken used the release of the State Department´s annual International Religious Freedo
US, China commit to climate cooperation ahead of key summit
Asia, China, Politics, World

US, China commit to climate cooperation ahead of key summit

US, China commit to climate cooperation ahead of key summit US climate envoy John Kerry was the first official from the Biden administration to visit China. WASHINGTON: The United States and China are "committed to cooperating" on the pressing issue of climate change, the two sides said Saturday, issuing the pledge days ahead of a key summit hosted by President Joe Biden. The joint statement came after a trip to Shanghai by US climate envoy John Kerry, the first official from Biden's administration to visit China, signalling hopes the two sides could work together on the global challenge despite sky-high tensions on multiple other fronts. But to achieve the global climate goal, Kerry said words must be put into action and urged China to reduce its use of coal. "The United States and C...
China warns of ‘serious harm’ to relations as Australia scraps BRI deal
Asia, China, World

China warns of ‘serious harm’ to relations as Australia scraps BRI deal

China warns of 'serious harm' to relations as Australia scraps BRI deal As relations between the two countries continue to nosedive, a top Australian official said Canberra was 'worried' about local governments entering into such agreements with Beijing. BEIJING: China on Thursday said Australia's sudden scrapping of a Belt and Road Initiative deal risked "serious harm" to relations and warned of retaliatory actions against a country that insists it will not be bullied. Canberra pulled the deal with Victoria state late on Wednesday, in a move destined to provoke Beijing but justified by the Defence Minister as necessary to prevent Australia hosting a giant infrastructure scheme "used for propaganda". Australia overruled Victoria state's decision to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BR...
When geopolitics impacts markets
China, Conflict, Politics, World

When geopolitics impacts markets

When geopolitics impacts markets Fractious geopolitics doesn't always move world markets -- but the summer of 2021 may give us some glimpse about exactly where and how it does. With the new US administration of President Joe Biden asserting its foreign policy priorities, this month has seen a rise in tensions with the United States' most powerful rivals -- China, Russia and even Iran. For many investors, the sharpened, bellicose rhetoric surrounding several flashpoints such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang or eastern Ukraine or Tehran's resumed uranium enrichment are predictable attempts to test the mettle of Washington's new broom. But if Mr Biden's ambition is to rally neglected Western-led alliances that push harder for democracy and human rights, then Beijing and Moscow -- perhaps...
Reimagining a classic
China, World

Reimagining a classic

At the exhibition 'New Ramayana', artist Surachet Prueksawunprasut gives the supporting characters of the Ramakien epic a new futuristic look Surachet Prueksawunprasut at his solo exhibition. Thotsakan, the Demon King of Lanka in the Thai epic Ramakien, plays with a drone. Hanuman, the Monkey King, kills a giant with a gun and the giant Queen Nang Sammanakkha wears colourful attire without the golden theatrical crown. These characters from the Ramakien were created in new forms for a future world by artist Surachet Prueksawunprasut in the collection titled "New Ramayana", who makes them look different from their usual self in the traditional paintings. After his daughter was born, Surachet began to think about the future and his thoughts are reflected in his work. His previous collectio...