TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) – Taiwan scrambled fighter jets, put its navy on alert and activated missile systems in response to nearby operations by 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships that are part of Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy. The large-scale Chinese deployment came as Beijing increases preparations for a … Read more
Tokyo — China’s growing assertiveness and collaboration with Russia poses a threat not only to Asia but also to Europe, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday as he sought stronger cooperation and more “friends” for NATO in the Indo-Pacific region. Stoltenberg said China is increasingly investing in nuclear weapons and long-range missiles without providing transparency … Read more
Hong Kong CNN – Two years ago, cannabidiol was booming in Hong Kong. The compound, known as CBD, was popping up in cafes, restaurants and stores, with businesses eager to join an exciting new market already well-established in countries around the world. That all came to an end on Wednesday, when CBD was criminalized in … Read more
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its 2023 global growth outlook slightly due to “surprisingly resilient” demand in the United States and Europe and the reopening of China’s economy after Beijing abandoned its strict zero-COVID strategy. The IMF said global growth would still fall to 2.9 percent in 2023 from 3.4 percent in 2022, … Read more
TikTok holds its End Of Year Event 2022 in Milan, Italy, on Dec. 13. Claudio Lavenia Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images TikTok is beginning to feel the sting of political and regulatory pressure in Europe, where the Chinese-owned app has largely evaded the scrutiny it’s faced in the US EU Commissioner of the Internal … Read more
The vaunted fleet of the US Navy may not be ready for a conflict with China. A recent analysis found that the US would likely lose a vast number of ships in a war with China over Taiwan, thanks to a narrowing technological advantage. And experts say the US fleet of over 490 ships is … Read more
Hong Kong CNN – Last week, K-pop singer Danielle Marsh asked her online fans what they were doing for Chinese New Year. A profuse apology followed two days later, in which she promised to “try to be more careful” and acknowledged the “hurt” she had caused. Any crime? The “Chinese” that preceded “New Year.” A … Read more
Hong Kong CNN – Last week, K-pop singer Danielle Marsh asked her online fans what they were doing for Chinese New Year. A profuse apology followed two days later, in which she promised to “try to be more careful” and acknowledged the “hurt” she had caused. Any crime? The “Chinese” that preceded “New Year.” A … Read more
Russia takes war to ‘different stage’ – EU official Moscow has ratcheted up its invasion of Ukraine by making indiscriminate attacks on civilians and framing the conflict as a struggle against the West, according to a senior EU official. Stefano Sannino, Secretary General of the European Union’s European External Action Service, said on Friday Russia … Read more
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (AP) — Just a handful of Chinese visitors were posing for photos and basking in the sun this week in the market and plazas near Chiang Mai’s ancient Tha Phae Gate, one of many tourist hotspots still waiting for millions of Chinese travelers. to return. The beaches and temples of destinations like … Read more