Chinese authorities say they are investigating a top politician once seen as a candidate for the highest ranks of the leadership. Sun Zhengcai was the Communist Party chief of a major metropolis, Chongqing. Before his abrupt removal from office earlier this month, he was a strong contender to rise to the elite seven-member committee that … Read more
Kenedy has been sent home from Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Asia as punishment for his offensive social media posts about China, according to reports on Tuesday. Brazilian defender Kenedy was axed from Chelsea’s high-profile tour as the Premier League champions fought to avoid further embarrassment after the social media slurs sparked a furious response in … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has demanded the United States return church bells seized by American forces in a bloody campaign more than a century ago, in another blast at his country’s traditional ally. American forces took three bells from the Catholic church of Balangiga town on the eastern island of Samar in 1901 as war … Read more
China on Tuesday called on the United States to stop “unfriendly” and “dangerous” military flights after two Chinese fighter jets intercepted an American surveillance plane over the East China Sea. The US Navy EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft took evasive action Sunday after a Chinese J-10 warplane zoomed underneath it, slowed down and pulled up in front … Read more
Beijing urged Southeast Asian nations on Tuesday to unite and “say no” to outside forces seeking to interfere in the South China Sea dispute, in an apparent swipe at the United States ahead of a regional summit. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the statement in Manila where he hailed the “strong momentum” in improving … Read more
A plan for mainland border staff to be stationed on Hong Kong soil as part of a new rail link to China sparked a backlash Tuesday as concern grows about Beijing’s reach into the city. It is illegal for mainland law enforcers to operate in semi-autonomous Hong Kong under the city’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law. … Read more
Chelsea have issued an apology to the people of China over Kennedy’s “offensive social media posts” during the club’s visit to the country. Brazil under 20 international, Kennedy, was booed during Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Arsenal in Beijing on Saturday after posting disrespectful messages about China on his Instagram account. In response, Chelsea issued a bilingual statement on their … Read more
The 23-year-old Canadian superstar — who in recent years has been as known for off-stage antics as for his music — had been due to resume his “Purpose” tour on Thursday with 15 shows across North America and Asia. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Justin Bieber will cancel the remainder of the ‘Purpose World Tour’ concerts,” … Read more
Chinese players dominated first round matches on Monday at the hard court WTA Jiangxi Open in the city of Nanchang, southeastern China. Second seed singles player Peng Shuai of China won her first set against Japan’s Kurumi Nara 7-5 before losing the second 4-6 then clinching the victory with a 6-3 win. Nara had battled … Read more
A US surveillance plane was forced to take evasive action after two Chinese fighters intercepted it over the East China Sea, the Pentagon said Monday. The incident occurred Sunday when the two Chinese J-10 warplanes intercepted a US Navy EP-3 reconnaissance plane in international air space west of the Korean Peninsula, Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain … Read more
The Chinese Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog has launched an investigation into a Politburo member who was once seen as a contender for a top leadership post, state media reported Monday. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is investigating Sun Zhengcai, who until a week ago was party chief in the major city of Chongqing, for … Read more
Four Vietnamese fisherman were shot and wounded by Indonesia’s navy over the weekend, authorities said on Monday, the latest clash to erupt over fishing in the hotly disputed South China Sea. The Vietnamese fishing vessel, which had six sailors on board, was fired at late Saturday, according to an online report by the disaster and … Read more
The number of rhinos killed for their horns by poachers in South Africa dipped slightly in the first half of this year, but more than 500 were still slaughtered, the government announced Monday. South Africa is battling a scourge of rhino poaching fuelled by insatiable demand for their horn in Asia. Most of the demand … Read more
China on Monday defended its repatriation of North Koreans who have escaped across its border after a United Nations envoy voiced concern about increasing detentions and expulsions. Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, said last week he had shared his concerns with Chinese officials in recent months. But … Read more
Tongues are wagging at the Volta Star Textiles Company Limited (VSTL), a state-owned world-class yarn and grey baft-producing company in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region. This development, Today gathered, follows agitations by the workers aimed at resisting plans by government, through the ministry of trade and industry to shutdown the company again … Read more
China warned on Monday that it will step up its troop deployment in a border dispute with India, vowing to defend its sovereignty at “whatever cost”. The standoff started more than a month ago after Chinese troops started building a road on a remote plateau, which is disputed by China and Bhutan. Indian troops moved … Read more
A gang of 44 people from China and Taiwan have been arrested in Thailand for running an elaborate phone scam that conned $3 million from scores of victims, police said Monday. Raids on houses in the capital Bangkok and the sleazy resort town of Pattaya snared the well-organised gang, whose targets were mainly based in … Read more
The global economic recovery is on firmer footing as improving growth in China, Europe and Japan offset downward revisions for the United States and Britain, the International Monetary Fund said Sunday. However, wage growth remains sluggish which risks increasing tensions that have pushed some countries toward more anti-global policies, while efforts to erode financial regulations … Read more
China’s Sun Yang awkwardly embraced arch nemesis Mack Horton on the podium after beating the Australian Olympian at the world championships on Sunday. Horton, 21, planted the seed for a rivalry for the ages when he dismissed Sun as a ‘drug cheat’ before upsetting the defending champ to take gold on his Olympic debut at … Read more
Chinese prodigy Li Haotong registered his country’s best ever performance in a major after shooting a 63 in his final round at Royal Birkdale on Sunday to finish third in the British Open. Li, 21, started the day at +1 for the championship and parred his first seven holes before a remarkable run of seven … Read more