'It's not easy': Survivors of deadly Icefield tour bus crash near Jasper, Alta., file $17M lawsuit   -20%

Survivors of a tour bus crash in Jasper National Park that killed three people and injured 24 others have filed a lawsuit against the vehicle operator, seeking more than $17 million in damages. 

Xi pays tribute to national heroes at Tian'anmen Square   -6%

BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state joined representatives from various walks of life in a ceremony to present flower baskets to deceased national heroes at Tian'anmen Square on Wednesday morning.

The event, which took place a day ahead of the National Day, was held to mark Martyrs' Day.

The other leaders included Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan.

A military band played trumpets to commemorate the martyrs.

At 10 a.m., all participants sang the national anthem, and then paid a silent tribute to those who devoted their lives to the liberation of the Chinese people and the construction of the People's Republic of China, which was founded in 1949.

After students sang the chorus of the song of Chinese Young Pioneers, 18 honor guards laid nine flower baskets in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes.

The baskets were presented in the names of the CPC Central Committee; the National People's Congress Standing Committee; the State Council; the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; the Central Military Commission; non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and patriotic persons without party affiliations; people's organizations and people from all walks of life; veterans, retired senior cadres and the relatives of martyrs; as well as Chinese Young Pioneers.

Xi straightened the red ribbons on the baskets and led a group of senior officials in a walk around the monument to pay tribute.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak this year, China has waged an all-out "people's war" against the virus.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, the country has achieved major strategic achievements in the fight against the epidemic and secured remarkable progress in advancing epidemic prevention and control as well as economic and social development.

With the goals of securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects as well as winning the fight against poverty soon to be realized, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups will continue their journey to fully build a modern socialist China under the leadership of the CPC.

The ceremony was presided over by Cai Qi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee.

Indian court acquits Hindu nationalist leaders accused of demolishing 16th-century mosque   -20%

The destruction in 1992 led to deadly riots and was a key moment in the rise of Hindu nationalism now dominating the country.

Geely gets nod to raise capital on Shanghais Nasdaq-like Star Market as carmaker remakes itself into tech company   -15%

Geely Automobile Holdings, China’s largest private carmaker and owner of Volvo Cars, has obtained regulatory approval for a secondary listing on Shanghai’s Nasdaq-like exchange for start-ups, as it redefines itself as a technology company with its line-up of 10 electric cars by 2025.The Hangzhou-based carmaker aims to raise as much as 20 billion yuan (US$2.94 billion) on the Star Market to finance its development of new technologies and models, according to an announcement by the Shanghai Stock…

The Jewish author who dared to talk about mental illness and its treatment  

‘Prozac Nation’ author Elizabeth Wurtzel dies at age 52. Her 1994 memoir initiated the public dialogue on the antidepressant that changed the face of her generation

Military drills in Tibet are scheduled, not target any country: Defense Spokesperson   -2%

BEIJING, Sept. 24 -- The drills conducted by the Tibet Military Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in recent days are within the annual training plan and not targeted at any specific country, said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, new spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday.

Snr. Col. Tan stated that the PLA Tibet Military Command recently organized several round-the-clock live-fire training exercises, in a bid to test the troops’ adaptability and strike capability in ultra-high-altitude areas.

Will Chinas official Panchen Lama, now 30, take a bigger role in Tibet?  

Since Beijing chose Gyaincain Norbu as the “official” Panchen Lama – the second-highest figure in Tibet’s spiritual hierarchy – observers have been watching for signs that he might take a bigger role in Communist Party rule in the region.A decade ago, after he was appointed as a 20-year-old to a top advisory body, the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, there was speculation that he would follow in his predecessor’s footsteps and eventually become a…

National Portrait Gallery Show to Bring First Ladies into Focus   17%

A new exhibition, “Every Eye Is Upon Me: First Ladies of the United States,” will gather portraits and other artistic representations of first ladies.

US-China tensions fuelled by lack of interaction, former US ambassador to Russia says   -3%

A former US ambassador to Russia has warned that the lack of communication between Washington and Beijing could lead to misunderstanding and increase the risk of military conflict.Speaking at an online meeting of the Asia Society in Hong Kong on Friday, Michael McFaul, who is now a professor of international studies at Stanford University, said the United States, China and Russia should learn from the mistakes of the Cold War if they wanted to avoid armed combat.World leaders needed to engage…

Body of late Emir Sheikh Sabah arrives in Kuwait from US   -30%

The body of the late Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah arrived in Kuwait on Wednesday afternoon from the United States, Kuwait TV showed.His body was transported on a royal plane

How Taiwan's 'civic hackers' helped find a new way to run the country   1%

New social media platform Polis cuts through noise and trolling to establish consensus – and create new laws

The origin of one world always begins with its feet in another. And so it was in March 2014.

It came to be known as the Sunflower movement, a sudden three-week stand-off in 2014 between the government and Taiwanese protesters occupying parliament over a trade bill purporting to bring their country closer to China.

UAE to launch unmanned mission to the moon by 2024  

Gulf state boosts space program, could become fourth nation in the world to land on the moon

New SUV is next step in VW's post-scandal electric offensive   3%

Volkswagen is unveiling a battery-powered sport-utility vehicle that is headed for global markets including the United States and China, as the company takes a major step forward in its campaign to make electric cars a mass-market choice.

Saudi Arabian designer to showcase traditional clothing ahead of Saudi National Day  

Saudi Arabian designer Omaima Kindassa is staging a fashion show in Jeddah to showcase traditional clothing from regions around the Kingdom in celebration of the country’s upcoming 90th National Day,

US, Taiwan to team up on infrastructure projects in Indo-Pacific, officials say   3%

The United States and Taiwan will work together on infrastructure projects in the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America, officials said on Wednesday, in a clear counter to Beijing’s massive regional investment plans.Washington is deeply suspicious of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative to build roads, railways and other facilities to link China to Europe, Asia and beyond, viewing it as a plan to entrap countries into China’s orbit with debt diplomacy.Beijing denies this.The de facto US embassy…

PLA Central Theater Command and seven provincial governments jointly promote military-related legal rights protection   4%

By Liu Zhimin

TIANJIN, Sept. 29 -- The third joint meeting on military-related legal rights protection was held in Tianjin in early September by the PLA Central Theater Command and the seven provinces (cities) where the Central Theater Command is located.

The meeting summarized the work done by the PLA Central Theater Command and the local governments in safeguarding the interests related to national defense and the legal rights of soldiers and their families since last year.

The meeting emphasized the need to formulate more complete mechanism, policies and regulations, so as to defend the national defense and military interests according to law and protect the legal rights of the military members and national defense-related personnel. At the same time, the meeting stressed that close military-local cooperation and strengthened supervision and inspection should also be carried out.

In 2019, the PLA Central Theater Command and the seven provinces (cities) conducted special actions on military-related legal rights protection in major events, such as military training exercises, the National Day military parade, security work of 2019 Military World Games, etc. It is reported that about 2,340 law-related disputes were handled.

The seven provinces (cities) have set up priority processing system in legal assistance for military personnel and their families, expanded types of legal aid cases, and recruited outstanding military and civilian lawyers in the judicial cooperation team, and so on.

Eleven-year-old climate activist leads beach cleanup in Hong Kong  

Lance Lau, an 11-year-old Hong Kong climate activist, has been called the Chinese territory's answer to Greta Thunberg.

US imposes Syria-related sanctions on six individuals, 13 entities   -12%

The United States on Wednesday blacklisted 13 entities and six individuals, including the governor of the Central Bank of Syria, in a fresh round of sanctions aimed at cutting off revenue for Syrian

Huawei ready to be vivisected to show equipment does not pose a security risk   12%

Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies is ready to be thoroughly examined to show that its products does not pose any risk to the countries that will include its equipment in the creation of 5G mobile networks, the head of its Italian unit said on Wednesday.“We will open our insides, we are available to be vivisected to respond to all of this political pressure …,” Huawei Italy president Luigi De Vecchis said at the opening ceremony of the group’s cybersecurity centre in…

'Resist until the end': On the ground with Apple Daily, Hong Kong's pro-democracy newspaper - video   25%

We follow Oscar, a journalist at the tabloid, who in the shadow of China’s controversial national security law continues to report on - now largely silenced - street protests. When the law came into force three months ago, Apple Daily was raided by police: journalists' desks were searched and its founder was taken away in handcuffs. But journalists at the paper are still working, fighting to tell the people of Hong Kong’s story. 

• Protests and Covid leave Hong Kong stuck in recession

Flight Centre to close another 90 stores as border closures bite  

Flight Centre will shut a further 90 stores across Australia as the ongoing closure of state and national borders keep holidaymakers grounded and the travel group in hibernation.

New World Development reaps rewards from online sales experiments to counter Covid-19 crisis  

New World Development (NWD) is seeing the fruits of its digital experiments to overcome the Covid-19 crisis after scoring substantial sales from online channels while footfall and tourist arrivals suffered amid lockdown and travel restrictions.The Hong Kong developer has generated more than HK$10.5 billion (US$1.6 billion) in retail revenue from its network of shopping centres in the city and property projects in mainland China since March. The amount included HK$300 million from its flagship…

China steps up scrutiny of illegal foreign exchange flows as market opening accelerates   -12%

China is stepping up scrutiny of illegal foreign exchange flows amid concern they could cause destabilising swings in the yuan and domestic financial markets, analysts said.The nation’s currency regulator, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), announced last week it would strengthen supervision and standardising procedures, as well as punish firms and individuals for illegal foreign exchange acts that threatened state or commercial secrets and personal privacy.In addition, lower…

India test-fires extended range version of BrahMos as older version of supersonic cruise missile deployed to counter China   21%

India has successfully tested an upgraded BrahMos cruise missile that can strike targets over 400km away. Local media reported that jets fitted with BrahMos had been recently deployed near the contentious border with China.
Read Full Article at RT.com

Chinas shadow looms as New Caledonia decides whether to leave France   -15%

The Pacific island of New Caledonia, home to 270,000 people, is slated to hold its second referendum on independence from France this weekend, amid bids for self-government in a region that has become a focus of geopolitical rivalry among the United States, China and Australia and has been late to the decolonisation process.The former penal colony, which is reliant on Paris for about US$1.5 billion in funding annually, has an agreement with France for up to three referendums – each held two…

Russian "Kavkaz-2020" strategic exercise kicks off  

ASTRAKHAN REGION, Russia, Sept. 21 -- The opening ceremony of the multinational military strategic exercise "Kavkaz-2020" was held at the Kapustin Yar Range on September 19, local time. Troops participating in the exercise from countries including Russia and China attended the ceremony.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Snr. Gen. Nikolay Pankov, Lt. Gen. Liu Xiaowu, deputy commander of the Chinese PLA Western Theater Command and the commander of the Chinese troops for the exercise, as well as the supreme commanders of the participating forces from other countries, delivered speeches respectively.

During the military parade at the ceremony, the troop phalanxes from Russia, China, Armenia, Belarus, Myanmar, and Pakistan marched past the rostrum successively, after which 11 helicopters flew over the camping village.

According to information released by the Russian Defense Ministry, the total number of the participating troops has reached 80,000. They have assembled at the designated shooting range and are divided into the land-based tactical group, the air force and air defense tactical group, and the navy tactical group. Nearly 250 tanks, 450 infantry fighting vehicles and armored transport vehicles, 200 guns and multiple launch rocket systems will be put into the drill.

It is for the third consecutive year that China has participated in strategic exercises hosted by the Russian military after the "Vostok-2018" and "Tsentr-2019" exercises. This year, the Chinese troops will take part in campaign planning and actual-troop operations at Kapustin Yar shooting Range in Astrakhan, Russia, where the final demonstrating drill will also be held on September 25.

Ai Weiwei: 'Too late' to curb China's global influence  

The Chinese artist and dissident says the West should have worried about China decades ago.

Debt-ridden Kenya should renegotiate Chinese rail loan, parliamentary panel says   23%

Kenya should renegotiate the terms of a loan borrowed from China to build a modern railway line, parliament’s transport committee said in a report, one of many African countries grappling with a

Mongolia joins China to become seventh member of Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement   17%

Mongolia formally acceded to the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) on Tuesday, becoming the seventh member of the long-standing regional pact.The APTA, previously known as the Bangkok Agreement, represents Mongolia’s first regional trade agreement with developing countries.The agreement was founded in 1975 between Bangladesh, India, Laos, South Korea and Sri Lanka, with China joining in 2011.It is an important milestone in the progress of APTA towards becoming a contemporary regional…

Africa: British PM - World Must Unite to Defeat Covid and Prevent Future Pandemics   6%

[FrontPageAfrica] London -- The world must overcome the extraordinary divisions created by coronavirus and unite to defeat the pandemic, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in a pre-recorded speech in line with other leaders, and played out at the UN General Assembly on Saturday 24th September.

U.S. Places Restrictions on Chinas Leading Chip Maker   -3%

The export controls follow a review in which the United States concluded that Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation’s chips may be used by the Chinese military.

Xi charts course for world to meet challenges amid COVID-19   2%

BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday charted a course for the world to confront the COVID-19 crisis and meet more challenges in the future while addressing the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

The general debate was held virtually for the first time in the world body's 75-year-long history due to the coronavirus pandemic.

ENHANCE SOLIDARITY

Noting that COVID-19 has ravaged the world and kept resurging, Xi said countries should put people and life first and enhance solidarity.

"COVID-19 reminds us that we are living in an interconnected global village with a common stake," he said.

"This is why we should embrace the vision of a community with a shared future in which everyone is bound together," Xi said, calling on countries to see each other as members of the same big family, pursue win-win cooperation, rise above ideological disputes and not to fall into the trap of "clash of civilizations."

"We should respect a country's independent choice of development path and model," he said.

No country can gain from others' difficulties or maintain stability by taking advantages of others' troubles, Xi said.

He added that any attempt of politicizing the pandemic or stigmatization must be rejected, saying countries should show concern for and accommodate the need of developing countries, especially African countries.

Xi's remarks once again show that solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon in the face of COVID-19, said Ruan Zongze, executive vice president of the China Institute of International Studies.

PURSUE BALANCED DEVELOPMENT

In his statement, Xi said the economic globalization is an indisputable reality and a historical trend.

"The world will never return to isolation, and no one can sever the ties between countries," he said.

Xi called for full and balanced development that delivers benefit to people from all countries, sectors and backgrounds in an equitable way.

He also called on countries to pursue open and inclusive development, remain committed to building an open world economy, and uphold the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone.

"We should say no to unilateralism and protectionism, and work to ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains," said the president.

The pandemic reminds the world the humankind should launch a green revolution and move faster to create a green way of development and life, Xi said.

He called on countries to pursue innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all, seize the historic opportunities presented by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and achieve a green recovery of the world economy in the post-COVID era.

China will scale up its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions by adopting more vigorous policies and measures, said Xi, adding that China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

"China's commitment to promoting an open world economy represents the historical trend of globalization and the general direction of world development, which speaks volumes about China's sense of responsibility as a major country," said Gao Fei, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University.

STAY TRUE TO MULTILATERALISM

COVID-19 is not only a major test of the governance capacity of countries but also a test of the global governance system.

"We should stay true to multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the UN at its core," said Xi.

He said global governance should be based on the principle of extensive consultation, joint cooperation and shared benefits so as to ensure that all countries enjoy equal rights and opportunities and follow the same rules.

The global governance system should adapt itself to evolving global political and economic dynamics, meet global challenges and embrace the underlying trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation, said Xi.

Competition between countries should be positive and healthy in nature, and should not breach the moral standard, Xi said. He called on major countries to provide more global public goods, take up their due responsibilities and live up to people's expectations.

"We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any country," said Xi, adding that China will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation.

In contrast, the act of certain countries seeking to provoke conflicts goes against the trend of history, Ruan said.

Instead of shying away from problems facing humanity, China is actively promoting a new type of better and balanced globalization, and contributing a "China plan" to achieving sustainable development for all UN member states, he said.

How a Chinese network of fake Facebook accounts influenced online debate on South China Sea, US politics   5%

An investigation by Facebook and a partner analytics firm has detailed how a network of social accounts from China tried to interfere with online political debate on hot-button topics ranging from the South China Sea to US politics. Internet experts said the findings indicate an increasingly forthright attempt by Beijing to shape global discussion on the country’s policies and its relations with others, regardless of whether these tactics actually work. “China’s propaganda campaigns conducted…

6th China (Beijing) Military Intelligent Technology and Equipment Expo opens   36%

BEIJING, Sept. 23 -- The 6th China (Beijing) Military Intelligent Technology and Equipment Expo opened on Tuesday. The 8th China Conference on Command and Control will be commenced in the same time.

The intelligent technology has accelerated its penetration into the military field. Military intelligence is facing both opportunities for development and unprecedented challenges. This expo aims to fully demonstrate the innovation and latest achievements of China’s military intelligent technology, build docking platforms between technology innovation, scientific research, exchange and application, as well as guide the healthy development of scientific research institutes and high-tech enterprises in related industries, in a bid to provide strong scientific and technological support to the informatized and intelligent development of national defense and military.

Despite the COVID-19 epidemic, this expo has attracted more than 100 enterprises, which brought to the expo thousands of cutting-edge technical equipment and products in multiple fields, including command and information system , combat training simulation system, integrated Reconnaissance/Strike UAV , and integrated battlefield support system, etc.

It is learnt that since 2015, the China (Beijing) Military Intelligent Technology and Equipment Expo has been held for six consecutive sessions, with a cumulative exhibition area of nearly 100,000 square meters, more than 1,500 exhibitors, and more than 100,000 visitors.

Indonesian diplomat rebukes Vanuatu PM over Papua comments at United Nations meeting  

An Indonesian diplomat’s rebuke of calls from Vanuatu for an investigation into human rights abuses in West Papua has cast a spotlight on how Pacific island nations are banding together to speak out against Jakarta’s handling of its restive easternmost provinces, where there are calls for independence by some groups. Silvany Austin Pasaribu, a representative from Indonesia’s permanent mission to the United Nations, on Saturday at a meeting of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly…

Chinese peacekeeping operations in new era display three characteristics  

By Li Yun and Zhang Mimi

BEIJING, Sept. 21 -- The whitepaper titled “China's Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations” was released on September 18, 2020. Senior Colonel Cai Hui, an associate professor with the School of International Relations of the National University of Defense Technology and a senior instructor with the Center for Peacekeeping Affairs under the Ministry of National Defense (MND), said in an interview that the Chinese military has made a series of historic breakthroughs in participating in UN peacekeeping operations in the new era. Especially in the past five years, the Chinese military has mainly demonstrated three new characteristics in its peacekeeping operations.

First, the size and type of peacekeepers continue to expand. The Chinese military have dispatched six batches of peacekeeping infantry battalions to South Sudan in performing armed patrols, security guards, and civilian protection tasks since 2015. Prof. Cai said that since 2017, three batches of peacekeeping helicopter units had been sent in succession to Darfur, Sudan, to perform tasks such as troop delivery, operational support, search and rescue evacuation, and logistics supplies. The troops have expanded from a single engineering unit to the current professional forces consisting of engineering, medical, security, infantry, helicopter, and other arms. Their mission area has expanded from one to five mission areas.

Second, the responsibilities and influence of peacekeepers continue to increase. As the Chinese military has continuously enriched its practical experience in participating in UN peacekeeping operations, more and more Chinese military personnel have taken up growing responsibilities, assuming more intermediate and high-level positions in UN peacekeeping operations and participating in the decision-making, organization and guidance of peacekeeping operations. Since 2015, three major generals and five colonel officers of the Chinese military have held senior positions in the UN headquarters and peacekeeping missions, and relevant key roles have been served for 27 times.

Third, the function and tasks are more diverse. With the adjustment of the international situation and the change in the nature of armed conflicts, the mission of UN peacekeeping operations has shifted from traditional isolating conflicts, monitoring ceasefires to diversified tasks including protecting civilians, preventing illegal border crossings, disarming and demobilizing, restoring the rule of law and order, supporting elections, and assisting in building national governance.

Prof. Cai pointed out that the Chinese military actively adapts to the needs of UN peacekeeping operations, and carries out various tasks such as security guards, military-police-civilian cooperation, humanitarian relief, support for reconstruction, etc., striving to provide people in conflict areas with public safety products and spread friendship and hope.

Kremlin keenly following US presidential campaign, will not make statements   12%

Russia, like many other nations in the world, is closely following US presidential campaign as the United States is one of the world’s top economies, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters

New head coach announced for Israel's mens squad  

Max Silberlicht will serve as head coach of the Israel men’s Lacrosse national team

US-China relations: the pre-Trump warning shot that signalled trouble ahead   -8%

When former deputy secretary of state Robert Zoellick stepped up to the podium to deliver the keynote address at the National Committee on US-China Relations’ annual gala in 2005, he was expected to offer the usual rosy celebration of the relationship reserved for such occasions. That did not happen.Instead – 15 years ago today – Zoellick, who went on to head the World Bank, delivered what became known as his “responsible stakeholder” speech in reference to China‘s place in the world order.The…

Chinas EV makers pour billions of dollars into research, output and marketing to catch up with Tesla on their home turf   -40%

Manufacturers and assemblers of electric cars in China, the world’s largest vehicle market since 2009, are sharpening their pitches and raising their game as they pour billions of dollars into research, sales and marketing to catch up with the industry leader Tesla in their home turf.Long driving range on a single charge is essential in a nation with the world’s third-biggest land mass, as are sophisticated electronic gadgetry, unique applications, bells and whistles, according to the range of…