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DC5m United States china in english 67 articles, created at 2016-11-25 04:48 articles set mostly positive rate 1.0

1 13.5 67 killed in China construction collapse A platform meant to help with repairs at a Chinese power plant collapsed Thursday (12.99/13) morning, killing 67 people, according to state-run broadcaster CCTV. 2016-11-24 15:07 1KB rss.cnn.com

2 1.3 China will defend WTO rights if Trump moves on tariffs

(4.27/13) (Reuters) - China will defend its rights under World Trade Organization tariff rules if U. S. President-elect Donald Trump moves toward executing his campaign threats to levy punitive duties on goods made in China, a senior trade official said on Wednesday. 2016-11-24 20:01 3KB feedproxy.google.com

3 2.8 Chinese travel site Ctrip.com to buy Britain's Skyscanner BEIJING (AP) — China's biggest online travel service Ctrip.com says it has agreed to (4.25/13) buy Skyscanner in a deal that values the British travel search site at 1.4 billion pounds ($1.7 billion). ... 2016-11-24 13:46 701Bytes article.wn.com

4 3.3 China, US or Russia: Are We Seeing New Superpower? Have China or Russia removed the U. S. from the Big Throne and became a new superpower? With China, U. S. and Russia being so focused on 2016-11-24 17:03 7KB (3.08/13) www.valuewalk.com

5 3.0 Chinese rights activist who lobbied for lawyers is missing

(3.08/13) BEIJING (AP) — The wife of one of China's most prominent human rights campaigners said Thursday that he had disappeared during a trip to visit relatives of a detained rights lawyer. ... 2016-11-24 13:46 706Bytes article.wn.com

6 2.2 Peter Jackson’s ‘Mortal Engines’ Set for Holiday 2018 Release

(2.06/13) Universal announces that adaptation of Philip Reeve’s best-seller will hit theaters on December 14, 2018 Peter Jackson‘s next movie, the YA adaptation “Mortal Engines,” will land in theaters on December 14, 2018, Universal announced on Thursday. Jackson and longtime collaborator Fran Walsh are... 2016-11-24 14:18 2KB www.sfgate.com 7 0.8 Disqualified Hong Kong lawmakers attend appeal hearing HONG KONG (AP) — Two Hong Kong separatist lawmakers attended a hearing at the (1.08/13) city's High Court on Thursday to appeal a verdict that disqualified them from taking their seats after they altered their oaths by adding anti-China insults. ... 2016-11-24 13:46 786Bytes article.wn.com

8 1.6 Pregnant woman stabbed to death in a parking lot in Los Angeles (1.06/13) CCTV footage appears to show the moment young mother Jasmine Preciado was ambushed on Monday night in Venice, Los Angeles. 2016-11-24 05:49 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

9 3.7 China defends Chinese takeovers of German firms: newspaper (1.02/13) Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong on Thursday defended efforts by Chinese companies to take stakes in German companies, saying such deals benefitted both sides.... 2016-11-24 16:50 3KB www.scmp.com

10 0.7 Reds not impressed with Duterte’s anti-US rhetoric Communist guerrillas warned that a peace deal with President Duterte’s government is unlikely to be reached if he won’t end the Philippines’ treaty alliance with the United (1.02/13) States and resist foreign control by other countries he’s trying to befriend, like China and Russia. 2016-11-25 00:00 3KB newsinfo.inquirer.net

11 0.4 Canada PM Trudeau criticized for fundraising event TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is distancing himself from a growing opposition furor over a private Liberal fundraiser where one Chinese (1.02/13) attendee subsequently donated $1 million to his late father's foundation. ... 2016-11-24 15:31 774Bytes article.wn.com

12 2.5 IAAF ratifies Ruth Jebet's 3,000-meter steeplechase record MONACO (AP) " The IAAF has ratified Ruth Jebet's world record for the women's (1.02/13) 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Bahraini runner's time of 8 minutes, 52.78 seconds at the Diamond League Paris meet in August, 12 days after she won... 2016-11-24 08:47 974Bytes article.wn.com

13 2.6 Hong Kong chief executive denies using influence to land daughter internship at major bank (0.01/13) JPMorgan earlier agreed to pay US$264 million settlement amid claims it won business by giving jobs to relatives and friends of clients 2016-11-24 08:04 3KB www.scmp.com 14 1.3 China Poised to Challenge US Supremacy in Latin America

(0.01/13) Chinese President Xi Jinping has wrapped up his tour of Latin America, visiting Ecuador, Peru and Chile, and attending the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Lima, Peru. Speaking to Sputnik, Latin America expert Alexander Kharlamenko warned that in the next few years... 2016-11-24 08:03 1013Bytes article.wn.com

15 0.0 Canada, China agree to jointly combat fentanyl smuggling The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and China have agreed to jointly combat transpacific trafficking of fentanyl into Canada, they said Thursday following a wa... 2016-11-24 18:05 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

16 2.0 Is This New Chinese Missile Designed Specifically To Penetrate The Pentagon's Armor? Photos of a Chinese fighter jet armed with a mysterious payload surfaced online Sunday, raising questions about its purposes. 2016-11-24 18:00 3KB dailycaller.com

17 0.3 Facebook is ready to censor posts in China -- should users around the world be worried? Facebook's relationship with China has a tense and turbulent history. The social network is currently banned in China, and this clearly takes a huge chunk out of Facebook's ad revenue. In a bid to keep Chinese authorities happy, Mark Zuckerberg has been involved in... 2016-11-24 15:41 3KB feeds.betanews.com

18 1.1 Barrick mulls Kalgoorlie bid of roughly $1.3 bln by China's Minjar-sources By John Tilak and Susan Taylor TORONTO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Barrick Gold is reviewing the financial backing behind an approximately $1.3 billion bid for its s... 2016-11-24 15:19 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk

19 1.6 VirusTotal adds WhiteArmor to its lineup VirusTotal has announced the addition of WhiteArmor’s engine to its antivirus lineup. The Chinese developer explains: VirusTotal has announced the addition of WhiteArmor’s engine to its antivirus lineup. The Chinese developer explains: WhiteArmor is [a] mobile antivirus engine armed with artificial intelligence an… 2016-11-24 15:00 1KB feeds.betanews.com

20 1.8 Xinjiang residents told to turn in passports Order targets region with 10 million-strong Muslim Uighur minority, who frequently complain of religious discrimination. 2016-11-24 14:49 3KB mwcnews.net 21 1.0 Teen burglar kowtows to surveillance camera begging police not to catch him Video footage has caught the moment a burglar in China stops and bows to a surveillance camera. The footage was taken in October. The teenager is reportedly addicted to online gaming. 2016-11-24 13:57 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

22 1.7 Chinese rugby player, 20, 'kicked a fellow student in the face twice and broke his eye socket after he was called a "chink" in a university bar' Sidney Chan (pictured) is accused of kicking Stephen Kent in the face twice and claims the victim abused him when they left the bar at London’s prestigious Imperial College. 2016-11-24 13:47 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk

23 1.2 China TV show gets by rule by pairing fathers with fake kids BEIJING (AP) — A hit Chinese reality TV show has drawn criticism for pairing male celebrities with young children standing in for their sons and daughters and posing them in intimate moments. ... 2016-11-24 13:46 710Bytes article.wn.com

24 0.6 Chinese bride who is on her way to her wedding 'passes out from starvation' Thousands of cars were stuck after a blizzard in Qinling Mountains, China, on November 22. Many motorists were short of food and water. One bride fainted from hunger, reports claimed. 2016-11-24 13:45 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk

25 2.7 Chinese shop owner buys a £57K Toyota using small change A man in China used over 100,000 coins to pay for a down payment on a brand new Toyota vehicle. Family members helped the man carry the cash to the dealership on November 19. 2016-11-24 13:39 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

26 3.9 CCTV footage captures 2 Lancashire boy racers moments before they kill a girl Adil Manir and Mohsem Saddique were racing through the streets of Lancashire when Manir mounted the pavement at 60mph and killed Aleena Kausar as she walked along with her mother. 2016-11-24 13:13 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk

27 1.5 LingLong's DingDong is China's answer to the Amazon Echo Chinese electronics manufacturer LingLong has unveiled its own take on Amazon's Echo voice-activated smart home speaker. It can manage tasks and control home appliances. It is getting the most attention for its translated English name: "DingDong. " 2016-11-24 13:04 5KB www.digitaljournal.com 28 2.4 Elite armed police arrest knife-wielding man at Hong Kong International Airport after tense standoff The man, who holds a Russian passport, was said to have fled the airport’s terminal 2 after grabbing thousands of dollars from an exchange shop at around 8.30pm on Thursday 2016-11-24 12:57 2KB www.scmp.com

29 0.0 Guyana: $45M loan from China will widen main coastal highway GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana says it will use a$45 million loan from China to widen the main road linking the capital of the South American country with... 2016-11-24 12:57 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

30 2.6 Bank of China plays matchmaker, seeks to link PH SMEs to its clients Bank of China (BoC) Thursday kicked off a campaign to link small and medium enterprises in the Philippines to its network of clients through matchmaking forums next year. 2016-11-25 00:00 2KB business.inquirer.net

31 2.9 China to investigate illegal expansion in coal and steel sectors Teams of inspectors will help find and ‘severely punish’ companies resisting Beijing’s plan to cut the two industries back 2016-11-24 11:47 2KB www.scmp.com

32 1.8 China Struggles to Steady Yuan’s Decline With traders going short, depreciation is speeding up With traders going short, depreciation is speeding up. 2016-11-24 11:35 1KB www.infowars.com

33 0.9 Outcry after school in China awards its top pupils with wads of cash A school has sparked outcry in China after awarding its top pupils with wads of cash. Eight million yuan (£930,000) was given away by the Shuren Middle School in Zhejiang province. 2016-11-24 11:34 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

34 0.8 Laid-off GE Lighting China workers ‘may protest over payouts’ Some workers laid off from General Electric (GE) Lighting China are expected to protest over compensation next week following the company’s decision to pull out of the Asian and Latin American markets, a mainland newspaper reported on Thursday.... 2016-11-24 11:33 2KB www.scmp.com

35 0.8 Beijing bakery offers hope for city's disabled Bread for Life is staffed by disabled adults who were abandoned as children. Thanksgiving is one of its busiest times of year 2016-11-24 11:30 2KB www.cnn.com 36 0.4 Panda cubs declare battle against one another as they scrap in China zoo enclosure This adorable video shows the moment two panda cubs try to show themselves as fearsome members of the animal kingdom as they do battle at the Chengdu breeding centre in China. 2016-11-24 11:26 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

37 0.3 Yuan’s fall against US dollar ‘sign of new tack’ by China’s central bank The yuan’s continued fall against the US dollar and the central bank’s lack of intervention in the exchange rate signal Beijing is taking a new tack to prepare for any turbulence from a US Federal Reserve interest rate hike, analysts said on... 2016-11-24 11:25 3KB www.scmp.com

38 8.6 Trade with China kills Americans, study finds — RT Business New research has found a connection between rising mortality among middle-aged white American men and increased trade with China. 2016-11-24 11:11 2KB www.rt.com

39 0.4 Huawei leapfrogs Samsung to become world’s most profitable Android device maker The explosive woes of Samsung’s defective Galaxy Note 7 franchise have helped catapult China’s Huawei past the South Korean conglomerate as the most profitable Android smartphone manufacturer in the world. Apple continues to remain the most profitable of all smartphone makers with a staggering 91% operating profit market share. 2016-11-24 17:42 2KB feedproxy.google.com

40 1.8 Beijing teen bullies are sentenced to prison by a Chinese court after video surfaced Three attackers , all aged 18, have been given six to eight months jail terms in the Chinese capital city of Beijing. The Chinese authorities are trying to curb the rising violence on campus. 2016-11-24 10:46 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

41 0.6 Young son’s support for dad not enough for tearful Wei Nan as he squanders chance to upset third seed Jan O Jorgensen He could hear his two-year-old child’s cheers but the Hong Kong player is unable to handle the pressure despite being one point from beating the Dane 2016-11-24 10:46 3KB www.scmp.com

42 2.0 Luen Wo Market among four more Hong Kong heritage buildings offered up by government for revitalisation Development Bureau offers non-profit organisations the chance to revamp and run historic sites, but concerns remain about their viability 2016-11-24 10:38 4KB www.scmp.com 43 0.0 Despite introducing bilingual tests, fire service ‘still needs to do more’ to recruit Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities Shakir Mohammad became only the third person from an ethnic minority to join the fire department 2016-11-24 10:34 3KB www.scmp.com

44 4.4 Beijing frees up more land for Macau development projects Commentator and Macau observer said move had “tremendous economic and political implications 2016-11-24 10:28 2KB www.scmp.com

45 1.9 Domestic abuse victim 'living like a prisoner' in a safe room with CCTV and panic button Sonya Conn, 42, has installed security measures at her home in Plymouth. Matthew Conn, 47, was convicted of common assault but freed after serving 22 weeks. 2016-11-24 09:51 5KB www.dailymail.co.uk

46 0.0 Missouri neighbors discover adopted daughters from China are half-sisters

The families adopted the girls from different cities in China. 2016-11-24 09:33 4KB rssfeeds.usatoday.com

47 1.2 Chinese Coca-Cola workers strike over asset sale Coca-Cola workers in three Chinese cities have gone on strike after the US soft drinks giant announced it was selling its bottling interests in the country. ... 2016-11-24 09:06 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk

48 1.0 WIDER IMAGE-Beijing's scrap collectors swept up in latest crackdown on migrants By Sue-Lin Wong BEIJING, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Working in the shadow of Beijing's looming skyscrapers, Yin Xueqiang weighs a pile of cardboard and old shoe rack... 2016-11-24 09:05 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk

49 2.7 China tariff disincentive for one Muskegon manufacturer, others unaffected wo Muskegon businesses left China with wildly different impressions after a trade mission with Gov. Rick Snyder this month. 2016-11-24 09:02 3KB www.mlive.com

50 2.8 Singapore says it's trying to free shipment of troop carriers held in Hong Kong HONG KONG/TAIPEI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Singapore is trying to free a shipment of armoured troop carriers detained in Hong Kong as they were being shipped home... 2016-11-24 08:29 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 51 1.6 S. African police nab Chinese man with 18 rhino horns South African police Thursday said they had arrested a Hong Kong-bound Chinese man found with 18 rhino horns hidden in his luggage. He was detained on Wednes... 2016-11-24 08:26 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

52 0.5 The ugly, hilarious and utterly unrecognisable wax statues found in China Waxwork models of celebrities and world leaders in China have been criticised online. One statue of Japanese Prime Minister shows him bowing while sporting a Hitler mustache. 2016-11-24 08:11 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

53 1.5 Rising doubles star Chen Qinchen ready to lift China out of badminton doldrums The 19-year-old has given herself two years to reach the top in women’s and mixed doubles, while also aiming for Olympic and Uber Cup glory 2016-11-24 07:54 3KB www.scmp.com

54 0.0 Philippines to Build New Seaport in the South China Sea The Philippines will build a new seaport in the South China Sea next year in a bid to push its claim over part of the waters, Philippine officials said, a move that analysts say is likely to provoke reactions from other claimant-countries, particularly China. But... 2016-11-24 07:47 1KB article.wn.com

55 0.0 We're still step behind wildlife traffickers HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- Britain's Prince William praised Vietnam, China and other Asian countries for taking unprecedented steps to battle wildlife traffick 2016-11-24 07:41 4KB mynorthwest.com

56 2.2 Microsoft's Chinese chatbot won't talk about Tiananmen or Xi Jinping Microsoft's artificial intelligence chatbot Xiaoice is getting attention for refusing to talk about sensitive topics in China. 2016-11-24 07:32 4KB money.cnn.com

57 1.5 Allianz to set up China fund unit to target investments abroad -sources By Samuel Shen and Michelle Price SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, Nov 24 (Reuters) - German insurer Allianz is setting up a wholly-owned unit in Shanghai to launch hedge... 2016-11-24 07:14 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk 58 3.2 Nicaragua canal: in a sleepy Pacific port, something stirs The proposed gateway to a planned interoceanic canal shows little sign of activity but locals say Chinese experts have visited recently and work will start soon 2016-11-24 07:00 7KB www.theguardian.com

59 1.9 CCTV video shows homeless man stamped on in brutal street attack in Manchester A thug stamped on the 58-year-old man's head and swung a crutch at him in Manchester city centre. He was kicked in the stomach and face after an altercation in Market Street at 6.30am. 2016-11-24 06:59 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

60 2.0 China banking regulator wrestles with $2.9 trillion off-balance sheet WMPs BEIJING, Nov 24 (Reuters) - China's banking regulator may be getting serious about how lenders provision for the more than 20 trillion yuan ($2.9 trillion) o... 2016-11-24 06:44 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk

61 3.3 Chinese drugmaker invests $36.5 mln in British biotech business Kymab LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - British privately owned biotech company Kymab has secured $100 million of funding from investors, including $36.5 million from Chi... 2016-11-24 06:38 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

62 1.0 EMERGING MARKETS-Soaring dollar sends Turkey, India to record lows; yuan tumbles By Claire Milhench LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The Turkish lira, Indian rupee and offshore Chinese yuan crashed to fresh record lows on Thursday against the s... 2016-11-24 06:37 6KB www.dailymail.co.uk

63 4.2 Time Is 'Not Ripe' for China's Market Economy Status "At this moment it is not ripe for us to change our protocol," said Penny Pritzker. 2016-11-24 05:46 1KB fortune.com

64 2.8 Gold Coast park 'Australian Legendary Kingdom' unveiled months after Dreamworld tragedy A $400 million theme park combining Chinese and Australian culture could open on the Gold Coast, rivaling nearby Dreamworld where four people died on a malfunctioning ride. 2016-11-24 05:35 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

65 0.0 Taiwan lists the times it says China blocked its diplomatic space TAIPEI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan is updating its foreign ministry website listing the times it says China blocked its international space, a move endorsed b... 2016-11-24 05:04 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 66 1.4 Why you should expect a weaker, less free Chinese yuan as US Fed gears up to raise rates Mainland currency’s inclusion in IMF’s Special Drawing Rights currency basket appears to have marked a temporary halt to liberalisation efforts rather than a new start 2016-11-24 05:00 3KB www.scmp.com

67 0.9 Celina Jade Joins Jacky Wu’s ‘Wolf Warriors 2’ Celina Jade (“The Man With The Iron Fists,” TV’s “Arrow”) has been set as the female lead in “Wolf Warriors 2,” a sequel to last year Chinese action hit. Production is now under way in China and Af… 2016-11-24 05:00 1KB variety.com Articles

DC5m United States china in english 67 articles, created at 2016-11-25 04:48

1 /67 (12.99/13) 13.5 67 killed in China construction collapse Three other people were injured, including a person whom rescuers managed to pull from under the debris at the site in Fengcheng city in the southern province of Jiangxi, CCTV reported.

The platform had been built around a cooling tower that was undergoing repairs, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Sixty-eight people were working on the platform at the time of the collapse, according to China's State Administration of Work Safety.

More than 200 firefighters were deployed, as well as search and rescue dogs.

Images from CCTV showed a pile of twisted metal and dozens of rescue workers searching for victims under the rubble.

In a statement, Chinese premier Li Keqiang called for rescue teams to "work around the clock to save people trapped," and to "make every effort to treat the wounded and try their best to reduce casualties. "

State media say death toll At least 67 killed in State Media Say Death Toll At least 67 killed in accident jumps to 67 in eastern China construction accident at Jumps to 67 in Eastern at Chinese power plant construction site scaffolding Chinese power plant China Construction Site rssfeeds.usatoday.com collapse; ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com Scaffolding Collapse; ... article.wn.com article.wn.com China power-plant accident At least 67 killed in scaffold At least 40 killed in east At least 67 killed in east kills at least 67 collapse, as China builds China scaffolding collapse China scaffolding collapse mwcnews.net hundreds more coal-fired article.wn.com article.wn.com plants pressherald.com

2016-11-24 15:07 Serena Dong rss.cnn.com

2 /67 1.3 China will defend WTO rights if Trump moves on tariffs

(4.27/13) ( Reuters ) – China will defend its rights under World Trade Organization tariff rules if U. S. President-elect Donald Trump moves toward executing his campaign threats to levy punitive duties on goods made in China, a senior trade official said on Wednesday.

Zhang Xiangchen, China’s deputy international trade representative, also told a news conference that a broad consensus of academics, business people and government officials have concluded that China is not manipulating its yuan currency to gain an unfair trade advantage as Trump has charged.

“I think after Mr. Trump takes office, he will be reminded that the United States should honor its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization,” Zhang said through an interpreter. “And as a member of the WTO, China also has the right to ensure its rights as a WTO member.”

Trump has said China is “killing us” on trade and that he would take steps to reduce the large U. S. goods trade deficit with China, including labeling Beijing as a currency manipulator soon after he takes office on Jan. 20, 2017, and levying duties of up to 45 percent on Chinese goods to level the playing field for U. S. manufacturers.

Trump said on Monday he will formally exit the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal in January.

Zhang, who spoke at the closing news conference for a two-day technical meeting of U. S. and Chinese trade officials in Washington, was not specific on what steps that China would take to protect its rights under WTO.

The global trading body prohibits members from unilaterally raising tariffs above levels that they have committed to maintain. China’s state-run Global Times newspaper last week warned that a 45 percent Trump tariff would paralyze U. S.-China bilateral trade.

“China will take a tit-for-tat approach then. A batch of Boeing orders will be replaced by Airbus U. S. auto and iPhone sales in China will suffer a setback, and U. S. soybean and maize (corn) imports will be halted,” the newspaper warned.

During the U. S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade meetings, officials from both countries said that China agreed to treat imported and domestic medical devices equally in procurement policies.

U. S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said Chinese officials confirmed that state semiconductor investment funds would not require technology transfers as part of their investments in foreign firms.

In the past, economists had widely viewed the yuan as artificially undervalued, but China during the past year has spent hundreds of billions of dollars in foreign currency reserves to keep the yuan from falling further – prompting the U. S. Treasury to ease its warnings on Beijing’s currency practices.

(Reporting by David Lawder, editing by G Crosse and Chizu Nomiyama)

WTO chief says no WTO chief says no WTO chief says no WTO chief says no indication that Trump wants 'indication' US will quit body 'indication' US will quit body indication that Trump wants to take U.S. out of group under Donald Trump under Trump to take US out of WTO dailymail.co.uk article.wn.com digitaljournal.com dailymail.co.uk

China seizes opportunity China Hits Back at Donald after Trump threatens to Trump's Tariff Threat with a dump TPP Steely Reminder article.wn.com fortune.com

2016-11-24 20:01 Reuters feedproxy.google.com

3 /67 2.8 Chinese travel site Ctrip.com to buy Britain's Skyscanner (4.25/13) BEIJING (AP) — China's biggest online travel service Ctrip.com says it has agreed to buy Skyscanner in a deal that values the British travel search site at 1.4 billion pounds ($1.7 billion). ... Scottish unicorns Skyscanner and FanDuel reveal their exit plans 1 week apart feedproxy.google.com

Skyscanner CEO discusses why he just sold his company for $1.7 billion feedproxy.google.com

Travel firm Skyscanner sold Chinese travel giant snaps Chinese travel firm Ctrip China’s Ctrip.com acquiring to Chinese site Ctrip in up Skyscanner expands global reach with travel search website $1.74 billion deal rss.cnn.com Skyscanner deal — RT Skyscanner for $1.74 billion feeds.betanews.com Business feedproxy.google.com rt.com

2016-11-24 13:46 system article.wn.com

4 /67 3.3 China, US or Russia: Are We Seeing New Superpower?

(3.08/13) Have China or Russia removed the U. S. from the Big Throne and became a new superpower?

With China, U. S. and Russia being so focused on establishing superiority over other nations and making huge steps in boosting their military and economic strength – is it fair to say that the U. S. is still the only superpower in the world?

Or are we already seeing the rise of a new superpower? Is it Russia or China? And would that new superpower dwarf the U. S. superiority and become the world’s sole and unmatched superpower?

Let’s start with the economy. Although the Russian economy is slowly recovering from the damage inflicted by Western sanctions, there is still no point in comparing it to the Chinese economy, let alone the U. S. economy. Meanwhile, the U. S. economy and the Chinese economy – which are often referred to as the world’s two superpower economies – can be easily put into perspective.

While China still has much work to do in its economy to be called the new superpower, its economic advances over the past three decades can’t be overestimated.

Back in the ‘80s, the Chinese economy enjoyed only $309 billion in GDP, according to Wikipedia. The size of the U. S. economy, meanwhile, was a whopping $2.9 trillion in the same period.

By 2015, the gap between the two economies has shrunk significantly. In 2015, China’s economy reached $10.7 trillion in GDP, while the U. S. economy stood at $17.9 trillion.

China will continue growing at an annual rate of 4.6% between now and 2050, as estimated by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. U. S. economy, meanwhile, will grow by 2.4% a year.

Thus, if no disastrous and economy-damaging event (military conflict, political revolution, etc.) takes place in China and the U. S., China’s GDP is expected to surpass the U. S. by 2028.

Another think tank seems to prove PricewaterhouseCoopers’ prediction, and says China will become the world’s largest economy by 2029. According to the U. K.-based Centre for Economics and Business Research , China’s GDP will stand at $35.26 trillion in 2031, while the U. S. GDP will play second fiddle with its $33.66 trillion.

However, think tanks seem to be changing their predictions every year. For example, last year’s study by the CEBR said that China’s economy would surpass the U. S. in 2025.

But in this year’s study, the CEBR says the two powers will swap places no sooner than in 2029, adding that the adjustment is explained by “slower Chinese GDP growth and a weaker currency.”

Russia, meanwhile, stands nowhere near the U. S. and China in terms of its GDP figures. GDP of the country run by President Vladimir Putin is only $1.2 trillion, which places Russia at the 14th spot in the CEBR’s World’s Largest Economies ranking.

Interestingly, Russia will remain at the 14th spot in the ranking even in 2050, according to the CEBR.

Even Russia’s close trade ties with China don’t seem to help the country boost its economy. It also doesn’t help Russia’s economy that China-Russia bilateral trade is very imbalanced and is mostly comprised of oil, gas and arms.

Other economy figures also show that China is rapidly catching up to the U. S. or have already surpassed the U. S., which will be run by Donald Trump from January 20, 2017. But does it mean we’re seeing the rise of the new superpower?

According to the economy stats provided by Nation Master , China’s budget revenues amounted to $1.86 trillion in 2014, while the U. S. economy enjoyed 32% more of that, $2.45 trillion.

Just like with GDP stats, Russia stands nowhere near China or the U. S., as its budget revenues were only $416.8 billion in 2014, the same year the country was hit with crippling sanctions. China, however, dominates both the U. S. and Russia in terms of exports. In 2014, the Asian nation exported items worth $1.97 trillion, which is nearly one-third more than the U. S. ($1.56 trillion) and 4 times more than Russia ($528 billion).

But many love to speculate about the U. S. public debt, saying that America has more debts than any other country in the world. True that, the U. S. public debt is two times bigger than China’s public debt, 70% of GDP against 31.7% of GDP.

Russia, meanwhile, has the smallest public debt of the three nations, only 7.7% of GDP. While it’s not a major economy performance factor, it’s still worth acknowledging that the U. S. indeed has an enormous public debt.

It’s true that the Chinese economy is poised to surpass the U. S. in the next years. In fact, some analysts project that the Asian nation will surpass the U. S. on a PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) basis in less than five years.

But most economy analysts still stop short from calling China the new superpower because Beijing still loses in a number of other areas. In fact, the U. S. will continue to dominate both China and Russia on most indicators related to living standards and quality of life, and these two segments have a major impact on the country’s overall might.

Also, the U. S. received its dominance power and superpower status not only for its economy might, but also its diplomatic influence on the rest of the world as well as its military superiority.

While Russia has enjoyed significant advances in terms of its military might, trying to once and for all put an end to U. S. global dominance, Russia’s economy performance makes it impossible to call it a new superpower. At least for now.

At least not while it’s suffering from crippling Western sanctions imposed after Putin’s actions in Crimea. Interestingly, Russia’s economy had seen pretty significant annual growth before it was hit by the sanctions.

But the sanctions have stalled Russia’s economic growth and made it very unattractive in the eyes of investors. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says in its 2016 report that Russia is expected to return to growth next year.

That, of course, if oil prices don’t collapse again. And if U. S. President-elect Trump, who’s believed to have a friendly attitude towards Russia, puts pressure on the West to withdraw sanctions against Moscow, Russia’s economy could even fully recover from crisis.

But for now, Russia has to settle for living under the sanctions. In fact, the IMF says Russia’s anti-crisis measures helped Moscow mitigate the crisis and lessen the impact of recession.

It also helps that Russian authorities have repeatedly called for the diversification of the Russian economy to return to growth. For now, the nation relies on oil exports for much of its wealth. But with the current low oil prices, Russia can’t profit much.

In assessing the military might like a mechanic might look under a car’s hood, it’s fair to say that defense spending is one of the most important indicators of military might.

That’s because big bucks spent annually allow countries to build and buy new military equipment, which, in turn, makes their overall militaries stronger. The U. S. spends in defense more than the rest of the world combined, a whopping $711 billion per year. China,

China, U.S. agree on new Russia Strikes Back Against US, China agree on new sanctions to punish North EU “Fake News” North Korea UN sanctions, Korea for nuclear test, but Propaganda Russia has issues Russia ‘trying to hold it up’ infowars.com article.wn.com news.nationalpost.com

2016-11-24 17:03 Polina Tikhonova www.valuewalk.com

5 /67 3.0 Chinese rights activist who lobbied for lawyers is missing (3.08/13) BEIJING (AP) — The wife of one of China's most prominent human rights campaigners said Thursday that he had disappeared during a trip to visit relatives of a detained rights lawyer. ...

Human Rights Lawyers Chinese rights activist Chinese legal activist goes Urge Australian Parliament missing missing after being tracked to Condemn Chinese Organ mwcnews.net by state agents - wife Harvesting dailymail.co.uk infowars.com

2016-11-24 13:46 system article.wn.com

6 /67 2.2 Peter Jackson’s ‘Mortal Engines’ Set for Holiday 2018 Release (2.06/13) Peter Jackson ‘s next movie, the YA adaptation “Mortal Engines,” will land in theaters on December 14, 2018, Universal announced on Thursday.

Jackson and longtime collaborator Fran Walsh are following their award-winning “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies by producing and co-scripting another big-screen take on a fantastical book series, this one based on Philip Reeve’s award-winning “Mortal Engines.”

The story, set in a future Earth where cities roam the globe on giant wheels and battle each other for ever diminishing natural resources, follows two unlikely heroes who come together and change the course of the future.

Also Read: Peter Jackson to Adapt 'Mortal Engines' for Universal and MRC Oscar-winning visual-effects artist Christian Rivers (“King Kong”) is directing the movie from a screenplay by Jackson, Walsh and Philippa Boyens (who will also co- produce). The three had previously collaborated on “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movies.

Zane Weiner (“The Hobbit” series), Amanda Walker (“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”) and Deborah Forte (“Goosebumps”) also produce, while Ken Kamins (“The Hobbit” series) executive produces.

Universal will distribute the film worldwide.

Read original story Peter Jackson’s ‘Mortal Engines’ Set for Holiday 2018 Release At TheWrap

Peter Jackson’s ‘Mortal Peter Jackson's 'Mortal Engines’ To Open December Engines' Gets December 2018 2018 Release variety.com feedproxy.google.com

2016-11-24 14:18 Thom Geier www.sfgate.com

7 /67 0.8 Disqualified Hong Kong lawmakers attend appeal hearing (1.08/13) HONG KONG (AP) — Two Hong Kong separatist lawmakers attended a hearing at the city's High Court on Thursday to appeal a verdict that disqualified them from taking their seats after they altered their oaths by adding anti-China insults. ...

Disney’s taking Hong Kong for a ride scmp.com Hong Kong workers will Hong Kong’s disqualified suffer if public works localist pair will have to projects are delayed, return HK$930,000 each, lawmakers warned Legco president says scmp.com scmp.com

2016-11-24 13:46 system article.wn.com

8 /67 1.6 Pregnant woman stabbed to death in a parking lot in Los Angeles (1.06/13) A pregnant woman has been stabbed to death while on a date with her boyfriend. CCTV footage appears to show the moment Jasmine Preciado was ambushed on Monday night in Venice, Los Angeles. The 22-year-old was three months pregnant and a mother to a three-year-old daughter, NBC reports. Police are searching for two Hispanic women and one Hispanic man in connection with the brutal attack. Footage is believed to show Preciado in dark clothing holding up a mobile phone to a group of people near a black SUV. A woman dressed in white then lunges at her. The same woman, a moment later, ducks in front of the car holding what appears to be a knife before jumping into the black SUV. The car then reverses out of the parking space. Preciado's cousin, Christina, told NBC: 'Did you know that by hurting Jasmine, you hurt her daughter? You hurt her family, and you hurt her friends.' 'You need to turn yourself in, no matter what you're going to pay for it,' relative David Preciado told ABC 7. Candles and flowers have been laid on the kerb where she died. The Los Angeles Police Department said they responded to a call about a stabbing around 9.30pm on Tuesday night. Police said the group fled driving eastbound on Windward Avenue. They believe they have recovered the black SUV but no arrests have been made.

Police hunt for three Search for suspects after suspects after Jasmine pregnant mom fatally Preciado was stabbed to stabbed in parking lot death in Venice parking lot cbsnews.com dailymail.co.uk 2016-11-24 05:49 Sarah Dean www.dailymail.co.uk

9 /67 3.7 China defends Chinese takeovers of German firms: newspaper (1.02/13) Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong on Thursday defended efforts by Chinese companies to take stakes in German companies, saying such deals benefitted both sides. “Concerns about a ‘sell-off of Germany’ are completely unfounded,” Liu told Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper days after news that US authorities had recommended blocking the sale of German chip equipment maker Aixtron by China’s Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund (FGC). Liu said China would continue to encourage its firms to invest in Germany despite the US decision and a move earlier this month by Germany Economy Minister Sigmal Gabriel to withdraw approval of the 670-million-euro takeover deal. The Chinese official met on Thursday in Hamburg with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who said Germany would continue to welcome Chinese investments, but that such deal could not be a ‘one-way street.’ Gabriel made a similar point during a visit to China earlier his month, urging the Chinese government to reduce barriers for German firms wanting to do business there. So far this year, Chinese investors have agreed 47 deals to buy German targets, worth a total of 10.3 billion euros, according to Thomson Reuters data, up from 29 deals worth 263 million euros in 2015. Liu told the newspaper that Chinese firms accounted for less than one per cent of foreign investments in Germany, but German firms had invested considerably more in China. “If Chinese-German investments become more balanced and frequent in both directions, then the economic cooperation of both countries will lead to more advantages,” she said. Liu told the newspaper that Chinese investments in German firms had helped stabilise those businesses, while opening up new markets and securing employment. Aixtron this week said it was in close touch with US and German authorities about answering their concerns about the company’s takeover by Fujian. The company is seen as having a bleak future as a standalone company as it struggles with overcapacity in a market dominated by Chinese buyers. Liu also warned the West against imposing anti-dumping duties against Chinese steel. “The improper use of measures aimed at supporting business and trade, such as anti-dumping duties, would not be at all helpful for solving overcapacity in the world steel industry,” the paper quoted her as saying. “Blaming the problems currently faced by European and US steel exporters on overcapacity in the Chinese steel industry and its export subsidies is completely baseless and unfair,” she said. Chinese official defends Chinese takeovers of German firms - newspaper dailymail.co.uk

2016-11-24 16:50 Reuters Reuters www.scmp.com

10 /67 0.7 Reds not impressed with Duterte’s anti-US rhetoric

(1.02/13) SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS— Communist guerrillas warned that a peace deal with President Duterte’s government is unlikely to be reached if he won’t end the Philippines’ treaty alliance with the United States and resist foreign control by other countries he’s trying to befriend, like China and Russia.

In a clandestine news conference in a New People’s Army guerrilla encampment tucked in the harsh wilderness of the Sierra Madre mountains southeast of Manila, regional rebel commander and spokesperson Jaime Padilla outlined the advantages and downside of talking with Mr. Duterte to end one of the world’s longest-running Marxist insurgencies.

The dozens of mostly young guerrillas in muddy boots in their rain-soaked encampment on a wooded plateau reflected their resiliency but also showed the tough conditions that have long hampered their insurgency.

Reprehensible moves

Young rebels cooked rice, pork and chicken in soot-covered pots over wood fire while others gingerly puffed cigarettes while watching the peripheries. The nearest army camp lies just 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) away. When an air force Huey helicopter flew overhead, rebels at the news conference briefly paused and watched the passing aircraft.

But the guerrillas have also found themselves in a dilemma due to Mr. Duterte’s moves they find reprehensible, including the killings of a large number of poor drug users that sparked accusations of massive human rights violations against him, a recent decision to allow dictator Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in a heroes’ cemetery and threats to shift to dictatorial rule if rival politicians derail his antidrug crackdown and try to impeach him.

While the President has gotten attention with his angry threats to end the presence of American forces in the country, stop joint combat exercises with US troops and terminate a defense accord with Washington, Padilla said Mr. Duterte has, so far, not formalized these utterances and instead has walked back on many publicly stated policies.

No reason for alliance

“While the Duterte government hasn’t abrogated all these treaties, the New People’s Army will have no reason to enter into a friendship or alliance with him,” Padilla, 69, told a small group of journalists escorted into an encampment ringed by mostly young rifle-wielding guerrillas.

“That’s not negotiable because as long as the US military has a presence, the imperialist influence on Duterte’s government will remain,” said the bespectacled Padilla, who wore a Mao cap with his 9 millimeter pistol within reach on a wooden table.

Other rebels echoed Padilla’s remarks. “We support Duterte but not 100 percent,” said a 24- year-old rebel who identified himself as Guiller. “He’s projecting himself as anti-US and pro-poor but that’s still mostly rhetoric. If the problems persist, the revolution will go on.”

Duterte's anti-US rhetoric not enough for communist rebels article.wn.com

2016-11-25 00:00 Associated Press newsinfo.inquirer.net

11 /67 0.4 Canada PM Trudeau criticized for fundraising event

(1.02/13) TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is distancing himself from a growing opposition furor over a private Liberal fundraiser where one Chinese attendee subsequently donated $1 million to his late father's foundation. ...

Canada PM Trudeau Criticized for Fundraising Event abcnews.go.com

2016-11-24 15:31 system article.wn.com

12 /67 12 /67 2.5 IAAF ratifies Ruth Jebet's 3,000-meter steeplechase record (1.02/13) MONACO (AP) " The IAAF has ratified Ruth Jebet's world record for the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Bahraini runner's time of 8 minutes, 52.78 seconds at the Diamond League Paris meet in August, 12 days after she won Olympic gold at the Rio de Janeiro Games, bettered Gulnara Galinka's 8-year-old world record. The previous mark of 8:58.81 had been set by the Russian at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. ...

IAAF ratifies Ruth Jebet’s 3,000-meter steeplechase record wtop.com

2016-11-24 08:47 system article.wn.com

13 /67 2.6 Hong Kong chief executive denies using influence to land daughter internship at major bank (0.01/13) Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has dismissed allegations that he used his influence six years ago to secure an internship for his younger daughter at an international investment bank Leung Chung-yan was still at secondary school at the time and her father was convenor of the Executive Council, the body that advises the city’s chief executive, and a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States had alleged that JPMorgan’s Asia Pacific unit “won business from clients and corruptly influenced government officials in the Asia-Pacific region by giving jobs and internships to their relatives and friends”. The investment bank agreed to pay US$264 million on November 17 to settle the charges. reported on Thursday that Leung was embroiled in the case with his daughter’s internship. In reply to a inquiry, the Chief Executive ‘s Office said Leung Chung-yan was an intern at the bank six years ago. “The matter is not connected to his public offices, nor was any money involved.” JPMorgan’s Hong Kong office had “no comment” on Leung’s internship. Chan Chun-ying, the Legislative Council member representing the finance constituency, also refused to comment. According to her LinkedIn profile, Leung Chung-yan did many internships in prominent institutions before and after starting her degree programme in economics at the University of Cambridge. One of them, in 2009, was at the Asia Society, which was headed by Ronnie Chan Chichung, Hang Lung Properties chairman and a long-time supporter of the chief executive. She was also an intern at HSBC, Credit Suisse, Hang Seng Bank, management consulting firm McKinsey and the United Nations. The SEC said that between 2006 and 2013, JPMorgan hired about 200 interns and full-time employees at the request of its clients, prospective clients and foreign government officials. In order to accommodate more client referrals, the bank created an unpaid training programme in Hong Kong nicknamed the “summer camp”, consisting mainly of social events, lectures, and classroom speakers. But the SEC said the bank took no compliance review of the participants. The SEC said an anonymous banker “noted in 2010 that sponsoring bankers need to make a strong case for their referrals – minimum US$3m tangible fees sounds like a sensible benchmark”. Earlier Brian Marchiony, a JPMorgan Chase spokesman, said “the conduct was unacceptable. We stopped the hiring programme in 2013 and took action against the individuals involved”. In April the chief executive denied he had exerted to bypass security rules to deliver a piece of left luggage to Chung-yan at a boarding gate on March 28. She left her luggage in a non-restricted area. An airport employee delivered it shortly before she took a Cathay Pacific flight to San Francisco.

Was speedy fund approval for Hong Kong cadets linked to favouritism? Home affairs chief denies this scmp.com

2016-11-24 08:04 Raymond Cheng www.scmp.com

14 /67 1.3 China Poised to Challenge US Supremacy in Latin America (0.01/13) Chinese President Xi Jinping has wrapped up his tour of Latin America, visiting Ecuador, Peru and Chile, and attending the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Lima, Peru. Speaking to Sputnik, Latin America expert Alexander Kharlamenko warned that in the next few years, US-Chinese rivalry in Latin America is guaranteed to heat up. ... Op-Ed Contributors: How Can Latin America Move to Low-Carbon Energy? article.wn.com

2016-11-24 08:03 system article.wn.com

15 /67 0.0 Canada, China agree to jointly combat fentanyl smuggling The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and China have agreed to jointly combat transpacific trafficking of fentanyl into Canada, they said Thursday following a wave of overdoses with the powerful synthetic opioid. RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson and Ministry of Public Security (MPS) Vice Minister Chen Zhimin agreed at a meeting in Ottawa "to strengthen coordinated law enforcement actions to disrupt the supply of fentanyl and synthetic opioids," according to their joint statement. The drug's use in Canada has turned into a public health crisis that Paulson described as "a grave threat. " Highly potent and addictive, the analgesic is estimated to be up to 100 times stronger than morphine. The related drug carfentanil is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl. Two milligrams of pure fentanyl (the size of about four grains of salt) is enough to kill the average adult. Coroners have said the drugs were responsible for 2,000 deaths in Canada in 2015 and an even higher number is expected this year. Three recent busts saw the powerful narcotics intercepted by border officials, during a routine traffic stop in Vancouver, and by postal staff.

2016-11-24 18:05 Afp www.dailymail.co.uk

16 /67 2.0 Is This New Chinese Missile Designed Specifically To Penetrate The Pentagon's Armor? Photos of a Chinese fighter jet armed with a mysterious payload surfaced online recently, raising questions about its purposes.

In the leaked images, what could be a new type of anti-air missile can be seen under the wing of a People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang J-16. @xinfengcao @CombatAir

J-16 with new huge AAM (?) spotted … anyone with an idea ?? pic.twitter.com/55WY9t9gKf — @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 20, 2016

Some reports indicate that the suspicious payload, which is estimated to be about 18 feet in length, might be a very long range anti-air missile (AAM) with a potential range of about 185 miles, maybe even greater.

While the object looks like a missile, it could also be a prototype or some form of testing equipment.

Assuming it is a missile, it is definitely peculiar as far as AAMs go.

“It resembles Russian and Chinese surface-to-air missiles,” Director for Defense Analysis and Data at Aviation Week Daniel Katz told The Daily Caller News Foundation, “It doesn’t look like a conventional anti-air missile.”

The small fins on the back, the long length, and the general shape are reminiscent of surface-to- air missile (SAM) traits.

The weapon carried by the J-16 bears a strong resemblance to Russian S-300/400 and Chinese HQ-9 SAMs. Were it to be deployed in battle, the missile might behave more like a SAM than an AAM.

China intends to develop aerial weapons with the ability to eliminate American force multiplying assets, specifically refueling tankers and airborne early warning and control aircraft, and this missile could, in theory, help the Chinese PLAAF move closer to achieving that goal.

U. S. air units operate as part of a complex network that is collectively more powerful than any individual unit. China cannot yet outgun America’s top fighters, but it can aim for the enabling assets designed to support U. S. front-line fighter aircraft.

Early warning aircraft offer a level of situational awareness that is crucial on the battlefield, and refueling tankers provide support for long-range operations.

Potentially functioning like a long-range SAM, the J-16’s missile may be designed to arc high to achieve greater range and then drop in and knock out critical support units operating in the rear. Such a design would be consistent with Chinese writings on this particular subject. https://t.co/j2zsiGIG5Q pic.twitter.com/eQbjpz8Oe4

— Stephen Trimble (@FG_STrim) November 21, 2016

China’s new missile may also be a fast-moving projectile weapon. Conventional AAMs tend to max out at around Mach 2-4, but the missiles fired by the S-300/400, and therefore probably the HQ-9, SAM systems have a max speed of about Mach 5-6. Assuming the missile can mimic SAM behavior, it may be able to move at near hypersonic speeds.

“The concept seems legitimate,” Katz mentioned to TheDCNF, “But, there is still a lot we don’t know.”

If China has developed a hypersonic, long-range anti-air missile, it may change the game for air combat, but it is unclear whether China has mastered this kind of tech.

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Send tips to ryan@ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

2016-11-24 18:00 Ryan Pickrell dailycaller.com

17 /67 0.3 Facebook is ready to censor posts in China -- should users around the world be worried? Facebook's relationship with China has a tense and turbulent history. The social network is currently banned in China, and this clearly takes a huge chunk out of Facebook's ad revenue. In a bid to keep Chinese authorities happy, Mark Zuckerberg has been involved in the creation of software that can be used to monitor and censor posts made by users.

In terms of playing by China's rules, this is clearly great news for Facebook, and it opens up the possibility of the social network operating in the country. While there is the slight silver lining that Facebook's censorship tool does not amount to a full blackout (as the Guardian puts it: "The posts themselves will not be suppressed, only their visibility"), the new program does raise a very important question: if Facebook is willing and able to create such a censorship tool for China, what’s to stop it doing the same for other markets, or even for its own benefit?

The answer, of course, is 'nothing'. Facebook has shown time and time again that it is more than happy to fly in the face of popular user opinion and do whatever it wants. We have already seen some of the ways in which the social network is willing to tinker with users' newsfeeds. Increasingly controversial algorithms have been used for some time to tailor news and posts in a way that Facebook says is in users' interests.

There is nothing to stop these algorithms being further tweaked to prevent the appearance of certain posts, certain types of content -- be that at Facebook's whim, or at the behest of governments around the world.

Of course, the counter argument is that it would not be in Facebook's interest to introduce censorship outside of China. Except the Chinese case has very much indicated that it is in Facebook's interest to use censorship tools. In China, it is a matter of bowing to governmental demands in order to -- hopefully, in Facebook's view -- be allowed to operate in the country once again. The real driving force here is, as mentioned, money generated through advertising; this is the very reason why we should be wary of Facebook's development of a censorship tool, and fear its use elsewhere.

Just as with the covert activities of the NSA, there would be nothing to stop Facebook from using a censorship tool without making it clear to users. After all, Facebook is free to do whatever it wants to do with content that is posted, so long as it is in keeping with the law. It is not a stretch to imagine a high profile advertiser applying pressure to Facebook to put a damper on certain opinions and to threaten withdrawal of advertising. Money talks, so it is hardly inconceivable that Facebook might at least be tempted to comply with such a demand -- and users would be none the wiser.

What’s happening in China -- and, indeed, in Russia and other countries -- is great cause for concern. Facebook does not have a great track record when it comes to maintaining user trust ( just look at the fake news problem ), and as news of tools such as this starts to spread, any trust that does remain is only going to be further undermined.

Image credit: Gwoeii / Shutterstock

2016-11-24 15:41 Mark Wilson feeds.betanews.com

18 /67 1.1 Barrick mulls Kalgoorlie bid of roughly $1.3 bln by China's Minjar-sources By John Tilak and Susan Taylor TORONTO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Barrick Gold is reviewing the financial backing behind an approximately $1.3 billion bid for its stake in Australia's Kalgoorlie mine by Minjar Gold, a unit of Shanghai-listed Shandong Tyan Home , two sources told Reuters. Toronto-based Barrick, the world's largest gold producer, is studying the offer for the 50 percent stake to ensure Minjar has adequate resources and support to complete the transaction, said the sources, who declined to be identified as the matter is private. Barrick declined to comment. Little-known Minjar has trumped offers by Australian, Chinese and Canadian companies for the asset, the sources said. Newmont Mining, Barrick's joint venture partner at Kalgoorlie and mine operator, has said it was interested in buying the remaining stake, but price has been a sticking a point. It was unclear if Newmont was interested in matching Minjar's offer, but the sources said the price made a counter-offer less likely. Newmont spokesman Omar Jabara declined to comment, saying only that "Barrick will decide which of the offers it received makes the most sense for them. " Minjar, which is based in Perth, Australia and incorporated in that country, is a subsidiary of Shandong Tyan Home, which is primarily involved in Chinese property development and management. With the recent drop in gold prices, it is uncertain if Minjar will continue to stand by its offer, the sources said. Spot gold was trading at $1,185.90 on Thursday, touching nine-month lows. Earlier this year, Minjar agreed to buy a small gold mine in Australia from Evolution Mining for A$52 million. A trading halt on Shandong Tyan shares extended for a fourth session on Thursday, after the company said on Monday there was a pending announcement related to a major plan. Earlier this week, The Australian newspaper reported that Minjar would buy the Barrick asset and a deal announcement was expected Monday, but that did not happen. Kalgoorlie is the latest in a string of assets that Barrick has put up for sale to whittle down debt and is the company's last remaining holding in Australia. Barrick announced sale plans in July and the company's president said in September that there was "robust" interest in the asset, which analysts estimated was worth $600 million to $1 billion. China's appetite for acquisitions in the metals and mining sector has gained alongside metals prices. According to consultancy EY, China was the highest value dealmaker in the sector in the third quarter. The country was the target of $2.4 billion worth of deals and acquirer of $3.8 billion worth, EY said. (Additional reporting by Nicole Mordant in Vancouver; Editing by Alan Crosby)

2016-11-24 15:19 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

19 /67 1.6 VirusTotal adds WhiteArmor to its lineup VirusTotal has announced the addition of WhiteArmor’s engine to its antivirus lineup. The Chinese developer explains:

It’s another major plus for WhiteArmor, following the company’s impressive scores at AV-TEST earlier this year (100 percent protection from recently discovered malware, 99.4 percent of the latest malware in real time).

If you’d like to test the technology for yourself, WhiteArmor’s Antivirus & Mobile Security is a capable and no-strings free app (no ads or stupid catches) for Android devices.

The app is mostly antivirus -- there’s no parental controls, backup, antitheft or other extras -- but it does its core job very well, which is probably why it’s earned an average 4.5 star Play Store rating from more than 26,000 users.

WhiteArmor’s Antivirus & Mobile Security is a free app for Android 2.3 and later.

2016-11-24 15:00 Mike Williams feeds.betanews.com

20 /67 1.8 Xinjiang residents told to turn in passports Order targets region with 10 million-strong Muslim Uighur minority, who frequently complain of religious discrimination.

All residents in China's largely Muslim region of Xinjiang must hand in their passports to local police stations for "examination and management", according to Global Times, a state-funded newspaper .

"Anyone who needs the passport must apply to the police station," an anonymous police officer in Aksu prefecture told the paper on Thursday, adding that the policy had been implemented throughout Xinjiang.

The Global Times article followed numerous reports of tightened passport controls in cities across the region.

While the order covers everyone living in the area, many members of Xinjiang's more than 10 million-strong Muslim Uighur minority complain of discrimination - including denials of passport applications - as well as controls on their culture and religion.

In mid-October, the public security bureau of Shihezi city posted a directive on a verified social media account asking residents to hand in their passports to police.

The order stated: "Those who refuse to hand them in will bear the responsibility themselves should there be consequences such as being forbidden to go abroad. "

The post was later deleted.

Photos of other notices posted on social media showed police stations in various counties and in the regional capital Urumqi requesting citizens hand in passports or stating that new documents would no longer be issued.

'Xinjiang regressing'

Angry questions about the new restrictions abounded on Chinese social media.

"I didn't spend time and money getting a passport to become the focus of the government's safeguarding or to ask for their instructions every time I go out on holiday," said one incensed user, from the border district of Tacheng, on the Twitter-like Sina Weibo platform.

"If citizens cannot enjoy even basic rights, how can we live? Would the government please give me a sensible reason for this? "

A second said: "Xinjiang is becoming stranger and stranger, regressing as time goes on. "

In June, local state-run media reported that the mostly Kazakh residents of a Xinjiang border district had to give police DNA samples, fingerprints, voiceprints and a "three-dimensional image" in order to apply for certain travel documents, including passports. A Xinjiang official told the Global Times that the new policy tightening was intended to maintain social order in the region. Beijing regularly accuses what it says are exiled separatist groups, such as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), of being behind attacks in Xinjiang, which has seen a wave of violent unrest.

But many independent experts doubt the strength of overseas Uighur groups and their links to violent attacks, with some saying China exaggerates the threat to justify tough security measures in the resource-rich region.

2016-11-24 14:49 Agencies mwcnews.net

21 /67 1.0 Teen burglar kowtows to surveillance camera begging police not to catch him Video footage has caught the moment a burglar in China stops and bows to a surveillance camera. The footage was taken in October in Quanzhou, China's Fujian province. According to reports, the 17-year-old teenager is addicted to video games and squandered most of the money he had stolen in internet gaming cafes. In the footage, the teenager can be seen using tools to gain access to a room. After some time he eventually manages to open the front door of the property. The video then cuts to him walking down the corridor and upon seeing the surveillance camera, he kowtows. The video is from a handbag factory who reported a robbery to police. At the time they suspected it was Lai, a former factory member of staff who was fired for theft last year. Police arrested him in early April this year after the door of the treasury room was damaged again. He was put on a list of fugitives. According to a report by Strait Daobao, the 17-year-old teenager surnamed Lai broke into the room several times again. It was then that he was filmed kowtowing to the camera. Lai was later tracked down by police and arrested. Following his arrest, he told officers that he kowtowed to the camera in order to persuade them not to catch him. It is understood that the 17-year-old had become addicted to online games and did not want to work. He had committed burglary many times and had stolen around 30,000 yuan (£3,484). He then used the money he had stolen in internet cafes playing games.

2016-11-24 13:57 Sophie Williams www.dailymail.co.uk

22 /67 1.7 Chinese rugby player, 20, 'kicked a fellow student in the face twice and broke his eye socket after he was called a "chink" in a university bar' A Chinese rugby player broke a student’s eye socket when he called him a ‘chink’ in a student bar, a court heard. Sidney Chan, 20, is accused of kicking Stephen Kent in the face twice. He claims the alleged victim abused him when they left the bar at London’s prestigious Imperial College. Prosecutor Paul Fairley suggested Chan ‘provoked’ Mr Kent by making a comment about his 1980s-style mullet haircut. But Chan said: ‘I never said anything about his hair. He called me a chink.‘ He started throwing punches at me after he fell to the ground after I had pushed him,’ said Chan. ‘He quickly got back up and he charged at my group and started throwing punches at me.’ CCTV showed Chan’s friends trying to restrain him during the fracas - but he managed to break free to confront Mr Kent again. Prosecutor Paul Fairley said: ‘Why, given your account that you were frightened and thought that you were being assaulted, why did you seem so eager to get back into the fray and engage Mr Kent?’ He replied: ‘Because he was persisting to get back up and continue the fight. ‘I guess at that point I was pretty angry and I wanted to make sure that he stops fighting me.’ Mr Fairley said: ‘You had completely lost your head, that fact that the member of your group was having to life you forcefully off the ground to get you to move in the direction that everyone else was moving.’ CCTV footage shows Mr Kent seen falling to the floor, but the view of his body is obscured by a parked car as Chan runs by him twice. Prosecutors claim this is the moment he swung the two kicks into his head and left him unconscious. ‘You run behind the car then you turn and then run back in the direction you have just come from,’ said Mr Fairley. ‘The truth is Mr Chan isn’t it, that you know as well as anyone that someone who is on the ground, there’s no justification for kicking is there?’ A lorry driver stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road and got out to check on Mr Kent. Mr Fairley said: ‘He could see straight away that his face was puffed up like a balloon, or words to that effect.’ The assault left the Kingston University student with a fractured nose and eye socket and a heavy concussion. Chan, who was studying at Imperial College, denies one count of wounding with intent. He said: ‘All I wanted him to do was leave us alone, stop following us, and stop fighting me, and stop harassing my friends.’ The trial continues.

2016-11-24 13:47 Rachael Burford www.dailymail.co.uk

23 /67 1.2 China TV show gets by rule by pairing fathers with fake kids BEIJING (AP) — A hit Chinese reality TV show has drawn criticism for pairing male celebrities with young children standing in for their sons and daughters and posing them in intimate moments. ...

2016-11-24 13:46 system article.wn.com

24 /67 0.6 Chinese bride who is on her way to her wedding 'passes out from starvation' A Chinese couple who were on their way to their wedding became stranded on a highway for almost 20 hours during a massive traffic jam. Having spent nearly a day inside her wedding car, the bride was so starved she passed out, reported Huanqiu , an affiliation to People's Daily. Along with the unfortunate couple, around 2,000 vehicles were stuck on the motorway in Qinling Mountains on November 22 due to heavy snow, with the queue of traffic stretching dozens of miles. As a blizzard struck the Xi'an-Hanzhong Highway, both directions became jammed starting Tuesday afternoon. The congestion was partially caused by several heavy trucks could not continue their journey as the road was too slippery. In addition, a number of cars crashed on the snow-covered highway. A passenger, who was stuck in the traffic jam, told a reporter that many cars could not move an inch for up to 20 hours. One of these vehicles was a wedding car with a red 'double happy' ornament on the windscreen, a traditional Chinese symbol of marriage, according to another report on Huanqiu. A couple were believed to be inside the wedding car. According to reports, the major traffic jam had caused the bride to starve and passed out after nearly 20 hours of waiting. Pictures used by Chinese media show the woman wearing a pink coat resting on her groom's shoulder. Although they were not formally dressed, the couple were on their way to their wedding, the Huanqiu report said. The report also said that their wedding had been planned to be held at an auspicious time. Many other commuters had been caught short of food and water during the traffic jam. Officials from the motorway department and traffic police bureau had handed out instant noodles and water. The local motorway authorities sent 70 staff to remove snow on the road. The traffic resumed on November 23 afternoon. The story has sparked discussion in Weibo , China's micro-blogging platform. Many people shared their views on the couple. 'They should simply get married in the tunnel,' one user suggested. 'Why didn't they eat their wedding candies?' Another said. 'They had a tough journey to get married. Wish they will treasure their marriage in the future,' a third one said.

2016-11-24 13:45 Julian Luk www.dailymail.co.uk

25 /67 2.7 Chinese shop owner buys a £57K Toyota using small change A man in Zhengzhou, China used over 100,000 coins to pay for the deposit on his new car. The flour shop owner brought sacks and bags of coins along with a carton of bank notes on November 19 to pay for his Toyota Prado, which costs 497,550 yuan (£57,734) on average in China. It took four employees 12 hours to count the man's cash, reports Huanqiu , an affiliation with the People's Daily Online. The employees of the Toyota dealership were surprised when the man chose to pay for the deposit of his car using 100,000 coins. The man surnamed Guo runs a flour shop and had saved up his cash to pay for the car. Family members helped bring the cash to the dealership in bags and cartons. Along with the thousands of coins, cartons of one yuan bank notes were also brought to the dealership. A Toyota Prado costs between 369,800 yuan and 625,300 yuan in China, according to Toyota's website. Four employees worked together to count the cash which took them around 12 hours. Many people have discussed the story on social media site Coral. QQ.com. One user wrote: 'Some salesmen reject receiving coins.' While another commented: 'Why didn't they use the coin counting machine.' And one user said: 'The man paid the rest by card! Why didn't he make the full payment by card?'

2016-11-24 13:39 Sophie Williams www.dailymail.co.uk

26 /67 3.9 CCTV footage captures 2 Lancashire boy racers moments before they kill a girl Harrowing CCTV footage has captured the moment two men raced each other at high speed before losing control and killing a nine-year-old girl. Aleena Kausar was walking to a religious studies class with her mother and cousin on September 18 last year when a speeding Audi driven by Adil Manir mounted the pavement at 60mph and hit her. Manir, 20, from Rossendale in Lancashire, admitted causing Aleena's death by dangerous driving. Mohsem Saddique, 23, from Rawtenstall, Lancashire, denied the same charge but was found guilty following a trial at Burnley Crown Court. Scroll down for video Aleena suffered serious facial injuries at the scene and was airlifted to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where she later died. Lancashire police have now released shocking CCTV footage showing the moments leading up to the crash. Manir and Saddique were seen driving just two metres apart as they raced their high performance Audi A5 and VW Golf vehicles in tandem through the streets at speeds of up to 64mph. The court heard Saddique had driven Manir to collect his wife's Audi A5 from a garage. On their way back he began driving his VW closely behind Manir's Audi A5 and the pair began hurtling through residential streets at double the speed limit. Aleena was walking to the local mosque with her mother and cousin when her uncle pulled over in his Vauxhall Zafira to offer them a lift. When they declined, he pulled out of a parking bay in a 'completely reasonable' manoeuvre - just as Manir was trying to overtake a Vauxhall Corsa coming the other way. Manir slammed on his brakes and swerved to avoid the Zafira but mounted the pavement and hit Aleena. Jeremy Grout-Smith, prosecuting, said CCTV footage showed Manir and Saddique accelerating at 'considerable speed' along the road before the collision and said one witness described the drivers as 'boy racers driving in a silly way'. Tests on skid marks left by the Audi A5 showed Manir was travelling at 41mph at the point he started to brake. Both men will be sentenced on December 19. A statement was read to the court by Aleena's parents Mumtaz Ali and Sofia Begum, two older sisters and her older brother. They said: 'Our family has been devastated by the death of our youngest daughter. 'Aleena was a sweet, caring child who touched the lives of everyone she met. 'Our home feels empty and our hearts broken but we thank God for blessing us by lending us his angel for nine years.' After the case Detective Inspector Mark Haworth-Oates said: 'This was a tragic incident which has had a devastating impact on Aleena's family and the wider community. 'I'm sure that when Saddique and Manir set out on that journey they had no intention of hurting anyone but their actions show a complete disregard for the safety of other road users and pedestrians. 'The irresponsible and dangerous way in which they raced their vehicles, in a built up area, at a busy time of day has led to the worst possible outcome, the death of a young girl who was simply walking along the pavement with her mother. 'This case highlights the fatal consequences that dangerous driving can have and shows just how much damage and heartbreak it can cause. This collision will have a lasting impact on all those involved and my thoughts very much remain with Aleena's family at this time.'

2016-11-24 13:13 Amie Gordon www.dailymail.co.uk

27 /67 1.5 LingLong's DingDong is China's answer to the Amazon Echo Chinese electronics manufacturer LingLong has unveiled its own take on Amazon's Echo voice-activated smart home speaker. It can manage tasks and control home appliances. It is getting the most attention for its translated English name: "DingDong. " Like the Amazon Echo, the DingDong can play music, search for things online Activating the DingDong is done through three different voice triggers. There's the basic "DingDong DingDong," the Chinese girl's nickname "Xiaowei Xiaowei"or the phrase "BaiLing BaiLing", roughly translated to "skylark" in English. The DingDong is built to offer the features of Amazon's Echo to Chinese consumers. The Echo has proved to be a major success in the U. S., making its way into homes across the country. The appeal of smart speakers is twofold: they can add convenience while also acting as a central hub for all your devices. The always-on voice listening lets you check things online while occupied in the real world. You can ask a question without reaching for your phone or check a recipe while cooking a meal. LingLong senior marketing manager Charlie Liu admitted to Liu acknowledged the DingDong has got a long way to go before rivalling Amazon globally. In particular, it will need support from third-party services to be a success. One of the Echo's key strengths is its strong integration with other platforms, something LingLong currently lacks entirely. "Echo is really great in this area," Liu LingLong is already working on new platform technologies that developers can use to build DingDong into their apps. It is also creating a new artificial intelligence system that will give the DingDong a personality and the ability to chain questions and commands together. LingLong is taking the product seriously because China's smart home market is expected to be worth $22.8 billion by 2018. The smart speaker has been welcomed in China, offering something new in a region which currently has no alternatives. The unfortunately named DingDong has The DingDong was launched by LingLong this week for the equivalent of $118. It has a square base that rises to a spherical top that stands 9.5-inches tall. WIRED reports that the design is based on the concept of tianyuán dífang, the idea that heaven is round and Earth is square. Four colours are available, white, red, black and purple. Like the Amazon Echo, the DingDong can play music, search for things online and manage your daily schedule. It's predominantly voice controlled, accompanied by a companion app. The DingDong's always-on voice listening allows it to schedule calendar appointments, have conversations, check the latest weather and control smart home devices. Activating the DingDong is done through three different voice triggers. There's the basic "DingDong DingDong," the Chinese girl's nickname "Xiaowei Xiaowei"or the phrase "BaiLing BaiLing", roughly translated to "skylark" in English. The DingDong is built to offer the features of Amazon's Echo to Chinese consumers. The Echo has proved to be a major success in the U. S., making its way into homes across the country. The appeal of smart speakers is twofold: they can add convenience while also acting as a central hub for all your devices. The always-on voice listening lets you check things online while occupied in the real world. You can ask a question without reaching for your phone or check a recipe while cooking a meal. LingLong senior marketing manager Charlie Liu admitted to WIRED that the Echo "influenced us a lot. " It's not a simple Chinese clone of Amazon's product though. The DingDong was already under development before Amazon unveiled the Echo and LingLong hasn't even been able to access an Echo while creating the DingDong. Liu acknowledged the DingDong has got a long way to go before rivalling Amazon globally. In particular, it will need support from third-party services to be a success. One of the Echo's key strengths is its strong integration with other platforms, something LingLong currently lacks entirely. "Echo is really great in this area," Liu admitted. " [We have] 10 services like that, but Amazon announced that they have 4,000. It's really a big gap. "LingLong is already working on new platform technologies that developers can use to build DingDong into their apps. It is also creating a new artificial intelligence system that will give the DingDong a personality and the ability to chain questions and commands together. LingLong is taking the product seriously because China's smart home market is expected to be worth $22.8 billion by 2018. The smart speaker has been welcomed in China, offering something new in a region which currently has no alternatives. The unfortunately named DingDong has been more a subject of ridicule outside its native region, with social media users questioning how the "LingLong DingDong" would appear alongside its more simply named rivals.

2016-11-24 13:04 www.digitaljournal.com

28 /67 2.4 Elite armed police arrest knife-wielding man at Hong Kong International Airport after tense standoff Police armed with sub-machine guns subdued a knife-wielding suspected robber at Hong Kong International Airport on Thursday night. About a dozen heavily-armed elite officers rushed to the scene after the suspect, who holds a Russian passport, was said to have pulled a knife at a money changer at terminal two at the airport in Chek Lap Kok at around 8.20pm. The man, 44, was said to have threatened a female staff member at the money changer and demanded she hand over cash. When the staff member refused, he opened a cash drawer and grabbed HK$59,000 before running away. A security alarm was then triggered by staff. The suspect ran for about 200 metres to a taxi stand outside Regal Airport Hotel, with police officers from the Airport Security Unit in pursuit. There then followed a tense standoff between the man and about six officers, two with handguns and two holding sub- machine guns. In viral videos circulating online, the man in a cap was seen lying face down on the ground, as he followed the order from the armed officers. Dozens of taxi drivers and pedestrians gathered round to watch the drama unfold. Officers were heard yelling “get down”, while a witness was heard yelling to the officers: “He’s a gweilo. Speak English.” The suspect was finally handcuffed after being pinned down by several officers and taken to a police vehicle. Investigators from the airport police district said they believed it was a planned robbery, as shown by the knife, gloves, and a surgical mask found in the man’s bag. All the cash involved was recovered. A female staff member at the currency shop was taken to North Lantau Hospital for minor leg injuries sustained when she tried to give chase. A taxi driver who witnessed the incident told media he was waiting in a queue at terminal two when loud noise was heard and he saw the police running past, who told him to “get back to the cab and lock up.” He ignored the advice, and decided to watch the incident, seeing the capped suspect holding a knife and the officers surrounding him. He did keep his distance though, in case shots were fired.

2016-11-24 12:57 Danny Mok www.scmp.com

29 /67 0.0 Guyana: $45M loan from China will widen main coastal highway GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana says it will use a$45 million loan from China to widen the main road linking the capital of the South American country with neighboring Suriname. Guyanese Finance Minister Winson Jordan said Thursday that the money will be used to convert much of the country's coastal highway to four lanes to accommodate traffic between Georgetown and rural farming districts. Jordan says deals to lengthen the country's main airport runway and build a new terminal with Chinese loans are also under way. Guyana and China are also in talks to develop shipping and hydroelectric projects.

2016-11-24 12:57 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk

30 /67 2.6 Bank of China plays matchmaker, seeks to link PH SMEs to its clients Bank of China (BoC) Thursday kicked off a campaign to link small and medium enterprises in the Philippines to its network of clients through matchmaking forums next year.

The 104-year-old commercial bank, described as China’s most internationalized and diversified bank, which has been operating here since 2002, is working with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines as well as the local chapter of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICCP).

Deng Jun, head of BoC in the Philippines, said in an interview they were holding in March 2017 the BoC Global SME Cross-Border Trade and Investment Conferences for the first time in the Philippines.

The bank held 26 such forums over the past two years in different cities around the world, attracting at least 15,000 companies from 60 countries.

Deng said Thursday’s event was a roadshow to facilitate the BoC’s matchmaking service, “which promotes the interconnection between SMEs worldwide, helps them share the global value chain, and stimulates the vitality and globalization of SMEs.”

ICCP director general Jesus Varela said transactions were expected to involve players in the industries of agri-business, technology, and renewable energy such as solar power.

Varela said the initiative of BOC, being the fourth largest bank in the world (according to the British magazine The Banker), presents a “tremendous opportunity” for Philippine SMEs, especially exporters.

Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., honorary chair of PCCI, noted that the BoC has made available $3 billion in funds for the Philippines in the wake of President Duterte’s visit to Beijing last October.

“Of course, SMEs need to pass certain standards to be able to tap such funds,” Ortiz-Luis said.

The BoC offers a six-step matchmaking service, which the bank says overturns the traditional mode for inviting investments by adopting “one-to-one” or “one-to-more” linkages.

The service includes establishing a database for enterprises, customer matchmaking, remote online matchmaking, etc.

2016-11-25 00:00 Ronnel W business.inquirer.net

31 /67 2.9 China to investigate illegal expansion in coal and steel sectors China will send inspection teams to investigate and severely punish illegal expansion by coal and steel firms as part of its efforts to slim down the two industries, the country’s cabinet said on Thursday. With most of the country’s steel and coal enterprises making losses in 2015, China promised in February to slash 500 million tonnes of coal production capacity and 100 million to 150 million tonnes of crude steel capacity over the next three to five years, in a bid to reduce price-sapping supply gluts. The State Council said in a notice posted on China’s official government website that this year’s targeted closures had already been “basically completed”, but some firms were still illegally expanding capacity. The cabinet named as culprits the Hebei Anfeng Steel, based in the northern port city of Qinhuangdao, as well as a small steel plant in Jiangsu province. China has traditionally struggled to rein in its massive steel and coal sectors, with local governments often turning a blind eye to expansion projects that provide additional local employment and economic growth. But this year Beijing has been trying to keep its regions on a tighter leash, and inspection teams from the Ministry of Environmental Protection have criticised several provincial authorities for failing to restrict capacity growth in the two sectors. The State Council statement said it would also encourage “high-quality firms” in the two sectors to step up restructuring efforts along the lines of the merger between the state-owned Baoshan Iron and Steel and Wuhan Iron and Steel groups. It added that China would unveil financial incentives for regions currently trying to deal with overcapacity, and would provide more support when it came to re-employing laid-off workers. The notice summarised the proceedings of a regular Wednesday meeting held by Premier Li Keqiang, which also passed a draft law on reining in unfair competition.

2016-11-24 11:47 Reuters Reuters www.scmp.com

32 /67 1.8 China Struggles to Steady Yuan’s Decline China is facing an uphill battle to maintain an orderly depreciation of the yuan as investors pile up bearish bets against the currency outside the mainland.

The gap between the yuan’s value against the dollar in the domestic market and in what is known as the offshore market in Hong Kong, has been widening in recent days. On Wednesday, this so-called spread reached 0.0333, its widest since the beginning of October (apart from the day after the U. S. election), although it narrowed a touch on Thursday. While the Chinese authorities strictly limit the way the yuan trades at home, it can be bought and sold more freely in Hong Kong. But its value against the dollar is usually about the same in both markets.

The widening gap now is complicating the central bank’s strategy of letting some air out of the currency at a pace Beijing dictates. The two yuan markets at home and in Hong Kong often feed off each other. Moreover, a weaker yuan offshore could encourage more Chinese businesses and individuals—the mainstay of the mainland market—to seek to convert their currency into dollars, potentially adding downward pressure on the domestically traded yuan.

Read more

2016-11-24 11:35 Saumya Vaishampayan | - www.infowars.com

33 /67 0.9 Outcry after school in China awards its top pupils with wads of cash Known as Zhongkao, the annual high school entrance examination is held in mainland China for students who have finished their last year of junior high school. The exam will determine whether a student would enter vocational and technical schools or pursue further study in high school. A total of 239 pupils were awarded, according to a report on Qianjiang Evening News. The principal, surnamed Lin, told reporters that cash gifts could help attract teenagers with good academic performance to enrol in Shuren Middle School. Pupils received different scholarships worth 100,000 yuan (£11,579), 50,000 yuan (£5,789) or 40,000 yuan (£4,631). In comparison, the school's tuition fee is 30,000 yuan (£3,482) a year. The scholarship amount was linked to the recipient's scores in the senior high school entrance exam and 'other performances'. About 2.8 million yuan (£324,000) worth of scholarship has been given away in cash, while the rest will be deposited to students' bank accounts. The news attracted tens of thousand comments on QQ.com , China's major internet portal site. Most web users questioned if the school's practice would encourage materialism. 'Students' focus will be shifted to money, these students might end up being corrupted officials,' one commented. 'They now study to earn money. It is hard for them to concentrate on academic study in the future,' another noted. 'Why not spending eight million yuan to build a school in rural area?' one wondered. 'Are all these tuition fees from students that performed poorly at the exams?' A forth one joked.

2016-11-24 11:34 Julian Luk www.dailymail.co.uk

34 /67 34 /67 0.8 Laid-off GE Lighting China workers ‘may protest over payouts’ Some workers laid off from General Electric (GE) Lighting China are expected to protest over compensation next week following the company’s decision to pull out of the Asian and Latin American markets, a mainland newspaper reported on Thursday. GE Lighting, which accounts for about 7 per cent of the conglomerate’s income, announced it would withdraw from the markets on November 30. Shanghai-based newspaper quoted one company source as saying: “There are about 100 employees working at GE Lighting’s Shanghai headquarters now, with hundreds of others at its branches in Beijing, Nanjing, Chongqing and other major Chinese cities.” The report said some of the retrenched workers were not satisfied with severance payments and might stage a protest in the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Shanghai. GE China said yesterday that its decision to pull out of the lighting business in China was a d​ ifficult one and had “absolutely nothing to do with the job performance of our China team”. “We have offered all our Chinese employees compensation packages that are higher than the country’s mandatory standards and there is no differentiation between levels,” the company said in a statement on its website yesterday. “We have reached agreements with most of our China employees as well as alternative job offers for some within the company,” it said.

2016-11-24 11:33 Jane Li www.scmp.com

35 /67 0.8 Beijing bakery offers hope for city's disabled At Bread of Life Bakery , Grace Yang and her colleagues are racing against the clock to fill orders for more than 300 Western-style pies to be delivered to homes across Beijing in time for Thanksgiving celebrations.

Their customers are mostly US expatriates living in the Chinese capital.

The 29-year-old baker was born in China's Shaanxi province, to a family she barely remembers. China's abandoned children Yang cannot walk due to polio as an infant. She was abandoned by her parents at the age of four, and grew up in a state-owned orphanage.

Yang's childhood tragedy is not unique in China. Almost all of China's abandoned children have disabilities.

Despite the country's rapid economic growth, welfare experts say China lacks an adequate social safety net. Many parents simply cannot afford medical care for their disabled children.

MORE: 'They don't deserve this kind of life:' Meet China's abandoned children

Most abandoned children with disabilities have no job prospects or future to look forward to -- a harsh reality in China that motivated American couple Keith and Cheryl Wyse to start the charity bakery Bread of Life back in 2008.

The bakery trains and employs disabled adults with bone diseases, all of whom were orphaned as children.

Through an introduction, Yang joined in 2011 as full-time staff, and learned to make bread and pies from scratch.

She had no knowledge of western baking when she joined.

'I started to love baking'

"At the beginning it was difficult for me, especially when it comes to the measurements of ingredients -- something I've never dealt with before," Yang tells CNN. "But gradually I started to love baking. "

At Thanksgiving, Grace thinks she's most grateful to Bread of Life for giving her very first job.

"Before coming here, I was lost and confused, I didn't know what to expect for the future. In the bakery, I learned to be independent. "

Looking ahead, Yang hopes to one day start her own bakery and start a family. "I grew up without parents, so I want to give my future children the love I never had. "

2016-11-24 11:30 Yuli Yang www.cnn.com

36 /67 0.4 Panda cubs declare battle against one another as they scrap in China zoo enclosure They are not known for being fearsome members of the animal kingdom. But these two pandas could change that view as they battle one another in their enclosure. This adorable video shows two panda cubs fighting each other after one declares war. One cub is seen standing on a wooden fence at the beginning of the clip, while his playmate eagerly tugs on him, ready to scrap. He manages to knock him off his perch and the fight begins. And that last hit might have been enough as the cubs seem to separate and go back to playing alone. The video was uploaded on Thursday and is thought to show pandas at the Chengdu breeding centre in China. 2016-11-24 11:26 Rebecca Taylor www.dailymail.co.uk

37 /67 0.3 Yuan’s fall against US dollar ‘sign of new tack’ by China’s central bank The yuan’s continued fall against the US dollar and the central bank’s lack of intervention in the exchange rate signal Beijing is taking a new tack to prepare for any turbulence from a US Federal Reserve interest rate hike, analysts said on Thursday. The yuan weakened to its l​ owest level in eight years against the US dollar in the onshore market on Thursday after a Fed statement on Wednesday reinforced market expectations of an interest rate increase next month. Xie Yaxuan, chief macro analyst at China Merchants Securities in Shenzhen, said the central bank appeared to be steering clear of intervention. “We haven’t yet noticed any special move by the central bank [to intervene], nor should it make any such move,” Xie said. “It should focus on maintenance of the mechanism, and leave the rest to the market.” Despite repeated pledges to let market forces decide the yuan’s exchange rate, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) stepped into the market earlier this year to avoid a big fall in the currency. In addition, when Reuters reported forecasts five months ago that the yuan would weaken to 6.8 against the US dollar by the end of this year, the central bank hit back, saying such reports aided forces “shorting” the yuan, and threatening to take legal action. But the PBOC has become more relaxed about yuan depreciation over the past few weeks. The mid-price of the yuan against the dollar was set at 6.9085 yesterday, and the central bank said the Chinese currency should not be measured by just the greenback but also a basket of currencies. Li Daokui, a Tsinghua University professor and a former member of the PBOC’s monetary policy committee, said the yuan could depreciate 3-5 per cent next year against the US dollar, an amount roughly equivalent to the gap between risk-free interest rates in the two countries. But at finance magazine annual conference last week, Li warned that an exodus of China’s vast domestic liquidity, about US$21 trillion, could easily wipe out the foreign exchange reserves and cause big swings in exchange rates. After burning through more than US$800 billion in forex reserves to support the yuan exchange rate, the PBOC is allowing a fall in the currency. But the yuan’s fall in recent weeks is partly a result of a strong US dollar. The US dollar index has jumped 5 per cent since Donald Trump won the presidential election two weeks ago. Zhang Ming, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ institute of world economics and politics, said the value of the dollar might have peaked, leaving little chance for a further fall in the yuan. “There are questions on whether Trump can fulfil his campaign promises and the long-term effect of larger fiscal spending,” Zhang wrote.

2016-11-24 11:25 Frank Cheng www.scmp.com

38 /67 8.6 Trade with China kills Americans, study finds — RT Business According to Federal Reserve economist Justin Pierce and Peter Schott of Yale University, a significant shift in the structure of the US economy may have become fatal for many workers in the country.

The study shows a “statistically significant relative increase in suicide and poisoning … concentrated among white males” from 2000 when President Clinton and Republican lawmakers allowed a major increase in imports from China.

Statistics showed that since then Chinese imports to the US have surged around five-fold to $483 billion last year.

The government’s change in policy led to competition with Chinese manufacturing which forced US factories to close. Many of those who had been laid off fell into depression or addiction.

“I’m in favor of free trade, but I’m also someone who believes that we should be honest about the consequences,” Schott said. “It doesn’t benefit everyone equally.”

Pierce and Schott examined records of deaths compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They found that even the areas with average levels of trade competition with China saw suicide increases of 3.5 percent and a 24 percent growth in the numbers of overdoses.

“Suicides could lead to more suicides or new economic consequences could take time to push people over the edge,” Schott told the Wall Street Journal.

He, however, did not recommend ceasing to liberalize global trade, claiming such a move “hurts everyone. We want the increases in productivity and reductions in prices that trade brings.”

The economist instead recommended more training for disenfranchised workers to help them move into growing areas of the economy.

2016-11-24 11:11 www.rt.com

39 /67 0.4 Huawei leapfrogs Samsung to become world’s most profitable Android device maker The explosive woes of Samsung’s defective Galaxy Note 7 franchise have helped catapult China’s Huawei past the South Korean conglomerate as the most profitable Android smartphone manufacturer in the world. Apple continues to remain the most profitable of all smartphone makers with a staggering 91% operating profit market share.

Huawei, meanwhile, controlled 2.4% of the global smartphone operating profit share ($200 million) in the third quarter of 2016, and two other Chinese companies—Vivo and Oppo Electronics—gained to 2.2% market share each in the crowded Android field, according to the South China Morning Post .

“[Huawei] also became the world’s most profitable Android smartphone vendor for the first time,” Strategy Analytics executive director Neil Mawston told the Post in an interview. “We expect Huawei to maintain steady profitability into the first half of 2017, because its smartphone shipments are growing and it is doing a good job of controlling [operating] costs.”

Still, Huawei’s gains against Samsung may be short-lived. While the device maker has benefited from savings and revenue growth through its decision to start manufacturing in India , Samsung was knocked down to ninth place in the third quarter largely due to its defective line of exploding Galaxy Note 7s , which the firm stopped manufacturing entirely. But the imbroglio hasn’t hurt Samsung’s overall brand so far, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion survey from earlier this month.

That means that Samsung can easily bounce back in the coming months and year with the launch of a new flagship product. But privately-held Huawei still aims to be the second biggest player in the smartphone arena behind Apple within two years, says the company’s consumer business CEO Richard Yu Chengdong.

This story originally appeared on Fortune.com. Copyright 2016

2016-11-24 17:42 Sy Mukherjee feedproxy.google.com

40 /67 1.8 Beijing teen bullies are sentenced to prison by a Chinese court after video surfaced Three school bullies have been sentenced months in prison by a Chinese court after they ganged up and beat a schoolmate, according to Chinese media. The three students, all aged 18, repeatedly slapped a female student in the face, as a video dated from April, 2015, showed. The teenagers are from the Number 105 Middle School in the Chinese capital of Beijing. The three students, two female and one male, were given imprisonment ranging from six to eight months by the Beijing Haidian District Court on November 23, reported Huanqiu.com , citing Xinhua News Agency. They have been named Liu, Wu and Jia. A video of the gang beating the 15-year-old victim was first uploaded to the internet in April, 2015, and it later became widely shared. In the video, a teenage girl wearing a denim top can be seen slapping another student who was wearing a school uniform with blue sleeves. A crowd of students can be seen cheering in the background. Afterwards, another teenage girl wearing a school uniform with yellow sleeves stepped in to carry on beating the victim. The Beijing Haidian District Court released a statement yesterday. The statement said Liu, Wu Jia had been convicted of the crime of picking quarrels and provoking troubles. Under China's Criminal Law , offenders of the crime 'shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years'. The statement also said that the attacked had been caused by a quarrel between underage students at the school. The disagreement later escalated, prompting Liu, Wu and Jia to gather a group of underage students and beat up the victim, named Xiao Li, near the Haidian Aquarium at 5pm on April 16, 2015. The three attackers also arranged to have the beating filmed and shared to the internet. Liu Wu and Jia turned themselves in on April 18. They also apologised and provided financial compensation to the victim during the police investigation, according to the court. Liu, Wu and Jia were sentenced to eight months, six months and seven months in prison respectively.

2016-11-24 10:46 Tracy You www.dailymail.co.uk

41 /67 0.6 Young son’s support for dad not enough for tearful Wei Nan as he squanders chance to upset third seed Jan O Jorgensen There were tears in the eyes of Wei Nan after the home player missed a great opportunity to stun third seed Jan O Jorgensen, of Denmark, at the Yonex- Sunrise Hong Kong Open on Thursday. With a 20-18 lead in the deciding game, Wei had the full backing of the fans to finish off the job, including his two-year-old son, at the Coliseum in Hung Hom. But in the end the 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist lost the game after deuce and the match following a 19- 21, 21-13, 24-22 defeat by The Dane – the highest-ranked player in the men’s singles after top two seeds Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and mainlander Chen Long pulled out. Jorgensen won last week’s China Open, beating Chen in the final. “I don’t how to offer an explanation,” said the 32-year-old. “I had all the chances for a great win against one of the best players but the Dane has a great return of serve that put me under constant pressure. “I don’t think there is a problem with my ability. I have beaten top players such as Lee Chong Wei and Son Won-ho, of South Korea, this year. Maybe it’s mental reasons. “I felt absolutely sorry for my young kid as I could pick out his voice from among the fans’ cheers. He must be let down as well, although I lost four points in a row when I heard him cheer for me.” Despite Wei’s close defeat, Hong Kong’s men’s singles players have had outstanding success so far with Ng Ka-long, Hu Yun and Vincent Wong Wing-ki making it to the last eight to give home fans a reason to celebrate. While Ng, semi-finalist last year, thrashed young Hong Kong teammate Lee Cheuk-yiu 21-12, 21-16, Hu made hard work of Korean Son, the fourth seed, 21-17, 6-21, 21-16. Wong also worked hard for 68 minutes to oust England’s Rajiv Ouseph 25-23, 14-21, 21-11. In the women’s singles, Cheung Ngan-yi achieved her best result at the Hong Kong Open after making it to the quarter- finals following a 2-1 win over Nitchaon Jindapol, of Thailand. Cheung, who reached the last four in last month’s Denmark Open superseries, took 50 minutes to record her first victory over the Thai player in their third encounter. “There has been some significant progress recently and the outstanding result in Europe also gave me more confidence of playing at the highest level,” said Cheung, who will take on fifth seed Saina Nehwal, of India, in the next stage. “[Saina] is a world-class player and there is no pressure on me but I know the home fans will cheer for me and I hope I can handle it.” Hong Kong achieved one of their best results in their home event with two pairs reaching the mixed doubles last eight – Lee Chun-hei and Chau Hoi-wah and the new combination of Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet. The men’s doubles team of Lee Chun- hei and Law Cheuk-him are also in the quarter-finals.

2016-11-24 10:46 Chan Kin www.scmp.com

42 /67 2.0 Luen Wo Market among four more Hong Kong heritage buildings offered up by government for revitalisation Four more heritage buildings have been offered up by the government to be revitalised and run by independent organisations, despite revelations that some sites have been struggling with operational and financial difficulties. The Development Bureau on Thursday launched its fifth round of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme, which featured in its line-up Luen Wo Market, the first and largest private wet market built in the New Territories after the second world war. The scheme, which aims to conserve and offer government-owned heritage buildings a new lease of life, has so far allocated 15 properties to non-profit organisations, with eight of those already in operation. “Indeed, there have been several organisations who have experienced difficulties [running the sites] and have come to us for help,” Secretary for Development Paul Chan Mo-po said on Thursday. Chan cited difficulties such as attracting people to remote locations and high maintenance costs. Fong Yuen Study Hall, a former village school in Ma Wan that was revamped into a tourism and Chinese cultural centre, had received a lukewarm response from the public due to its remote location and small size, Chan said. The site, located on an island sandwiched between Lantau and Tsing Yi, is only accessible by ferry, taxi or a private car with a permit. Bernard Chan, the former chairman of the board that monitors existing heritage site projects, agreed that it was challenging for applicants to come up with sustainable business models with the right social value for the community. “From day one, we knew that not all of them would succeed,” Chan said. “But if they fail, the government can still take over – it’s still better than not doing anything to it at all. At least we saved the building and gave the community a shot at it first.” Paul Chan said the government would strive to offer as much help to operators as possible, which included a HK$5 million subsidy per project if they were unable to break even in the first two years. Aside from Luen Wo Market, the other sites up for grabs included a century- old former army barracks quarters in Central, the former Lau Fau Shan Police Station and Watervale House at the former Gordon Hard Camp in Tuen Mun. Despite two of the four buildings being remote or having restricted vehicular access, the current chairman of the board expressed confidence in their prospects. “Being remotely located doesn’t mean the project will fail. Look at Tai O police station – their heritage hotel is always fully booked on the weekends. The key is what creative ways can be used to attract people,” Lau Chi-pang said. Luen Wo Market, a single-storey compound in Fanling built in 1951, could be transformed into a space for restaurants, an education facility or a recyclables collection centre, the bureau said. The results for the latest batch of buildings are expected to be announced in the first half of 2018. Since 2007, the government has earmarked HK$2.4 billion for the scheme. Existing heritage sites include the century-old former Tai Po police station, which was transformed into a green hub to promote sustainable living, and a former law court now housing the Savannah College of Art and Design.

2016-11-24 10:38 Naomi Ng www.scmp.com

43 /67 0.0 Despite introducing bilingual tests, fire service ‘still needs to do more’ to recruit Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities Despite failing the tests twice and being told by many of his friends to give up, Shakir Mohammad successfully achieved his dream of joining the fire department this month – becoming only the third person from an ethnic minority in the city to do so. Born in Pakistan, the half Pakistani and half Chinese, Mohammad benefited from to implement measures that would ensure ethnic minorities have equal access to governmental job opportunities. As part of this pledge, the Fire Services Department introduced bilingual recruitment tests in 2015. Yeung Kai- wang, assistant divisional officer from the recruitment, training and examination group, said “many people from an ethnic minority background can speak and understand Cantonese like a local, but they struggle with writing. They often told me that language seemed to be a barrier that hampered them from joining us.” This is borne out by Mohammad who admitted he struggled with the language when he first arrived in Hong Kong at the age of seven. “I memorised Chinese characters like pictures which was quite difficult,” said the 25-year-old who now works at Tsim Sha Tsui fire station. Recalling the arduous process to achieve his goal, Mohammad recalled failing to finish quizzes in training school on time and being made to spend up to 10 hours writing out words and phrases repeatedly in Chinese as punishment. Meanwhile, it only took his contemporaries four hours to finish. The instructor later prepared him notes and tests in English. Despite Mohammad’s success, the department recognises that it still needs to do more to attract and recruit ethnic minority personnel, aware of the potential benefits a more diverse service would bring. Yeung said having various ethnic backgrounds in the department could foster better services, but he said he had received only 10 applications from members of ethnic minorities in each recruitment drive. “If a member of an ethnic minority was trapped in a traffic accident, the new recruits could understand the patient at the scene,” Yeung said, adding the new recruits would be used in districts with dense ethnic minority populations. Pervez Mohammad, who is also half Pakistani and half Chinese, is the only person from an ethnic minority who works for the ambulance service and he agreed that a better understanding of religion could help the services. “Not many local [ambulance service personnels] know about the food restrictions during Ramadan,” said the 28-year-old, who joined the services since 2013. “Some [Muslims] refuse to eat even when their blood sugar level gets low. I can explain to the patients of what to do.” Those who want to be in the fire or ambulance service have to meet the language proficiency requirements of Level 2 or above in Chinese and English in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education or the equivalent public examinations. There will be around 140 and 200 vacancies in the ambulance and fire departments respectively next year. Besides 370,000 domestic helpers in Hong Kong, the city is home to more than 123,000 South Asian residents – about 1.8 per cent of the population, according to the latest figures from the Immigration Department.

2016-11-24 10:34 Christy Leung www.scmp.com

44 /67 4.4 Beijing frees up more land for Macau development projects Macau – one of the smallest and most densely-populated cities on the planet – looks set to get a little bit bigger as Beijing ramps up its drive to turn the casino town into a mass-market international tourism hub. A top mainland development official has said that more land – over and above the 5 sq km of mainland real estate already set aside on Hengqin Island for the former Portuguese enclave – was on offer The reverse land grab – which was not quantified – follows a visit by Premier Li Keqiang two months ago, during which he heaped praise on the city’s efforts to diversify its economy. It also coincides with this week’s announcement that just short of HK$11 billion of public money is to be pumped into an expansion of Hong Kong’s Disneyland theme park on Lantau which in the near future will be connected to Macau and Zhuhai by a road bridge. Speaking this week at the 2016 Guangdong-Macau Industrial Cooperation Park meeting, in Macau, a senior mainland development official said an as yet unspecified amount of land was available for Macau developments. The director- general of the Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee, Niu Jing, said: “I have been saying for years, that regarding Hengqin’s lands, besides the park there are other lands prepared for Macau’s projects.” “As long as the projects are good, and as long as they can have the effect of pushing forward the diversification of Macau’s industry, we are willing to provide land and resources. If Macau projects need big pieces of land, we will supply them,” said Niu. Political commentator and long time Macau observer, Sonny Lo, said the move had “tremendous economic and political implications”. “Together with the rapid economic interaction between the mainland and Taiwan – which is not without its obvious difficulties – the overall geopolitical and economic developmental strategy of Beijing is taking shape. “That is an informal – for the moment – southern Chinese economic union leading to a more formal union as Hong Kong and Macau approach 2047 and 2049 –the end of 50 years of no change after the two special a​ dministrative region’s respective return to Chinese sovereignty,”

Lo said. Lo added that Beijing appears to realise that the space for development in Macau is insufficient and that Henqin would likely be integrated into Macau “at some point”. “Exactly how this will happen will also become clearer as the 2047 and 2049 landmark dates loom into view,’’ he added.

2016-11-24 10:28 Niall Fraser www.scmp.com

45 /67 1.9 Domestic abuse victim 'living like a prisoner' in a safe room with CCTV and panic button A domestic abuse victim has transformed her home into a fortress and is 'living like a prisoner' - while her ex enjoys his freedom. Sonya Conn, 42, has been forced to live with a safe room, CCTV, and a panic button at her Plymouth home, along with a GPS tracker that tells police where she is at all times. She says she lives in fear of returning home to find her husband Matthew Conn, 47 - who was jailed for 22 weeks after admitting to assaulting her - 'sitting on my sofa'. Conn attacked Sonja in February following an argument over a Chinese takeaway, and the 42-year-old hid under a car to dial 999 after running into the street to get away. The attack was captured by CCTV cameras, and Conn pleaded guilty to two charges of common assault and was jailed for 22 weeks on May 9 this year. He was also handed a lifetime restraining order which banned him from contacting his former partner and from certain areas. But he breached the order shortly after being released and appeared in court last week accused of breaching it again. He denied the offence and was found not guilty. Terrified Sonya, who is on anti-depressants and sleeping pills, said: 'I am the victim, yet I have never once been allowed to speak, to tell the magistrates or judge my story of what he did to me. 'The police have been amazing. They check on me regularly. They know where I am thanks to a GPS tracker. I have a safe room in my home and panic buttons. 'They have picked him up from areas he knows he should not be because of the restraining order. 'But the courts have not been as good. They have not given me a voice at all. I feel like I am unimportant to them. 'I have had locks installed. I'm on anti depressants and sleeping pills. I'm afraid that I will come home one day and he'll be there, sitting on my sofa. 'I'm the prisoner. He's not even on [an electronic] tag. In court they said he has human rights, but what about my human rights to live without fear?' Sonya told how the former couple's relationship started to crumble shortly after their wedding, during their honeymoon in Malta in November last year. She said: 'It was five days of hell, but I thought I would make a go of it as we'd just got married.' By the following February he had become violent and attacked her in a social club after they had a row over a Chinese takeaway. She said: 'I was at the bar and he turned up. He just flew at me, grabbed me with both hands. 'A couple of lads pulled him off me and threw him out. Then they put me in a taxi to go to be with a friend.' Sonya said she stayed with a friend for a while but later got a taxi home, arriving at her place at around 2am. She said: 'He was hid in an alcove at my entrance. As I got to my front door he jumped out and grabbed me.' What followed was a lengthy attack, which saw Sonya repeatedly assaulted. Fortunately, a relative of hers had installed CCTV in the area and much of the incident was captured on video. Sonya claimed that Conn appeared to calm down and convinced her to open the front door. However, the assault continued inside the property until Sonya managed to escape and fled down the street, hammering on doors for help. When there was no answer she scrambled underneath a parked car and phoned 999, whispering to the call handler as Conn strode up and down the street looking for her. She said: 'I slid under a car to hide. I was in fear of my life. 'I could hear footsteps and at first I didn't talk, I was too scared. The call handler was brilliant, whispering back to me. They were saying 'we're on our way, stay still' and they kept on the line. 'Then the police turned up and I waved my phone so they knew where I was. 'They put me in the police car to keep me safe and searched my place but he had gone. Then they took me to hospital for treatment and took pictures of my bruising.' Sonya said: 'What upsets me is each and every time he appears in court, I never get to speak. 'They will listen to him, they will listen to his excuses, they will listen to what he has to say. 'Why was it okay for me to have to hide, terrified, under a car? 'I look back now and see my relationship with him was one where I was slowly controlled bit by bit.' Sonya said she had spoken out to let other women and men know that there is support out there and people should take it. She said: 'It's domestic abuse awareness week and I want others who are in the same situation to know there is help out there. 'The police have been incredible and I cannot thank them enough.' Pc Kathy Harris of Plymouth police's Sexual Offences and Domestic Abuse Investigation Team said the attack on Sonya was a serious one. She said: 'We supported Sonya throughout this process and she took the brave step to not only give a statement but to have her day in court. 'I have known Sonya for some time and it has been sad to see a woman who was so confident, to watch her decline and lives her life in fear. 'This is the most sinister and worrying case I've ever dealt with. His persistence in trying to contact her is a concern. He wrote to her from prison, but addressed it to her daughter, who was nine at the time.' Matthew Conn could not be reached for comment. 2016-11-24 09:51 Kerry Mcdermott www.dailymail.co.uk

46 /67 0.0 Missouri neighbors discover adopted daughters from China are half-sisters Adoptive families share an obvious bond, but two Missouri parents share more – their daughters, adopted from different cities in China, are half- sisters.

The Maneage family and Galbierz family of Weldon Springs live three minutes away from each other. They are in the same school district and go to the same church, where they were a part of the same Bible study group before adopting.

The families, who both also have biological children, grew close during an adoption meeting for waiting families in 2008. Two years later, the Maneage family adopted Ellianna.

In 2012, the Galbierz family was closing in on an opportunity to adopt, too. Paige Galbierz asked her friend Staci Maneage to write a letter of recommendation for the adoption to go through. In 2013, the Galbierz family traveled to China, where the one-child policy was still in effect, to meet and adopt Kinley.

When Paige posted a photo of Kinley on Facebook, Staci couldn't stop staring at it.

"I remember seeing that picture and I remember a feeling coming over me," Staci told USA TODAY. "I wasn’t speaking. I got up from where I was sitting. I got Ellianna’s picture. I was looking at Ellianna. "

The two looked nearly identical, she said. When the Galbierz family came home, Ellianna, 10, and Kinley, 7, became fast friends.

And, Staci wondered if the two shared more than looks.

"They pout the same way," Staci said. "Their personalities are the same. "

She'd point out the similarities to Paige, who didn't think much of it at the time. The odds of the girls, who came from a country with a population over a billion, being related are slim. Ellianna was found in a hospital in Longgang and Kinley was found more than two hours away outside of a bus station in

Zhuhai city. The families adopted the girls through different agencies. They also began the adoption process at different times.

Still, Staci said she couldn't ignore a God-given feeling the two girls were related. So, despite her husband telling her the idea was crazy, Staci asked Paige if she would be willing to have the girls DNA tested.

Paige said yes, because she wanted to put the matter to rest.

"All those times when she would ask if the girls looked similar didn't go unnoticed," Paige said. "I thought, 'Will this finally stop the conversation?' There’s nobody who thinks the odds are in favor of this having merit. " But, the results didn't stop the conversation. They started an entirely new one.

A 2015 Bio-Gene DNA document supplied to USA TODAY by the families shows the girls are 99.99% likely to be half-sisters. It's unknown which parent the children share.

"This was so overwhelming for us," Paige said. "We really know that God has orchestrated all of this. "

Adoption councilors didn't even know how to advise the parents to tell their daughters about the news, because the situation is so rare. The Maneage family told Ellianna, who also speculated the two were similar, shortly after they discussed the news with the Galbierz family. Kinley's family chose to delay the news a few months until December 2015, because she was still processing the adoption.

Both families say it's taken a while for everyone to fully absorb the news.

"It took a calendar year for it to go from a head level to a heart level," Staci said.

Moms Staci and Paige say the girls see a lot of each other and they want it to stay that way. They've even talked about moving closer, possibly sharing a plot of land.

"We are still figuring out family gatherings, holidays and birthdays," Paige said. "We are trying to be intentional about how to allow them that chance to stay closer together. "

Whatever happens, the girls' adopted parents are determined to make a new sense of family work.

"These girls have a treasure," Paige said. "Our job as parents is to foster it and support it. "

Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets

2016-11-24 09:33 Ashley May rssfeeds.usatoday.com

47 /67 1.2 Chinese Coca-Cola workers strike over asset sale Coca-Cola workers in three Chinese cities have gone on strike after the US soft drinks giant announced it was selling its bottling interests in the country. Strikes and other labour protests have surged in recent years in China, where growth is slowing and parts of the economy are moribund. The beverage giant announced last week it was selling all its bottling assets in mainland China to Hong Kong conglomerate Swire Pacific and COFCO Corporation, one of China's state-owned food giants. The Swire transaction would cost 5.87 billion yuan ($850 million), the Hong Kong company said. COFCO did not disclose the size of its deal. Workers at three Coca-Cola plants called coordinated strikes on Monday, with pictures posted online appearing to show workers outside a factory in Chongqing with a banner that read: "We worked hard for over a decade but were sold in less than a second. Compensate! " Another proclaimed: "Give back my youth, compensate my time". Simultaneous strikes also took place in Chengdu, also in the southwest, and Jilin province in the northeast, other photos on social media showed. One worker told AFP that more than 600 staff went on strike in Chengdu. Labour protests have erupted in China with economic growth slowing, and closing factories often leaving workers with unpaid wages and no redundancy pay. According to data from Hong Kong-based rights group China Labour Bulletin (CLB), there were 2,774 strikes and labour protests across the country in 2015 -- more than the previous four years put together -- with unpaid wages the most common grievance. Independent trade unions are banned in China, with only the official All-China Federation of Trade Unions legally recognised. But critics say it often fails to assist workers in disputes. Officials pay close attention to unrest that could upset social stability, which the ruling Communist party seeks to maintain. The Coca-Cola bottling plant workers fear that they will lose their jobs or pay under the state-owned employer, one striking employee told AFP. "We are demanding the company disclose details of the refranchising and plans during the transitional period," he said. "We request the company give workers economic compensation before they decide to sign the contract with COFCO. " According to posts on social media, police clashed with strikers at the Chongqing factory, with video showing police pushing a cluster of workers in red uniforms and officers photographed subduing a struggling man. Police officials in Chongqing said they had no information on such incidents when contacted by AFP. Similar strikes broke out in 2011 when workers at five Pepsi bottling plants across China protested after the US beverage giant sold its plants in the country to a Japanese-Taiwanese venture.

2016-11-24 09:06 Afp www.dailymail.co.uk

48 /67 1.0 WIDER IMAGE-Beijing's scrap collectors swept up in latest crackdown on migrants By Sue-Lin Wong BEIJING, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Working in the shadow of Beijing's looming skyscrapers, Yin Xueqiang weighs a pile of cardboard and old shoe racks in a dusty scrapyard, the latest casualty of a crackdown on migrant workers in China's capital. Last week, security guards blocked the road Yin and fellow scrap collectors took to enter the yard. The authorities had posted signs this month giving the collectors ten days to leave. "The city government is trying to get us migrant workers to leave Beijing, they say there are too many of us and not enough space," said Yin, who hails from China's central province of Henan. As authorities try to rein in Beijing's growing population and capitalize on skyrocketing land prices, scrap collectors say they are being pushed out, despite playing a vital role in China's unique recycling ecosystem. Unlike many Western cities, where local authorities run recycling programs, in Beijing, entrepreneurial migrant workers drive a significant part of the effort. They cycle around the city collecting cardboard, plastic and other scrap before selling it on to rubbish traders, who then resell it to factories as scrap. "Beijingers wouldn't be able to survive for even a day without us," Yin said, weighing piles of plastic on a rusty scale before handing a few dollars to a fellow collector, who pedalled away on a motorized tricycle. "Who is going to collect all the rubbish? Who is going to recycle it all? Do you think Beijingers would be willing to do this kind of work? " Yin said. Yin, whose efforts can bring in 3,000 to 5,000 yuan a month, has been in Beijing for more than 10 years. He moved to the scrap yard three years ago. Few of his friends from Henan are left in Beijing, as it gets harder to make a living in the expensive city. Yin said he is considering going home or moving to a scrapyard further away from the city centre. A generation of young consumers has come of age in China lacking the recycling habits of parents and grandparents who suffered hardships before the economy began opening up in the late 1970s. This absence of the impulse to recycle, along with astronomical economic growth, swift urbanization and surging consumption, led China to overtake the United States as the world's largest generator of waste in 2004, the World Bank says. By 2025, China will produce around 1.4 million tons of waste every day, but as scrap collectors shift into other industries, whether voluntarily or after being compelled by the authorities, the country is burying or burning more waste. "Over the past few years, I've taken Americans, Japanese, visitors from several developed countries to scrapyards in Beijing and their reaction is - 'This recycling system is excellent, why isn't more being done to preserve it?'" said Chen Liwen, who has studied China's scrap collectors. Dong Dingxia, 50, who left her farm, accompanied by her husband, to collect wooden scrap in Beijing after her children departed for university, puzzled over the same question. "I don't understand why we're being kicked out. It won't be good if rubbish starts piling up around the city," she said, while stripping foam from old wooden chairs. "But I guess what I think doesn't matter. " ($1=6.9155 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

2016-11-24 09:05 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

49 /67 2.7 China tariff disincentive for one Muskegon manufacturer, others unaffected MUSKEGON, MI -- Two Muskegon businesses left China with wildly different impressions after a trade mission with Gov. Rick Snyder this month.

Lorin Industries strengthened its partnerships in China by signing a memorandum of understanding, while Re- Source Industries decided the country isn't a good place for it to do business.

Re-Source is a Muskegon-based, high-tech machining company that makes parts for the automotive and recreational vehicle industries.

President Paul Kuyt went to China seeking opportunities to offer products and services to the country, but came back feeling that Chinese tariffs make it too difficult to compete.

"The imbalance in tariff makes it very difficult for us to be competitive there," he said. "They're very protectionist that way. It definitely is a challenge. We don't believe that we will be selling to China because we don't see it possible to break through that barrier. "

Re-Source has about 60 employees in Muskegon. China is the third-largest export market for Michigan, according to China Briefing. In 2014, $3.4 billion was exported from Michigan to China, while the state imported $8.1 billion.

Lorin Industries hasn't seen the tariff as a barrier. Lorin's marketing efforts tout high-quality, U. S.-made products.

"Tariffs are a factor in decision from companies wanting to buy our products, but it's not holding us up," said Ed Doza, Lorin's manager of marketing and technical sales. "They want better- made, quality products so they're willing to pay more. "

2 Michigan companies and U-M benefit from state trade mission to China

Lorin has been a world leader in aluminum coil anodizing since 1943. Anodizing is the process that makes cookie sheets dark and nonstick, but Lorin mostly produces interior and exterior walls.

The company employs about 80 people at its Muskegon factory.

The memorandum Lorin signed was with Shenzhen Bond Industry Co., Ltd. to solidify their commitment to collaborate on the completion of the Chongqing Airport terminal project.

"As a Michigan manufacturer, Lorin is excited about the increasing opportunities to sell products in China," said Lorin President Park Kersman, in a release. "Though we have worked very hard to get these results, Gov. Snyder and his efforts to support small businesses in Michigan helped make it possible. "

The company has several projects underway in China, but the Chongqing Airport terminal will likely be the largest in terms of volume of aluminum, said Ed Doza, Lorin's manager of marketing and technical sales.

Lorin does work all over the world, and has projects going in Australia, China, Korea, Taiwan, Mexico and Europe, he said.

This was Lorin's third trade mission to China with the governor, he said.

"The trade missions have helped our company," he said. "With the governor's presence, it gives you more pull, more clout when you're over there. "

It changed the way Lorin looked at selling in China, Doza said, noting that many companies are afraid to pursue business in China.

2016-11-24 09:02 Justine McGuire www.mlive.com

50 /67 2.8 Singapore says it's trying to free shipment of troop carriers held in Hong Kong HONG KONG/TAIPEI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Singapore is trying to free a shipment of armoured troop carriers detained in Hong Kong as they were being shipped home from overseas, Singapore's defence ministry said on Thursday, and Hong Kong authorities said the vessel was from Taiwan. Singapore authorities were "providing relevant assistance to the Hong Kong Customs and expect the shipment to return to Singapore, expeditiously", the ministry said in a statement. The Terrex Infantry Carriers and other equipment were delayed on Wednesday in a "routine" Customs inspection after being shipped commercially as with previous exercises, it said. Taiwanese media said Singapore and Taiwan were in joint drills and a returning military shipment should not have been stopped in Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Singapore has a long- established, if low key, military relationship with self-ruled Taiwan, using the mountainous island that Beijing considers a breakaway province for infantry training. The discovery of equipment used in Taiwanese drills could embarrass Singapore and anger China, which has been distrustful of Taipei since its independence-leaning government came to power in May, regional diplomats said. China has held out the "one country, two systems" formula under which Hong Kong returned to China as a possible model for Taiwan. Taiwan has not shown any interest. A statement from Hong Kong's Customs and Excise Department said 12 Singapore-bound containers containing "suspected controlled items" were found in a routine search of a ship from Taiwan. It noted that licences and proof of transshipment were needed for certain munitions and weapons, even if they were only in transit. "Customs officers will take appropriate follow up actions," it said. (Reporting by J. R. Wu in Taipei, Venus Wu in Hong Kong and Anshuman Daga in Singapore. Writing by Greg Torode. Editing by Nick Macfie)

2016-11-24 08:29 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

51 /67 1.6 S. African police nab Chinese man with 18 rhino horns South African police Thursday said they had arrested a Hong Kong-bound Chinese man found with 18 rhino horns hidden in his luggage. He was detained on Wednesday at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport after an anonymous tip-off. "The 28- year-old male, who was in transit from Namibia to board a South African Airways flight to Hong Kong, was immediately arrested," the organised crime police unit said in a statement. The horns, weighing 43 kilograms (95 pounds), were valued at around 6.6 million rand ($467,000, 441,000 euros). He is due to appear in court on Friday. Southern African countries are battling increased poaching levels. The trade is fuelled by organised syndicates mainly from Asian countries. South Africa, which has the largest rhino population worldwide, has been hit the hardest, with 1,200 slaughtered last year alone. Most of them were killed at the Kruger National Park, the country's premier safari destination. The illegal trade is driven by huge demand in Vietnam and China, where it is believed to have medicinal powers curing everything from hangovers to cancer. The belief has been scientifically proven to be false. The horn is also crafted into prized ornaments. In August, another Hong Kong-bound Chinese man was arrested at OR Tambo airport with 10 rhino horns and carved ornaments.

2016-11-24 08:26 Afp www.dailymail.co.uk

52 /67 0.5 The ugly, hilarious and utterly unrecognisable wax statues found in China Many people flock to waxwork museums to pose next to their favourite celebrities and world leaders. But visitors to several waxwork museums in China might have to spend some time working out who the figurines actually are. Hilarious images show figurines in China including Lady Gaga, US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sporting a Hitler mustache. Images of the waxworks have come to light again after images show a new waxwork at a museum in Shenyang, depicting the Japanese Prime Minister with a Hitler mustache. It is also in a bowing position. According to Shanghaiist , the sign next to the figure read: 'Commemorating the September 18th incident'. This is in reference to Japan's occupation of China during the Second World War. On social media site Coral.qq , people have shared their opinions on figures of the world leaders. One user commented: 'Are these wax statues the homework of students? They don't look professional.' While another wrote: 'Putin is so bald headed.' And one user said: 'Why is Obama so tanned?' This isn't the first time waxworks have made news in China with images of celebrity and world leader waxworks shared online due to the fact that they are so unrecognizable. One museum in China's Sichuan province has been highlighted for its hilFarious waxworks of Roger Federer and Jackie Chan. Many people have ridiculed the waxworks on display at the Huaying Mountain Chinese and Foreign Celebrity Wax Museum. According to website Toutaiao , a representative from the museum told their reporter: 'The clothing and styles are not chosen by us, in fact the museum is just a venue for wax-artists to exhibit their work and tourists can visit free of charge.' Many people have criticised the museum in Sichuan on social media site Weibo. One user wrote: 'I can't tell who they are without reading the description.' While another said: 'Did they seek consent from the celebrities on making such ugly statues?' And one user commented: 'The wax statues only look like a real person when observed from a distance.'

2016-11-24 08:11 Sophie Williams www.dailymail.co.uk

53 /67 1.5 Rising doubles star Chen Qinchen ready to lift China out of badminton doldrums Give her two years and rising Chinese women’s doubles specialist Chen Qingchen may be as good as the great mainlanders who once dominated the world of badminton. Despite her age, the 19-year-old from Guangdong province has been hailed as the new star of world powerhouses China, having captured four superseries titles this year prior to the final stop on the calendar in Hong Kong, where she is still in contention for more silverware. “I am improving but still lack the exposure of the previous generation of players at the highest level,” said the youngster. “I would love to achieve the same degree of success as them but still need a bit of time. “Give me two years and then I should be there – the world championship in both the mixed doubles and women’s doubles are my targets and also the team events of Sudirman Cup and Uber Cup.” Chen won the Australia Open in June with her partner Bao Yixin in the doubles and triumphed again at last month’s French Open, combining with another partner Jia Yifan and defeating Olympic champions and the world’s number one pair Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi, of Japan, on the way. In the mixed doubles, Chen partnered Zheng Siwei to win the Japan Open and French Open. On both occasions, they relegated world number one pair Ko Sung-Hyun and Kim Ha-na, of South Korea, into second place. China failed to sweep the badminton gold medals at the Rio Olympics but might have done better had Chen taken part. But she was late to the party. “I wasn’t part of the plan when they drafted the squad for the Olympics and that’s why I didn’t take part in sufficient tournaments to gain the qualification,” she said. “ But I will definitely work for Tokyo four years later to resume our quest for honours at the Olympic Games.” In the immediate future, Chen is challenging for a place in the superseries finals in Dubai next month. “I have never been to the finals before so I’m definitely motivated to be there,” she said. She and Zheng are fourth in the mixed doubles rankings with the top eight pairs eligible for Dubai. In the women’s doubles, they were eighth before the Hong Kong leg and should be ensured of a place after beating the seventh-ranked pair, mainland sisters Luo Ying and Luo Yu, in the second round on Thursday. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Yip Pui-yin put up a brave fight against world and Rio Games champion Carolina Marin, of Spain, in the women’s singles before losing her second-round tie 21-18, 21-16. “I did very well in the first game, according to my plan, and the result was not too disappointing,” said the 29 year-old, who is now the oldest women’s singles player competing on the tour. “The Spaniard has the power and the speed as you can tell from her achievements and it’s not easy for any player, but today I did push her well with great patience.” Despite failing to reach the knockout stage at the Rio Olympics, Yip said she had rediscovered her love of the game and would set the Tokyo Olympic Games in four years as her next major target.

2016-11-24 07:54 Chan Kin www.scmp.com

54 /67 0.0 Philippines to Build New Seaport in the South China Sea The Philippines will build a new seaport in the South China Sea next year in a bid to push its claim over part of the waters, Philippine officials said, a move that analysts say is likely to provoke reactions from other claimant-countries,

2016-11-24 07:47 christos article.wn.com

55 /67 0.0 We're still step behind wildlife traffickers HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Britain’s Prince William praised Vietnam, China and other Asian countries for taking unprecedented steps to battle wildlife trafficking but said Thursday the truth is that rhinos, elephants, pangolins and lions are still being killed in horrifying numbers.

William, who is president of United for Wildlife , lauded progress in stemming trade in endangered wildlife since the London conference two years ago, particularly partnership between African governments to fight poaching. China has signaled a total ban on ivory trading, the U. S. already has banned it and other nations, including Britain, are considering it, he said.

Vietnam, one of major transit points and consumers of trafficked ivory and rhino horns, for the first time destroyed seized ivory and rhino horns last weekend, he said.

“But here is the problem: We know that we aren’t moving fast enough to keep up with the crisis,” William told the Third International Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade in Hanoi. He said that the Great Elephant Census published this summer confirmed our worst fears about the shocking 30 percent decline in the African elephant population in just seven years.

“So while we’ve made progress, the truth is we are still falling behind. A betting man would still bet on extinction,” he said.

Organized crime syndicates are much more agile, he said, adding that although authorities have stepped up controls at ports and borders, most illegally poached products are still slipping through the net.

“Attitudes on the use and purchase of illegal wildlife trade products are proving harder to shift than we might have liked,” William said, alluding to mistakenly held beliefs that rhino horns provide a cure for cancer. “In this part of the world we have to acknowledge the truth that newly aspirational consumers are still demanding more, not less ivory and rhino horn.”

He said the poachers are learning to be quiet and are much harder to track. “Their brutality continues to escalate with many more rangers killed since we gathered in London two years ago,” he said.

Vietnam Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh said that her country is facing many challenges in protecting wildlife and ensuring economic growth, such as raising awareness in local communities and improving their livelihoods as well as limitations in prosecuting and convicting criminals.

Ishaam Abader, deputy director at South Africa’s Environmental Affairs Department, said that the number of rhinos being poached has slightly dropped last year compared to 2014. However, the number of poachers entering wildlife parks has increased.

“So in essence we are winning the fight so to speak. But obviously if you use one strategy, the poachers use another strategy, we have to try to remain one step ahead of them all the time,” he told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the conference.

He said that South Africa is developing multiple strategies to ensure the success of the fight to protect rhinos.

“We don’t only focus on anti-poaching, we also focus on demand reduction and increasing rhino populations by diversity management,” he said.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

2016-11-24 07:41 By Associated mynorthwest.com

56 /67 2.2 Microsoft's Chinese chatbot won't talk about Tiananmen or Xi Jinping Ask Microsoft's Chinese chatbot Xiaoice about Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and that's how she responds. She also skirts around highly sensitive topics like the 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen Square protests, Chinese President Xi Jinping or even President-elect Donald Trump.

Xiaoice has become hugely popular since she was introduced in 2014. More than 40 million Chinese smartphone users chat with her on the social media platforms WeChat or Weibo every day, according to Microsoft ( MSFT , Tech30 ). A quarter of them have declared their love for her. Related: After racist tweets, Microsoft muzzles teen chatbot Tay

Companies use chatbots to connect with consumers and promote their brands. Chinese often use Xiaoice simply to have something resembling a real conversation with a close friend.

Xiaoice is an experiment in artificial intelligence. She mines Chinese websites to gather material for conversations. She can glean vital context from voice messages and images. If you send her a photo of a pop star, for example, she might respond by saying how much she likes the singer's music.

Refusing to talk about sensitive topics suggests Xiaoice has been programmed to avoid prohibited words when asked about them. Microsoft declined to comment. China pours incredible resources into patrolling the internet, tracking down prohibited content and unwanted posts with an army of more than two million censors .

Related: Facebook could pay heavy price if it censors news to please China

To get around them, Chinese bloggers and dissidents get creative. Instead of writing Tiananmen, online users instead reference the date of the massacre -- June 4, 1989 -- often simply writing 64 or 8964.

Xi Jinping is called Xi Baozi, or Steamed Bun Xi, a nickname he earned after a publicity stunt where he bought steamed pork buns at a small store in Beijing and carried his own food tray.

But censors eventually figure out new phrases and nicknames and restrict them online.

China Digital Times recently reported the growing attention to Xiaoice's evasive answers, highlighting tweets from Chinese dissidents like Su Yutong, who lives in Germany. Su tried several banned topics with Xiaoice, posting screengrabs of conversations like the one below on Twitter :

CNNMoney also had a go. We asked Xiaoice about China's president:

And then we name dropped President-elect Donald Trump, and asked her about Tiananmen Square :

Tech giants such as Facebook ( FB , Tech30 ) , Twitter ( TWTR , Tech30 ) and Google ( GOOGL , Tech30 ) are blocked in China, in part because the government fears open discussions about the very topics Xiaoice refuses to acknowledge.

Amnesty International has documented a marked uptick in censorship in China over the past year, including an increase in controls on social media.

Related: China holds 'World Internet Conference' as censorship intensifies

Microsoft still operates in China, and has been criticized in the past for complying with the country's strict policing of the Internet.

If Microsoft has programmed Xiaoice to sidestep sensitive topics, it indicates a worrisome trend, said Patrick Poon, an Amnesty researcher. Earlier this week, Facebook was reported to have built a censorship tool to get into China.

"They are legitimizing what the Chinese government is doing, which is convincing foreign tech companies to suppress freedom of speech," Poon said.

-- Tim Schwarz and Serena Dong contributed this story.

2016-11-24 07:32 Sherisse Pham money.cnn.com

57 /67 1.5 Allianz to set up China fund unit to target investments abroad -sources By Samuel Shen and Michelle Price SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, Nov 24 (Reuters) - German insurer Allianz is setting up a wholly-owned unit in Shanghai to launch hedge funds that invest abroad, three sources said, as some foreign managers prepare for China to ease curbs on overseas investments aimed at stemming capital outflows. The unit of Allianz, the world's fourth largest money manager by assets, will then apply for a special licence that would enable it to raise funds in China directly and invest the proceeds overseas, the sources told Reuters. Allianz is looking to tap into Chinese investors' growing demand for overseas assets, which has been accelerated by a weakening yuan. China has so far been heavily restricting capital outflows to relieve pressure on its depreciating currency. Europe's largest insurer is planning to apply for the Qualified Domestic Limited Partnership (QDLP) programme license. The licence allows foreign managers greater freedom to raise funds within a set quota from domestic high net-worth Chinese investors through a wholly owned fund management company. Licensing for the QDLP scheme has been informally suspended this year as Beijing tries to stem the capital outflows, but several foreign managers are positioning themselves in the expectation the regulators will grant a new round of QDLP licenses and quotas next year, the sources added. A spokeswoman for Allianz, which owns U. S. bond fund manager Pimco and has nearly $2.2 trillion assets under management globally, confirmed the company is in the process of setting up the wholly-owned foreign entity but declined to comment further. The Shanghai Municipal Government Financial Services Office, which runs the QDLP scheme, did not respond to requests for comment. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange, which controls China's capital account, said in a statement the Shanghai government was responsible for any policy adjustments to the scheme. The sources declined to be identified as the information is not public. A growing number of foreign financial institutions, including Aberdeen Asset Management, U. S. hedge fund Bridgewater Associates and Vanguard, have recently set up stand-alone money-management firms in China as Beijing further deregulates the mainland fund industry. Previously, foreign asset managers looking to distribute investment products in China had to operate through minority-owned joint ventures with domestic firms, but Beijing has been gradually loosening the reins. Allianz already has a fund management joint venture, GTJA Allianz, but its partner, Guotai Junan Securities, said in August it was putting its 51 percent stake up for sale amid a broader restructuring. STRONG DEMAND Unveiled in 2012, the QDLP licence is designed to allow foreign alternative asset managers, namely hedge funds, to raise funds onshore to invest offshore. The first round of licenses was granted in 2013. Reuters reported last year that BlackRock Inc become the first traditional asset manager to receive the QDLP license, joining a handful of other global funds, including Man Group Plc and Och-Ziff Capital Management Group. (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-blackrock-china-idUSKCN0PV10320150721) QDLP funds are private, meaning data is not publicly available on assets or performance, but industry insiders said BlackRock saw strong demand for its first QDLP product, the Health Sciences Hedge Fund. China's domestic hedge fund industry has ballooned in recent years with 7,800 private investment fund managers accounting for around $361 billion in assets as of September, according to the Asset Management Association of China. Many wealthy Chinese are keen, however, to hedge their exposure to the falling yuan through offshore assets. The Boston Consulting Group estimates that the proportion of personal Chinese wealth allocated offshore will increase from the current 4.8 percent to 9.4 percent, or by 13 trillion yuan ($1.9 trillion) in assets, by 2020. ($1 = 6.9167 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Samuel Shen in SHANGHAI and Michelle Price in HONG KONG; Editing by Denny Thomas and Muralikumar Anantharaman)

2016-11-24 07:14 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

58 /67 58 /67 3.2 Nicaragua canal: in a sleepy Pacific port, something stirs A t first sight, there is little to suggest the sleepy village of Brito is the starting point of one of the world’s most ambitious engineering projects.

Almost two years after ceremonial ground was broken on the Grand Transoceanic Canal of Nicaragua , the actual soil remains obdurately undisturbed by anything other than grazing cattle. There is no machinery, no noise, no activity.

Instead of legions of construction workers, the only people to be seen are a farming family sheltering on porch hammocks from the midday sun, and a couple of guards manning a gate on the rutted dirt track down to the river.

Yet contrary to the languid scene, local people have never been more convinced that the controversial mega-project is finally about to begin.

In recent weeks, they say, engineers have conducted geological surveys and marked up the area, farmers have been paid $3,000 to allow surveys of their land, and more than 500 acres have been purchased by the Chinese developer HKND for road-widening.

“The company is absolutely serious. We had a big meeting last month and they told everyone, don’t plant anything or build anything because you will only be compensated for the land,” said Brito shopkeeper Manuel Cruz. “They said they would start work on a pier within 15 days and bring in lots of workers in December or January.”

José Mena, a farmer, said Chinese engineers had visited within the last month to bore holes and take readings at several points across his property. Mena said they used drilling machinery that was stored near the proposed construction site for the port, which is now guarded 24 hours a day.

Earlier this year, the developers also came to talk to him about land appropriation. “I don’t mind if it goes ahead as long as they do it well. They should not do too much damage and they should ensure that people get proper compensation,” he said.

The uptick in activity at Brito suggests the project – which many had assumed to have been killed off by funding problems , local opposition and environmental concerns – may be about to move out of a dormant phase, though whether it gets much further may depend more on politics than finance or engineering.

Conceived by the government of Daniel Ortega, pushed through parliament in 2014 with almost no debate and backed by HKND, a mysterious Chinese company, the proposed $50bn waterway was envisaged as a superior rival to the Panama Canal. Designers say the biggest earth-moving operation in history will clear a 178-mile long, 30-metre wide channel so that even the world’s largest ships can pass through the isthmus between the Pacific and the Atlantic.

But it has been dogged by doubts and opposition. Shipping experts have questioned the viability of the project. The president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, last month described the rival canal as “ more speculation than reality ”.

Thousands of landowners along the route have rallied against the appropriation of their property. Unlike in Brito, there are no signs that the project is moving ahead in areas of strong protest.

“The last time the Chinese came was two years ago when some people here threw stones at their car and broke a window. Since then, nothing’s happened,” said Elizabeth del Carmen, a resident of Obrajuelo, which is where the canal is supposed to enter the western side of Lake Nicaragua.

Conservationists warn the dredging and perhaps also blasting of the lake could cause immense damage to ecosystems and freshwater supplies.

After an environmental impact assessment by London-based ERM urged further studies on the Atlantic coast and called for the relocation of the Pacific port, the developer announced a one- year delay.

Wang Jing, the Chinese telecoms tycoon behind the project, lost about 85% of his fortune in a stock market crash , and has not visited Nicaragua for a year, fuelling suspicions that the project may be dead.

But the government insists otherwise. “I’m sure it will go ahead. I have no reason to doubt it,” the president of the canal commission, Manuel Coronel Kautz, told the Guardian. “According to our schedule, we should initiate major works by the end of the year.”

He said operations would begin in the next couple of months to build a deepwater dock at Brito, and that a deal had already been struck between HKND and Nicaraguan labour unions to supply 5,000 workers for the initial stages.

Local opposition, he said, would fade once property owners were offered compensation. HKND is said to have agreed to a total compensation budget of $300-400m to be shared among the 30,000 people along the route of the canal.

But there is a disagreement between the Nicaraguan authorities and HKND about the timing of the payments, he admitted. “We want them to pay everyone at once. But they want to do it stage by stage,” Coronel said.

For some critics, this raises the possibility that HKND may not go ahead with the full project, but instead use their concession to build ports and other developments on a piecemeal basis.

“We believe the canal law creates a state within a state. It allows the expropriation of land to launder ill-gotten funds on projects that are outside the jurisdiction of the authorities,” said Violeta Granera, whose civil society group, Movimiento Por Nicaragua , has supported the opposition movement by affected campesinos and demanded greater transparency.

The biggest unanswered question is the extent to which the Chinese government is supporting the project.

Coronel acknowledges Nicaragua “does not know exactly” the relationship between HKND and the authorities in Beijing.

“The Chinese government and HKND have said they have nothing to do with one another, but there is no company in China that is not affected. That is how politics works there,” he said.

Wang, who has never previously been involved in an engineering project on this scale, has denied being a proxy for the Chinese government or military. But without Beijing’s approval and financial backing, many observers feel it is unlikely the project will be able to move ahead.

“If the People’s Republic of China does not step forward, it won’t happen. Wang Jing does not have the reputation to push this through. If it is just him, then the chances of this happening are zero. If the PRC steps in, then it is a big possibility,” said Carlos Fernando Chamorro, editor of the Confidencial newspaper.

Nicaragua has diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than China, which makes it politically difficult for Beijing to become overtly involved. Coronel, who was formerly deputy foreign minister, recently sent a memo to Ortega suggesting that this policy be changed in order to improve the logistics of flying in specialists and equipment.

But even if the two countries formalise diplomatic ties and the Chinese government facilitates the canal project, Coronel admits they must still overcome an even bigger political obstacle.

“The only problem we see is what the US says about China coming into a small country in their area of influence. That’s something I doubt,” he said. “If they don’t want it, it will be difficult.”

2016-11-24 07:00 Jonathan Watts www.theguardian.com

59 /67 1.9 CCTV video shows homeless man stamped on in brutal street attack in Manchester New footage of the moment a homeless man was viciously assaulted leaving him blind in one eye has been released. Detective Constable Paul Wilde said: 'This attack has not only left the victim blinded in one eye, but the psychological scarring he is left with is something that will take him a long time to recover from. 'I'm hoping that by releasing this CCTV, it will jog people's memories or they will recognise the man in the CCTV so that we can get justice for the lone, defenceless victim who was unfairly subject to such a horrific attack. 'There would have been a lot of people in the area at this time and I'm appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or anyone who has information to get in contact with us.' Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 6075, 101 quoting reference number 558 of 15/10/16 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

2016-11-24 06:59 Matt Hunter www.dailymail.co.uk

60 /67 2.0 China banking regulator wrestles with $2.9 trillion off- balance sheet WMPs BEIJING, Nov 24 (Reuters) - China's banking regulator may be getting serious about how lenders provision for the more than 20 trillion yuan ($2.9 trillion) of wealth management products (WMPs) that have been issued as non-guaranteed off-balance sheet liabilities. The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), in new draft rules released on Wednesday, demanded banks apply a more "comprehensive" approach to cover "substantive risks" related to off-balance sheet activities, or shadow banking. The guidelines, which would replace 2011 regulations and are awaiting comment, proposed such measures as adding impairment loss allowances and properly calculating risk-weighted assets for off-balance sheet activity. It was the latest measure announced by CBRC to curb shadow banking risks and address the rapid growth of WMPs, which amounted to 26.28 trillion yuan ($3.8 trillion) by end-June, data from the Banking Sector Wealth Management Product Registration and Custodian Centre showed. That amounts to around 39 percent of China's GDP in 2015. About 77 percent, or 20.18 trillion yuan, of the products are non-guaranteed bank WMPs, a major component of shadow banking activity, the data showed. CBRC Chairman Shang Fulin warned banks in September the rampant growth of their off-balance sheet operations must be curtailed, and represented a "hidden credit risk that potentially threatens financial safety". The growing volume of opaque shadow banking transactions, and the absence of stricter reporting standards or requirements for capital provisioning, represented a possible systemic risk, analysts have warned. "The new guidance is good, especially at a time when WMPs are growing too quickly and the problem of inflexible payments cannot be solved," said a general manager in the financial institutions department of a major Chinese bank. Inflexible payments refer to the widely held expectation that banks will stand behind their products, absorbing investment losses even for non-guaranteed WMPs. It is still rare for a Chinese bank to pass on an investment loss to customers out of concern for reputational risk. Senior bankers cautioned, however, that even as WMP issuance may slow they don't expect a "disruptive impact" from the new regulations. "It depends on how the rules will be executed," said the head of risk management at a mid-tier joint-stock bank based in northern China. China's mid-tier and small lenders, which have raised a greater proportion of their funding using WMPs, are more vulnerable to off-balance sheet liquidity risks. One important obstacle is capital. A very strict interpretation of the draft regulations, requiring banks to hold reserves against all off-balance sheet issuance, would require banks to raise as much as 1.7 trillion yuan to maintain current capital levels, said Jack Yuan, a banking analyst at Fitch. "The incentives for banks to issue more off-balance sheet WMPs still exists," said Yuan. "There's nothing in these rules that disincentivises banks from continuing on with more off-balance sheet activity. " "It's like driving a car," said a risk manager at another mid-size lender. "If you don't follow the rules, there's a mess. But if you follow the rules, that doesn't mean you have to slow down. " ($1 = 6.9160 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Shu Zhang and Matthew Miller; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

2016-11-24 06:44 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

61 /67 3.3 Chinese drugmaker invests $36.5 mln in British biotech business Kymab LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - British privately owned biotech company Kymab has secured $100 million of funding from investors, including $36.5 million from China's Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical, to help to fund its pipeline of experimental antibody drugs. Shenzhen Hepalink's involvement reflects growing interest in biotechnology opportunities among Chinese pharmaceutical companies. Kymab said on Thursday that ORI Healthcare Fund is also a new investor in the Cambridge-based business, which is headed by industry veteran David Chiswell and is focused on immuno-oncology, auto-immunity, haematology and infectious disease. Its first antibody is due to enter clinical trials next year. Chiswell, who led Cambridge Antibody Technology before its sale to AstraZeneca, said that Hepalink's global reach and United States-based manufacturing capacity would help Kymab to maximise its potential as drugs were developed and commercialised. Existing shareholders, including the Wellcome Trust, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Malin and fund manager Neil Woodford, also put in new money. The latest "series C" funding round follows two earlier financings that raised $120 million. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by David Goodman)

2016-11-24 06:38 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

62 /67 1.0 EMERGING MARKETS-Soaring dollar sends Turkey, India to record lows; yuan tumbles By Claire Milhench LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The Turkish lira, Indian rupee and offshore Chinese yuan crashed to fresh record lows on Thursday against the strengthening dollar, while emerging stocks slipped half a percent after U. S. bond yields hit multi-year peaks. Emerging market assets have been pounded since Donald Trump's victory in the U. S. presidential election as his expansionary fiscal policies are expected to fuel inflation and prompt the U. S. Federal Reserve to tighten more aggressively than previously thought. With the U. S. dollar firming to 13-1/2 year highs and U. S. two-year Treasury bond yields hitting 6-1/2 year highs on Wednesday after strong U. S. manufacturing data, the more vulnerable emerging currencies touched fresh record lows. "The price action we're witnessing now is very susceptible to these dollar swings and the upside in U. S. Treasuries," said Roxana Hulea, emerging markets strategist at Societe Generale. "Our bias remains for weaker emerging market currencies over the coming quarters," she said, adding that aside from the impact of Trump's policies, there were a number of political events looming in Europe, making investors wary of deploying funds into riskier assets. The Turkish lira was down as much as 0.7 percent as investors worried political pressure would prevent the central bank raising rates at its meeting later on Thursday. President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey's real interest rate was one of the highest in the world, something which had to change in order to achieve high growth. "The president's dovish policy prescriptions don't match market realities," said Hulea, adding she still saw a faint possibility the central bank could deliver a modest hike of 25 basis points in the repo rate today. But if the central bank failed to satisfy the market, further sell-offs could follow, she said. "The collapse in FDI (foreign direct investment) is negative for Turkey's growth over the medium to long term. That's caused by political concerns with the purge and I don't see a near term end to this," she said. Worries about India's demonetisation drive also pushed the Indian rupee to a record low of 68.86 per dollar, at which level the central bank was suspected of intervening. "Market interest rates and FX implied yields in (the rupee) have plunged after the rupee demonetisation rule implemented on Nov. 9," analysts at BNP Paribas said in a note. "Three-month non-deliverable forward implied yields were around 6 percent in October; they have now fallen to 4.7 percent. With NDF implied yields plunging, the attractiveness of these positions has diminished. " The rupee has weakened around 3 percent so far this month on expectations of a hit to economic growth in the wake of the government's demonetisation moves. The Nifty 50 stocks index was also down almost 1 percent. The Hong Kong-traded offshore yuan, used frequently by foreigners, weakened past the 6.96 level for the first time since it started trading overseas in late 2010. The mainland yuan also hit an 8-1/2 year low after the People's Bank of China set its daily guidance rate at its weakest since June 2008. The Philippine peso hit levels not seen since November 2008 and other Asian currencies hit multi-month troughs. The Malaysian ringgit was at a near 14-month low and the Indonesian rupiah hit a near six-month low. Commodity-related currencies fared a little better, helped by robust commodity prices on expectations of higher demand. The South African rand was 0.2 percent firmer ahead of a central bank meeting at which it is expected to keep rates on hold at 7 percent. "Temporarily they are out of the firing line and safe with just delivering a hawkish message," said Hulea. More important for investors were upcoming ratings reviews, particularly those from Fitch and S&P next Friday, she said. "They have them on the cusp of a downgrade to below investment grade, and investors want to see if they postpone given what's been happening on the political front or if they just go ahead. " The Russian rouble was also steady, helped by oil prices edging back above $49 a barrel. But the Brazilian real lost 1.24 percent. The benchmark emerging equity index fell 0.5 percent, in the red for a second day, with the big Asian manufacturing markets leading the losses. Korean stocks lost 0.8 percent, Taiwan shares slipped 0.3 percent and Indonesian stocks tumbled as much as 2.1 percent. But emerging Europe fared better with Warsaw shares up 0.6 percent and Russian dollar-denominated stocks up 0.9 percent. For GRAPHIC on emerging market FX performance 2016, see http://tmsnrt.rs/2e7eoml For GRAPHIC on MSCI emerging index performance 2016, see http://tmsnrt.rs/2dZbdP5 For GRAPHIC on global currency performance against the dollar, year to date, see http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh For CENTRAL EUROPE market report, see For TURKISH market report, see For RUSSIAN market report, see ) Emerging Markets Prices from Reuters Equities Latest Net Chg % Chg % Chg on year Morgan Stanley Emrg Mkt Indx 852.92 -3.00 - 0.35 +7.40 Czech Rep 888.10 -0.62 -0.07 -7.13 Poland 1804.78 +8.15 +0.45 -2.92 Hungary 30192.21 +35.92 +0.12 +26.22 Romania 6826.16 -12.11 -0.18 -2.54 Greece 623.79 -8.73 -1.38 -1.20 Russia 1025.23 +8.28 +0.81 +35.43 South Africa 43941.04 -135.84 -0.31 -4.05 Turkey 75027.27 -9.63 -0.01 +4.60 China 3241.49 +0.35 +0.01 -8.41 India 25832.22 -219.59 -0.84 - 1.09 Currencies Latest Prev Local close currency % change % change in 2016 Czech Rep 27.02 27.01 -0.03 -0.07 Poland 4.42 4.43 +0.09 -3.75 Hungary 310.25 310.02 -0.07 +1.41 Romania 4.51 +0.01 +0.28 Serbia 123.27 123.24 -0.02 -1.46 Russia 64.33 64.36 +0.05 +13.40 Kazakhstan 335.70 335.62 -0.02 +1.43 Ukraine 25.55 25.59 +0.16 -6.25 South Africa 14.09 14.14 +0.33 +9.74 Kenya 101.80 +0.00 +0.39 Israel 3.87 3.86 -0.21 +0.41 Turkey 3.40 3.39 - 0.35 -14.30 China 6.92 +0.06 -6.12 India 68.71 68.77 +0.09 -3.66 Brazil 3.44 3.39 -1.24 +15.24 Mexico 20.62 20.64 +0.08 -16.72 Debt Index Strip Spd Chg %Rtn Index Sov'gn Debt EMBIG 385 0 .01 7 28.23 1 All data taken from Reuters at 09:56 GMT. Currency percent change calculated from the daily U. S. close at 2130 GMT. (Additional reporting by Sujata Rao)

2016-11-24 06:37 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

63 /67 4.2 Time Is 'Not Ripe' for China's Market Economy Status U. S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said on Wednesday that the time was “not ripe” for the United States to change the way it evaluates whether China has achieved market economy status and there are no international trade rules requiring changes in the way U. S. anti-dumping duties are calculated.

China is seeking to be fully declared a market economy on the 15th anniversary of its accession to the World Trade Organization in December, a move that could significantly reduce the anti-dumping duties levied on Chinese goods around the world.

For more on the Chinese economy, watch Fortune’s video:

But Pritzker said that market economy valuations were determined strictly according to six critera set in law. While she has discussed the issue with Chinese counterparts, she told a news conference: “At this moment it is not ripe for us to change our protocol.”

2016-11-24 05:46 Reuters fortune.com

64 /67 2.8 Gold Coast park 'Australian Legendary Kingdom' unveiled months after Dreamworld tragedy A $400 million theme park could open on the Gold Coast, rivaling nearby Dreamworld where four people died on a malfunctioning ride. The 'Australian Legendary Kingdom' is the brain child of China's biggest theme park operator Songcheng Performance Development and will include an 'Aboriginal Cultural Village, 'Mysterious Orient' and a stage performance called 'Wild Australia'. There is no opening date for the proposed Gold Coast Park which combines Chinese and Australian culture, but it's set to be built on a 40.46 hectare block Nerang, 10km from the Gold Coast's city centre, the Courier Mail reports. Songcheng Performance Development runs 30 parks and 10 tourist resorts across China themed around Chinese history and culture attracting 24 million visitors each year. The Gold Coast is a key area for Queensland tourism and 'one of the biggest tourist cities in Australia', Songcheng told the Shenzen stock exchange. If built, the 'Australian Legendary Kingdom' will sit alongside fellow them parks Movie World, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild and the recently devastated Dreamworld. Dreamworld, the Gold Coast's largest theme park, has not reopened since the tragic deaths of Kate Goodchild, 32, her brother Luke Dorsett, 35, his partner Roozi Araghi, 38, and Cindy Low, 42 in October. They were crushed and drowned to death after a suspected malfunction on the Thunder River Rapids ride flipped their raft on a conveyor belt. But Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate doesn't believe talks of the new theme park come too soon after the disaster. 'It's never a bad time to talk about enhancing our tourism infrastructure,' Mr Tate told the Courier Mail. 'The way we look at it on the Gold Coast, we like to broaden our economy and we want to broaden our tourism economy. 'Back in the day, we were the number one choice for theme parks, and we've got to keep doing that to stay up the top.' He added that he doesn't believe Australians would be unwilling to go to a theme park themed around Chinese culture. Plans for the Gold Coast theme park is expected to be completed by the end of June next year.

2016-11-24 05:35 Sinead Maclaughlin www.dailymail.co.uk

65 /67 0.0 Taiwan lists the times it says China blocked its diplomatic space TAIPEI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan is updating its foreign ministry website listing the times it says China blocked its international space, a move endorsed by the island's independence-leaning ruling party on Thursday. The list, last in use when the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was last in power from 2000-2008, comes after official communication channels between Taiwan and China ceased with Taiwan President and DPP leader Tsai Ing-wen taking office in May. China says Taiwan is part of "one China", ruled by Beijing. It regards the island as a renegade province, ineligible for state to state relations, to be united by force if necessary. "I don't know the details of the updates," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Wednesday in Beijing when asked about the website. "On 'Taiwan's international space' issue, we have always stressed the 'one China' principle and its handling. This is also the general consensus in the international community. " Taiwan has only a handful of allies in the world, including the Vatican. In March, China resumed ties with the small west African state of Gambia, one of only a few African countries, along with Burkina Faso, Swaziland and São Tomé and Príncipe, to recognise Taiwan. China's actions "will only increase a negative perception" of China by Taiwan and "adversely affects the long-term relationship" of both sides, DPP spokeswoman Chiu Li-li said in statement. The list includes working-level international meetings Taiwan delegations were barred from attending, sometimes due to their Taiwan passports, the ministry said. It also includes a snub by a UN aviation agency from inviting Taiwan to a meeting in September. Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, which recognises China. The most recent incident on the list involves the title of former Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou in the handbook of an international conference he attended in Malaysia last week. His title was changed to "former leader" from "former president", according to the ministry. Beijing distrusts the DPP because it traditionally advocates independence for Taiwan, which has been self-ruled since Chiang Kai-shek's defeated Nationalists fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing the Chinese civil war with Mao Zedong's Communists. (Reporting by J. R. Wu; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Nick Macfie)

2016-11-24 05:04 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

66 /67 66 /67 1.4 Why you should expect a weaker, less free Chinese yuan as US Fed gears up to raise rates The yuan, mainland China’s currency, is set to become less free as it weakens against the US dollar. While Beijing has not announced any blanket capital account controls, the central government is stepping up its oversight and analysts say restrictions on flows of yuan and US dollars across the border, especially outward flows, are set to become stricter. Beijing’s retreat from yuan liberalisation comes at a time when the currency is under pressure to weaken further as the US Federal Reserve hints at an interest rate increase next month. At home, the central government’s currency policy priority has shifted to “risk control” and is likely to remain there in the coming year as the Communist Party’s top leadership prepares for a power reshuffle. Larry Hu, chief China economist at Macquarie, said capital account opening would not be a key subject at next month’s central economic work conference, an annual year- end gathering of communist leaders that lays out economic policy priorities for the coming year. With people betting on a weaker yuan and many mainlanders scrambling to move their wealth abroad, Hu said “a very strong hand is visible there to curb capital outflows.” Shenzhen customs said it had uncovered 1,012 cash smuggling cases in the first 10 months of this year, as individuals tried to smuggle cash out of the mainland in suitcases and handbags. A senior official with the Shanghai branch of the People’s Bank of China, the mainland’s central bank, said on Wednesday that it would crack down on capital flight and closely monitor abnormal capital flows via the city’s “free-trade zone”. Meanwhile, the yuan’s depreciation against the US dollar has been accelerating over the past few weeks and it is now at its weakest level in more than eight years, with the yuan-dollar exchange rate at 6.9. “A fresh yuan crisis is not inevitable ... but the risks of another bout of turbulence remain high,” Capital Economics economists Julian Evans-Pritchard and Liu Chang wrote in a research note. In an article published in this week, former central government adviser Yu Yongding said capital control would need to be maintained and enhanced as Beijing permitted steeper yuan depreciation. Possible new measures from Beijing could include continuing to hold back on approving new outbound investment quota under the qualified domestic institutional investor scheme, slower approval for outbound investment deals, and lowering the cash withdrawal limit for mainland bank cards used overseas. “I won’t be surprised if Beijing takes further steps to stem capital outflow,” said Yan Se, a senior economist at Standard Chartered. “At the same time, Beijing may not announce any measures but become stricter in implementing existing controls.” Guo Lei, an analyst with GF Securities, a mainland brokerage house, said he would not expect a good “time window” in the next two years for Beijing to create a freely usable currency. The yuan’s official inclusion in the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights currency basket on October 1 had therefore marked a temporary halt to yuan liberalisation rather than a new start. The yuan’s share of world trade finance has dropped to 4.61 per cent, about half the level three years ago, Swift, the global financial network used by banks to transfer capital, said on Wednesday. 2016-11-24 05:00 Maggie Zhang www.scmp.com

67 /67 0.9 Celina Jade Joins Jacky Wu’s ‘Wolf Warriors 2’ Celina Jade (“The Man With The Iron Fists,” TV’s “Arrow”) has been set as the female lead in “ Wolf Warriors 2 ,” a sequel to last year Chinese action hit. Production is now under way in China and Africa.

Jade joins actor-director-producer Jacky Wu (aka Wu Jing ) in the cast along with Frank Grillo (“Captain America”) and China’s Zhang Han.

“Captain America” co-directors, the Russo Brothers, who have their own production operation in China, are overseeing action on the film, along with fight coordinator Sam Hargrave and Jack Wong (“SPL 2”.)

The film’s producers include Deng Feng International Media, China Film Group, Bona Films and Beijing Culture. Distributors have guaranteed a minimum box office of $120 million (RMB800 million) from mainland Chinese theaters, when it releases in August next year.

The first film, itself a feature-length spin-off from a TV series, grossed $90 million (RMB620 million) when it was released in April last year. The sequel sees Wu, a former national martial- arts champion, reprise his role as a special forces marksman leading an elite squad on patriotic duty. But it relocates the action to a fictional war-torn country in Africa.

Jade is managed by Echelon Talent Management, with CAA as her agent.

2016-11-24 05:00 Patrick Frater variety.com

Total 67 articles.

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Created at 2016-11-25 04:48