Tag: china

‘Hostage politics’: Death sentence heightens China, Canada tensions

by Laurent Thomet and Elizabeth Law Agence France-Presse BEIJING, China – China on Tuesday vociferously defended a court’s decision to impose the death penalty on a convicted Canadian drug smuggler, escalating a diplomatic row that experts say has descended into a high-stakes game of “hostage politics”. China’s foreign ministry blasted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “irresponsible remarks” after he criticised the death sentence handed to 36-year-old Robert Lloyd Schellenberg. Beijing and Ottawa have been squabbling […]

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Cottoning on: Chinese seed sprouts on moon

BEIJING, China (AFP) — A small green shoot is growing on the moon in an out-of-this-world first after a cotton seed germinated on board a Chinese lunar lander, scientists said Tuesday. The sprout has emerged from a lattice-like structure inside a canister since the Chang’e-4 lander set down earlier this month, according to a series of photos released by the Advanced Technology Research Institute at Chongqing University. “This is the first time humans have done […]

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China slams Trudeau’s ‘irresponsible remarks’ on Canadian’s death sentence

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Beijing on Tuesday slammed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for making “irresponsible remarks” after he criticised a Chinese court’s death sentence against a convicted Canadian drug smuggler. Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, 36, was given the death penalty on Monday after his previous 15-year prison sentence was deemed too lenient — a ruling that came amid a deepening diplomatic rift between Ottawa and Beijing. Trudeau expressed “extreme concern” on Monday, saying “China has chosen to […]

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Chinese court sentences Canadian drug suspect to death

  DALIAN, China (AFP) — A Chinese court sentenced a Canadian man to death on drug trafficking charges on Monday after his previous 15-year prison sentence was deemed too lenient, deepening a diplomatic rift as Canadian premier Justin Trudeau accused Beijing of “arbitrarily” using capital punishment. Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, 36, nodded as the judge in the northeast city of Dalian asked him whether he understood the verdict, following a day-long retrial in which he declared […]

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Age no barrier for China’s senior catwalk models

by Lianchao LAN Agence France Presse SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — Wearing a bright floral ensemble with her short hair dyed blonde, Chinese model Ma Yinhong struts a Shanghai catwalk with a style and swagger that belie her 56 years. She made her modelling debut just two years ago and is already in demand, working for leading fashion brands such as Dolce & Gabbana. Ma is one of a growing number of older models sought after […]

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Canada warns of China travel risk after death sentence

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canada is warning citizens to “exercise a high degree of caution” when travelling to China after a Canadian man was sentenced to death on drug trafficking charges. The revised advisory cautioned travellers of the “risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws,” and noted that the “safety and security situation could change with little notice”. The update came hours after a Chinese court on Monday sentenced Canadian citizen Robert Lloyd Schellenberg to […]

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China envisions moon base after far-side success

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China will seek to establish an international lunar base one day, possibly using 3D printing technology to build facilities, the Chinese space agency said Monday, weeks after landing a rover on the moon’s far side. The agency said four more lunar missions are planned, confirming the launch of a probe by the end of the year to bring back samples from the moon. The future launches will culminate with a mission […]

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Chinese court sentences Canadian drug suspect to death

by Elizabeth LAW Agence France Presse DALIAN, China (AFP) — A Chinese court sentenced a Canadian man to death on drug trafficking charges on Monday after his previous 15-year prison sentence was deemed too lenient, deepening a diplomatic rift as Canadian premier Justin Trudeau accused Beijing of “arbitrarily” using capital punishment. Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, 36, nodded as the judge in the northeast city of Dalian asked him whether he understood the verdict, following a day-long […]

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Asian markets hit by profit-taking, more weak China data

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong led a sell-off across Asian markets Monday as profit-takers moved in following a six-day rally, while dealers were also spooked by another disappointing batch of weak economic data out of China. With few catalysts to drive buying, equities were ripe for selling after last week’s healthy gains, with the US government shutdown — now in its fourth week and showing no sign of ending soon — instilling a […]

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China’s trade surplus with the US grew in 2018 but tariffs bite

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s trade surplus with the United States widened last year, data showed Monday, while the country’s imports and exports fell in December as the long-running trade war begins to bite in the world’s number two economy. The surplus with the US is a major source of anger within the Trump administration, which imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods last year and has warned of more […]

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Hong Kong stocks start with small losses

HONG KONG, China (AFP)– Hong Kong stocks dipped at the start of trade Monday after a six-day rally that saw it pile on more than six percent, while investors are also gearing up for the corporate earnings season. The Hang Seng Index eased 0.40 percent, or 107.59 points, to 26,559.68. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index inched down 0.50 points to 2,553.33 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second exchange, was also […]

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Poland arrests Chinese businessman suspected of spying

WARSAW, Poland (AFP) — Poland said Friday it had arrested a Chinese businessman suspected of spying for China, with local media identifying him as a Huawei director. The announcement comes weeks after Canada arrested Huawei vice president Meng Wanzhou, who is accused of violating Iran sanctions. The Chinese telecommunications giant is also facing increased scrutiny over its alleged links to Chinese intelligence services. Countries like the United States, Australia and Japan have blocked Huawei from […]

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