BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s factory activity ticked marginally upward in August, official data showed Friday, beating forecasts as analysts expected the trade war with the US to weigh more heavily on manufacturing. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), a key gauge of factory conditions, came in at 51.3 for the month, up from 51.2 in July, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. The number beat the 51.0 reading tipped in a Bloomberg News survey […]
Tag: china
China slams Trump’s ‘irresponsible and absurd logic’ on North Korea
by Elizabeth Law Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — China on Thursday derided the “irresponsible and absurd logic” of the United States after President Donald Trump accused Beijing of making Washington’s relationship with North Korea more difficult. Trump doubled down on his suggestion that China was not helping to rein in its Cold War-era ally — a charge he first levelled when he cancelled a trip to North Korea by Secretary of State […]
Robot teachers invade Chinese kindergartens
by Elizabeth Law and Danni Zhu Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — The Chinese kindergarten children giggled as they worked to solve puzzles assigned by their new teaching assistant: a roundish, short educator with a screen for a face. Just under 60 centimeters (two feet) high, the autonomous robot named Keeko has been a hit in several kindergartens, telling stories and challenging children with logic problems. Round and white with a tubby body, the […]
North Korea still ‘serious and imminent threat’: Japan
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — North Korea still poses a “serious and imminent threat”, Japan said Tuesday in its first annual defence review since an outbreak of diplomacy on the Korean peninsula. Japan’s 2018 defence white paper also took aim at China’s rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking “strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan”. Last year’s defence review was published at the height of the tensions with North […]
At least 18 dead in China hotel fire
BEIJING, China (AFP) — A fire early Saturday at a hotel in China has left at least 18 people dead and 19 injured, according to state media. The blaze broke out during the night at the hotel in Harbin, capital of the northeastern Heilongjiang province, the official Xinhua news agency reported. “By the latest count, 18 people have been found dead and 19 have been taken to hospital,” the agency said, citing local authorities. […]
US-Mexico trade talks progressing but no breakthrough with China
by Heather Scott Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Negotiations between the United States and Mexico to revise the nearly 25-year-old North American Free Trade agreement are making progress but will not be concluded this week, Mexico’s Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said Thursday. But a Chinese delegation, in Washington for talks aimed at defusing the spiraling US trade war with Beijing, left without any breakthrough. NAFTA and China have been two key targets of US President […]
Palace on US report China may add “nuclear element” to dispute in S. China Sea: ASEAN a “nuclear-free” zone
(Eagle News) — The Philippines and the entire Association of Southeast Asian Nations are “nuclear-free” zones. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated this on Thursday, Aug. 23, after a US Defense Department’s annual report said China may add a “nuclear element” to the dispute in the South China Sea. According to Roque, the ASEAN also had a treaty that specified that the entire region was a “nuclear-free” area. “The important point to underscore is we have a nuclear-free […]
China investigates top Buddhist leader for sexual assault
BEIJING, China (AFP) — The former head of China’s government-run Buddhist association is under criminal investigation for alleged sexual assault, the country’s top religious authority said Thursday. Xuecheng, a Communist Party member and abbot of Beijing’s Longquan Monastery, is one of the most prominent figures to face accusations in China’s growing #MeToo movement. He stepped down earlier this month after a report by fellow monks accused him of sexual and financial improprieties. In the […]
US, China talks raise optimism on eve of new trade tariffs
by Heather Scott Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US and Chinese trade negotiators on Wednesday opened talks aimed at averting further confrontations, with a new round of tariffs about to hit, and the Federal Reserve warning that escalation poses a serious economic risk. These are the first formal discussions with China since June on the spiraling and multifaceted trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Meanwhile, US and Mexican officials […]
Asian markets mostly up ahead of trade talks, Trump fears ease
Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday before keenly awaited trade talks between China and the United States, while early worries over a double whammy for Donald Trump also eased. While not expecting a major deal when officials from Beijing and Washington meet, investors are hopeful they can find a way out of the months-long row that has seen tariffs imposed on billions of dollars of goods and stock markets tumble. Recent comments from US Commerce Secretary […]
PHL loses to China by only 2 points (80-82) in Clarkson’s debut at Asian Games
(Eagle News) — Philippines lost to powerhouse China by only two points on Tuesday, August 21, at the 18th Asian Games basketball competition, with a score of 80 to China’s 82 points. It was a gallant effort by Philippines which was the Jordan Clarkson’s debut in the Asian Games where he scored 28 points. Christian Standhardinger scored another 18 points, whole Stanley Pringle scored 14 points. Sports commentator and analyst Quinito Henson twitted […]
China sacks six more officials over vaccine scandal
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China said Saturday it has sacked six senior officials over a vaccine scandal that inflamed public fears over the safety of domestically produced drugs. The government has been struggling to shore up public confidence in the pharmaceutical sector following the revelation last month that a major Chinese manufacturer of rabies vaccines was found to have fabricated records and was ordered to cease production. Authorities say the suspect rabies vaccines did not […]
