The Future Fund has been forced to divest about $5m in taxpayers’ money from a Chinese state-controlled weapons manufacturer sanctioned for selling arms to the genocidal Myanmar military. Last year, the Guardian revealed that Australia’s sovereign wealth fund had invested $4.9m in five subsidiaries of the Chinese arms conglomerate Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). AVIC had sold the Myanmar military K-8 light combat aircraft, 16 JF-17M combat aircraft, 40 short-range PL-5E missiles and 24 longer-range PL-12 missiles. The Future Fund divested from AVIC in November, a month after the…
Month: February 2022
For the Games, Xi Ordered Up a Snow Sports Fever. Will it Last?
Follow our latest coverage of the 2022 Winter Olympics. BEIJING — In the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, which has sweltering temperatures for much of the year, children are ditching their flip flops for skis and hitting the indoor slopes. Out west, high up on the Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai Province has become an unlikely center for curling, the traditional Scottish sport known as “ice kettle” in Chinese. Over in the northeastern province of Liaoning, a group of retired men gather every day in the winter to strap on helmets and…
Russia-Ukraine crisis a ‘dangerous moment for the world’, warns Truss
The UK foreign secretary, Liz Truss, has warned of a “dangerous moment for the world” as the “highly likely” prospect of a Russian invasion of Ukraine could embolden other countries such as Iran and China to expand their ambitions. Speaking on Sky News, Truss said “we could be on the brink of a war in Europe, which would have severe consequences not just for the people of Russian and Ukraine but for the broader security in Europe”, adding she was “very worried”. Her comments came as last-ditch efforts for a…
Eileen Gu Will Have to Fight for Gold in Strong Slopestyle Field
ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Eileen Gu, the 18-year-old from California who is representing China at the Beijing Games, will be looking for a second gold medal at the women’s freeski slopestyle final on Tuesday. It will not be easy. Gu’s biggest rival is Kelly Sildaru of Estonia, who finished first in qualifying rounds, and several other women have reasonable expectations to reach the podium. The slopestyle course — a series of rails and obstacles followed by three big ski jumps — has been difficult to complete. Marin Hamill of the United…
China’s snake-like robot designed to move or manipulate a large object in space, according to paper
An artist’s impression of the robotic snake, designed to work in orbit for a wide range of tasks such as cargo transport, assembly, repairs and inspection. Photo: Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences South China Morning Post
Covid ‘onslaught’ has overwhelmed Hong Kong’s capacity, leader says
Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, has said an “onslaught” of Covid-19 infections has dealt a heavy blow and overwhelmed capacity to deal with the virus as daily cases surge to record highs. Daily infections have multiplied by a factor of 13 over the past two weeks, from about 100 cases at the start of February to a record 2,071 on 14 February, with authorities scrambling to control the deepening outbreak. The figure is expected to more than double on Tuesday, with another 4,730 preliminary positive cases also announced. Lam said…
Kamila Valieva allowed to compete at Olympics
Kamila Valieva, who is favourite for the gold medal, was back on the ice training soon after the Cas ruling Hosts: Beijing, China Dates: 4-20 February Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button and online; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds; live text and highlights on BBC Sport website and mobile app Kamila Valieva can compete again at the Winter Olympics after sport’s highest court ruled “exceptional circumstances” meant the 15-year-old Russian figure skater should not be provisionally suspended for a failed drugs…
Canada overpowered Switzerland to reach the gold medal game in women’s hockey.
The scoreboard could have been worse for Switzerland, mostly because it had been worse in a previous meeting, less than two weeks ago. The only measure that matters, though, at this point in the Olympic women’s hockey tournament is a win or a loss. And on that front, Canada maintained its ferocious dominance to earn a spot in the gold medal game and extend an appearance streak that started in 1998, when women’s hockey became an Olympic sport. The outcome of Monday’s semifinal matchup between the Canadians and the Swiss…
Chinese fans claim censorship as gay storylines removed from Friends
Friends has been stripped of its lesbian storyline for the Chinese re-release of the sitcom, prompting censorship concerns. On Friday a number of entertainment platforms including Tencent – which made headlines earlier this month for carrying a version of Fight Club with a totally different ending – began airing the first season of Friends, which was originally broadcast in 1994. Fans who had seen the programme before were quick to notice the absence of several scenes, including those relating to the character Ross explaining that his ex-wife, Carol, is gay.…
Eileen Gu Takes on Slopestyle Qualifying After Snow Delay
China’s new favorite Olympic athlete, 18-year-old freestyle skier Eileen Gu, begins a quest for what she hopes will be her second gold medal, this time in slopestyle. Gu, who grew up in California but competes for China, is a favorite in the event, where competitors ski through a mountain course of rails and obstacles before navigating a series of three big jumps. Qualifiers for the event were originally scheduled for Sunday, but high winds and rare blizzard conditions pushed them to Monday. Finals are on Tuesday. Gu already has one…