Month: July 2023

Extreme Rain in Beijing After Typhoon Turns Roads Into Rivers, Kills Two 

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Beijing —  In Beijing’s western suburbs, cars were swept away on Monday as relentless rain since the weekend transformed roads into rivers, killing at least two and trapping hundreds, despite an overnight evacuation of tens of thousands from their homes. Hundreds of roads have become flooded in China’s capital, with videos posted by state media showing half-submerged vehicles in Mentougou district pulled along by fast-moving torrents as the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri dumped record rainfall on the city of nearly 22 million. A man stands by the overflooded Yongding river,…

China’s Foreign Minister Deposed: Guilt or Power Struggle?

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Advertisement There is an urban legend in China known colloquially as the “58-year old phenomenon.” It refers to a 58-year-old man, usually working in the public sector as a civil servant or official, on the cusp of official retirement at age 60, taking his final chance to reward himself financially through the auspices of his office. Any future schemes to do so are unlikely to bear fruit, as he will have lost all official power, and any past opportunities are gone. One must wonder if the temptations of that trap…

Myanmar junta announces fourth extension of emergency rule

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Myanmar’s military junta extended a state of emergency on Monday on the eve of a deadline, delaying elections it had vowed to hold by the end of the year, according to media reports. The National Defense and Security Council, Myanmar’s top decision-making body, ordered the extension at a meeting convened by the junta in the capital Naypyidaw, Bloomberg reported, citing junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun. The announcement marks four consecutive six-month extensions of emergency rule in Myanmar since the military seized power in a Feb. 1,…

Japan Trounces Spain 4-0 to Top Group C at Women’s World Cup  

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand —  Japan scored three times from lightning breaks in the first half, once in the second and defended resolutely to trounce Spain 4-0 on Monday and top Group C at the Women’s World Cup. Hinata Miyazawa scored twice, Riko Ueki scored once and both were instrumental in each other’s goals as Japan switched swiftly from defense to counter-attack and scored from its only three attempts on goal before halftime. Mina Tanaka came off the bench to score the last in the 82nd minute as Japan, with only…

At Least 2 Dead in Heavy Rains and Flooding in Beijing

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Fierce rain and flooding pummeled Beijing on Monday, killing at least two people as the downpour triggered landslides and swept away cars on the city’s outskirts after the authorities issued a red alert for what they warned was the heaviest deluge in years. The intense rain since the weekend prompted Beijing to close tourist attractions like the ancient Forbidden City. But the worst effects have been felt in the city’s outer districts, where downpours overwhelmed riverbeds that usually stay dry for much of the year. By Monday afternoon, the Beijing…

China Details Plans to Stimulate Consumer Spending

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Chinese drivers who trade in older cars for newer models will be eligible for subsidies, as will rural households that buy insulation and other home renovation materials to improve energy efficiency. Entrance fees at scenic sites will be cut to promote tourism. Those were a few of a long list of measures detailed on Monday by the Chinese government in an effort to stimulate consumer spending. Attempts by officials in Beijing to juice the economy have taken on greater urgency as it has become clear that the recovery is flagging.…

Detained Red Roulette billionaire Duan Weihong resurfaces in China

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Duan had not been seen in public in five years but on May 12, she visited a nursing home in Nanjing in the eastern province of Jiangsu, according to the home’s WeChat account. Duan Weihong built a fortune in property development, hotel management and investments. Photo: Weibo It was the 56-year-old’s first known public appearance on the mainland since 2018. Advertisement Duan also attended a seminar on rural regeneration from late June to early July in Pingnan county, in the southeastern coastal province of Fujian, according to an article by…

Explosion kills 1, injures 12 in Myanmar’s Kayin state

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An early morning explosion near a checkpoint in Myanmar’s eastern Kayin state killed a civilian and injured 12 people, the junta told RFA Monday. Saw Khin Maung Myint, the junta’s state spokesperson, said most of the injured were staffing the checkpoint in Hpa-An township. “The explosion happened at 6:48 this morning,” he said.  “Ten personnel providing security at the gate and three civilians were injured. A civilian died on the way to the hospital. I cannot say yet what kind of bomb it was.” The spokesperson said the injured were…

Chinese TED talk called off after police express concern about links to foreign organisation

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TEDxGuangzhou rejected the police characterisation. “We are a group of local volunteers who occasionally come together to plan some activities,” the statement said. “We are not an ‘organisation’, and there is no employment or remuneration relationship between us or with TED. Therefore, we do not fall under the jurisdiction of this law, which pertains to foreign NGOs registered overseas that wish to conduct business in China.” Advertisement However, the organisers said they were looking at the possibility of obtaining a temporary permit for fear of the legal consequences if they…