China
- World News
China increasingly barring people from leaving the country amid claims of openness
China is increasingly preventing individuals, including foreign executives, from leaving the country, sending a conflicting message as authorities claim the nation is open for business following three years of stringent COVID-19 restrictions. According to a recent report by the rights group Safeguard Defenders, numerous Chinese and foreigners have been caught up in exit bans, while Reuters analysis indicates a significant…
- Business News
Starbucks profits boosted by China business recovery
Starbucks Corp exceeded Wall Street predictions yesterday for quarterly earnings, primarily due to a strong recovery in business within China. However, shares dropped approximately 6% in after-hours trading, as the company did not raise its 2023 guidance. Consumer mobility and spending in China have significantly improved since most of the country’s COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. Despite a 29% drop…
- Business News
Japanese automakers struggle in China amid rapid shift to electric vehicles
The sales crisis for Japan’s automakers in China continues, as industry data reveals a rapid shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), resulting in a steep decline in gasoline-powered vehicle purchases. In the first quarter, total sales of Japanese auto brands in China dropped by 32% year-on-year, more than twice the rate of overall market contraction. While automakers such as Volkswagen AG…
- China News
Chinese students witness steamy couple in classroom and share live updates online
Chinese university students witnessed a steamy couple in a university classroom, and shared live updates online. The scandalous incident caused an uproar on social media in China after photos and videos emerged of a young couple having sex in a university classroom, transforming the academic setting into an exhibitionist theatre. The steamy encounter drew the attention of hundreds of curious students…
- World News
From murder to mortician: China’s bold scheme to rehabilitate serious criminals
A special rehabilitation program in Shenyang, a city in northeastern China, is offering ex-prisoners a chance to become a mortician or funeral workers and reintegrate into society. The initiative, named Mama Waves You Off to Heaven, aims to address the challenges faced by ex-convicts who deal with discrimination, lack of reform programmes, and a resultant skills shortage that often pushes…
- World News
Man found alive after being buried in Guangxi province, China
In an unbelievable turn of events, a man in Guangxi province, China was found alive after being buried in his own grave, throwing the entire village into a frenzy. The man’s wife, who had rushed home from work to attend his funeral, was in shock when she believed she heard her husband’s voice from underground. With the help of her…
- World News
China and Russia sign maritime law enforcement agreement
China and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together in the field of maritime law enforcement. This collaboration follows a two-day meeting held in the Russian city of Murmansk, within the Arctic Circle and close to Finland’s border, a new NATO member. The agreement between China’s coastguard and Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) was signed on…
- World News
Xi Jinping, Zelensky discuss peace negotiations in historic phone call
Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in a telephone conversation with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday, with peace negotiations being a central discussion point. This initial communication between the leaders was followed by Russian claims that Ukraine sought to sabotage any endeavours to cease warfare. Beijing proclaims neutrality concerning the conflict in Ukraine. However, despite never denouncing Russia’s invasion, President Xi…
- Hot News
Thailand welcomes new controversial Chinese-built amphibious assault ship
Thailand yesterday welcomed a new Chinese-built amphibious assault ship to its naval fleet. The HTMS Chang, a Type 071E landing platform dock, arrived at its homeport in southern Thailand a week after its official handover at the Chinese shipyard. The ship, which left Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding’s facility in Shanghai on Tuesday, April 18, travelled through the Taiwan Strait before arriving at…
- World News
China reaffirms commitment to ex-Soviet sovereignty after controversial comments
China reaffirmed its respect for the sovereignty of all ex-Soviet countries yesterday, following controversial comments made by its ambassador to France. The statements, which questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet states, have triggered a backlash in Europe and cast doubt on Beijing’s attempts to position itself as an impartial mediator in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Ambassador Lu Shaye’s remarks prompted…
- World News
Ya Ya, the beloved panda, bids farewell to the US, heads home to China
After an incredible 20 years as an ambassador of friendship in the United States, Ya Ya the female giant panda will soon return to her homeland of China. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration has confirmed that she’ll be hopping on a plane bound for Shanghai in the next few days. Ya Ya, born on August 3, 2000, at the…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s fruit exports to China keep on peel-ing with a juicy growth
Thailand, already a dominant fruit exporter to China, witnessed a remarkable growth of 3.72% in 2022, generating more than 168 billion baht in revenue. The country’s thriving fruit industry found an avid market in China, which imported over 2.17 million tonnes of Thai fruit last year, according to a recent report from the Commerce Ministry. A diverse assortment of Thai…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s beloved giant panda at Chiang Mai Zoo dies at 21 years old
Famous female giant panda Lin Hui passed away at Chiang Mai Zoo in northern Thailand this morning at the age of 21 years old. The beloved panda brought joy to the Thai nation for over two decades. The panda’s cause of death is awaiting confirmation from Chiang Mai Zoo. Reports say that Lin Hui fell ill and displayed “abnormal symptoms”…
- World News
G7 ministers issue urgent warning of ‘severe costs’ for supporting Russia
In a recent meeting at Karuizawa, Japan, G7 foreign ministers warned of “severe costs” for those aiding Russia in its war with Ukraine. The discussions primarily focused on China, with a united front addressing its increasing military and economic power. Although the G7 did not announce any new sanctions against Moscow over its invasion, they promised to crack down on…
- World News
China’s economy reaches new highs after zero-Covid restrictions
Official data released today revealed that China’s economy grew by 4.5% year-on-year in the first quarter, recovering after the conclusion of zero-Covid restrictions in late 2021. This is the first indication since 2019 of the world’s second-largest economy making progress without the strict health measures that effectively controlled the coronavirus but heavily impacted businesses and supply chains. Retail figures, which…
- Crime News
Chinese man kidnapped and stuffed in a box for ransom in Thailand
A wealthy Chinese man was kidnapped from his condo in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday. He was stuffed into a plastic box and transported to Hua Hin for the night and held for a ransom of nearly 4 million baht by a gang of Thai kidnappers, including his ex-girlfriend who is a beauty pageant contestant. It turns out the victim is wanted…
- Pattaya News
Police bust Chinese loan shark gang at luxury house in Pattaya
Police busted a gang of Chinese loan sharks yesterday who set up an illegal call centre from a luxury rented house in Pattaya, eastern Thailand, to chase debt from informal loans handed out to customers in China. At 7pm, Chon Buri provincial police raided a two-storey luxury house in Moo 10, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, after an investigation…
- World News
Exiled Chinese Christians arrive safely in US from Thailand
A group of exiled Chinese Christians, who feared persecution if they were sent back to China, arrived safely in the United States. The group had been detained for overstaying their visas in Thailand, where they had been trying to arrange formal passage to the US. The group arrested included 63 members of China’s Mayflower Church. The group believed that Chinese…
- Covid-19 News
China finally reveals results of Wuhan wet market Covid-19 investigation
China finally answered calls to reveal and publish an analysis of samples taken from animals at a wet market in Wuhan linked to the outbreak of Covid-19 and guess what? Definitive proof of how the outbreak started still remains inconclusive. The Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market in Wuhan, China has been a key focus in the search for the origin of Covid…
- World News
Thailand chips away at US trade deficit with 62% increase in chip market exports
The United States has been experiencing a growing deficit in its chipmaking trade with Asia, but the good news is that Thailand is helping to chip away at that gap. According to US Census data, US imports of chips grew 17% from last year to US$4.86 billion in February, with Asia accounting for 83% of that total. Over the past…
- Crime News
Three men who killed Chinese student in Thailand arrested in Wuhan
UPDATE Police in Wuhan, China, yesterday arrested the three men suspected of murdering a Chinese university student and dumping her body in a ditch in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on Thursday. Deputy national police chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn has sent Thai immigration officers to Wuhan to assist in the Chinese police’s investigation. The young Chinese men are believed to have kidnapped…
- Crime News
Kidnappers flee Thailand after killing Chinese student
Police believe that the three Chinese men suspected of kidnapping and killing a female Chinese university student, whose body was discovered in Nonthaburi province on Saturday, have already fled Thailand on a flight to Chengdu, China, reports CH7. On Saturday, a resident of Moo 6 in Bang Yai district discovered the body of 22 year old Jin Can, a third-year music…
- World News
Thailand’s neutrality ensures exclusion from US Summit for Democracy
It appears Thailand’s nonpartisan stance toward China and Russia ensured their exclusion from the United States’ Summit for Democracy meeting yesterday. Thailand pledged to remain neutral in regard to the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year and also refused to get drawn into the US’ latest warmongering plans against China ensuring the kingdom’s absence. Just like in 2021, only the Philippines, Malaysia,…
- Thailand News
Chinese man crushed to death by hydraulic press at factory in Thailand
A Chinese man died yesterday when his head was crushed by a rubber moulding hydraulic press machine he was repairing at a tire factory in Rayong province in eastern Thailand. At 7.56pm, a 35 year old Chinese mechanic was repairing the machine when something went wrong and the press came down and crushed his head. The mechanic was rushed to Pluak…
- Thailand News
Chinese netizens critisised Thai tourism for being expensive and dangerous
Chinese netizens criticised Thai tourism for being expensive and dangerous. A Chinese male influencer who claims to be a psychiatrist added Thailand also traps Chinese women in prostitution and is a nation of organ trafficking. Thai tourism was a hot topic on Chinese social media last week. It began when a Chinese media agency published an article on March 13,…
- Crime News
Beagles sniff out smuggled Chinese duck at Bangkok Airport
Thailand‘s sharp-nosed sniffer beagles strike again, this time detecting 7 kilogrammes of illegally imported raw duck at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport that arrived on a flight from China. Sniffer dogs from the Department of Livestock’s Quarantine and Inspection Canine Unit were on duty at the airport looking for any illegal movement of live wildlife and animal carcasses when they uncovered the…
- Thailand News
Homeless man arrested in China to reunite his family in Thailand
A homeless man arrested in China four years ago is believed to be a Thai citizen. A family in Lamphun province in the northern part of Thailand believe he is their long-lost brother who went missing 29 years ago. Chinese immigration police detained the man, who was later identified as 45 year old Prakob Chuasaeng, in 2019 in Tianshui City, Gansu…
- Thailand News
Ricegate: China’s fake jasmine rice scandal rocks Thai Exporters Association
The Thai Rice Exporter Association recently raised concerns and demanded solutions after a rice mill in China was found to be producing fake jasmine rice and using a Thai brand name to deceive customers. The President of the Thai Rice Exporter Association, Chukiat Opassawong, revealed in an interview with KhaoSod that the rice mill in China had been producing fake…
- Thailand News
Koh Samui welcomes inaugural flight from Chengdu, China
On Sunday, Koh Samui Airport in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, welcomed a flight from Chengdu in China for the first time in over three years. Chengdu Airlines flight EU2807 landed in Koh Samui at 5.40pm with 130 Chinese tourists on board. Samui Airport held a special welcome ceremony for the inaugural flight by using fire engines to spray water…
- Covid-19 News
WHO makes Covid-19 pandemic plea
The World Health Organisation (WHO) made a plea to those who know about the origins of the pandemic to come clean so they can conclude their report after the debate turned into a geopolitical football that continues to be kicked around. The WHO made the plea on the back of new accusations by FBI Director Christopher Wray who stated that…
