insert_link Business / Economics China’s population shrinks again and could more than halve – here’s what that means By Xiujian Peng, Victoria University China’s population has shrunk for the second year in a row. The National Bureau of Statistics reports just 9.02 million births in 2023 – only half as many as in 2017. Set alongside China’s 11.1 million deaths in 2023, up 500,000 on 2022, it means China’s population shrank 2.08 million in 2023 after falling 850,000 in 2022. That’s a loss of about 3 […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 17
insert_link World Israel now ranks among the world’s leading jailers of journalists. We don’t know why they’re behind bars By Peter Greste, Macquarie University Israel has emerged as one of the world’s leading jailers of journalists, according to a newly released census compiled by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Each year, the committee releases a snapshot of the number of journalists behind bars as of December 1 2023 was the second highest on record with 320 in detention around the world. In a small way, that […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 15
insert_link World 2023 prison census: Jailed journalist numbers near record high; Israel imprisonments spike An Israeli army vehicle drives outside the Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank in November 2023. Israel's imprisonment of 17 journalists in the West Bank since the October 7 start of the Israel-Gaza war has made it the 6th worst jailer of journalists, according to CPJ's prison census, which was taken December 1. China and Myanmar led the worst-jailers list. (Photo: AFP/Fadel Senna) By Arlene Getz/CPJ Editorial Director […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 3
insert_link Press Releases Israel among top jailers of journalists worldwide, as imprisonments globally continue unabated, CPJ finds Israeli army vehicles are pictured outside the Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank on November 29. (Photo: AFP/Fadel Senna) Amidst a months-long war, Israel emerged for the first time as one of the world’s leading jailers of journalists, with 17 recorded behind bars as of December 1, 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) annual prison census. This is the highest number of Palestinian journalists in detention […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 6
insert_link Namibia Namibia’s CPI comes in at 5.3% The Namibia Statistics Agency’s latest Consumer Price Index shows that Namibia’s annual inflation stood at 5.3 percent during December 2023. NSA Communication specialist, Mirja Shihepo helps make sense of things. Meanwhile, during the month of November 2023, Namibia’s trade balance stood at a deficit of N$4.0 billion an improvement when compared to N$4.5 billion when compared to N$2.8 billion recorded in October 2023. The country’s trade composition by partner […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 50
insert_link World Nauru Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Taiwan One of Taiwan's last diplomatic allies has cut ties with the island just days after its closely-watched presidential election. A senior Taiwanese official said Beijing offered the Pacific Island nation of Nauru $100 million a year for it to sever links. Patrick Fok reports. todayJanuary 16, 2024 23
insert_link World China’s condemned the United States and other foreign countries that congratulated William Lai China's condemned the United States and other foreign countries that congratulated William Lai for winning the Taiwan presidential election at the weekend. Beijing has never ruled the democratic island of 24 million people but says it is part of Communist China and refuses to rule out a military attack to unite it with the mainland. Here's Andrew Wood in Hong Kong. todayJanuary 15, 2024 1
insert_link World Four things to know as Taiwan goes to the polls Taiwan votes for a new president, and parliament, on Saturday in an election that will be closely watched around the world. The winner will lead the democracy of 23 million people as it manages bellicose threats from China, which claims the island as its own. Here are some key facts about self-ruled Taiwan, which has its own currency, flag, military and government but is not recognised as an independent state […] todayJanuary 12, 2024 5
insert_link World China’s Xi says wants closer EU ties in meeting with Belgium PM China is willing to strengthen relations with Europe, President Xi Jinping said on Friday, at a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Beijing. De Croo arrived in China on Thursday, attending the inauguration of the new Belgian embassy in Beijing and meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the same day. "China is willing to work with the European Union to promote steady progress in China-EU […] todayJanuary 12, 2024 17