insert_link World Boeing Delivers First Max Jet to China Since 2019 Fatal Disasters Boeing has handed over a 737 Max aircraft to a Chinese airline for the first time since March 2019, ending a ban on new deliveries of the bestseller following two fatal disasters. Patrick Fok has more. today25 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Blinken sees growing partner in Angola on Africa democracy tour US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday will explore greater coordination with emerging regional partner Angola, capping a tour of Africa to champion US-friendly democracies as global crises mount. After years of estrangement with Washington during the Cold War, Angola has seen growing common ground with the United States including by working together to address violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Blinken arrived late Wednesday in the oil-rich […] today25 January, 2024
insert_link World US support for Taiwan ‘firm’ lawmakers tell president-elect Lai Two US lawmakers met with Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching-te on Thursday to reaffirm Washington's support for the self-ruled island, which China claims as part of its territory. Despite warnings from Beijing that Lai would bring "war and decline" to Taiwan, he won the January 13 poll, securing a third term for the Democratic Progressive Party -- which rejects China's claim to the island. Democrat Ami Bera of California and Florida […] today25 January, 2024
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 […] today19 January, 2024
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 […] today19 January, 2024
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 […] today19 January, 2024
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 […] today19 January, 2024
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 […] today18 January, 2024
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. today16 January, 2024