By BBC DOMINO’S Pizza has dropped a promotion offering free pizza to women named Karen after it was met with a backlash. In recent years, the name “Karen” has been used as an insult to describe white middle-aged women who are perceived to be obnoxious or racist. The pizza franchise’s New Zealand arm initially said
World news
Singapore spy case reawakens fears of China’s moves
By Reuters, published by Today Online Singapore: The case of a Singaporean caught spying for China in the United States has reawakened fears over China recruiting intelligence assets on an island state which has won trust among Western governments while keeping on good terms with Beijing. Jun Wei Yeo, a 39-year-old academic who also goes
Read moreMars is the latest arena in the US-China rivalry
By CNN Business Hong Kong (CNN Business)Two years after humans last landed a probe on Mars, both the United States and China are launching missions to the red planet this month and setting up a new arena for their growing rivalry. China’s Tianwen-1 blasted off around midday today (July 23) from Hainan Island in the
Read moreUS orders China to close consulate in Houston — China vows retaliation
By agencies, published by Channel NewsAsia Copenhagen: The US State Department said today (July 22) that the closing of China’s consulate in Houston was to protect Americans’ intellectual property and private information, a move that has further strained the already tense relations between the world powers. Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said that under the Vienna Convention,
Read moreRouhani says 25 million Iranians may have been infected with coronavirus
By Reuters, published by US News Dubai (Reuters) – President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that some 25 million Iranians may have been infected with coronavirus, as Iran reimposed restrictions in the capital and elsewhere. The figure, from a report Rouhani cited in a televised speech, was far higher than Saturday’s official figure for infections
Read moreAustralian woman freed from jail for Bali police killing
By ABC News AUSTRALIAN woman Sara Connor has been released from a Bali prison after serving four years over the brutal death of a police officer. Ms Connor is being taken to the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, located in Jimbaran, Bali. The 49-year-old from Byron Bay maintained her innocence after Sudarsa’s body was found on
Read moreChina sanctions US lawmakers over Xinjiang
By Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, published by Msn.com CHINA today (July 13) announced retaliatory sanctions against US officials and entities, including Republican Senator Marco Rubio, after Washington sanctioned senior Chinese officials who it claimed are responsible for mass detentions, religious persecution and forced sterilization against Muslim Uighur minorities in China’s Xinjiang province. Chinese foreign ministry
Read moreIndian troops told to delete Facebook, Instagram and 87 other apps by July 15
By The Hindu THE 1.3 million Indian Army has directed all personnel to remove 89 apps, including Facebook and Instagram, from their mobile phones by July 15, 2020. The order was issued to prevent leakage of sensitive information and also due to security considerations, an Army source said on Thursday. The apps also include the
Read moreChinese cyberattacks on US ‘one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history’
By Amanda Macias, CNBC Washington — In blistering remarks on Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray slammed the Chinese government for its use of espionage and cyberattacks against the United States which has amounted to what he called “one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history.” “The stakes could not be higher, and the
Read moreChina ‘pulling back troops’ after deadly border clash: India
By Al Jazeera and New Agencies CHINA has begun pulling back troops from along its contested border with India, Indian government sources have said, following the worst clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in nearly 50 years, which left 20 Indian soldiers dead. The Chinese military was seen dismantling tents and structures on Monday at
Read moreAmerica loves India: Trump’s reply to Modi’s I-Day greeting
By PTI and published by Deccan Chronicle Washington: US President Donald Trump has said that America loves India as he thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for greeting him on the occasion of the 244th Independence Day of the United States. Indian Prime Minister Modi on Saturday congratulated President Trump and the people of the
Read more‘Hidden language’: Hongkongers get creative against security law
By The Guardian HONGKONGERS are finding creative ways to voice dissent after Beijing blanketed the city in a new security law and police began arresting people displaying now forbidden political slogans, The Guardian reported today (June 4, 2020) Faced with the sudden threat of prosecution for anything that might promote greater autonomy or independence for
Read more‘Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times’ slogan is illegal: govt
By Reuters, published by Channel NewsAsia Hong Kong: The popular protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” connotes separatism or subversion, the city’s government said today (July 3), pointing to crimes that are covered under the new national security law imposed by Beijing. The rallying cry appears on placards at rallies, is printed
Read moreHK police arrest suspect at airport as UK offers path to citizenship
By China Daily Hong Kong, CNBC and CNN Hong Kong – Hong Kong police arrested a 24-year-old man at the city’s airport in the early hours of today (July 2) on suspicion of attacking and wounding an officer during anti-government protests on Wednesday. Police posted pictures on Twitter on Wednesday of an officer with a
Read more30 arrested as thousands protest against new security law in HK
By Claire Huang, Straits Times Hong Kong – Hong Kong police arrested at least two people under a new national security law today (July 1), shortly after the legislation took effect, as thousands gathered in mass protests on the anniversary of the city’s handover to China. Police fired a water cannon to disperse activists gathered
Read moreHong Kong activists to defy police ban on July 1 march
By South China Morning Post VETERAN opposition activists, including Democratic Party leader Wu Chi-wai, have announced plans to defy a police ban and organise a July 1 march to protest against the new national security law, which is expected to take effect that same day. The Tuesday announcement came just hours after Beijing’s top legislative
Read moreThailand on EU’s ‘safe countries’ list, but decision delayed
By EURACTIV.com with AFP ALTHOUGH Thailand is on the EU’s list of “safe countries” from where travellers could visit Europe in July, the member states still cannot agree on this list and require more time to decide, EUROACTIV.com and AFP reported today (June 29, 2020). After days of talks, EU envoys on Friday agreed to
Read moreCan you see me as I am, an Indian Chinese?
By Liu Chuen Chen, Indian Express I WAS grabbing my mask to rush to the nearby grocery store when the cellphone rang. It was my mother. I thought she would be (once again) fussing over my ‘outing’ amid the pandemic but she spoke in an extremely serious tone: “I hope you know what is happening
Read moreTo beat the heat, Vietnam rice farmers resort to planting at night
By Minh Nguyen for Reuters, published by US News Hanoi (Reuters) – Under a pitch-black night sky, a group of Vietnamese farmers planted rice this week in a paddy field on the outskirts of the capital Hanoi using head lamps to illuminate the water-logged ground in front of them. The farmers of the Tam Thanh
Read moreNo name, no pint: new rules for England’s pubs after lockdown
By Reuters, published by The New York Times London — Drinkers in England’s pubs will have to give their name before they order a pint, and there will be no live acts or standing at the bar, the government said in advice for re-opening the sector next month. Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will have to
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