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☆ The upcoming Bitcoin halving is different from others before it. Here’s what investors need to know.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Bitcoin (BTC), entering its fourth halving period next week. After the 2012, 2016 and 2020 halvings, the bitcoin price ran up about 93x, 30x and 8x, respectively, from its halving day price to its cycle top. The halving occurs when incentives for bitcoin miners are cut by half, as mandated by the code of the Bitcoin blockchain. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwardsThat $30 million assumes a bitcoin price of about $70,000. Diminishing returns from halving to halving Bitcoin has always shot to the moon in the months following its halving – that's what makes it such a celebrated day among enthusiasts.

Persons: Yu Chun Christopher Wong, bitcoin, Antoni Trenchev, it's, Steven Lubka, Swan Bitcoin, Trenchev, Swan's Lubka, Lubka Organizations: S3studio, Wall, Swan, Miners

☆ Opinion: What we may never understand about O.J. Simpson
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Gene | Opinion Gene Seymour | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Simpson competes during a track event at the University of Southern California in 1967. Focus On Sport via Getty Images Simpson gets ice applied to his bandaged right foot from his wife Marguerite in 1967. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Simpson poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy after receiving the award in 1968. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Simpson is brought down by another football player during the Hula Bowl in 1969. ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Simpson acts in a scene from the 1978 film "Capricorn One."

Persons: Gene Seymour, Orenthal James Simpson, Gene Seymour Jeremy Freeman, we’ve, We’ll, Simpson, Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell, “ I’m, acclimate, Simpson’s, Nicole Brown Simpson, Ronald Goldman, O.J, Bundy, Vince Bucci, Malcolm W, Emmons, Walter Iooss Jr, Marguerite, Arnelle, Tony Tomsic, Jason, Michael Ochs, Lola Falana, Richard Burton, Everett, George Gojkovich, Bruce Bennett, Jim Ringo, LeVar Burton, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Joe Namath, Frank Gifford, Mickey Pfleger, Nicole, Adam, PhotoQuest, Vinnie Zuffante, Leslie Nielsen, George Kennedy, Al Cowlings, Ford Bronco, Simpson's, Ronald Lyle Goldman, Allen J, Simpon, Cowling, Ron Galella, Chris O'Meara, Robert Kardashian, Alvin Michelson, Kardashian, Barbara Alper, Johnnie Cochran , Jr, Myung J, Chun, Reuters Simpson, Wilfredo Lee, Colin Braley, Christy Prody, Frazer Harrison, Jason Bean, Brooke Keast, AP Simpson, Jeffrey T, Barnes, Brown, O.J . Simpson, Mark Fuhrman Organizations: The New York Times, Newsday, Entertainment, The Washington, CNN, University of Southern, LA Coliseum, Fame, Getty, Sporting, USC, Bettmann, UCLA, Buffalo Bills, USA, Michael Ochs Archives, New York Jets, NFL, ABC, Disney, Warner Bros, San Francisco 49ers, AP, United, Paramount, Everett, Ford, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Police, New York Daily News, Los Angeles Daily, AP Simpson, Reuters, Lovelock Correctional, Nevada Department of Corrections, Goldman, Los Angeles Police Department Locations: University of Southern California, San Francisco, O.J, Los Angeles, Simpson, AFP, Hollywood, California, Cowlings, Simpson's Brentwood , California, Tampa , Florida, Los, Surrey, England, Miami, Dade County, Lovelock , Nevada, Las Vegas, Lovelock, Nevada

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said conspiracy charges against KuCoin and two executives should warn other crypto exchanges that they cannot serve U.S. customers without following U.S. laws. An indictment in Manhattan federal court said the company and its founders tried to conceal the existence of its U.S. customer base. KuCoin was also required to cease New York operations after falsely representing itself as a crypto exchange without registering as a securities and commodities broker-dealer, James said. “KuCoin grew to service over 30 million customers, despite its alleged failure to follow laws necessary to ensuring the security and stability of our world’s digital banking infrastructure,” McCormack said. Three companies doing business as KuCoin were incorporated in the Cayman Islands, the Republic of Seychelles and Singapore.

Persons: Damian Williams, KuCoin, Letitia James, James, Williams, “, ”, Darren McCormack, “ KuCoin, ” McCormack, Johnny, Chun Gan, Ke Tang Organizations: New York, Homeland Security Investigations Locations: U.S, Manhattan, York, New York, China, Cayman Islands, Republic of Seychelles, Singapore

☆ Every celebrity was having a blast during Ryan Gosling's performance of 'I'm Just Ken' at the 2024 Oscars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ryan Gosling gave a rousing performance of "I'm Just Ken" from "Barbie" at the Oscars. Gosling got Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, and Emma Stone to sing along. AdvertisementRyan Gosling definitely brought the Kenergy during a performance of "I'm Just Ken," a fan-favorite from the movie "Barbie," at the 2024 Oscars on Sunday. Ryan Gosling performs "I'm Just Ken" at the 2024 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/sjEtymPMIa — The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 11, 2024A-listers in the audience were also very into Gosling's performance, judging by their dance moves. The crowd went wild during "I'm Just Ken" at the 2024 Oscars.

Persons: Ryan Gosling, I'm, Ken, Gosling, Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Emma Stone, —, Mark Ronson, Slash, costars Margot Robbie, ‘ I’m, Ken ’, Stone, Oscar, Myung J, Chun, Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell, Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer Organizations: Service, Hollywood, America, Los Angeles Times, Getty

☆ ‘My dress is broken’: Emma Stone deals with wardrobe malfunction while accepting her Best Actress Oscar
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An awards ceremony curveball indeed: Emma Stone, winner of the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in “Poor Things,” dealt with a sartorial snafu just moments before she took the stage to accept her trophy. “My dress is broken,” Stone appeared to mouth while en route to receive her Academy Award. “I think it happened during ‘I’m Just Ken,’” she explained, referencing Ryan Gosling’s performance of his song from the “Barbie” movie — and, presumably, some dance moves she’d indulged in (because who wouldn’t boogie down with Gosling should the opportunity present itself?). And perhaps most infamously, Jennifer Lawrence, who was on stage with Stone tonight (as one of the former Best Actress winners who introduced this year’s nominees), took a tumble when accepting her Oscar for Best Actress in 2013 due to the hemline on her cascading Dior Haute Couture gown. Lawrence, along with the other former winners, helped usher Stone off-stage.

Persons: Emma Stone, Oscar, ”, ” Stone, Louis Vuitton, ‘ I’m, Ken, ’ ”, Ryan Gosling’s, Barbie, she’d, Gosling, Stone, Myung J, Chun, Ryan, Petra Flannery, Gosling —, “ I’m, Ken ”, Lily Gladstone, ” Annette Bening, ” Carey Mulligan, “ Maestro ”, Sandra Hüller, Charlize Theron, Vera Wang, Jimmy Kimmel, Jenny Slate, Thom Browne, Jennifer Lawrence, Lawrence Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Times, Dolby Theatre, Harper’s Locations: “, “ La La

☆ Taiwan wants to hire Indian workers. What’s skin color or religion got to do with it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Diksha Madhok | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New Delhi/Hong Kong CNN —Taiwan has swung into damage control mode after its labor minister made controversial comments about the skin color, religion and diets of some Indians ahead of a potential drive to recruit migrant workers to the island. In a separate apology, Taiwan’s labor ministry said Hsu implied “absolutely no discriminatory connotation when she mentioned ‘similar skin color’ in the interview. CNN has reached out to India’s Ministry of External Affairs for comments. In February, Taiwan said it will hire migrant workers from India to ease its labor shortage, but did not share any other details. Taipei currently allows migrant workers from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines to work in the island, according to the labor ministry.

Persons: Hsu Ming, chun, ”, ” Hsu, Hsu, Hsu’s, Taiwan’s Foxconn, ” Young Liu, ” Liu, Padma Bhushan Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Taiwan, Yahoo, Labor, CNN, India’s Ministry, Affairs, Padma, Bloomberg Locations: New Delhi, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India’s, India, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Covid, “ India, Japan, South Korea, Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines

☆ Why Panera is causing a stir in California politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

And Panera Bread has been caught in the middle. Newsom has also said that Panera may not be exempt from the new minimum wage law after all. Nevertheless, on Thursday, Republican lawmakers in California called on the state’s attorney general to investigate the minimum wage exemption. Flynn’s company operates more than just Panera Bread locations. Stack also said that Newsom’s legal team determined that the carve-out would likely not apply to most Panera Bread locations.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Greg Flynn, Newsom’s, Newsom, Flynn, Panera, ”, Brian Jones, owner’s Newsom, Myung J, Chun, “, ” Flynn, Taco, –, Alex Stack, Stack Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Democratic California Gov, Republican, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Flynn Group, Taco Bell Locations: California, Los Angeles , CA

☆ Scientists unveil 240-million-year-old ‘dragon’ fossil
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Newly-discovered fossils have allowed scientists to reveal a 240-million-year-old “dragon” in its entirety for the first ever time, National Museums Scotland (NMS) said in a statement on Friday. An artist's rendition of the ancient marine creature. Marlene DonellyNow, newer fossils indicate that the creature had 32 vertebrae, creating an extremely long neck that likely helped it to catch fish, though scientists are still unsure of its precise function. “I’m still baffled by the function of the long neck,” Fraser said. They added that the Dinocephalosaurus’ long neck resembled another ancient, and equally baffling, marine reptile Tanystropheus hydroides.

Persons: Dr Nick Fraser, “, Li Chun, Fraser, Chun, Marlene Donelly, “ I’m, ” Fraser, ” Organizations: CNN, National Museums Scotland, National Sciences, Environmental, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Vertebrate Locations: China, NMS, Scotland, Germany, USA, Palaeoanthropology, Beijing, Guizhou Province

☆ Alibaba bets on overseas e-commerce unit amid sluggish growth in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Costfoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesChinese tech giant Alibaba Group is betting on its overseas businesses while domestic consumption growth remains sluggish. James Dong, CEO of Southeast Asian e-commerce giant Lazada Group, was named as Daraz's acting CEO. Dong took over as Lazada Group CEO from Chun Li in June 2022, after running the company's Thailand and Vietnam operations. Intense competitionThe e-commerce business that once propelled Alibaba to success has run into challenges with upstart competitors such as PDD, while consumption growth in China remains sluggish. Alibaba posted 9% year-on-year revenue growth in the third quarter to about $31 billion.

Persons: Eddie Wu, Yinglan Tan, AliExpress, Bjarke Mikkelsen, Jan, James Dong, Lazada, Tan, Alibaba, Zhang, Dong, Chun Li, Li, Pierre, Lucy Peng, PDD Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, Digital Commerce, Tmall, Tmall Group, Alibaba, Ventures, Lazada, CNBC, Ventures Partners, Alibaba Group, PDD Holdings, Hong Kong, HK Locations: Huangpu District, Shanghai, Taobao, monetization, Alibaba, Pakistan, Asia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong

Shuen Chun-wa, 81, and her husband hurried toward a green bus with two dozen other Hong Kong residents, dragging empty suitcases. They had purple tour stickers on their jackets and were headed to shop in Shenzhen, a bustling Chinese city that sits on the northern side of the border with Hong Kong. She paid $9,000 in Shenzhen for a procedure that would have cost $25,000 in Hong Kong. So I went to Shenzhen.”Since China opened its borders in January 2023 after several years of pandemic isolation, Hong Kong residents have made Shenzhen a weekend destination to shop, dine and, yes, even visit the dentist. Hong Kong remains one of the most unaffordable cities in the world, and its battered economy and plunging stock market have made everyone more money conscious.

Persons: Shuen Chun, Shuen’s, ”, Hong Kongers Locations: Hong Kong, Shenzhen, ”, China

☆ South Korea jails former hero pastor for sexually abusing North Korean teenage defectors
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A South Korean pastor once hailed as a hero for helping North Korean defectors escape to safety has been jailed for sexually abusing minors. Refugees fleeing North Korea often make the perilous journey across the border into China, before attempting to reach South Korea. China, a close ally of Pyongyang, doesn’t consider North Korean defectors refugees, instead seeing them as illegal economic migrants. Under a border agreement with North Korea, it forcibly deports them. Once returned to North Korea, defectors face possible torture, sexual violence, hard labor, imprisonment in political or re-education camps, or even execution by the state, according to activists.

Persons: Chun Ki, Chun, ”, “, Durihana Organizations: South Korea CNN, North, Seoul Central, Court, ” CNN, Children, doesn’t, Underground Railroad, Korea Future Initiative, CNN Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korean, North Korea, China, Pyongyang, China’s, London, Durihana

☆ Speed dating is making a comeback
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Speed dating, singles mixers and other group dating parties have made a comeback since the Covid-19 pandemic ended as singles look to get off their screens and meet potential partners in person. Game-based dating events grew 163% in 2023 and athletic dating events like pickleball and spin classes saw a 135% rise on the platform. And it’s never been replicated.”Mixed feelings about dating appsOnline dating was stigmatized for years, but it’s now a primary form of dating. Still, online dating users are divided over whether their experiences on dating apps have been positive. Fifty-three percent of people say their personal experiences have been very or somewhat positive on dating apps, according to Pew.

Persons: Mike Blake, ”, Maria Avgitidis, Z, ” Avgitidis, “, ” Linda de Lucca, ” de Lucca, “ We’ve, it’s, Bumble, Yu Chun Christopher Wong, Justin McLeod, Rachel DeAlto Organizations: New, New York CNN, Valentine’s, Reuters, Baby Boomers, Pew, Financial, Match Group Locations: New York, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, United States, California, Millennials

KINGFISHER, Okla. (AP) — A man was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing four workers at an Oklahoma marijuana farm in 2022. As part of a plea agreement, Wu was sentenced to life in prison without parole for each of the murder counts and given a 20-year prison term for the assault charge. Wu, 47, was arrested in Florida two days after the shooting and was later extradited to Oklahoma. Killed in the attack were Quirong Lin, Chen He Chun, Chen He Qiang and Fang Hui Lee, court documents show. “This case should serve as a reminder of the dangers surrounding illegal marijuana activity in Oklahoma,” said Kingfisher County District Attorney Tommy Humphries, according to The Oklahoman.

Persons: Chen Wu, Wu, Wu Chen, Quirong Lin, Chen, Chun, Qiang, Fang Hui Lee, Yi Fei Lin, ”, Tommy Humphries Organizations: Prosecutors, Oklahoma City, Authorities Locations: Oklahoma, Hennessey, Florida, Kingfisher

☆ What is Lunar New Year? A 2024 guide to the Year of the Dragon
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Whether you’re unfamiliar with Lunar New Year or need a refresher, this guide will highlight some of the most common traditions associated with the occasion. Tourists visit a Lunar New Year Lantern Festival in Shanghai on January 21, 2024. Though incredibly complex, the Chinese zodiac calendar is best described as a 12-year cycle represented by 12 different animals, in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Festive cakes and puddings are made on the 24th day of the last lunar month (February 3 in 2024). Day 3: Visit a templeDay three of the Lunar New Year (which falls on February 12 in 2024) is named “chi kou/cek hau,” or red mouth.

Persons: Sui, ”, Nian, gao ”, You’ll, It’s, warding, kou, cek hau, it’s, Yuan Xiao Jie, Yuan, Xiao Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Lantern, fai chun, Visitors Locations: Hong Kong, Shanghai, China, Asia, Malaysia

☆ Hong Kong Court Convicts Four for Rioting After 2019 Legislature Storming
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Hundreds of protesters stormed Hong Kong's Legislative Council building on July 1, 2019, after a protest march against a proposed extradition bill that would have allowed authorities to send individuals to mainland China for trial. District Court Judge Li Chi-ho found four people including Ho Chun-yin, actor Gregory Wong, Ng Chi-yung and Lam Kam-kwan guilty of rioting. During the trial, Gregory Wong told the court he entered the legislative council solely to deliver two chargers to reporters who were covering the break-in by protesters. Three Hong Kong police officers met him in Shenzhen and said he had to cooperate or else he would not be able to return to Hong Kong. Hong Kong's district court sets a maximum of seven years in prison for rioting.

Persons: Jessie Pang, Edward Cho HONG, Li Chi, Ho Chun, Gregory Wong, Ng Chi, Lam Kam, kwan, Lam, Wong Ka, Ma Kai, Wong, Althea Suen, Ventus Lau, Owen Chow, Edward Cho, Farah Master, Lincoln Organizations: Reuters, Hong, Legislative, Hong Kong, Hong Kong . Police, University of Hong Locations: Edward Cho HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Legco, Shenzhen, Hong Kong's

☆ Singapore transport minister S Iswaran charged with corruption
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

S. Iswaran, Singapore's minister for transport, speaks to members of the media during a tour of Changi Airport in Singapore, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Starting April 1, Singapore will scrap its so-called vaccinated travel lanes and admit all vaccinated travelers who test negative before entering Singapore by air or sea and they will be exempted from quarantine or testing on arrival. Photographer: Ore Huiying/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesSingapore's transport minister S Iswaran has been handed 27 charges following a months long probe by the country's anti graft agency, local media have reported. The minister had 24 charges of obtaining gratification as a public servant, two charges of corruption and one charge of obstructing the course of justice. On Jan. 9, Singapore's education minister Chan Chun Sing said in a parliamentary reply that a probe by Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had been completed and the case was being reviewed by the country's Attorney-General's Chambers.

Persons: Iswaran, Chan Chun Sing, General's Chambers Organizations: Changi Airport, Bloomberg, Getty, Singapore's, country's Locations: Singapore

☆ Priscilla Presley supported her granddaughter Riley Keough at the Emmys months after their legal dispute over Lisa Marie's estate
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewMonths after their legal dispute about the future of the late Lisa Marie Presley's estate, Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley walked the red carpet together at the 2024 Emmy Awards on Monday. They had one daughter together, Lisa Marie, who died in 2023. Keough is Lisa Marie's daughter. AdvertisementAs Business Insider's Eve Crosbie reported, Lisa Marie inherited her father's whole estate on her 25th birthday in 1993. Lisa Marie named her oldest children Benjamin, who died by suicide in 2020 at the age of 27, and Keough as the new co-trustees.

Persons: —, Lisa Marie Presley's, Riley Keough, Priscilla Presley, Keough, Daisy Jones, Presley, Ali Wong, Elvis, Lisa Marie, Lisa Marie's, Myung J, Chun, Getty Images Keough, Eve Crosbie, she'd, Barry Siegel, Benjamin, they're Organizations: Service, Business, Los Angeles Times, Getty Images Locations: Graceland

☆ Taiwan Says It Will Sever Diplomatic Relations With Nauru
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Joyu Wang | Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Voters in Taiwan chose the current vice president, Lai Ching-te, center, as president-elect. Photo: Annabelle Chih/Getty ImagesTaiwan will end formal relations with the Pacific island nation of Nauru as a result of Chinese efforts to poach Taipei’s diplomatic partners, a senior Taiwanese government official said Monday. The move comes days after Taiwan’s ruling party won a closely fought presidential election, putting current Vice President Lai Ching-te—whom Beijing condemns as a separatist—in position to become the leader of the democratically self-ruled island in May.

Persons: Lai Ching, Annabelle Chih, poach Locations: Taiwan, Pacific, Nauru, Beijing

Newly elected Lai Ching-te and his vice presidential running mate, Hsiao Bi-khim, in Taipei on Saturday. Photo: Daniel Ceng/ShutterstockTaiwan’s election of the presidential candidate China most distrusts puts at risk a fragile detente between Washington and Beijing, threatening another flare-up between the world’s biggest economic and military powers. Voters on Saturday gave the Democratic Progressive Party four more years in power, this time by choosing as president-elect the current vice president, Lai Ching-te , whom China condemns as an inveterate agitator for Taiwan’s independence—an outcome that Beijing has vowed to prevent, by force if necessary.

Persons: Lai Ching, Hsiao, Daniel Ceng, Shutterstock Organizations: Saturday, Democratic Progressive Party Locations: Taipei, China, Washington, Beijing

☆ Taiwan Voters Snub Beijing for a Third Time, Leaving China With Few Good Options
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TAIPEI—For eight years, China has raged against Taiwan’s ruling party, accusing it of pursuing a separatist agenda that must be confronted with economic muscle and shows of military might. On Saturday, Taiwanese voters handed the Democratic Progressive Party another ringing victory, all but ensuring that those tensions will persist—or even intensify—over the next four years, and cementing the island’s status as a flashpoint between Washington and Beijing.

Persons: Taiwan’s Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party Locations: TAIPEI, China, Washington, Beijing

Children and their parents wait at an outpatient area at a hospital in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Jade Gao/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesChina provided the World Health Organization with data on a pneumonia outbreak among children in the country after the agency made an unusual public request for the information—a gesture that renewed questions about Beijing’s transparency on public health. In a statement issued Wednesday, the WHO cited reports about “clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China,” which prompted the United Nations agency to ask Beijing for “additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results” related to the infections.

Persons: Jade Gao Organizations: Agence France, Getty, World Health Organization, United Nations, Beijing Locations: Beijing, China

Children and their parents wait at an outpatient area at a hospital in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: jade gao/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesThe World Health Organization said it has asked China to provide more information on an outbreak of pneumonia among children in northern parts of the country, an unusual public disclosure that revives questions about Beijing’s transparency on the spread of infectious diseases. In a statement issued Wednesday, the WHO cited reports about “clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China,” which prompted the United Nations agency to ask Beijing for “additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results” related to the infections.

Organizations: Agence France, Health Organization, United Nations, Beijing Locations: Beijing, China

☆ China Steps Up Support for Palestinian Cause in Challenge to U.S. Mideast Policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Israel intensified its offensive in northern Gaza ahead of a potential deal with Hamas that would see the Palestinian militant group release dozens of hostages in return for a partial pause in fighting. Photo: Stringer/ReutersChinese leader Xi Jinping is seizing on the conflict in Gaza to portray his country as a force for stability in the Muslim world, in contrast with what Beijing casts as American meddling in the Middle East. In recent weeks, China has ramped up its appeals to halt the Israel-Gaza war, a show of diplomatic bustle laden with humanitarian platitudes but light on substantive proposals for achieving a cease-fire.

Persons: Israel, Stringer, Xi Jinping Organizations: Hamas, Reuters, Beijing Locations: Gaza, Palestinian, China, Israel

☆ Rival Koreas race to launch first spy satellites this month
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Josh Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A still photograph shows what appears to be North Korea's new Chollima-1 rocket being launched in Cholsan County, North Korea, May 31, 2023 in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency and taken from video. KCNA via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Both South and North Korea aim to launch their first spy satellites into orbit by the end of the month, entering a race for military capabilities in space. North Korea has notified Japan it plans to launch a satellite between Wednesday and Dec. 1, after two failed attempts to launch spy satellites earlier this year. Seoul plans to use SpaceX to launch four more spy satellites by 2025, and has test launched its own liquid and solid fuel rockets to launch more civilian and military satellites in the future. South Korea's capabilities are more advanced, but it still has to make more progress to see results, Chun said.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, Kim Hyun, chong, Chun, Panda, Josh Smith, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, REUTERS, Rights, SpaceX, California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base, Carnegie Endowment, International, North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration, South Korean, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Cholsan County, North Korea, Rights SEOUL, Japan, South Korea, Seoul, Korea, South, U.S, Pyongyang, United States, Washington

☆ China Denies Australia’s Claim That Warship Used Sonar Against Divers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Senior Col. Wu Qian said the Chinese side ‘didn’t engage in any activities that might affect the Australian diving operations.’ Photo: SHUBING WANG/REUTERSChina pushed back against Australia’s allegations that a Chinese warship used sonar pulses to target Australian navy divers and injure them. In remarks issued late Monday, a spokesman for China’s Defense Ministry said Australia’s account of the encounter last week between a Chinese destroyer and divers removing fishing nets from the propellers of an Australian navy frigate near Japan was “completely inconsistent with the facts.”

Persons: Wu Qian, SHUBING WANG, “, ” Organizations: Chinese Defense Ministry, ’, REUTERS, China’s Defense Ministry Locations: REUTERS China, Australian, Japan

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