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☆ The humanoid robot CEO of a drinks company says she doesn't have weekends and is 'always on 24/7'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The CEO of Polish drinks company Dictador is an AI-powered humanoid robot who works 7 days a week. The AI boss, named Mika, told Reuters that she doesn't have weekends and is "always on 24/7." Mika told Reuters that she's "always on 24/7" and works seven days a week. Mika was created by Hanson Robotics, the company behind AI robot Sophia, who has garnered attention around the world through dozens of media interviews . Last year, a Chinese gaming firm appointed an "AI-powered virtual humanoid robot" called Tang Yu as the chief executive of its subsidiary, Fujian NetDragon Websoft.

Persons: Mika, Dictador, she's, I'm, Marek Szoldrowski, Sophia, Tang Yu, didn't Organizations: Reuters, Service, Hanson Robotics, Websoft Locations: Wall, Silicon, Fujian

☆ China to formulate 'special' measures to widen Taiwan's access to Fujian
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Chinese warship fires during a military drill off the Chinese coast near Fuzhou, Fujian Province, across from the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands, China, April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 14 (Reuters) - China will take a number of "special" policy measures to improve access for Taiwanese enterprises to Fujian province across the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese state planner said on Thursday, under a long-term cross-strait integrated development plan. The steps are part of a plan announced by China on Tuesday to turn coastal Fujian province into a zone for integrated development with Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. He added that Beijing also supports new energy cooperation between Taiwan, which it regards as a Chinese province, and Ningde, a Fujian city north of Xiamen. Strait Innovation Internet Co (300300.SZ) and Zhongfu Straits Pingtan Development Co (000592.SZ), both based in Pingtan, rose 8% and 5%, respectively.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Liang, Ryan Woo, Ethan Wang, Jason Xue, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National Development, Reform Commission, Innovation Internet, Pingtan Development, Thomson Locations: Fuzhou, Fujian Province, Taiwan, Matsu Islands, China, Rights BEIJING, Fujian, Taiwan Strait, Xiamen, Kinmen, Beijing, Pingtan, China's, Zhongfu

☆ China to Formulate 'Special' Measures to Widen Taiwan's Access to Fujian
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) -China will take a number of "special" policy measures to improve access for Taiwanese enterprises to Fujian province across the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese state planner said on Thursday, under a long-term cross-strait integrated development plan. The steps are part of a plan announced by China on Tuesday to turn coastal Fujian province into a zone for integrated development with Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. He added that Beijing also supports new energy cooperation between Taiwan, which it regards as a Chinese province, and Ningde, a Fujian city north of Xiamen. Opening up of an experimental development zone in Pingtan, China's closest point to the main Taiwan island across the strait, will be expedited, Cong added. Strait Innovation Internet Co and Zhongfu Straits Pingtan Development Co, both based in Pingtan, rose 8% and 5%, respectively.

Persons: Liang, Ryan Woo, Ethan Wang, Jason Xue, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: National Development, Reform Commission, Innovation, Pingtan Locations: BEIJING, China, Fujian, Taiwan Strait, Xiamen, Taiwan, Kinmen, Beijing, Pingtan, China's, Zhongfu

Hong Kong CNN —China on Tuesday unveiled a plan to deepen integration between the coastal province of Fujian and self-governing Taiwan, touting the benefits of closer cross-strait cooperation while sending warships around the island in a show of military might. The document, hailed as a “blueprint” of Taiwan’s future development by Chinese experts cited in state media, comes at a delicate moment in cross-strait relations as Taiwan gears up for its presidential election in January. Ahead of Beijing’s release of its integration plan, a Chinese aircraft carrier and around two dozen Chinese warships were spotted gathering in waters near Taiwan this week, according to Taiwanese authorities. Fujian, a province of 40 million people on the western side of the Taiwan Strait, is the closest to Taiwan both geographically and culturally. In Tuesday’s directive, Beijing pledges to further speed up integration between the city of Xiamen and Kinmen – which are only a few miles apart.

Persons: Wang Ting, ” Wang, “, China’s, Kinmen, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party’s Central, State, Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan, Mainland Affairs Council, CNN, Times Locations: Hong Kong, China, Fujian, Taiwan, Beijing, Kinmen, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Matsu, Taipei

☆ Unrelenting rain causes more than 100 landslides, traps residents in floodwaters in southern China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Typhoon Haikui hit southern China eight days ago and has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, but unrelenting rain continues to deluge southwestern Guangxi. Rescuers were seen treading thigh-deep in waterlogged areas evacuating residents in boats. China Meteorological Administration forecast heavy rains in the south and southeast parts of Guangxi on Tuesday and Wednesday, with storms in the southwest. The national forecaster also warned relevant departments and people in Guangdong and Guangxi to be alert to any delayed effects of disasters from frequent rainfall in recent days. Reporting by Liz Lee and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Haikui, Liz Lee, Michael Perry Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, China Meteorological Administration, Thomson Locations: Shankou, Hepu county, Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, Rights BEIJING, China's, Guangxi, Yulin, Fujian, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Guangdong, Shanghai

☆ Rains from dying typhoon batter China for seventh day
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Heavy rains from a typhoon kept southern China drenched for the seventh day as slow-moving storm clouds drifted from Guangdong on the coast to Guangxi, flooding low-lying areas, blocking roads and trapping residents. Heavy rain is expected to persist in Guangxi over the next few days. Neighbouring Hong Kong was pelted by the worst storm in 140 years. "Typhoons that move far inland affect regions historically less exposed to heavy rainfall and strong wind, often with lower disaster resilience, leading to more severe losses," said Shao Sun, a climatologist at the University of California, Irvine. Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Haikui, Shao Sun, Ryan Woo, Michael Perry Organizations: Typhoons, University of California, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Guangdong, Guangxi, Bobai, Fujian, Shenzhen deluged, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Irvine

☆ New mosaic of Mars could enable humans to settle on another world
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —When the Perseverance rover landed on Mars in February 2021, it wasn’t alone. The instrument’s capabilities demonstrated that oxygen for life support systems and rocket fuel could be created on Mars rather than transported from Earth. The device is another tool enabling the eventual exploration of Mars by humans. Other worldsThis map of Mars, created by researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi, uses color photographs of the entire planet. That’s what researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi are aiming to do with the Mars Atlas.

Persons: Percy, Dimitra Atri, ”, Fujianvenator, Christopher Owen Hunt, Ralph Solecki, Arlette Leroi, Gourhan, Chris Hunt, Nicolas Reusens, Jack Zhi, ” Zhi, —, REx, Comet Nishimura, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, New York University, NYU Abu Dhabi Center for Astrophysics, Mars, United, United Arab Emirates, Mars Research, Liverpool John Moores University, Amagusa, CNN Space, Science Locations: Mars, New York University Abu, New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab, China, Fujian, Kurdistan, Iraq, United Kingdom, Japan, Israel

☆ PetroChina buys EV charging firm Potevio New Energy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Model of petrol pump is seen in front of PetroChina logo in this illustration taken March 25, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 8 (Reuters) - PetroChina has acquired 100% of electric vehicle (EV) charging firm Potevio New Energy Co Ltd in the latest lower-carbon investment by China's top oil and gas company, parent CNPC said on Friday. Set up in 2010, Potevio New Energy was among China's first state-owned companies engaged in EV charging network building and operations. It ran 50,000 charging points in more than 50 Chinese cities as of end-2021, according to its official WeChat account. PetroChina last month set up a new entity based in the southeastern city of Putian in Fujian province to focus on investing and operating EV charging facilities.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, CNPC, PetroChina, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, PetroChina, New Energy Co Ltd, Potevio, Energy, EV, SAIC Motor Corp, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Putian, Fujian

☆ Schools, subways disrupted as storm batters China's south
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Residents holding onto safety lines waded cautiously through knee-deep floodwaters late on Thursday in Shenzhen, a metropolis of 17.7 million people, videos from state-backed Xinhua showed. Daily rainfall in the city located in the Pearl River Delta linking Hong Kong to China's mainland was expected to exceed 500 mm, Shenzhen media said. Still, Shenzhen's observatory has issued emergency warnings advising residents to stay indoors, warning downpours were abrupt and intense. Some Shenzhen districts closed offices while all schools were suspended. Authorities suspended services at Liantang Port and Wenjindu Port connecting Shenzhen and Hong Kong due to flood damage.

Persons: Haikui, Liz Lee, Neil Fullick Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, China Meteorological Administration, Xinhua, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Minhou county, Fuzhou, Fujian province, China, Rights BEIJING, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Fujian, Waters, Futian, Liantang, Wenjindu Port, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Shanghai

☆ Scientists uncover a 'bizarre' leggy dinosaur unlike anything seen before, and it could rewrite the history of bird evolution
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The 150-million-year-old dinosaur is likely a very early bird ancestor, as old as the Archeopterix. This suggests bird's long legs may have evolved much early than thought. The dinosaur, named Fujianvenator prodigiosus, is thought to be as old the Archaeopteryx, which many consider to be the first bird. AdvertisementAdvertisement"I would put my money on runner," Wang told Reuters. There is still a 30 million-year-long gap in the fossil record between Archeopteryx and Fujianvenator and the next bird fossil on record, which appears in the Cretaceous, the study authors said in a press release.

Persons: Fujianvenator, Min Wang, Wang, Rex, prodigiosus, WANG Min Still, WANG Min, Hailu, Mark Loewen Organizations: Service, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Reuters, Nature, University of Utah Locations: Wall, Silicon, Nanping, Fujian, Beijing, Salt Lake City

☆ South China soaks as rains from Haikui continue to pound region
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view shows flooded villages in Minhou county after heavy rains brought by typhoon Haikui, in Fuzhou, Fujian province, China September 5, 2023. cnsphoto via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The remnants of Typhoon Haikui drenched China for a third day since making landfall, as moisture-laden clouds dumped rain onto the country's south despite weakening cyclonic winds. Later this week, the storms are expected to continue in Guangxi bringing the southwestern region extreme rainfall on Friday and Saturday before potentially dissipating on Sunday. Haikui's storms flooded parts of southeastern Fujian province where it landed early on Tuesday, forcing 294,100 people to evacuate, inundated 9,949.7 hectares (24,586.24 acres) of crops and damaged nearly 2,540 homes. Intense rains in the city of Fuzhou shattered 12-year-old rainfall records, surpassing the amount brought by Typhoon Doksuri late July.

Persons: Typhoon Doksuri, Liz Lee, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: cnsphoto, Rights, China Meteorological Administration, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Minhou county, Fuzhou, Fujian province, China, CHINA, Rights BEIJING, downpours, Guangdong, Tangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan province, Guangxi, Hainan, Guilin, Laibin, Fujian, Xiamen, Shanghai

☆ 'Bizarre' long-legged bird-like dinosaur has scientists enthralled
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A life reconstruction of the bird-like dinosaur Fujianvenator prodigiosus, which lived 148 million to 150 million years ago in China, is seen in this illustration. Asked for a word to describe Fujianvenator, Wang replied, "I would say 'bizarre.' Fujianvenator is a member of a grouping called avialans that includes all birds and their closest non-avian dinosaur relatives, Wang said. "The forelimb is generally built like a bird's wing, but with three claws on the fingers, which are absent from modern birds. There is still a big gap between the oldest known bird and the second-oldest known birds," Zhou said.

Persons: Chuang Zhao, Handout, Fujianvenator, Min Wang, Wang, Zhonghe Zhou, Zhou, Will Dunham, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Vertebrate Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Thomson Locations: China, Fujian Province, Germany, Fujianvenator, Washington

☆ Bird-like dinosaur with surprising features discovered in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The fossil of a tiny bird-like dinosaur with surprisingly long lower legs has been discovered in China. However, in birds, it’s a feature also present in wading birds like storks and cranes, making it possible that Fujianvenator lived in a swampy aquatic environment. Other known early bird-like dinosaurs lived in trees and were more aerial in nature, the study said. While no feathers were preserved in the fossil, it’s highly likely Fujianvenator had them because its closest relatives in the dinosaur family tree did, Wang said. It can’t be determined from the fossil whether the bird-like dinosaur could fly or not, he added.

Persons: Fuijianvenator, Fuijian, Min Wang, “, ”, Wang Organizations: CNN, Vertebrate Paleontology, Fujian Institute of Geological Survey Locations: China, what’s, Fujian, Beijing

☆ Remnants of Typhoon Haikui cause floods in southeastern China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Liz Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] An aerial view shows flooded streets on the outskirts of Fuzhou, after heavy rains brought by typhoon Haikui in Fujian province, China September 5, 2023. cnsphoto via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Intense rain from the remnants of Typhoon Haikui lashed southeastern China early on Wednesday, causing flooding and forcing cities in Fujian province to halt subways, shut schools and evacuate residents. The precipitation was heavier than the impact of Typhoon Doksuri, which ripped through Fujian in late July causing floods and $2 billion in direct economic losses, state media reported. Fuzhou closed subway lines and suspended trains while schools were shut for a second day. Elsewhere in Fujian, six other cities including Putian and Quanzhou were flagged at risk of flash floods and landslides. Typhoon Haikui lost strength after making landfall in Fujian early on Tuesday and was downgraded to a tropical storm.

Persons: Haikui, Doksuri, Typhoon Haikui, Liz Lee, Stephen Coates Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Thomson Locations: Fuzhou, Fujian province, China, Rights BEIJING, Fujian, Putian, Quanzhou, Shanghai

☆ Thousands without power after Typhoon Haikui batters Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A collapsed canopy is seen at a parking lot as Typhoon Haikui approaches, in Hualien, Taiwan September 3, 2023, in this screengrab taken from a video provided by CTI. Haikui made landfall in the mountainous and sparsely populated far southeast of Taiwan on Sunday afternoon, the first typhoon to directly hit Taiwan in four years. Counties and cities across southern, eastern and central Taiwan cancelled classes and declared a day off for workers on Monday. Haikui is much weaker than Typhoon Saola, which hit Hong Kong and the southern Chinese province of Guangdong on Saturday. As of Monday morning, Haikui had started to enter the Taiwan Strait and head towards China, Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said.

Persons: Haikui, Taipower, chipmaker, Saola, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Liz Lee, Tom Hogue Organizations: CTI, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Sunday, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Civil Aeronautics Administration, Weather Bureau, Thomson Locations: Hualien, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, State, Taitung, Counties, Taipei, Hong Kong, Chinese, Guangdong, Taiwan Strait, China, Fujian, Beijing

☆ China issues highest typhoon warning as Saola moves towards Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Aug 31 (Reuters) - China issued the highest typhoon warning on Thursday as Typhoon Saola crawled closer to the southeastern coastline, threatening Hong Kong and other major manufacturing hubs in neighbouring Guangdong province. Chinese forecasters issued a typhoon red warning at 6 a.m. (2200 GMT). Saola will make landfall along the coast somewhere from Huilai County in Guangdong to Hong Kong on the afternoon to the night of Sept. 1, the center said. As Saola edges closer to Guangdong, winds over the region will strengthen gradually, the Hong Kong Observatory said, noting that it will raise its strong wind Signal to No. Saola will also bring storm surges to coastal low-lying areas, the Hong Kong Observatory noted, estimating Saola is currently about 440km (270 miles) from the metropolis.

Persons: Saola, Bernard Orr, Ethan Wang, Lincoln Organizations: National Meteorological Center, China Railway, Hong Kong Observatory, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Hong Kong, Guangdong, Guangdong province, Huilai County, Shanghai, Fujian, Shishi

☆ Super typhoon heads towards Hong Kong, China issues highest warning
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING/ HONG KONG Aug 31 (Reuters) - China issued its highest typhoon warning on Thursday as Super Typhoon Saola, packing winds of more than 200 kph (125 mph), headed towards the southeastern coastline, threatening Hong Kong and other major manufacturing hubs in nearby Guangdong province. Chinese forecasters issued a typhoon red warning at 6 a.m. (2200 GMT). As Saola approached, Guangdong's Shenzhen city said it would upgrade the typhoon warning level to yellow - the second lowest - at 6 p.m. on Thursday, and suspend classes at nurseries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. China Railway has suspended several major train lines and Shanghai halted trains heading to Guangdong, according to local media. Reporting by Bernard Orr, Ethan Wang，David Kirton and Shanghai newsroom, Farah Master and Twinnie Siu in Hong Kong; Editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Saola, Hong Kong's, Shenzhen's Baoan, Downpours, Bernard Orr, Ethan Wang ， David Kirton, Farah, Twinnie Siu, Lincoln Organizations: Meteorological Centre, Supermarkets, Kong's, China Southern Power Grid, China Railway, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, HONG KONG, China, Hong Kong, Guangdong, Guangdong province, Huilai County, Wan Chai district, Shenzhen, Shenzhen's, Shanghai, Fujian

High-ranking United States and Chinese officials held a series of economic policy meetings on Tuesday in Beijing, in the latest sign that both countries are trying to stop the long deterioration in their relationship and restore communications. Seated in a red-carpeted reception room on the second floor of the Great Hall, Mr. She responded that while the United States would not compromise on issues of national security, it also would not try to disconnect from China or hold back China’s economic development. He has broad oversight of economic policy as one of four vice premiers, and has also been closely associated with Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, since 1985. That was when the two men began collaborating on economic development as officials in Xiamen, a city in Fujian Province on the southeastern coast of China.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Ms, Raimondo, Xi Jinping Organizations: of Locations: United States, Beijing, U.S, China, Xiamen, Fujian Province

☆ Heavy rains, floods inundate China; Hunan province sees record rain, thousands evacuated
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

More than three thousand people were evacuated in northwestern Hunan province over the weekend as heavy rain was unleashed on Sangzhi, Shimen and Yongshun counties, and Zhangjiajie City, according to state media. It was the most extensive and widespread rain in Sangzhi since 1998, CCTV said. China has been gripped by weeks of rains and floods amid an unusually wet summer. In late July, storms from Typhoon Dokusri caused record rains to hit China in over a decade, with Beijing experiencing its heaviest rainfall in 140 years. There is also uncertainty over Typhoon Saola's path, said China Meteorological Administration, but it will bring heavy rainfall in the coastal areas including Fujian and Zhejiang provinces from Wednesday to Friday.

Persons: Sangzhi, Dokusri, Saola, Bernard Orr, Ethan Wang, Michael Perry Organizations: China Central Television, Beijing, Flood, Drought, Ministry of Emergency Management, China Meteorological Administration, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Hunan, Yongshun, Zhangjiajie City, Sangzhi, China, Guangdong, China's, Fujian, Zhejiang

China generated 121 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) from hydro in July 2023, down from 146 billion kWh in the same month a year earlier, and the lowest since 2015. China also boosted generation from wind farms (+16 billion kWh) and solar farms (+5 billion kWh) compared with July 2022. But without the extra generation from thermal (+44 billion kWh) it could not have offset the drop in hydro (-25 billion kWh) while meeting growth in load (+40 billion kWh). SOUTH CHINA DROUGHTFour-fifths of China’s total hydro generation comes from provinces along the Yangtze River system and further south. Facing continued restrictions on hydro generation, coal-fired generation, coal production and coal imports will have to rise even further.

Persons: Doksuri, John Kemp, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, East, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Qiaojia, Yunnan province, Ningnan, Sichuan province, China, Hebei, Beijing, Chartbook, CHINA, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Guangdong, Chongqing, Yibin

☆ Morocco has not applied to join BRICS - state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Wu Hong/Pool/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsRABAT, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Morocco has not made a formal request to join the BRICS grouping and will not attend its summit in South Africa, state news agency MAP said on Saturday. Citing an unnamed diplomatic source, MAP denied a statement by South Africa's foreign minister Anil Sooklal who said earlier this month Morocco was among the nations seeking to join the bloc. "South Africa allowed itself to speak about Morocco's ties with the BRICS without prior consultation," it said. Morocco would not attend the BRICS meeting in South Africa, MAP said, adding: "South Africa has in fact always shown a primary hostility towards Morocco and has systematically taken negative and dogmatic positions on the Moroccan Sahara issue." Morocco is attached to a non-divisive multilateralism and has good ties with the rest of BRICS member states, it said.

Persons: Wu Hong, Anil Sooklal, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center, REUTERS, South, Polisario, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, India, Xiamen, Fujian Province, Morocco, Africa, Algeria, Western Sahara, Moroccan

☆ China launches drills in angry response to Taiwan vice president's trip to U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. says it's closely monitoring China's drills around Taiwan after Beijing began three days of military exercises around the island. Greg Baker | AFP | Getty ImagesChina launched military drills around Taiwan on Saturday as a "serious warning" to separatist forces in an angry but widely expected response to Vice President William Lai's visit to the United States, drawing condemnation from Taipei. Taiwan's government strongly condemned the drills, with the defense ministry saying it had the ability, determination, and confidence to ensure national security. "The Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign country and has a legitimate and legal right to conduct normal diplomatic interactions with friendly countries," it added in a statement, using the island's formal name. Taiwan's defense ministry released a short video of undated footage showing Taiwanese forces at sea, on city streets and across the countryside.

Persons: Greg Baker, William Lai's, Joseph Wu, Joe Biden Organizations: PLA Navy, Beijing, AFP, Getty Images China, Eastern Theatre Command, Mainland Affairs Council, U.S, Taiwan Locations: Taiwan, China's, Fujian, U.S, United States, Taipei . Lai, Paraguay, China, Beijing, Republic of China, South Korea, Japan

☆ Floods, mudslides kill two in northwestern China city
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Qinling Mountains in Xian will continue to experience extreme weather conditions, which will lead to soil erosion and possibly further mudslides, the broadcaster said. A man holding a child walks across a damaged bridge after the rains and floods brought by remnants of Typhoon Doksuri, in Zhuozhou, Hebei province, China August 7, 2023. In southwestern Guangxi on Friday, heavy rainfall in the city of Nanning led to urban flooding, forcing rush hour commuters to drive vehicles and motorcycles through waterlogged roads, CCTV said. Local authorities set up cordons to allow drainage work on some roads, while the city dispatched nearly 3,900 police to help. In Huozhou city in the northern province of Shanxi, some low-lying houses faced stagnant water breaches, as floods from heavy rain trapped some residents in their buildings, the broadcaster said.

Persons: Xian, Doksuri, Tingshu Wang, Engen Tham, Miral Organizations: China Central Television, REUTERS, Local, Xinhua News Agency, Thomson Locations: Nanning, Beijing, Harbin SHANGHAI, China, Fujian, Xian, Zhuozhou, Hebei province, Harbin, Guangxi, Jilin, Huozhou, Shanxi, Mongolia

An investor looks at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Shanghai, China July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Aly SongSHANGHAI, Aug 11 (Reuters) - A growing number of healthcare companies in China are shelving their initial public offering (IPO) plans as its stock exchanges have stepped up scrutiny of the pharmaceutical industry's business practices amid an escalating anti-corruption drive. Vaccine maker Shanghai Rongsheng Biotech Co terminated its IPO plan this week, after the company's high proportion of sales expenses drew attention from regulators. The company's sales expenses over the past three years amounted to nearly half of its revenue. Another banker said drugmakers are stepping on the brakes of their IPO plans due to the rising uncertainty.

Persons: Aly Song SHANGHAI, Rongsheng, drugmakers, Fujian Mindong, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Pharmaceuticals, Shanghai Rongsheng Biotech Co, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Rejuenation Pharmaceutical Co, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, HIT, National Health Commission, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Fujian, Rongsheng, Shenzhen, Singapore

☆ Taiwan reports second large-scale China air force incursion this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoTAIPEI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Ten Chinese air force aircraft entered Taiwan's air defence zone on Wednesday accompanying five Chinese warships engaged in "combat readiness" patrols, the island's defence ministry said, the second such incursion this week. Those aircraft were acting in coordination with five Chinese warships engaging in "combat readiness" patrols, it said. China staged war games around Taiwan in April after President Tsai Ing-wen returned home from a visit to the United States where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Taiwan Vice President William Lai leaves for the United States this week on his way to Paraguay on what is officially only a transit but which has angered China. It was China's "priority" to stop Lai from visiting the United States, Beijing's ambassador to the U.S. said last month.

Persons: Aly, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Nancy Pelosi, William Lai, Lai, Taiwan's, Ben Blanchard Organizations: Liberation Army, PLA, REUTERS, U.S, Taiwan, Thomson Locations: China's, Taiwan, Pingtan, Fujian province, China, TAIPEI, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, United States, Taipei, Paraguay

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