News

Third of provinces yet to publish data as country looks to revive economy after zero-Covid policy ends
Chinese provinces spent more than £42.8bn on tackling Covid-19 in 2022, according to data released by local governments, with the figure expected to rise as the huge cost of the pandemic hits the world’s second-largest economy.
Although national statistics are not yet available, at least 20 of China’s 31 provinces have published figures on how much money they spent on measures to control the pandemic.

As the Elon Musk-owned social media service encounters interruptions and bugs, Chinese dissidents and activists said they feared they were being muzzled.

U.S. officials told Fox News Digital that it was initially "not clear" that the Chinese spy balloon "was coming to" America ... the spy balloon for nearly a week before it penetrated American airspace ...

He then became the first Asian American, first South Asian and first Sikh in Congress, in 1956. There are now five South Asians in Congress, often referred to as "the Samosa Caucus." "Since 2016, ...

The president has yet to extensively address the Chinese spy balloon or the three unidentified objects taken down over North American airspace.

New details are coming to light about the investigation into a suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down off the coast ... long U.S. authorities were tracking the object before it entered American ...

Former Labor prime minister says incident has created ‘diplomatic clouds’ that may overshadow efforts to stabilise relationship
The incoming Australian ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, has warned the Chinese balloon saga has created new “diplomatic clouds” that put at risk recent efforts to ease tensions between Beijing and Washington.
In a speech in Brisbane on Wednesday, Rudd also warned against expecting any “softening in China’s ideological cleavage with the west”.

This blog is now closed. when it launches
Around and around we go …
So CBA shareholders are to get a (fully franked) dividend of $2.10 for each of their share – 20% more than the last time dividends were sent out.
We reported strong financial and operational performance in our financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2022. Our cash net profit after tax of $5,153 million reflects the Bank’s customer focus and disciplined strategic execution. Our continued balance sheet strength and capital position creates flexibility to support our customers and manage potential economic headwinds, while delivering sustainable returns to shareholders. A fully franked interim dividend of $2.10 per share was determined, an increase of 20% on 1H22, driven by organic capital generation and a reduction in share count from share buy-backs. Despite the current uncertainty, your Board and management feel optimistic for the future and are committed to delivering for our customers and for you, our shareholders

Exclusive: Whitehall officials planning strategy to tackle disruption to global supply chains in the aftermath of an attack
Whitehall officials have strategised a series of scenarios about the economic fallout that could follow if , sources have told the Guardian.
Concerns about the major disruption to global supply chains and consequences of any coordinated western response have been examined by civil servants as part of what is said to be routine “forward-scanning” exercises.

The Philippines accused a Chinese coastguard ship of directing a ‘military-grade laser light’ at one of its vessels, temporarily blinding a crew member
Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos has summoned the Chinese ambassador to express serious concern over the “increasing frequency and intensity of actions” by China against Philippine vessels.
The meeting came a day after the Philippines at one of its vessels, temporarily blinding a crew member and disrupting a mission in the South China Sea.

US officials who tracked balloon from launch on Hainan island reportedly examining possibility that unusual weather took it over North America

The US is reportedly examining the possibility that the Chinese spy balloon was pushed off course by strong winds when it entered US airspace, having tracked it since its launch days earlier.
Of the four flying objects shot down by the US in recent weeks, only the first has been attributed to Chinese surveillance efforts. The balloon took off from China’s Hainan island, before travelling on a path which appeared to go over Guam, on Tuesday. It then took an “unexpected” turn to the north, the report said, citing anonymous US officials. After it entered Canadian airspace, strong winds blew it south over the border, the Post reported.

The US had been tracking the Chinese spy balloon ever since it left Hainan Island near China’s south coast – meaning it was under surveillance for almost a week before it entered American airspace, ...