Link to Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/06/world/asia/japan-squid-statue.html Debate has arisen after the fishing town Noto- roughly 180 miles northwest of Tokyo- spent nearly $230,000 in federal Covid-19 relief money on a 43-foot statue of a flying squid. In a town where squid is a delicacy, the statue was built to promote tourism after the pandemic subsides. The five-and-a-half-ton statue sits outside a squid-themed… Read more »
Link to Article: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/china-high-speed-maglev-train-intl-hnk/index.html The prototype was unveiled to the media on January 13 in the city of Chengdu, Sichuan Province. It is a sleek 21-meter-long (69 feet) high-speed Maglev train that is capable of reaching speeds up to 620 kilometers (385 miles) per hour. The train runs on high-temperature suprconducting power that makes it seem like the train is… Read more »
Link to Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57004797 Relations between China and Australia have been on the downfall ever since Australia called for a probe into the origins of the virus, as well as banning Huawei from building its 5G network. China also imposed sanctions on Australian goods such as wine and beef last year. On Thursday, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/09/singapores-leadership-succession-who-could-be-next-prime-minister.html Late on Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that he would be stepping aside as the designated successor to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He will remain as deputy prime minister and coordinating minister for economic policies, but will relinquish his role as finance minister. Analysts have identified four potential candidates who could… Read more »
Link to Article: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwans-tsai-says-chinas-military-activities-threaten-regional-stability The President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen told emissaries visiting the United States regarding Joe Biden’s request on April 15th, that the island would work with the United states to demobilize “adventurous manoeuvres and provocations” amid threats from Chinese military activities. Ms Tsai also told the US delegtion during a meeting at the Presidential Office that Chinese… Read more »
Link to Article: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-struggles-to-meet-targets-for-vaccination-without-making-it-mandatory In Beijing various measures have been suggested that uncover the reality of the nation’s massive vaccination distribution. While China has insisted that getting vaccinated is entirely voluntary, changes will need to be made in order to get to the uphill task: 560 million people vaccinated by the end of June. The National Health commission (NHC) announced… Read more »
