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Posts published in “Day: September 8, 2017

Yuan’s Surprise Strength Handcuffs China’s Ability to Manage Economic Decline: The Wall St Journal, Sept 8, 2017

By Lingling Wei in Beijing and Saumya Vaishampayan in Hong Kong A recent surge in the value of the yuan has blindsided Wall Street and stands to complicate China’s efforts to simultaneously manage a slowdown in growth while deepening its ties to global markets. The yuan jumped to its strongest level in 16 months this week, bringing its total gain versus the dollar to 7% in 2017, more than recouping all of its decline last…

China revises regulations on religious affairs: report of Xinhua in Global Times, Sept 8, 2017

The State Council, China’s cabinet, released revised regulations on religious affairs on Thursday. The revisions protect freedom of religious belief, stipulating provision of public services for religious groups, schools and venues. Religious communities can hold charity events in accordance with the law, while religious workers are entitled to social security rights, according to the revisions. The new regulations highlight religious and social harmony, asking for mutual respect between believers and nonbelievers, as well as between…

Mao Zedong’s grandson among the ‘princelings’ not invited to China’s party congress

by Choi Chi-yuk in South China Morning Post, September 7, 2017, 10:25pm A grandson of Mao Zedong is among the “princelings” from China’s People’s Liberation Army who have not been invited to the upcoming 19th party congress. Major General Mao Xinyu is one of five senior military figures descended from or with close family ties to revolutionary generals or former state leaders who will miss out on China’s most important political event, which is held…

Xi Jinping’s top graft-buster back in the public eye again for tribute to father-in-law

by Kinling Lo in South China Morning Post, September 7, 2017, 10:25pm Low-profile Communist Party anti-graft chief Wang Qishan has appeared in public for a second day in a row after roughly a month out of the state media spotlight. Wang attended a seminar in Beijing honouring his late father-in-law and former vice-premier Yao Yilin, China Central Television reported on Wednesday night. The appearance came a day after CCTV showed footage of Wang on a…

China tightens control of chat groups ahead of party congress

Reuters report in SCMP China issued new rules on instant messaging chat groups on Thursday, tightening control over online discussions ahead of a sensitive leadership reshuffle next month. Beijing has been ramping up measures to secure the internet and maintain strict censorship, a process that has accelerated ahead of the Communist Party’s 19th national congress, when global attention will be on the world’s second-biggest economy. Group chats on instant messaging apps and online commenting threads…

China’s J-20 fighter jet may get homemade engine

By Qu Qiuyan in Global Times, Sept 7, 2017 at 23:38 hrs Most experts and netizens said they believe photos posted online of China’s J-20 fighter jets show homemade Taihang engines have replaced their Russian-made counterparts. A report released by thepaper.cn on Wednesday said the new engine is the Taihang based on its appearance on the online photos. The J-20 used to be outfitted with the Russia-made AL-31F engine, according to the report, but the…

B’desh: Half of the country can’t read or write

by Afrose Jahan Chaity in Dhaka Tribune, Sept 8, 2017 At least half of the population of Bangladesh are unable to read and write as the world celebrates International Literacy Day under the theme ‘Literacy in digital world’ today. The exact literacy rate in Bangladesh has been a matter of contention, with the 2016 ‘Education Watch Report’ by the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) putting the rate at 51.3% generally and 54% among women. However,…

B’desh: More explosives found at Komol Prova

by Tarek Mahmud in Dhaka Tribune, Sept 8, 2017 Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members on Thursday found more explosives from Komol Prova, the militant hideout at Darus Salam in Dhaka’s Mirpur area from where seven charred bodies were recovered the previous day after a 38-hour raid. RAB has decided to continue their sweeping operation in the six-storey apartment until the entire building is risk-free, said RAB spokesman Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan. “We have found some…

Container with radioactive materials seized at Chittagong port

by Anwar Hussain in Dhaka Tribune, Sept 8, 2017 at 11:05 PM Chittagong Customs House seized a container of radioactive materials from Chittagong port on August 22. Assistant Commissioner of Chittagong Customs House Md Habibur Rahman confirmed the matter. Habibur said: “Primary tests have found the presence of radioactive material in the seized container. We have written to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) to carry out final tests.” “The BAEC has already collected samples…