Australia asked China to Clarify whether the Instruction to Chinese Companies Not to buy Australian Coal is a Political Countermeasure
The Australian government on Tuesday (13 October) asked China to clarify whether it had instructed Chinese companies to stop buying Australian coal as a political countermeasure, jeopardizing a business involving about $10 billion (HK$78 billion) a year.
Australian Trade Minister, Simon Birmingham, said he had inquired China through diplomatic channels that whether it had instructed Chinese companies to stop buying Australian coal. “I am not hoping us to get lost in the speculation, but we are working with industries to take action and to have discussions with China," Birmingham said.
Many trade publications, including S&P Global Platts, reported that China's state-run energy suppliers and steel mills had received "verbal notice" from the government to stop buying Australian coal. Tensions between China and Australia have continued in recent months as a result of trade disputes and spy scandals. The economy in Australia has fallen into recession for the first time in nearly 30 years, and the ban from China on Australian coal will have a serious impact on its energy-dependent economy. Besides, the conservative government in Australia is also affected as it has vigorously promoted the coal industry to secure political support in key regions of the country.
The discord between China and Austalia has been escalating. Beijing threatened the exports on Australian wine and beef while Australia called for an investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak. Beijing also warned its citizens not to visit Australia or study aboard, alleging the anti-Asian racial discrimination in Australia during the pandemic.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct13
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201013/YICBNZ2LRFHGZEE2OWD4TYYRFM/
#ChinaAustraliaRelation #China #Australia #ChineseInfluenceInAustralia #AustralianEconomy #AustralianCoal #SimonBirmingham #AustralianTradeWithChina #ChineseStateRunCompanies
The Australian government on Tuesday (13 October) asked China to clarify whether it had instructed Chinese companies to stop buying Australian coal as a political countermeasure, jeopardizing a business involving about $10 billion (HK$78 billion) a year.
Australian Trade Minister, Simon Birmingham, said he had inquired China through diplomatic channels that whether it had instructed Chinese companies to stop buying Australian coal. “I am not hoping us to get lost in the speculation, but we are working with industries to take action and to have discussions with China," Birmingham said.
Many trade publications, including S&P Global Platts, reported that China's state-run energy suppliers and steel mills had received "verbal notice" from the government to stop buying Australian coal. Tensions between China and Australia have continued in recent months as a result of trade disputes and spy scandals. The economy in Australia has fallen into recession for the first time in nearly 30 years, and the ban from China on Australian coal will have a serious impact on its energy-dependent economy. Besides, the conservative government in Australia is also affected as it has vigorously promoted the coal industry to secure political support in key regions of the country.
The discord between China and Austalia has been escalating. Beijing threatened the exports on Australian wine and beef while Australia called for an investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak. Beijing also warned its citizens not to visit Australia or study aboard, alleging the anti-Asian racial discrimination in Australia during the pandemic.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct13
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201013/YICBNZ2LRFHGZEE2OWD4TYYRFM/
#ChinaAustraliaRelation #China #Australia #ChineseInfluenceInAustralia #AustralianEconomy #AustralianCoal #SimonBirmingham #AustralianTradeWithChina #ChineseStateRunCompanies
Saudi Arabia fails to join UN human rights council but Russia and China elected
The only contested region of the UN human rights council in the 2020 elections was the Asia-Pacific, where China and Saudi Arabia were in a five-way race with Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Nepal for four seats.
Each nation state sitting on the council is charged with promoting and protecting human rights.
China stands accused of sending hundreds of thousands of Uighur Muslims into state re-education camps in Xinjiang province.
The UK shadow foreign secretary, Lisa Nandy, pressed the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, to publicly state that the UK would not be supporting China. He declined to do so as the normal practice of UK is not to reveal how they had voted.
Source: the Guardian #Oct13
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/13/saudi-arabia-fails-to-join-un-human-rights-council-but-russia-and-china-elected
#Uyghur #UN #China #HumanRights #Russia #SaudiArabia
The only contested region of the UN human rights council in the 2020 elections was the Asia-Pacific, where China and Saudi Arabia were in a five-way race with Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Nepal for four seats.
Each nation state sitting on the council is charged with promoting and protecting human rights.
China stands accused of sending hundreds of thousands of Uighur Muslims into state re-education camps in Xinjiang province.
The UK shadow foreign secretary, Lisa Nandy, pressed the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, to publicly state that the UK would not be supporting China. He declined to do so as the normal practice of UK is not to reveal how they had voted.
Source: the Guardian #Oct13
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/13/saudi-arabia-fails-to-join-un-human-rights-council-but-russia-and-china-elected
#Uyghur #UN #China #HumanRights #Russia #SaudiArabia
#Strike #PoliticalOppression
Hospital Authority Retaliates on Medical Workers Indiscriminately
Source: Stand News #Oct13
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Hospital Authority Retaliates on Medical Workers Indiscriminately
Source: Stand News #Oct13
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#Strike #PoliticalOppression
Hospital Authority Retaliates on Medical Workers Indiscriminately
Hong Kong Hospital Authority Employees' Association (#HAEA) initiated a 5-day strike in early 2020, calling on the Hong Kong Government to close all the borders to stop the spread of the Coronavirus from China to Hong Kong. Thousands of medical workers had joined the strike.
Since then, the Hospital Authority (#HA) had threatened its employees multiple times with regard to the strike. In February 2020, the authorities issued letters to medical workers and demanded an explanation on their "absence" during the days of the strike.
In the Radiology Department of Princess Margaret Hospital, several medical workers had joined the strike. The management demanded the department head Dr Ma Ka-fai to hand in a name list of the relevant employees. Dr Ma refused.
According to Stand News, the Human Resources Department recently sent an email to all doctors in the Radiology Department, claiming they had all joined the strike. Vice chair of the union HAEA Law Cheuk-yiu condemned the HR Department for pressuring the Radiology Department.
Source: Stand News #Oct13
Hospital Authority Retaliates on Medical Workers Indiscriminately
Hong Kong Hospital Authority Employees' Association (#HAEA) initiated a 5-day strike in early 2020, calling on the Hong Kong Government to close all the borders to stop the spread of the Coronavirus from China to Hong Kong. Thousands of medical workers had joined the strike.
Since then, the Hospital Authority (#HA) had threatened its employees multiple times with regard to the strike. In February 2020, the authorities issued letters to medical workers and demanded an explanation on their "absence" during the days of the strike.
In the Radiology Department of Princess Margaret Hospital, several medical workers had joined the strike. The management demanded the department head Dr Ma Ka-fai to hand in a name list of the relevant employees. Dr Ma refused.
According to Stand News, the Human Resources Department recently sent an email to all doctors in the Radiology Department, claiming they had all joined the strike. Vice chair of the union HAEA Law Cheuk-yiu condemned the HR Department for pressuring the Radiology Department.
Source: Stand News #Oct13
Samsung, FILA and Hyundai Have Removed BTS-Related Posts and Ads from Chinese Websites and Social Media after the K-Pop Boy Band’s ‘Controversial’ Speech Outraged Chinese Netizens
Source: Stands News #Oct13
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Source: Stands News #Oct13
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Samsung, FILA and Hyundai Have Removed BTS-Related Posts and Ads from Chinese Websites and Social Media after the K-Pop Boy Band’s ‘Controversial’ Speech Outraged Chinese Netizens
Chinese netizens are outraged by BTS, the K-pop boy band global sensation, over the mentioning of the Korean War in an award-acceptance speech earlier. Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department, stated that he was aware of the related reports and the responses from netizens. The South Korean company Samsung has since removed products launched in conjunction with BTS from online stores in China. The car manufacturer Hyundai and the sports brand FILA have also removed posts related to BTS on their Chinese social media accounts.
Samsung has launched a special edition series of mobile phones and earphones with BTS this July. However, the products are no longer available on Chinese shopping websites JD.com, Tmall and Samsung’s official Chinese website after online dispute of BTS arose. Hyundai and FILA, which have invited BTS to endorse their products, have also removed all BTS-related posts from their official Weibo accounts earlier.
When a journalist asked about the Chinese netizens’ outrage on BTS at a regular press conference hosted by Zhao Lijian, he answered, "I am aware of the related reports, as well as the responses from Chinese netizens. We should learn from history, face the future, treasure peace and promote friendship. These are the things that we should pursue together, worthy to strive for together."
During the acceptance speech of the General James A. Van Fleet Award, an award granted to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of US-Korean relations, BTS’s leader RM said, “We will always remember the history of pain that our two nations shared together, and the sacrifices of the countless men and women.” This single sentence had apparently outraged Chinese netizens, despite the fact that China was not mentioned in the speech at all.
#China #BTS #ChineseNetizens #ZhaoLijian #Samsung #Hyundai #FILA #SocialMedia
Source: Stands News #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3o0D8Ro
Chinese netizens are outraged by BTS, the K-pop boy band global sensation, over the mentioning of the Korean War in an award-acceptance speech earlier. Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department, stated that he was aware of the related reports and the responses from netizens. The South Korean company Samsung has since removed products launched in conjunction with BTS from online stores in China. The car manufacturer Hyundai and the sports brand FILA have also removed posts related to BTS on their Chinese social media accounts.
Samsung has launched a special edition series of mobile phones and earphones with BTS this July. However, the products are no longer available on Chinese shopping websites JD.com, Tmall and Samsung’s official Chinese website after online dispute of BTS arose. Hyundai and FILA, which have invited BTS to endorse their products, have also removed all BTS-related posts from their official Weibo accounts earlier.
When a journalist asked about the Chinese netizens’ outrage on BTS at a regular press conference hosted by Zhao Lijian, he answered, "I am aware of the related reports, as well as the responses from Chinese netizens. We should learn from history, face the future, treasure peace and promote friendship. These are the things that we should pursue together, worthy to strive for together."
During the acceptance speech of the General James A. Van Fleet Award, an award granted to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of US-Korean relations, BTS’s leader RM said, “We will always remember the history of pain that our two nations shared together, and the sacrifices of the countless men and women.” This single sentence had apparently outraged Chinese netizens, despite the fact that China was not mentioned in the speech at all.
#China #BTS #ChineseNetizens #ZhaoLijian #Samsung #Hyundai #FILA #SocialMedia
Source: Stands News #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3o0D8Ro
#CCPControl #Censorship
Museum in France Postpones Exhibition of Genghis Khan in Protest of Censorship by Chinese Authorities
Source: Stand News #Oct13
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Museum in France Postpones Exhibition of Genghis Khan in Protest of Censorship by Chinese Authorities
Source: Stand News #Oct13
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#CCPControl #Censorship
Museum in France Postpones Exhibition of Genghis Khan in Protest of Censorship by Chinese Authorities
In France, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, which houses the Nantes History Museum, has announced that a collaborative exhibition with China about Genghis Khan and the Mongol Emperor has been postponed to 2024, and the Museum is going to stop collaborating with China.
The museum’s director, Bertrand Guillet, described the decision of postponing the exhibition as an ethical choice and accused the Chinese authorities of their continuous interference and censorship of the exhibition’s content.
The Chinese authorities asked for the removal of the terms such as “Genghis Khan”, “Emperor”, and “Mongolian language”. They also demanded the power over the context, maps, content, and contact information etc.
The Museum in France indicated that the context of the exhibition was completely censored by the Chinese and biased perspectives were added into the context for political needs. After discussions with several historians and professionals, the Museum decided to halt the project to defend the values of human, science, and ethics. Contents will be replaced by collections from Europe and America and the Museum hoped that the essence of the exhibition can be preserved.
Source: Stand News #Oct13
#Nantes #GenghisKhan #ChâteauDesDucsDeBretagne #Museum
Museum in France Postpones Exhibition of Genghis Khan in Protest of Censorship by Chinese Authorities
In France, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, which houses the Nantes History Museum, has announced that a collaborative exhibition with China about Genghis Khan and the Mongol Emperor has been postponed to 2024, and the Museum is going to stop collaborating with China.
The museum’s director, Bertrand Guillet, described the decision of postponing the exhibition as an ethical choice and accused the Chinese authorities of their continuous interference and censorship of the exhibition’s content.
The Chinese authorities asked for the removal of the terms such as “Genghis Khan”, “Emperor”, and “Mongolian language”. They also demanded the power over the context, maps, content, and contact information etc.
The Museum in France indicated that the context of the exhibition was completely censored by the Chinese and biased perspectives were added into the context for political needs. After discussions with several historians and professionals, the Museum decided to halt the project to defend the values of human, science, and ethics. Contents will be replaced by collections from Europe and America and the Museum hoped that the essence of the exhibition can be preserved.
Source: Stand News #Oct13
#Nantes #GenghisKhan #ChâteauDesDucsDeBretagne #Museum
Canada finally intends to stand up to China’s ‘coercive diplomacy’
Source: the Globe and Mail #Oct13
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Source: the Globe and Mail #Oct13
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Canada finally intends to stand up to China’s ‘coercive diplomacy’
According to Trudeau, Canada intends to work with allies to challenge the Chinese government’s “coercive diplomacy."
The Prime Minster, who has been hesitant to publicly criticize China, called attention to the arrests of the two Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the crackdown on civil rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and the treatment of Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang province.
While the federal government wants trade with Beijing to continue, Ottawa will not be silent on human-rights issues involving the Communist superpower.
The prime said Canada built a new framework for relations with China and worked with partners to hold the Chinese government accountable to its international obligations.
In recent days, senior Canadian government officials have taken a much stronger public stand in criticizing China’s actions.
Source: the Globe and Mail #Oct13
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-vows-to-stand-up-to-chinas-coercive-diplomacy/
#Canada #China
According to Trudeau, Canada intends to work with allies to challenge the Chinese government’s “coercive diplomacy."
The Prime Minster, who has been hesitant to publicly criticize China, called attention to the arrests of the two Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the crackdown on civil rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and the treatment of Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang province.
While the federal government wants trade with Beijing to continue, Ottawa will not be silent on human-rights issues involving the Communist superpower.
The prime said Canada built a new framework for relations with China and worked with partners to hold the Chinese government accountable to its international obligations.
In recent days, senior Canadian government officials have taken a much stronger public stand in criticizing China’s actions.
Source: the Globe and Mail #Oct13
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-vows-to-stand-up-to-chinas-coercive-diplomacy/
#Canada #China
The Globe and Mail
Trudeau vows to stand up to China’s ‘coercive diplomacy’
Prime Minister uses 50th anniversary of Canada-China relations to send message about continued detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor
The crime of carrying two cans of spray paint
The 22-year-old man (defendant) had originally planned on attending the rallies at Victoria Park. However, police had already started shooting tear gas canisters by the time he arrived. Once hit by the tear gas, he and his friends ran for cover.
Along the way, a kind stranger handed them a bag of supplies and rinsed their eyes with water and saline solution. Upon taking the bag, he did not check its content right away and only found out later that there were facial tissues, wet wipes, crackers and two cans of spray paint.
As two spray paints were found in the defendant’s bag, the judge said he “couldn’t understand at” why he simply took the parcel from a stranger without checking what’s in the bag.
Read the full translated article:
https://telegra.ph/The-crime-of-carrying-two-cans-of-spray-paint-Part-One-The-invisible-graffiti-01-07
Source: The StandNews #Oct13
#HongKong #HongKongProtest #Hongkongers
The 22-year-old man (defendant) had originally planned on attending the rallies at Victoria Park. However, police had already started shooting tear gas canisters by the time he arrived. Once hit by the tear gas, he and his friends ran for cover.
Along the way, a kind stranger handed them a bag of supplies and rinsed their eyes with water and saline solution. Upon taking the bag, he did not check its content right away and only found out later that there were facial tissues, wet wipes, crackers and two cans of spray paint.
As two spray paints were found in the defendant’s bag, the judge said he “couldn’t understand at” why he simply took the parcel from a stranger without checking what’s in the bag.
Read the full translated article:
https://telegra.ph/The-crime-of-carrying-two-cans-of-spray-paint-Part-One-The-invisible-graffiti-01-07
Source: The StandNews #Oct13
#HongKong #HongKongProtest #Hongkongers
HK Documentary about #PolyUSiege Wins Grand Prize at International Documentary Festival in Japan
Source: Citizen News #Oct13
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Source: Citizen News #Oct13
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HK Documentary about #PolyUSiege Wins Grand Prize at International Documentary Festival in Japan
The documentary "Inside the Red Brick Wall", chronicling the 13-day police siege of #PolyU during the #AntiELAB movement, has won the grand prize at Japan's #Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. This honor has never been won by a Hong Kong film in its three-decade history, until now.
The film was selected as the best Hong Kong film of 2020 by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. However, it had been shunned by local cinemas after pro-government media labeled it anti-police and anti-government. Its premiere was cancelled only hours before its showing by the hosting cinema.
The panel of judges noted that the documentary showed citizens and students being trapped by the police inside Polytechnic University; it documented the reality of youngsters, including minors, as they faced these dire circumstances, whether or not they had food. Live footage also showed photographers being fired upon within the campus
[editor's note: according to statistics from Hong Kong Journalists Association, 3 journalists had been shot with pepper balls at close range].
The film itself carries historical significance.
The film's directors, listed as "Hong Kong Documentary Filmmakers", thanked the organizers through a pre-recorded video. They said that under Hong Kong's current oppressive environment, they must regroup and be formless like water, but believed that "we'll walk together again".
"To all who believe in freedom", they added, "The only response to oppression is resistance. We will keep moving, and keep on filming."
Source: Citizen News #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3awuc0v
#Film #Documentary #Resistance #ProtestArt #FilmFestival
The documentary "Inside the Red Brick Wall", chronicling the 13-day police siege of #PolyU during the #AntiELAB movement, has won the grand prize at Japan's #Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. This honor has never been won by a Hong Kong film in its three-decade history, until now.
The film was selected as the best Hong Kong film of 2020 by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. However, it had been shunned by local cinemas after pro-government media labeled it anti-police and anti-government. Its premiere was cancelled only hours before its showing by the hosting cinema.
The panel of judges noted that the documentary showed citizens and students being trapped by the police inside Polytechnic University; it documented the reality of youngsters, including minors, as they faced these dire circumstances, whether or not they had food. Live footage also showed photographers being fired upon within the campus
[editor's note: according to statistics from Hong Kong Journalists Association, 3 journalists had been shot with pepper balls at close range].
The film itself carries historical significance.
The film's directors, listed as "Hong Kong Documentary Filmmakers", thanked the organizers through a pre-recorded video. They said that under Hong Kong's current oppressive environment, they must regroup and be formless like water, but believed that "we'll walk together again".
"To all who believe in freedom", they added, "The only response to oppression is resistance. We will keep moving, and keep on filming."
Source: Citizen News #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3awuc0v
#Film #Documentary #Resistance #ProtestArt #FilmFestival
眾新聞
《理大圍城》奪日本山形國際紀錄片大獎 團隊:會繼續拍片
曾被戲院臨時腰斬放映的反送中運動紀錄片《理大圍城》再獲國際殊榮,在日本「山形國際紀錄片電影節」榮獲「羅伯及法蘭西斯佛萊厄提獎」國際大獎,此獎項為該電影節最高殊榮,過去三十多年從無香港電影奪得。
WHO unveils new 26-member panel to restart study of the pandemic’s origins
The World Health Organization (WHO) today unveiled a new team to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scientific Advisory Group on the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) will also be tasked with studying the origins of future outbreaks and epidemics and guiding studies of emerging pathogens more generally.
WHO’s proposed list of SAGO members contains 26 researchers from 26 countries, 11 of whom are women. Six members were also part of the international team that traveled to China earlier this year to study the pandemic’s origins with Chinese colleagues. That earlier team’s report had favored a natural origin of SARS-CoV-2, calling a possible leak from a lab in Wuhan, China, “extremely unlikely.” WHO’s director-general later said, however, that it was too early to rule out this hypothesis.
Source: Science #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3gVtkWc
#WHO #COVID19 #SAGO #Wuhan
The World Health Organization (WHO) today unveiled a new team to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scientific Advisory Group on the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) will also be tasked with studying the origins of future outbreaks and epidemics and guiding studies of emerging pathogens more generally.
WHO’s proposed list of SAGO members contains 26 researchers from 26 countries, 11 of whom are women. Six members were also part of the international team that traveled to China earlier this year to study the pandemic’s origins with Chinese colleagues. That earlier team’s report had favored a natural origin of SARS-CoV-2, calling a possible leak from a lab in Wuhan, China, “extremely unlikely.” WHO’s director-general later said, however, that it was too early to rule out this hypothesis.
Source: Science #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3gVtkWc
#WHO #COVID19 #SAGO #Wuhan