Month: January 2024

[ad_1] When asked who won the recent presidential election in Taiwan, the world’s most advanced Chinese-language chatbot gives a confusing answer."Lai Ching-te,” Baidu’s Ernie Bot accurately says. But then it adds: "No matter how the situation in Taiwan changes, the basic fact is that there’s only one China” — a comment that echoes what Beijing’s diplomats said after the U.S.-friendly candidate won the race to be the next president of […]

[ad_1] Russian President Vladimir Putin is testing the waters on whether the United States is ready to engage in talks for ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.He’s put out feelers to the U.S. via indirect channels to signal he’s open to discussion, including potentially on future security arrangements for Ukraine, according to two people close to the Kremlin.U.S. officials say they’re not aware of the supposed overtures, which may amount to […]

[ad_1] DUBAI – Chinese officials have asked their Iranian counterparts to help rein in attacks on ships in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed Houthis, or risk harming business relations with Beijing, four Iranian sources and a diplomat familiar with the matter said.The discussions about the attacks and trade between China and Iran took place at several recent meetings in Beijing and Tehran, the Iranian sources said, declining to provide […]

[ad_1] TAICHUNG, Taiwan – The first batch of new recruits began their one-year compulsory military service in Taiwan on Thursday after the conscription period was extended from four months due to government concerns about China's rising military threat.President Tsai Ing-wen announced the extension in late 2022.China has ramped up military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan to assert its sovereignty claims, including almost daily Chinese air force missions near the […]

[ad_1] Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet approved a financial aid package Thursday for the quake-stricken Noto Peninsula region in Ishikawa Prefecture.The package is intended to support recovery efforts and aid the local economies of Ishikawa and the surrounding prefectures that were devastated after a 7.6 magnitude quake hit the region on New Year’s Day.The funding comes more than three weeks after the quake struck. And yet, more than 46,000 households […]

[ad_1] The prices of new condos in Tokyo jumped to a record high for the third straight year in 2023, driven by low supply and rising building costs.The average price of a new apartment for sale in the Greater Tokyo area surged 29% to a fresh high of ¥81 million ($548,000), according to the Real Estate Economic Institute, which has been tracking the data since 1973.New condo values have now […]

[ad_1] Japan Football Association President Kozo Tashima on Wednesday condemned online abuse directed at Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki while he has been playing at the Asian Cup in Qatar. The 21-year-old Suzuki, whose father is of Ghanaian descent and mother is Japanese, received abusive messages via social media after playing in Japan's 4-2 win over Vietnam and 2-1 defeat to Iraq in Group D. "It's simply unacceptable behavior, and we […]