भारतीय रोज़ न्यूज़ भारत की सबसे अधिकारपूर्ण, समय पर और विश्वसनीय समाचार सलाहकार वेबसाइट है
Myanmar’s State Administration Council granted amnesty to over 3,000 prisoners on Wednesday, the first day of the traditional Myanmar New Year.
Among them were 3,303 Myanmar nationals and 36 foreign prisoners, including 13 Indonesian nationals and 15 Sri Lankan nationals, the council said.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency
A smartphone with a displayed AMD logo is placed on a computer motherboard, March 6, 2023. /Reuters
A smartphone with a displayed AMD logo is placed on a computer motherboard, March 6, 2023. /Reuters
Advanced Micro Devices unveiled a new series of semiconductors for artificial intelligence-enabled business laptops and desktops on Tuesday as the chip designer looks to expand its share of the lucrative “AI PC” market.
These chips are expected to be available in platforms from HP and Lenovo starting in the second quarter of 2024, AMD said in a press release.
AI-enabled PCs are capable of running large-language models and apps powered by the technology directly on the device, instead of the cloud.
AMD said its latest Ryzen PRO 8040 Series was built for “business laptops and mobile workstations” while its AMD Ryzen PRO 8000 Series was a desktop processor for business users.
Its shares were up more than 2 percent in early trading.
Experts have pinned a possible recovery in the PC market on the introduction of AI PCs, as consumers look to upgrade their systems with the new capabilities.
The advent of generative AI technology has led to towering demand for advanced semiconductors that can be used to develop and run complex AI programs.
In the market for AI PCs, AMD faces intense competition from Intel and AI chip front-runner Nvidia, hailed as a leader for graphics processing units (GPUs).
AMD introduced the Ryzen 8000G Series of desktop chips in January, targeted towards the heavy workloads that come along with AI-based tasks.
On the same day, Nvidia unveiled its own AI PC chips – the “GeForce RTX SUPER” desktop GPUs – saying Acer, ASUS, Dell Technologies, HP, Lenovo and Samsung will release AI laptops featuring its technology.
Intel also said in January it expects to “ship approximately 40 million AI PCs in 2024 alone.”
Source(s): Reuters
Located in Hainan Province, Sansha is China’s southernmost island city. Despite having the smallest land area and population in China, it is praised for its abundant marine resources and unique tropical island landscape.
Marine biodiversity is critical to the healthy functioning of the planet, and the South China Sea is home to numerous species. Let’s take a deep dive and explore some amazing creatures.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows a sea lily floating in the South China Sea.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows a sea lily floating in the South China Sea.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows garden eels swaying with the current in the South China Sea.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows garden eels swaying with the current in the South China Sea.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows a crown-of-thorns starfish atop the corals in the South China Sea.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows a crown-of-thorns starfish atop the corals in the South China Sea.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows a turtle swimming in the South China Sea.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows a turtle swimming in the South China Sea.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows the coral reefs in the South China Sea.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows the coral reefs in the South China Sea.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows a school of fish on the coral reef.
A still taken from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows a school of fish on the coral reef.
More to read:
Take a walk through Hainan island’s Jianfengling rainforest
Rarely seen wildlife in Hainan’s Bawangling tropical rainforest
Journeys in Nature: Amazing Sansha Series
(Cover is a still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series, designed by CGTN’s Yu Peng)
Ten spotted seals were released into the waters off the coastal city of Dalian in northeast China’s Liaoning Province on Tuesday.
Some of the seals had been rescued by the Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, while others were artificially bred pups. Having received professional wilderness training, the seals are now able to prey on live fish independently and adapt to the wild.
A released spotted seal swims in the waters off Dalian, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, April 16, 2024. /CFP
A released spotted seal swims in the waters off Dalian, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, April 16, 2024. /CFP
According to Tian Jiashen, who works at the institute, the seals were equipped with an identification code and a satellite tracking and positioning system, allowing the monitoring of their migration paths, to further study their living habits.
Under first-class state protection in China, the spotted seal is the only pinniped marine mammal to breed in Chinese waters.
More to read:
Journeys in Nature: Fauna in Liaodong Bay Series
(Cover: A released spotted seal in the waters off Dalian, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, April 16, 2024. /CFP)
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency
Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, April 17, 2024. /CMG
Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, April 17, 2024. /CMG
China’s Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship has been transferred to a launchpad atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The rocket and spaceship were transported from its assembly testing factory on a 1.5-kilometer seamless track to the launch site. The combination was assembled vertically for testing and transportation, negating potential issues in advance and cutting down the waiting time ahead of launch.
According to the CMSA, the facilities and equipment at the launch site are in good condition, and various pre-launch function checks and joint tests will be carried out.
The spaceship will be launched at an appropriate time soon, said the CMSA.
The International Monetary Fund’s latest forecast suggests the global economy is facing sluggish growth this year. /CFP
The International Monetary Fund’s latest forecast suggests the global economy is facing sluggish growth this year. /CFP
The global economy is moving forward, but experts warn it won’t set any sprinting records, even if it is an Olympic year.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its latest report on Tuesday, saying economic output will climb 3.2 percent. Global gross domestic product (GDP) grew by the same amount last year and the forecast for 2025 is exactly the same.
The figure is significantly below the average for the past two decades – annual GDP growth between 2000 and 2019 was just under 4 percent.
The IMF has warned that high interest rates could hurt global growth in 2024. /Yuri Gripas/Reuters
The IMF has warned that high interest rates could hurt global growth in 2024. /Yuri Gripas/Reuters
The inflation situation
The IMF is pointing to restrictive monetary policy, saying many countries are still using high interest rates to fight inflation. High rates make it more expensive to borrow money. That can have a knock-on effect, reducing spending and ultimately, putting the brakes on inflation.
Consumer price inflation reached an average of 8.7 percent in 2022, when many countries were rocked by a cost-of-living crisis. It dipped just below 7 percent in 2023, and looks set to fall to 5.9 percent this year.
But it seems the battle isn’t over, with central banks in the United States and Europe still holding off on rate cuts. The IMF says growth could suffer as countries try to manage the threat of rising prices. It’s also warning that inflation isn’t the only problem – many countries are also struggling to improve productivity levels.
The Euro area economy is set to expand by less than 1% this year. /CFP
The Euro area economy is set to expand by less than 1% this year. /CFP
India, China pushing ahead
There are some glimmers of hope. The latest projections suggest India will register growth of 6.8 percent in 2024. The IMF is also predicting growth for China, saying its economy will expand 4.6 percent.
The U.S. economy looks set for relatively robust growth with a forecast of 2.7 percent. But Europe is taking strain – together, the economies of the Euro area are set to grow less than 1 percent before bouncing back with 1.5 percent growth next year.
Trade volumes are set to climb in 2024, but the IMF is warning about a surge in restrictions. /Phil Noble/Reuters
Trade volumes are set to climb in 2024, but the IMF is warning about a surge in restrictions. /Phil Noble/Reuters
Stumbling blocks for global trade
Global trade volumes are on the up, even though attacks on ships in the Red Sea caused some supply chain headaches. The IMF expects trade figures to climb 3 percent in 2024 and 3.3 percent next year.
But there are threats on the horizon. The number of cross-border trade restrictions surged to 3,000 last year – nearly triple the amount in 2019. Many countries are choosing to do business with their neighbours or allies, a trend known as “friend-shoring.” The IMF says there are “increasing fractures along geopolitical lines, especially since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.”
The report makes it clear that the global economy is heading in the right direction, despite those stumbling blocks. The world’s GDP shrunk more than 3 percent in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out trillions of dollars in economic output. In that context, any growth is good growth. But the pace is the problem – and right now, it is decidedly slow.
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A view of China’s Nansha Qundao Photo: VCG
Editor’s Note:
Recently, the situation in the South China Sea has been escalating. The Philippines has been frequently infringing on maritime rights, provoking incidents and spreading false information to mislead the international community’s understanding of the South China Sea issue. How do historical records support China’s sovereignty claims in the South China Sea? How to interpret the Philippines’ false narrative? In response to these questions, Global Times (GT) reporters Qian Jiayin and Bai Yunyi interviewed Mark Hoskin (Hoskin), professor of the Department of English and International Affairs at China Foreign Affairs University and member of the London Court of International Arbitration. He told reporters that based on his research, historical records 100 percent support China’s claims in the South China Sea.
GT: Based on your research on the history of the South China Sea, how do you think historical records support China’s claims in the South China Sea?
Hoskin: I think historical records support China’s claims in the South China Sea 100 percent. If you look at the surveying records of the East India Company and the Royal Navy, all they show is that Chinese fishermen were living on those islands. And these people [voyagers from the West] know about those islands and who they’re communicating with, typically using interpreters from China’s Hainan.
You can also see confirmation of this in the transliterations of that time, which are used today, like Hongxiu Island (Namyit Island) and some of the other islands that allow you to locate where the people actually came from through those transliterations. In the case of Namyit, most likely the name was given by the people of Putian, a city in Fujian Province. In Putian, there are 18 places that include “yit” which means “habitable island.”So when you look at these kinds of things and how they can be found on the Chinese mainland, like the use of stilt houses in flood areas, you see that the record is durable of people living there and that they were using construction techniques and behaviors that are norms of Chinese society at the time.
GT: Currently, there is a viewpoint that the South China Sea disputes are due to China becoming more powerful and starting to make new territorial claims against other countries. What is your take on this?
Hoskin: I do not agree with this view. China’s claim in the South China Sea predates the People’s Republic of China, it even predates the Republic of China. The first Western-style sovereignty claim over the Xisha Islands was made by Admiral Li Zhun in 1909. While rescues by Chinese gunboats occurred much earlier, such as that of 55 passengers and crew from the British SS Paladin by the Sui Ching vessel’s commander Wei Zhensheng in November 1882, this incident was widely reported in Britain at the time.
These historical records, including British, French and German survey records, all show that the people active in the region at that time were Chinese, and China’s sovereignty claims over the South China Sea are not a modern issue, nor are they directly related to the rise of contemporary China.
So part of the reason for generating this idea is the ignorance of history by Western narrators. Another major reason is that they see China’s rise as a threat, and they believe that the Chinese navy only truly became a blue-water fleet after the 1990s. Some Western scholars, especially those who do not understand this period of history, regard China’s claim as baseless, which shows their ignorance.
GT: You once wrote an article expressing issues with the Philippine view of its territory. From a legal perspective, what do you think are the issues with the Philippines’ claims?
Hoskin: They have no basis. The Philippines has been very clever in using and developing laws to suit their own purposes and to suit their claims.
For example, Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island), whether based on the Philippine Constitution or a series of international treaties defining the territorial boundaries of the Philippines, is not within the territorial boundaries of the Philippines. For a considerable period of time, the Philippines did not assert sovereignty over Huangyan Dao. Also, before its independence, its colonizer, the US, did not assert sovereignty over Huangyan Dao. It was not until the 1990s that then-Philippine president Fidel Ramos claimed that Huangyan Dao is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The West Philippine Sea, which is a renaming and a portion of the South China Sea, has no historical basis. In fact, in history, it was always known as the “China Sea.” It was only later that it was called, in English, the South China Sea, because that was the sea that Europeans sailed through to get to China. In fact, if Philippine scholars carefully study history, they will be able to discover these truths. However, they do not want to do this because once they do, they will find that their narratives have no legal, historical or factual basis, which will bring them domestic political problems.
GT: Recently, the US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines held their first official joint naval exercise in the South China Sea. How do you think this action, based on strategic considerations rather than legal perspectives, will impact the South China Sea disputes?
Hoskin: It allows the governments of all of those countries to say: Look what we’re doing. Our naval forces and our militaries need more funding from the taxpayers to continue this “defense” of the so-called international rules-based order. That’s particularly important if you look at Japan, because they want to change the status quo in terms of their pacifist constitution and also the Japanese Self-Defense Forces ability in terms of equipment and posture.
One of the problems that I think is occurring right now in the Philippines is the continued development of military installations. And they want to do so on Ren’ai Jiao (also known as Ren’ai Reef) in terms of turning that old US-supplied warship into something more permanent. They hope to achieve this before the signing of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in order to establish a certain status quo. Therefore, they often say that we need to enforce laws related to maritime trade in the past and use the so-called freedom of navigation to accuse and suppress China’s maritime activities, which is unfounded. The “freedom of navigation” claimed by the US is not the concept of “freedom of the seas” and the freedom of navigation under international law.
Undoubtedly, the Philippines has received support from the US. The US has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and it has emphasized that it is not bound by the procedures of the UNCLOS. However, it has now turned the Convention into a tool to suppress other countries. From an American perspective, they are trying to maintain the global status quo. And that relates not to the trade but to the prominence of their navy and its ability to sail wherever they want, whenever they want. This is part of the idea of the US being the world’s policemen. No one asked them to take on this role. It’s something they took upon themselves to do. That’s where the idea of “freedom of navigation” came from; it didn’t come from “freedom of the seas.”
Interestingly, during the late 1940s and early 1950s, Australia stated several times that they did not want the Philippines to occupy any of the islands in the South China Sea. But now, Australia has signed up with the US and UK to form AUKUS, committing to conducting joint patrols and spending Australian taxpayers’ money on activities they don’t actually need to conduct. The narrative is that we need to defend “freedom of navigation” in this area and be involved in it. It’s a narrative that allows these countries to develop a military that they don’t need for their own defense; it doesn’t actually benefit their own populations to any large extent.
Illustration: Liu Xiangya/Global Times
In China’s “Village Super League” (VSL) soccer tournament in Rongjiang county, Southwest China’s Guizhou Province, a soccer team of international students from Guizhou University played against the Jiangxi Rice Noodle team from Shangrao, East China’s Jiangxi Province, attracting numerous spectators who cheered on the young players.
The Jiangxi team ultimately clinched victory with a 4-2 win.
The team, a choir composed of international students from different countries studying in China, performed the song “Road of Our Dreams,” an original piece about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Narrating moving stories of young people from various countries forming deep friendships and growing while studying in China, the song expressed the international youths’ hopeful anticipation for the initiative’s cultural exchanges and mutual learning, resonating strongly with the audience.
With Chinese culture’s increasing popularity abroad, an increasing number of young people from overseas are coming to study in China to experience the profoundness of the country’s culture and modernization.
Several students participating in the cultural events told the Global Times that they came to China to learn from the country’s advanced experience, which they want to bring back to their home countries to build bridges between China and their countries.
For example, the vibrant and joyful VSL, a grassroots soccer league that has gained huge popularity in China, attracted enthusiasts from various countries to experience the charm of soccer on Saturday.
In a display of cultural pride, 118 international students from 37 countries and regions brought various international dishes and performances, including folk songs and dances, to the event, creating a cultural feast for the audience and players.
Altima Mezui, the 31-year-old goalkeeper from Gabon on Guizhou University’s international student soccer team, described the game as an enjoyable experience at the birthplace of the VSL.
After the match, he candidly stated, “We Africans also have a deep passion for soccer like villagers in Rongjiang. It constantly brings surprises, fosters friendships, and introduces us to new acquaintances. If given the chance, we’ll strive to perform even better in the next season of the VSL.”
In June 2023, long before the friendly match, Guizhou attracted 40 international students from 24 countries and regions studying at 24 universities in China to experience rural development and cultural exchange events.
Divided into two groups, they began their journey from Guiyang to Luodian county and the Sandu Shui autonomous county, which is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and diversity.
Yulia Ipatenkova from Russia is a doctoral student in comparative education at the Faculty of Education, Northeast Normal University.
She told the Global Times that while she has experience with the rural areas near her university, she still does not have a deep understanding of them. Fortunately, the event in Guizhou helped deepen her understanding of Chinese rural areas.
The rural schools in Guizhou left a deep impression on her. She immersed herself in singing and dancing with the students and introduced the culture of her own country. In her words, this was the “happiest memory” among all those she gained while participating in this activity.
“The simplicity and loveliness of the students, as well as their tolerance for different cultures, have deepened the understanding of China among the international students participating in the activity. I hope to share the beauty of Chinese rural culture with more people,” she said.
Visiting landmarks such as Pingtang Bridge in Pingtang county, with a span of 2,135 meters, left a deep impression on South Korean student Shin Moon-sub.
He told the Global Times that he learned that the mountainous Guizhou was once difficult to access by road, but world-class bridges like the Baling River Bridge and Pingtang Bridge have made transportation far more convenient, which has not only promoted local economic development, but also made the life of the people better.
“The bridge is very spectacular. Behind it is the scientific and technological innovation of bridge construction,” he said.
He added that staff introduced during the visit that these world-class bridges have overcome many technical problems, which not only reflects the strength of China’s infrastructure technology, but also shows the achievements of China’s scientific and technological development.
The trips to the Guizhou countryside by international students studying in China is just a microcosm of many similar cultural exchange events.
These young students travel to various parts of China, get to know local history and culture, experience the new face of the Chinese countryside, and gain a more comprehensive and authentic understanding of China.
They hope to understand China through these journeys, leverage their strengths to tell Chinese stories, and strengthen friendship through education.
The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]
Photo: WAM
The World Bank has raised its forecast for the UAE’s real GDP growth to 3.9% in 2024, compared to its previous forecast in January of 3.7%.
In an economic update published today on the latest economic developments in the Middle East and North Africa region, the World Bank said it had raised its forecast for the UAE’s economic growth to 4.1% in 2025 from its previous forecast of 3.8%.
The report also indicated that the UAE’s current account surplus is estimated to rise to 8.4% in 2024 and 8.3% in 2025, and that the country will achieve a surplus of 5.1% in its fiscal balance by the end of this year and 4.8% next year.
For MENA, the World Bank said that the region is forecasted to grow 2.7 percent in 2024, which represents a return to the low growth in the decade before the global pandemic. For 2025, the report said that the MENA region is expected to grow at 4.2 percent. In the GCC economies, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, growth will improve to 2.8 percent in 2024 and 4.7 percent in 2025. The pickup in growth is mainly driven by higher oil output due to the phasing out of oil production cuts and robust growth in the non-oil sector linked to diversification efforts and reforms.
MENA’s GDP per capita is expected to grow a modest 1.3 percent in 2024, according to the bank, which is an improvement from the 0.5 percent rate in 2023. This increase is driven almost entirely by GCC economies, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, whose GDP per capita growth in 2024 is projected to be 1.0 percent, a significant improvement from the 0.9 percent decline in GDP per capita in 2023.
Illustration: Liu Xiangya/Global Times
European governments appear to be ready to move to support their solar power manufacturers this week, but Europe’s solar industry is in trouble – not just due to a lack of policy support but also because of flawed competitiveness.
Swiss solar panel maker Meyer Burger is packing up a German factory to send production to the US, joining a growing list of European renewable-energy factories shutting down or relocating, Reuters reported on Monday.
In contrast to Europe, the US government does provide attractive subsidies and policy support for green sectors. Yet, if Meyer Burger wants to succeed in the competitive US market, it still needs to rely on its own strength, not just policy support.
The solar panel maker’s choice is just one example of the serious challenges facing the European solar industry, which is at a relative disadvantage in the global photovoltaic (PV) market. China has taken a dominant position, with its companies accounting for 80 percent of the world’s solar manufacturing capacity and with low costs.
Meanwhile, US subsidies announced as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act allow some renewable-energy manufacturers and project developers to claim tax credits, intensifying the competitive pressure on European companies.
Nevertheless, the woes facing Europe’s solar industry are not solely due to a lack of policy support, as there is obvious weakness in the competitiveness of European industry. Despite having a well-established solar supply chain, European companies face challenges in terms of technological innovation, investment in research and development, optimized production procedures and cost reducing.
On the one hand, they have not achieved economies of scale in manufacturing. On the other hand, while Chinese companies are actively exploring next-generation PV technologies, the progress by their European peers is relatively slow.
It is exactly under such circumstances that some in the EU have been quick to point a finger at China for the EU’s diminishing competitiveness, resulting in a worrying rise in the risk of trade friction. For instance, in early April, the EU launched two probes into Chinese solar panel makers suspected of using government subsidies, according to media reports.
However, the EU cannot simply attribute its competitive setbacks to China’s “unfair competition.” The global demand for renewable energy necessitates fair competition to drive technological advancements and industrial efficiency. China’s success in the PV industry results largely from its own competitive edges through its consistent investment in technology, scale, cost controls and innovation.
If Europe aims to enhance the competitiveness of its solar industry, it must address its own technological and cost challenges rather than relying solely on trade protection measures.
The significant expansion of China’s solar panel capacity is a welcome development for European companies and consumers seeking to develop their own PV systems. The transition to green energy is costly, and inflation is already high enough. China’s help in lowering such costs is undeniably conducive to the EU’s ambitious energy transition plan.
The EU’s anxiety about protecting its own industry is understandable, but the root cause lies in the long-term decline in the bloc’s competitiveness, not in its competitors. The financial crisis, euro crisis, Russia-Ukraine conflict and bureaucratic reactions may have all played a part.
Furthermore, misleading policy trends, such as hype about “de-risking” from China, have also hindered the progress and development of the EU’s PV industry.
The EU’s ability to sustain and improve its competitiveness hinges on whether it takes the proper measures to effectively address these enduring challenges. Embracing a more open-minded and globalized approach, rather than being overly ideological and protectionist, may offer a viable solution.
