Sixteen years ago, China didn’t have a single computer listed (pdf, p.12) among the world’s top 500 supercomputers, machines whose enormous processing power is required for the complex modeling that can lead to new scientific and medical discoveries.
US president Donald Trump is now nearing the end of his lengthy Asia tour. After visiting Japan, South Korea, and China in rapid succession, on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 10, 11) he was in Vietnam, where he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit (APEC), a state banquet, and bilateral meetings. On Sunday, he heads for the Philippines, the last destination on the tour. While Asia’s known for its remarkable cuisine, Trump has sampled little of it, often sticking to much more familiar foods. Here’s a wrap of what he’s been eating so far:
This week, air pollution forced some 4,000 schools to close in New Delhi, as India’s capital suffers through an air quality nightmare. Now, here’s more bad news on the pollution front: the country is passing China as the world’s biggest emitter of deadly man-made sulfur dioxide (SO2).
The world’s largest online shopping holiday is upon us, and it’s not Black Friday.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has given its approval for MosquitoMate, a Kentucky-based biotechnology company, to release its bacteria-infected male mosquitoes in several parts of the United States.
Last year, China’s authorities used Mr. Bean and Batman knockoffs to publicize the importance of safeguarding state secrets, as part of its first National Security Education Day. Now, a 10-minute long cartoon directed at children between the ages of seven and 12 demonstrates how—with the help of a grandparent—you can tell if someone in your family might be working for a foreign spy.
The first made-in-China Tesla could arrive in three years.
Singapore, considered to have the world’s best airport, isn’t resting on its laurels.
Two grandmothers in their 80s dispensing advice to women are now internet celebrities China.
As air pollution in China continues to shorten lives, the government is heavily promoting solar power as a cleaner source of energy. Paradoxically, though, that same air pollution is also reducing the effectiveness of the nation’s solar plants.
The Chongyang Festival—also known as Double Ninth Festival—takes place on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, and this year falls on Oct. 28. It’s a time when families gather to hike up hills and look at chrysanthemums—recreational activities that evolved from legends about dodging misfortune that date back 2,000 years, to the Eastern Han period.
Thailand is holding one of the most elaborate funeral ceremonies in history for beloved late king Bhumibol Adulyadej, after a year of mourning.
Tesla wants to open more stores and manufacture cars in China. That means it’s going to need more workers there.
China just unveiled its new leadership for the Communist Party. It consists of two dozen men in black suits, with hair to match—and only one female face.
Airbnb sees huge opportunities in China, and it’s investing its time and resources accordingly. But it’s also seeing some tumultuous changes in its leadership there.
Tesla’s expected China coup would see it finally build cars in its own factory in Shanghai. But they’ll still likely be treated as foreign imports by the country.
Coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels—it produces per kilogram the least amount of energy and the greatest amount of pollution—and the world is quickly abandoning it.
Starting Oct. 25, Thailand will hold a royal funeral over five days for its beloved late king Bhumibol Adulyadej, following a year of mourning.
Most of China’s screens this morning (Oct. 18) were dominated by one face: Xi Jinping’s.
In 2012, in a key party leadership speech, China vowed to work with international society to “actively respond” to climate change. Five years on, president Xi Jinping just told China that it is in the “driving seat” when it comes to preserving the planet for future generations.
As countries around the world are putting more electric vehicles on the road, they’re also struggling to power those engines. For now, countries are focusing on adding charging stations, but in the future there may be a more mobile option available to drivers: flying drones that come to you.
China’s Communist Party is getting into app development big time, with dozens of apps to educate and promote social networking among party members hitting the country’s Apple and Android app stores.
On exhibit at the Hubei Provincial Museum is a photo series meant to celebrate the harmony between man and nature, as captured by a photographer and businessman during his travels to Africa over the past decade. The exhibition, “This is Africa,” includes the typical shots of elephants, cheetahs, and sunsets over the savanna, but makes one crucial miscalculation. A section titled, “One’s heart makes one’s appearance” features portraits of African children and adults next to animals.
You can now purchase citizenship of the country with the world’s 34th most powerful passport with bitcoin.
