World

Australia’s government achieved its own peculiar climate goal last week: It managed to prevent the Great Barrier Reef from being listed as “in danger” due to climate change by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. UNESCO has been concerned about the reef’s status since at least 2012, and a draft decision published by the panel in June recommended the danger designation. In the end, however, Australia’s aggressive lobbying of other countries on the committee — including fellow climate laggards Russia, Oman and Saudi Arabia — paid off, at least for now. The Great Barrier Reef — actually a mass of reefs that stretches 3,000 kilometers along the northeastern Queensland coastline — is important to Australia. Much-cited figures from a 2017 report by consulting firm Deloitte put the reef’s value ...

MANILA :The Philippine central bank kept its benchmark interest rate steady at a record low on Thursday and said it would continue to provide monetary support for as long as necessary, as COVID-19 restrictions clouded the economic outlook. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) kept the rate on the overnight reverse repurchase facility at 2.0per cent for a sixth straight policy meeting, as expected by all 11 economists polled by Reuters. The rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also held steady at 1.5per cent and 2.5per cent, respectively. "The Monetary Board ... observed that the reimposition of quarantine measures to arrest the recent wave of COVID-19 infections could pose a risk to the ongoing economic recovery," Governor Benjamin Diokno told a news briefing. Th...

Amid the continuing disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the work of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on issues of trade, diplomacy, development and public health has continued, including the group’s first summit by video conference in November. This year is the 54th anniversary of ASEAN, which counts Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam among its members. Together, these nations are home to more than 10% of the world’s population and generate more than ¥350 trillion in gross domestic product every year. Japan has strong economic and diplomatic interests in Southeast Asia, as well as a long history of involvement and partnership with the association. In fact, 2021 is the 40th anniversary ...

LEICESTER, England: Leicester City got their Premier League campaign underway with a 1-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers thanks to a trademark Jamie Vardy goal in the 41st minute at the King Power stadium on Saturday (Aug 14). The 34-year-old striker showed he was still a menace in front of goal as he popped up at the near post to delight the home fans, making up for an earlier strike that was disallowed for offside. Vardy netted five minutes after Adama Traore spurned a gilt-edged chance for Wolves when he raced clear of two markers from the halfway line before shooting wide with only Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to beat. Wolves were swiftly punished as Ricardo Pereira weaved his way past two markers on the right flank and delivered a low cross to the edge of the six-ya...

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will focus on defending international rules in the South China Sea, strengthening Washington’s regional leadership and expanding security cooperation during her trip to Vietnam and Singapore this month, a senior White House official has said. Harris will be the first U.S. vice president to visit Vietnam as Washington seeks to bolster international support to counter China’s growing global influence. The U.S. official said Washington saw both countries as critical partners given their locations, the size of their economies, trade ties and security partnerships on issues such as the South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety. Former U.S. foe Vietnam has been a vocal opponent of China’s South China Sea claims. Countries in the region largel...

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium: Lewis Hamilton said Belgian Grand Prix fans should get their money back after they waited hours in the cold and wet without seeing a competitive lap in the shortest race in Formula One history. The wet race at Spa-Francorchamps was abandoned after the field, circulating behind the safety car, completed the two laps necessary for half-points to be awarded and commercial obligations to broadcasters and others fulfilled. "Money talks and the two laps to start the race is all a money scenario," seven times world champion Hamilton, who finished third for Mercedes, told Sky Sports after the podium ceremonies. "So everyone gets their money and I think the fans should get theirs back too. Because unfortunately they didn't get to see what they paid for." The Briton s...

HANOI: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sought on Thursday (Jul 29) to nudge forward security ties with Vietnam that have been slowly deepening as both countries watch China's activities in the South China Sea with growing alarm. Despite closer military relations, more than four decades after the Vietnam War ended in 1975, President Joe Biden's administration has said there are limits to the relationship until Hanoi makes progress on human rights. Vietnam has emerged as the most vocal opponent of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and has received US military hardware, including coastguard cutters. Before a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart in Hanoi, Austin said the United States did not ask Vietnam to choose between countries. "One of our central goals is ensurin...

A Jamaican sprinting legend goes for gold and Japan’s men’s soccer team begins the knockout round looking to turn some more heads. Here are the key events to look out for on Day 8. If you’re wondering where to watch the action in Japan, check your local TV listings or make use of this handy streaming guide by The Japan Times. Baseball: Quest continues for Samurai Japan Japan’s baseball team may have left things a little too close for comfort in the opener against the Dominican Republic, but the end result should give them confidence heading into their second game against Mexico. Samurai Japan struggled at the plate for much of the game Wednesday but it’s hard to imagine a team with Seiya Suzuki, Yuki Yanagita and Hayato Sakamoto staying quiet for long. First pitch at Yokohama Stadium...

HONG KONG : Chinese artificial intelligence startup SenseTime is planning to file for an up to US$2 billion initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong as soon as the end of this month, three people with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters. The company, which Washington put on a trade blacklist in October 2019, has hired Chinese investment banks CICC and Haitong International, as well as HSBC, to work on the float, the people said. Reuters reported last year that SenseTime was considering an IPO https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sensetime-ipo-exclusive-idUSKCN24W1JN on China's tech-focused STAR market in Shanghai after raising US$1.5 billion in a private funding round that valued the company at US$10 billion. The company, however, is pushing forward with its Hong Kong listing as t...

Silence filled the floating platform as the last few marching contingents moved off, disappearing under the grandstand. For a moment, everything went dark. Then thundering beats and flashing lights erupted on stage. In the stands, a shimmering red sea emerged as tens of thousands of smart lights, taped to the chairs, flickered to life – signalling the start of the parade’s show segment. Opening with an animated film, the first act of the show introduced six characters from the past and present. They included an aspiring musician and a canoeist who dreams of making the national team. The 14-minute film, woven throughout the show’s four acts, told stories of how the characters overcame adversity to achieve their dreams. As the film faded from the screen, performers, outfitted ...