The BRICS group wrapped up its two-day leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The summit’s final communique is a 16,000-word doorstop that covers numerous issues from economics to education.
The communique avoids any direct mention of the United States, and references to “unilateralism” and other coded criticism are also relatively scarce. Rather, the communique keeps the focus on the BRICS’ vision of the strengthening and reform of the global multilateral system ...
Category: Sports
Australia to Spend $385 Million on Papua New Guinea Rugby League Team With Eye on China
Australia will spend $385 million to establish a team from Papua New Guinea in its rugby league competition, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday, a move designed to help ward off China. Papua New Guinea has long lobbied for a side ...
Indian, Chinese Blue Helmet Troops in Sudan Face Off in Tug-of-War Competition
A rare display of military camaraderie took place this week between Indian and Chinese blue helmet soldiers stationed in Sudan, where the two sides faced off in a friendly tug-of-war competition (India won).
Beijing Half Marathon Runners Stripped of Medals After Controversial Finish
The top three in Sunday's Beijing half marathon have been stripped of their medals, organizers said, following an investigation into the finish that saw China's He Jie controversially win. He crossed the line first in a bizarre finish after the Kenyans ...
There’s a Simple Explanation Why Three Runners From Kenya and Ethiopia Allowed a Chinese National to Win the Beijing Half Marathon
The organizers of the Beijing half marathon said Monday they were investigating after footage, shared widely online, appeared to show three African runners deliberately allowing China's He Jie to win. Video clips of Sunday's race showed the Kenyans, Robert Keter and ...
Chinese Firm Wins Contract to Build New Sports Stadium in Tanzania
The Tanzanian government awarded China Railway Construction Engineering Group a $113 million contract to build a new soccer stadium in the northern city of Arusha. The stadium will be used for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals. While China has ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
China Fumes Over Messi, Cancels Argentina Friendly With Ivory Coast
Chinese authorities in the eastern city of Hangzhou are so upset with soccer superstar Lionel Messi that they've decided to cancel a match of his scheduled for next month. This follows the Argentinian forward's refusal to play during an exhibition match in Hong Kong last week, purportedly ...
Argentina and Ghana to Play a Friendly in Beijing Next Month
Argentina officially confirmed on Wednesday that it will play an international friendly against Ghana's Black Stars in Beijing on March 26th. China-Argentina relations have been wobbly since the recent election as president of China hawk Javier Milei, who withdrew the country ...
Ghanaian Winger Frank Acheampong Slaps Opponent in Chinese Super League Match in Response to Alleged Racial Insults
Ghanaian footballer Frank Acheampong apparently reached a breaking point on Friday when the Shenzhen FC winger slapped a member of the opposing team in response to alleged racial slurs. The 29-year was ejected from the match for violent behaviour, his first-ever ...
Messi Shouts Out Chinese Fans on Taobao
Argentinian football phenom Lionel Messi appealed to his Chinese fans in the most Chinese way possible: via a live appearance on the giant e-commerce platform Taobao. Flanked by Chinese e-commerce influencers, Messi wished Chinese fans a "happy Dragon Boat Festival." While ...
Chinese World Cup Broadcast Doesn’t Show Maskless Crowds
When Chinese football fans turned on their TVs to watch World Cup matches from Qatar, there was a sense of disbelief over how tens of thousands of maskless fans were all packed together in stadiums while millions of Chinese compatriots at home are still confined to their homes as ...
Qatar Reverses Decision to List Taiwan as a Province of China
World Cup organizers in Qatar appear to have reversed a decision to list ticket holders from Taiwan as being from China. Earlier this week, the Foreign Ministry in Taipei said it was "unacceptable" that its residents would be listed in the Gulf country's Hayaa ...
Chinese Contractors Win Guinea Stadium Bid
The contractors, China Construction Fifth Engineering Division Corp. and China Construction International, won a $298 million contract to build a new soccer stadium in Guinea. While providing stadiums acted as a diplomatic tool for China in the Global South, this seems like a commercial transaction rather than ‘stadium diplomacy.’