China unveils new destroyer
China showed off the first of its new generation of guided missile destroyers on yesterday as President Xi Jinping reviewed a major naval parade through mist and rain to mark 70 years since the founding of China’s navy. Xi is overseeing a sweeping plan to refurbish the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) by developing everything from stealth jets to aircraft carriers as China ramps up its presence in the disputed South China Sea and around self-ruled Taiwan, which has rattled nerves around the region and in Washington. Yesterday’s parade featured 32 Chinese vessels and 39 aircraft, as well as warships from 13 foreign countries including India, Japan, Vietnam and Australia. A total of 61 countries have sent delegations to the event.The United States has sent a low-level delegation to Qingdao.
Half of Americans back stronger role of religion
Around half of Americans favor religion playing a greater role in US society, while 18 percent oppose that idea, according to a Pew Research Center study published Monday. France, Sweden and the Netherlands, meanwhile, posted almost opposite results: 47 percent, 51 percent and 45 percent respectively were opposed to religion playing a key role in society. Among the 27 countries surveyed in 2018, France (20 percent) and Japan (15 percent) were the countries with the lowest proportion of citizens favoring strengthening religion’s role in society. Indonesia (85 percent), Kenya (74 percent) and Tunisia (69 percent) came out as the countries most in favor of a bigger place for religion. The study did not make a distinction between different religions.
Germany, Japan share borders!
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was trolled on social media after his comment suggesting that Germany and Japan share a common border and would not have “bad relations” because of common economic interests. In the viral clip, Khan can be heard talking about trade and how it can help strengthen ties between the two countries. In an attempt to explain his point further, he gives an example of Germany and Japan and how the countries improved their relations post WWII by setting up “joint industries”. While many speculated that the PM confused Japan with France, many social media users were less sympathetic.
Source: the Indian Express, AFP
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