News

Tennis tournaments in China scrapped amid concern for Peng Shuai

Published

4 years ago

December 2, 2021

Brittany Coles

Women’s Tennis Association has just announced that it will immediately suspend all tennis tournaments in China as concerns grow for the safety and wellbeing of Peng Shuai

All events in China and Hong Kong will be immediately suspended amid concern for Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai.

"With the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong."
— wta (@WTA) December 1, 2021

WTA chairman Steve Simon said the decision was made on Thursday after repeated attempts to contact the former world No.1 doubles player.

“When on November 2, 2021, Peng Shuai posted an allegation of sexual assault against a top Chinese government official, the Women’s Tennis Association recognised that Peng Shuai’s message had to be listened to and taken seriously,” Simon said on the WTA website.

“The players of the WTA, not to mention women around the world, deserve nothing less.

“From that moment forward, Peng Shuai demonstrated the importance of speaking out, particularly when it comes to sexual assault, and especially when powerful people are involved. As Peng said in her post, “Even if it is like an egg hitting a rock, or if I am like a moth drawn to the flame, inviting self-destruction, I will tell the truth about you.” She knew the dangers she would face, yet she went public anyway. I admire her strength and courage.

“Since then, Peng’s message has been removed from the internet and discussion of this serious issue has been censored in China.”

Simon said the decision was supported by the WTA Board of Directors and he was “concerned” for the safety of players and staff if WTA events were held in China.

”The WTA will do everything possible to protect its players. As we do so, I hope leaders around the world will continue to speak out so justice can be done for Peng, and all women, no matter the financial ramifications,” Simon said.

Boycott the olympics?

This follows Human Rights Watch accusing the International Olympic Committee of being complicit in China’s rights abuses, ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.

Peng disappeared for nearly three weeks after alleging on social media that China’s former Vice-Premier had sexually assaulted her.

Sophie Richardson is the China Director of the Human Rights Watch and says there is something bigger at play in the region.

"To see the IOC participate in an exercise that could only have happened with Chinese officials permission, is really quite distressing"@SophieHRW China Director @hrw on a senior Olympic official defending #IOC efforts to confirm the safety of Peng Shuai #WhereIsPengShuai pic.twitter.com/4HdH80G5ZQ
— ticker NEWS (@tickerNEWSco) November 30, 2021

Is China an “inappropriate government” to host Olympics?

News

Trump escalates pressure on the Federal Reserve with Powell probe

Trump administration investigates Fed Chair Powell, raising concerns over political pressure on monetary policy and economic stability.

Published

22 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Trump administration investigates Fed Chair Powell, raising concerns over political pressure on monetary policy and economic stability.

The Trump administration has launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, dramatically escalating tensions between the White House and the central bank.

The probe centres on Powell’s testimony over a controversial renovation of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters, raising alarm over whether political pressure is being applied to monetary policy decisions.

The move has sparked fierce debate in Washington, with critics warning it could undermine investor confidence and destabilise economic expectations.

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#FederalReserve #JeromePowell #DonaldTrump #USPolitics #MonetaryPolicy #Markets #Inflation #TickerNews

News

Iran at a crossroads as White House weighs nuclear talks and military action

White House considers Iranian nuclear talks proposal amid rising tensions, balancing military options with diplomacy.

Published

23 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

White House considers Iranian nuclear talks proposal amid rising tensions, balancing military options with diplomacy.

The White House is considering an Iranian proposal to restart nuclear talks, opening the door to a possible diplomatic breakthrough after months of rising tension. The move signals that negotiations may still be on the table, even as uncertainty dominates Washington’s next steps.

President Trump has indicated talks could be on the horizon, but he is also openly weighing strong military options. That dual-track approach highlights the high stakes of the moment and the pressure on US leadership to balance deterrence with dialogue.

Trump is expected to meet with senior aides to discuss strategy and decide the best course of action on Iran, as global markets and allies closely watch every signal coming from the administration.

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#Iran #WhiteHouse #USPolitics #NuclearTalks #Trump #Geopolitics #GlobalTensions #TickerNews

News

Sendle shuts down, small businesses left scrambling

Sendle’s sudden closure leaves small businesses reeling as they scramble for shipping solutions

Published

2 days ago

January 12, 2026

Ahron Young

Sendle’s sudden closure leaves small businesses reeling as they scramble for shipping solutions

In Short:
– Sendle has unexpectedly ceased operations, leaving small businesses without courier services and cancelled pickups.
– Customers are frustrated and searching for alternatives, while competitor firms are reaching out to fill the gap.

Aussie courier service Sendle has ceased operations unexpectedly, affecting many small businesses that relied on its services. Announced via email on January 11, the company warned customers that existing parcels would be delivered at the “discretion of the delivery partner.”

Additionally, all scheduled pickups from January 12 were cancelled.

Customers have been left confused and frustrated, lacking guidance on how to fulfill orders.

Sendle expressed regret for the disruption but did not provide a detailed explanation for the closure. A banner on their website confirmed the halt in services, with social media accounts disabled and customer inquiries no longer being monitored.

The shutdown comes as Sendle had recently merged with US logistics firms to create FAST Group, but that merger has now reportedly unraveled due to financial issues.

Small business owners, many of whom had turned to Sendle for better pricing compared to competitors like Australia Post, are now scrambling to find alternative delivery options.

Unexpected Closure

Many business owners shared their experiences on social media, highlighting the immediate need to find new courier services. One owner reported significant losses and mentioned having to repackage orders that were scheduled for shipment.

The collapse of Sendle has raised concerns about job losses, though the company has not disclosed the number of affected employees.

Competitors have begun reaching out to small businesses in response to the demand created by Sendle’s sudden exit from the market.

Aramex Australia says it “is aware that Sendle has halted all bookings for parcel pick-ups and deliveries in Australia with immediate effect. Aramex recognises that this development may create uncertainty for businesses that rely on Sendle to ship their goods.”

“While Aramex cannot comment on the specific circumstances surrounding Sendle’s operations, we are ready to support e-comm and B2B businesses that are seeking an alternative courier partner moving forward. Aramex has the infrastructure, global network, national coverage and local franchise expertise in place to assist customers who need ongoing delivery services without disruption. Our priority is providing certainty, reliability and continuity of service for Australian businesses.”

“Sendle is a tech platform that has enabled business customers to book courier services. Aramex has a long history of delivering for Sendle customers. Aramex operations continue as normal, providing reliable courier services to our customers.”