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☆ A devastating fried chicken shop explosion in China has killed 7 people and injured 27 others, the authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The intense blast seized national attention in China and drew controversy when frontline staff blocked local reporters. AdvertisementA suspected gas leak explosion in a fried chicken store has killed seven people and injured 27 others in Yanjiao, a town just east of Beijing, state media and authorities said on Thursday morning local time. Another state media reporter, Xu Mengzhe, was seen physically struggling with a group of policemen who surrounded her and two colleagues. She wore a jacket with a logo for China Media Group, a state-owned broadcasting company. "They must not control public opinion, simply and crudely obstructing media reporters from performing their duties," the association said.

Persons: —, VCG, Ng Han Guan, Yang, Xu Mengzhe, Xu, Zhong Ming Organizations: Service, Getty Images, Emergency Management Bureau, Business, Authorities, Firefighters, China Media Group, China Journalists Association Locations: Yanjiao, China, Beijing

☆ U.S.-China fentanyl talks get off to a 'productive' start, security advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong (C) announces the launch of the U.S.-China Counternarcotics Working Group next to U.S. Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal (center L) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on January 30, 2024. Ng Han Guan | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — The U.S. and China had a "productive" first day of talks in Beijing about the fentanyl crisis, Jennifer Daskal, a deputy homeland security advisor, told NBC News' Janis Mackey Frayer in an exclusive interview Tuesday. "We're looking for results and we had a productive step forward," Daskal said, while acknowledging the risk that China could use its sway over the fentanyl supply chain as a bargaining chip. Daskal, leader of the White House delegation for this week's high-level talks, said the diversity of representatives from both sides "showed a real commitment." "We will know if it works if we start seeing the supply of precursor drugs diminish, if we start seeing the supply of pill presses and other equipment diminish," Daskal said.

Persons: of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, Jen Daskal, Ng, Guan, Jennifer Daskal, Janis Mackey Frayer, Daskal, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Wang Xiaohong, Wang, Biden, Hua Zhendong, Mackey, Hua, Yu Haibin, Yu, NBC's Mackey Frayer Organizations: of Public Security, U.S ., Homeland, Getty, NBC News, National Narcotics Control Commission, Public Security, Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science, China -, Counternarcotics, White House, International Narcotics Control Locations: U.S, China, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Afp, BEIJING, The U.S, Mexico, Washington, San Francisco

Kim’s delegation likely includes his foreign minister, Choe Sun Hui, and his top two military officials – Korean People’s Army Marshals Ri Pyong Chol and Pak Jong Chon. Other officials identified in North Korean state media photos may hint at what Kim might seek from Putin and what he would be willing to give. U.S. officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders. After decades of a complicated, hot-and-cold relationship, Russia and North Korea have been drawing closer since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Both Russian and North Korean officials denied such claims.

Persons: —, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Kim, Jeon Ha Gyu, Choe Sun Hui, Ri, Pak Jong Chon, Putin, Pak, Song, Adm, Kim Myong Sik, it's, Kim Jong, Jo Chun Ryong, Putin’s, Dmitry Peskov, ”, Adrienne Watson, “, Matthew Miller, Wagner, Sergei Shoigu, Jim Heintz, Aamer Madhani, Matthew Lee, Dake Kang, Ng Han Guan Organizations: Korean Central News Agency, Korea’s Defense Ministry, Korean People’s, Korea’s Unification Ministry, TASS, Associated Press, White, National Security, North, Democratic People’s, ”, Washington, United, Korean, Russian Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Russia, Ukraine, North, North Korean, Korea, Russian, Vladivostok, Pyongyang, North Korea, Monday ., Ukrainian, DPRK, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Washington, Japan, Moscow, Beijing, United States, Korean, Tallinn, Estonia, Fangchuan, China, russia, ukraine

☆ Opinion: The ‘rising superpower’ myth about China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Opinion Peter Bergen | Joel Rayburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

He was the US Special Envoy for Syria and the senior director for Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon on the National Security Council staff during the Trump administration. After that, China’s National Bureau of Statistics said it would suspend publishing youth unemployment data in the future. What does it signify that China’s national power, which today is vast, is almost certain to be weaker in the future? If Xi and his strategists have a feasible plan for nimbly averting China’s demographic doom, they are keeping very quiet about it. This brings us back to the question of national security strategies for the United States and its allies.

Persons: Peter Bergen, Peter Bergen ”, Joel Rayburn, Trump, Biden, Saddam Hussein’s, Lloyd Austin, China’s, Xi Jinping, Stephen Shaver, ”, Ng Han Guan, Xi, China “, ” Trump Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, American Center for Levant Studies, New America, US, National Security Council, CNN, Strategy, Pentagon, of Defense, Development Research Center, Communist Party, UPI, Manpower, Census Bureau, National Bureau of Statistics, Financial, China’s Southwestern University of Finance, Economics, Rocky, United Nations, Beijing, Pew Research Center, Communist, Trump administration’s National Security, Twitter, Trump Locations: New America, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Washington, China, United States, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, al Qaeda, Ukraine, People’s Republic of China, Beijing, India, Yarkent County, China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Saudi Arabia, USSR, Russia, Russia’s Ukraine, Vietnam, Korea, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong

“We’re horrified that something like this could happen, not only to us, but to anyone,” Saffrine Duggan told her supporters. Former US fighter pilot Daniel Duggan is in custody in Australia pending extradition to the US on charges including that he trained Chinese military pilots. Courtesy Saffrine DugganTraining Chinese pilotsDuggan doesn’t deny training Chinese pilots, but he maintains they were civilians – plane enthusiasts seeking to improve their skills or prospective members of China’s then rapidly expanding aviation industry. And a spokesperson for New Zealand’s Defence Force confirmed to Reuters that four of its former military pilots had been recruited by the company. It’s the wrong type of approach and landing.”In its statement to CNN, TFASA denied teaching aircraft carrier approach and landing techniques to Chinese military pilots.

Persons: Daniel Duggan, Duggan, Duggan’s, “, ”, Saffrine, “ We’re, ” Saffrine Duggan, Paul Devitt, Duggan –, –, ” Duggan, Saffrine Duggan, TFASA, they’re, Duggan doesn’t, China’s, Glenn Kolomeitz, ” “ Dan, Richard Marles, It’s, Constant, Daniel Duggan's, Mike Burgess, Ben Hancock, ” Hancock, Hancock, hasn’t, Dan didn’t, “ TFASA, he’s, Xi Jinping, reunify, Joe Biden, Ng Han Guan, Xi, Donald Trump, “ Don’t Organizations: Australia CNN —, Marine Attack Squadron, Intelligence, Security, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Lithgow Correctional Centre, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, US Marines, US State Department, of Defense Trade, Test Flying Academy of South, CNN, TFASA, Embassy, Former, Saffrine Duggan Training, Australian Defence Force, RAF, UK Defence Ministry, UK Armed Forces, Australia’s, New Zealand’s Defence Force, Reuters, Marles, ASIO, Buckeye, Marine Corps, US Navy, Aircraft, Training Squadron, US Department of Defense, Harrier, Getty, Pacific Locations: Brisbane, Australia, United States, Yuma , Arizona, China, Beijing, Lithgow, Sydney, Australian, Test Flying Academy of South Africa, Tasmania, South Africa, Former US, New South Wales, Persian, Asia, Townsville, Pensacola, Fla, Western, Taiwan, AFP

[1/2] U.S. climate envoy John Kerry, at right walks next to U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns as they arrive for meetings at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Ng Han Guan/Pool via REUTERSBEIJING, July 19 (Reuters) - Climate change is a "universal threat" that should be handled separately from broader diplomatic issues, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry told Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng on Wednesday after two days of what he called constructive but complex talks. Acknowledging the diplomatic difficulties between the two sides in recent years, Kerry said climate should be treated as a "free-standing" challenge that requires the collective efforts of the world's largest economies to resolve. Kerry told reporters earlier that his talks with Chinese officials this week have been constructive but complicated, with the two sides still dealing with political "externalities", including Taiwan.

Persons: John Kerry, China Nicholas Burns, Ng Han Guan, Han Zheng, Kerry, Wang Yi, Premier Li Qiang, Xie Zhenhua, Han, Nancy Pelosi, It's, Valerie Volcovici, David Stanway, Stephen Coates Organizations: of, People, REUTERS, Premier, . House, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, Beijing, REUTERS BEIJING, Europe, Asia, United States, Dubai, Paris, Taiwan

It was by a young Chinese pitch invader, eager to meet his hero, the seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or. Videos that have gone viral on Chinese social media show the young fan leaping from the stands before sprinting toward the Argentine striker – who like him was wearing the number 10 jersey – and giving him a hug. A Chinese fan runs onto the pitch to hug soccer superstar Lionel Messi during a friendly match between Argentina and Australia at the Worker's Stadium in Beijing on June 15. Ng Han Guan/APWith the crowd cheering three security guards then give chase, the first of them falling over as the young fan evades his grasp. On Chinese social media, many users – football fans or otherwise – celebrated the young fan’s sprint across the grass pitch as a liberating moment.

Persons: Lionel Messi –, –, Messi, Lionel Messi, Ng Han Guan, Emiliano Martinez, ”, Thomas Peter, ” “ Messi, I’m, flailing, “ Organizations: Beijing CNN, Australia, Argentine, Workers, Global Times, Messi, Reuters, FIFA, De Football Association, Indonesia Locations: Beijing, Argentina, Australia, China, Jakarta

☆ These are the top 10 stocks held by 'Big Short' investor Michael Burry
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Michael Burry invested a lot of money into the stock market last quarter, according to 13F filings. The "Big Short" investor who has held a bearish tilt towards stocks initiated 17 new positions last quarter. These are the top 10 stocks held by Burry's Scion Asset Management as of March 31. Burry posted on Twitter on multiple occasions over the last few months that he had a bearish view on stocks. These are the top 10 stocks held by Burry's Scion Asset Management as of March 31.

☆ Microsoft’s LinkedIn Closes China App as It Cuts More Than 700 Jobs Worldwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Newley Purnell | Rachel Liang | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LinkedIn exited social media in China in 2021. Photo: Ng Han Guan/Associated PressHONG KONG— Microsoft ’s LinkedIn said it is closing down its China-focused jobs app and cutting 716 positions globally, citing slower revenue growth and changing customer behavior as it becomes the latest U.S. tech company to trim its workforce amid economic pressures. LinkedIn Chief Executive Ryan Roslansky said in a letter to employees Monday that teams globally will be reorganized, and that with customer demand changing, the company would use more vendors.

☆ LinkedIn layoffs: Company to cut 716 jobs, exit China app InCareer amid 'challenging' economic climate
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —LinkedIn, the world’s largest social media platform for professionals, is cutting 716 positions and shutting down its jobs app in mainland China, the California-based company announced. Ng Han Guan/APAs part of the move, LinkedIn will phase out InCareer, its app for mainland China, by August 9. LinkedIn is the last major Western social media app still operating in mainland China. Maimai was launched in 2013 and dubbed the Chinese version of LinkedIn. “We’re also facing a significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China.”

☆ Beijing’s Bain Raid, Espionage Law Are Self-Sabotage
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Nathaniel Taplin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

It’s Party time. Photo: Ng Han Guan/Associated PressChina’s economy is bouncing back quicker than expected. So, unfortunately, are the sort of heavy-handed policies that spooked investors during China’s last big expansion in 2021. On Wednesday China updated its counterespionage statute to cover all “documents, data, materials or items related to national security,” a considerably wider remit than the previous “state secrets and intelligence.” Recent weeks have also brought a raid of Bain & Co.’s Shanghai offices, the detention of Beijing staff at New York-based due diligence firm Mintz Group, and the arrest of a Japanese pharmaceuticals employee for alleged spying.

☆ Chinese Warships and Planes Test Taiwan Defenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Karen Hao | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In recent years, the Chinese military has engaged in increasingly bold maneuvers around Taiwan. Photo: Ng Han Guan/Associated PressHONG KONG—Dozens of Chinese military aircraft and navy vessels were detected around Taiwan early Friday, including one that flew around the island, the Ministry of National Defense said. The 38 warplanes and six ships represented the biggest deployment since China sent 91 aircraft and a dozen vessels to greet Taiwan President Tsai Ing -wen the day after her return from a visit to the U.S. this month. China’s Communist Party claims Taiwan, a self-ruling island, as part of its territory and had strongly protested Ms. Tsai’s visit.

Unlike the chubby, fluffy image of her younger self, 22-year-old Ya Ya has appeared skinny in recent photos, with her black and white coat missing clumps of fur. But Le Le died suddenly of heart disease in early February, further fueling suspicions of mistreatment. Throughout the past weeks, Ya Ya regularly appeared as a top trending topic on Weibo, each time attracting hundreds of millions of views. Allegations of mistreatmentWhen Ya Ya and Le Le arrived at Memphis in 2003, it was a huge deal for the city. A petition by Panda Voices to bring Ya Ya and Le Le back to China on change.org has garnered 193,000 signatures.

☆ Forget Macron, Europe and the U.S. See Eye-to-Eye on China’s Threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Greg Ip | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: Ng Han Guan/Pool/ShutterstockIn its geopolitical competition with the West, China has long sought to divide the U.S. from Europe. Last week it appeared to score a coup when French President Emmanuel Macron declared Europe wouldn’t follow the U.S.’s approach toward Beijing. In fact, the European Union has decisively changed its approach to China in the past year. Europeans use milder language than Americans, saying they wish to “de-risk” their economic relationship with China, not “decouple.” But in substance, European de-risking and American decoupling look much the same. Indeed, Europe is erecting economic defenses against China that in some cases go further than the U.S.

☆ China's 'Belt and Road' grew out of a lending spree. Now those loans may be its problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAt its peak, China's Belt and Road Initiative was seen as the centerpiece of Beijing's engagement with the world. According to the report, China issued 128 emergency rescue loans worth $240 billion to 22 countries — including Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Turkey, among others. 'Trying to salvage Belt and Road'Chinese efforts to revamp Belt and Road have been underway since 2020, according to one observer. "A nod to the concern that many Belt and Road projects were not economically viable to begin with. "The increased indebtedness in many Belt and Road countries is a direct consequence of Beijing's overshooting in the pre-2020 phase," said Zhong.

☆ China's Li Keqiang announces lowest GDP target in decades amid major economic leadership overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s outgoing Premier Li Keqiang has announced the country’s lowest GDP growth target in decades, highlighting the domestic and global challenges the world’s second largest economy still faces despite its decision late last year to ditch draconian anti-Covid measures. It fell well short of the official growth target of “around 5.5%.”“Having declared the end of pandemic, the leaders are sticking to the slowing GDP growth path in the long term by lowering annual GDP target gradually,” said Ken Cheung, chief Asian foreign exchange strategist at Mizuho Bank. “Moreover, China has been downplaying the numeric GDP target and shifted to balance the quality since President Xi’s era,” he said. Premier Li also said the government would only raise fiscal spending by 5.6% this year, which is lower than the growth of 6.1% in fiscal spending in 2022. “After three years of pandemic [measures], it could be more than desirable for governments, especially the local governments, to restore fiscal resilience,” said Citi analysts.

Hong Kong CNN —China has set an official economic growth target of “around 5%” for 2023, as it seeks to revive the world’s second largest economy after a year of tepid growth because of pandemic measures. The new figure was released Sunday alongside the opening of the annual gathering of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s rubber-stamp legislature, in a government work report. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks during the opening session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sunday, March 5. Ng Han Guan/APMoody’s Investors Service has since raised its China growth forecast to 5% for both 2023 and 2024, up from 4% previously, citing a stronger than expected rebound in the short term. Global growth will likely slow from 3.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2023.

☆ Meet the 4 men tipped to run China’s economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —The team of Communist Party officials running China’s economy is about to get a major makeover. They include the four men tipped to manage the world’s second biggest economy: Li Qiang as premier, Ding Xuexiang as executive vice premier, He Lifeng as vice premier and Zhu Hexin as the new central bank chief. That puts the 63-year-old in line to succeed Premier Li Keqiang when he steps down during the upcoming congress. Li would be the first premier since the Mao era not to have previously worked at the State Council, China’s cabinet, as vice premier, analysts say. Stringer/ICHPL Imaginechina/AP/FileThe 68-year-old would succeed Vice Premier Liu He, who led China’s negotiations with the United States during trade talks in 2018 and 2019.

☆ Theranos Ex-President Sunny Balwani Sentenced to Almost 13 Years
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

China Announces Nationwide Loosening of Covid-19 Rules Some movie theaters in China reopened and Covid-testing booths were dismantled ahead of an announcement by authorities on Wednesday to scrap most testing and quarantine requirements. The changes come after nationwide protests against Beijing’s zero-Covid policy. Photo: Ng Han Guan/Associated Press

In Beijing, hundreds of mostly young people demonstrated in the commercial heart of the city well into the small hours of Monday. Freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of arts, freedom of movement, personal freedoms. A security guard tries to cover a protest slogan against zero-Covid on the campus of Peking University in Beijing. “Open your eyes and look at the world, dynamic zero-Covid is a lie,” the protest slogan at Peking University read. At Tsinghua University, another elite university in Beijing, hundreds of students gathered on a square to protest against zero-Covid and censorship.

☆ China’s yuan hovers near record lows against the dollar despite central bank warning
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN Business —China’s yuan hovered near record lows against the US dollar on the offshore market on Thursday, as major currencies around the world continue to tumble after the Federal Reserve’s aggressive hikes. The yuan — also known as the renminbi —has been declining for months despite interventions by China’s central bank. The fall comes despite People’s Bank of China warning traders on Wednesday not to bet on the currency’s continued depreciation. Vendors exchange Chinese yuan notes at a store on Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Beijing. Ng Han Guan/APThe PBOC, meanwhile, has urged traders not to “keep gambling.”“The foreign exchange market is a big deal.

☆ UN report on China’s Uyghurs: What you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-01 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Just minutes before the end of her term on Wednesday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights dropped a damning report on China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. China has repeatedly and vehemently denied accusations of human rights abuses in the region, and decried the UN report on Wednesday as “based on the disinformation and lies fabricated by anti-China forces.”Here’s what you need to know. The 45-page report was the final offering from Michelle Bachelet, the head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), whose term ended at midnight Geneva time. China responded to the report with its own 131-page document, saying the UN’s investigation “distorts” China’s laws and policies. However, activists and overseas Uyghurs have welcomed the report as a symbolic step and a new level of recognition by the UN of the human rights violations alleged in Xinjiang.

Copiii din Marea Britanie cel mai puternic afectați de pandemia de COVID-19 au înregistrat un regres la competențele de bază ca urmare a închiderii școlilor și a restricțiilor de circulație, a avertizat organizaţia Ofsted de monitorizare a instituțiilor educaționale. BUCUREŞTI, 10 nov – Sputnik. Pe de altă parte, după cum a subliniat organizaţia, copiii care au beneficiat de sprijin susţinut în familie au arătat progrese în ciuda restricţiilor şi întreruperii cursurilor. Când a venit primul val al pandemiei de COVID-19 în primăvară, multe școli din Marea Britanie au optat pentru învățarea la distanță, deși copiilor lucrătorilor esențiali din prima linie li s-a permis să participe la cursuri în clasă. Luni, Departamentul pentru Sănătate și Asistență Socială din Marea Britanie a înregistrat 21.350 de cazuri noi de COVID-19, ceea ce a dus totalul cazurilor din țară la peste 1,2 milioane.

Persons: Amanda Spielman, Luni Organizations: Sputnik, Sputnik News Locations: BUCUREŞTI

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