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The the theft by armed men of nearly 100 trucks loaded with food and other humanitarian aid over the weekend sent prices soaring and caused shortages in central Gaza where hundreds of thousands are crammed into squalid tent camps. On Monday, a crowd of people waited outside a shuttered bakery in the central city of Deir al-Balah. A woman who had been displaced from Gaza City, identifying herself as Umm Shadi, said the price of flour had climbed to 400 shekels (over $100) a bag, if it can even be found. Nora Muhanna, another woman displaced from Gaza City, said she was leaving empty-handed after waiting five hours for a bag of bread for her children. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Persons: Umm Shadi, Nora Muhanna, ”, Stephane Dujarric, Bassem Naim Organizations: United Nations, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, Deir, Gaza City, Aqsa, Qatar, Rafah

☆ Students injured in China school crash as nerves fray over recent attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

CCTV and other state media reported that the vehicle hit people outside a primary school in the city of Changde in Hunan province as students were coming in for the day. The scene after a car crashed outside a primary school in Changde, China, on Tuesday. Short video clips circulating on Chinese social media on Tuesday showed young children running into the Changde school compound, shouting, “Help.”One clip shows a compact, white SUV stopped beyond the school entrance. Reuters was able to verify that the location where the videos were shot matched the reported location of the crash at a primary school for children between about 6 and 12 years old. What has happened to society now?” said one commenter on social media platform Weibo.

Persons: “, ”, People’s Procuratorate, Ying Yong, Weiguo, ” Qu Organizations: Police, Reuters, Changde, AFP, Getty, Weibo, ” Police, Fudan University Locations: BEIJING, China, Changde, Hunan, Zhuhai, China’s Wuxi, Wuxi, Weibo

☆ Eight killed in stabbing attack at vocational college in eastern China
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — A former student went on a stabbing rampage at a vocational college in eastern China on Saturday, killing eight people and wounding 17 others, police said, adding it appeared the suspect was angry over not getting his graduation certificate and failing an exam. The knife attack took place at the Wuxi Vocational College of Arts and Technology in Yixing, part of Wuxi city in the eastern province of Jiangsu. The suspect was apprehended at the scene and confessed to his actions, police added. “According to preliminary investigations, the suspect, surname Xu — male, 21 years old, a 2024 graduate of the college — attacked others after failing an exam and not receiving his graduation certificate, as well as being dissatisfied with his internship compensation,” a statement by the Yixing Public Security Bureau said. It added that efforts were underway to treat the injured and investigate the case.

Persons: Xu —, — Organizations: Wuxi Vocational College of Arts and Technology, Yixing Public Security Bureau Locations: BEIJING, China, Wuxi, Yixing, Jiangsu, Zhuhai

“I was completely stunned when he mentioned violence so bluntly,” said the 32-year-old, who was born and raised in China. In Britain, “Cafe Scientifique,” a laid-back science debate forum, kicked off in 1998 and “Pint of Science,” a three-day science festival, launched in May 2013. Unlike Western universities, which generally welcome the public, most Chinese campuses remain fenced off, keeping their academic resources exclusive to students, faculty and authorized personnel. Nationalist voices online have also grown into a powerful unofficial force policing speech across Chinese social media. Liang, who deemed the state-building talk “bold,” said he loves these academic pub sessions but suspects they will eventually face restriction.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Liang Xiao, urbanites, Liang, ”, …, Lei Ya, Cinnamon Wu, Wu, Jerry Zhang, “ It’s, ” Wu, Zhang, Jerry Zhang Elephant, China’s, They’ve, Lei, Kang Siqin, Kang, ” Kang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, American, Guangzhou –, Harvard University, CNN, ” University, Communist Party, Chinese University of Hong Locations: Hong Kong, Shanghai, China, “, China’s, Beijing, Guangzhou, West, Britain, ”, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

☆ Shooting erupts at Sao Paulo airport in apparent assassination of businessman: CNN Brasil
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Julia Vargas Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A businessman was killed in an apparently targeted shooting at São Paulo’s international airport on Friday, CNN Brasil reports. A vehicle matching that description was later found abandoned near the airport, and investigators are determining if it was used in the attack, CNN Brasil added. In a statement, Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport confirmed that police and medical teams were immediately alerted. Military police, civil police, and highway patrol responded to the scene, and the Homicide and Personal Protection Department of São Paulo is leading the investigation, according to CNN Brasil. The São Paulo Secretary of Public Security said authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the homicide.

Persons: Antônio Vinicius Gritzbach, CNN Brasil, São Paulo Organizations: CNN, São, CNN Brasil, Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport, Military, Protection Department, Public Security Locations: Paulo’s

Tecoluca, El Salvador CNN —Sunlight pours into the cavernous building. Opened less than two years ago, it is already an iconic feature of the “new El Salvador” of President Nayib Bukele. The cells are meticulously clean — an intentional and stark contrast to the dingy and squalid prisons of El Salvador’s past. He even created his own clique, “Crazy Criminals,” now tattooed across his back, after he returned to El Salvador. Critics inside and outside El Salvador question the veracity of the government’s crime data and claimed success over the gangs.

Persons: El Salvador ”, Nayib Bukele, ”, Cecot, Belarmino, Gustavo Villatoro, “, El Salvador —, ‘, Marvin Vásquez, he’s, —, Vásquez, ” Vásquez, “ Rob, it’s, “ It’s, García, Bukele, ” Bukele, …, Juan Carlos Sánchez, Belarmino García, David Culver, Evelio Contreras, Cecot’s García, El, Salvador Molinas, Molina, we’ve Organizations: El Salvador CNN, El, CNN, Central American, Barrio, Law Foundation, Bukele Locations: El Salvador, El Salvador’s, El, Los Angeles, Cecot, America, San Salvador

☆ AstraZeneca shares fall on report of potential China probe fallout
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Astrazeneca logo is pictured at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2021 in Shanghai, China, July 7, 2021. "As a matter of policy, we do not comment on speculative media reports including those related to ongoing investigations in China," AstraZeneca said. "If requested, we will fully cooperate with the Chinese authorities," the company added and said that its operations and delivery of medicines were ongoing in China. AstraZeneca is one of the biggest multinational drugmakers in China, which accounts for 13% of its overall revenue. In 2022, Chinese authorities had summoned AstraZeneca officials over an investigation of suspected medical insurance fraud by its employees, and had ordered that the drugmaker tighten its marketing activities.

Persons: Leon Wang, Wang, AstraZeneca Organizations: Astrazeneca, Artificial Intelligence, AstraZeneca, country's pharma Locations: Shanghai, China, Swedish

☆ Chinese influence operation targets U.S. down-ballot races, Microsoft says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

An army of Chinese-controlled social media bots is attempting to influence voters in Alabama, Texas and Tennessee while denigrating Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, according to research published Wednesday by Microsoft. The troll network has “parroted antisemitic messages, amplified accusations of corruption and promoted opposition candidates,” according to Microsoft. The bots amplified support for Blackburn’s election rival while spreading claims that she took money from pharmaceutical companies. Moore, McCaul and Blackburn are all running for re-election next month. The Microsoft researchers found the influence effort did not result “in high levels of engagement.” The report did not provide any metrics for how many Americans viewed the relevant social media posts.

Persons: denigrating Sen, Marco Rubio, Barry Moore of, Michael McCaul of, Sen, Marsha Blackburn of, Rubio, China “, Moore, McCaul, ”, Madison Green, Israel, —, China — Organizations: Microsoft, China’s Public Security Ministry, Embassy, Blackburn, Senate Intelligence Committee, Moore, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, National Intelligence, Reuters Locations: Alabama , Texas, Tennessee, Marco Rubio of Florida, Barry Moore of Alabama, Michael McCaul of Texas, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Washington, China, U.S, Israel, Russia, Iran

☆ Mexico ex-drug czar sentenced to more than 38 years in U.S. prison over cartel bribes
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Genaro Garcia Luna, who for several years led Mexico’s fight against the country’s violent drug trade, was sentenced on Wednesday to more than 38 years in U.S. prison for accepting bribes from the cartels he was supposed to fight. In announcing the 460-month sentence, Cogan said Garcia Luna should have “some light at the end of the tunnel,” crediting him for his work teaching fellow inmates at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. But the judge said Garcia Luna lived a “double life,” with the harm he caused outweighing his good deeds. Garcia Luna served as Mexico’s public security minister from 2006 to 2012. Before learning the sentence, Garcia Luna said in court that Mexico’s government and criminal groups had smeared him.

Persons: Genaro Garcia Luna, Mexico’s, Brian Cogan, Prosecutors, Garcia Luna, Joaquin Guzman Loera, El, Cogan, outweighing, ” Cogan, Cesar de Castro, “, ”, ” Guzman Organizations: U.S, District, Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention, Sinaloa Locations: Brooklyn, Sinaloa, Brooklyn’s, Colorado

☆ Hong Kong plans to install thousands of surveillance cameras. Critics say it’s more proof the city is moving closer to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Hong Kong CNN —Glance up while strolling through parts of downtown Hong Kong and, chances are, you’ll notice the glassy black lens of a surveillance camera trained on the city’s crowded streets. Hong Kong police had previously set a target of installing 2,000 new surveillance cameras this year, and potentially more than that each subsequent year. Facial recognition gates at the departure hall of Hong Kong International Airport. Tang and the Hong Kong police have repeatedly pointed to other jurisdictions, including Western democracies, that also make wide use of surveillance cameras for law enforcement. Protesters on the streets covered their faces with masks and goggles to prevent identification, at times smashing or covering security cameras.

Persons: Chris Tang, Budrul Chukrut, Tang, haven’t, Kong’s, ”, Samantha Hoffman, Hoffman, Joshua Wong –, –, “, Miguel Candela, Qilai Shen, ” Hoffman, Sing, Sing Tao, Steve Tsang, it’s, doesn’t, Normann Witzleb, Chan Long Hei, Witzleb, they’re, ” Witzleb Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport, Budrul, CNN, Hong Kong Police Force, National Bureau of Asian Research, New, London, Protesters, New Town, QR, New York Times, Bloomberg, Getty, SOAS China Institute, University of London, Chinese University of Hong Locations: Hong Kong, China, Hong, Singapore, United Kingdom, Tao, United States, Hong Kong Hong Kong, New York City, Beijing, Xinjiang, Bund, Shanghai, Sing Tao, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour

HONG KONG — Three people were killed and 15 others were injured in a knife attack at a supermarket in Shanghai on Monday evening, local police said, in the latest of a series of such stabbings in China. A 37-year-old suspect, surnamed Lin, was apprehended at the scene in Shanghai’s Songjiang district shortly after the attack. Lin went to Shanghai and carried out the attack “to vent his anger due to personal economic disputes,” police said. In June, a knife attack at a public park in the northeastern Chinese city of Jilin injured four U.S. university instructors, none of them critically. In 2022, a man stabbed 15 people in a hospital in Shanghai, severely wounding four minors.

Persons: Lin Organizations: Shanghai Public Security Bureau Locations: HONG KONG, Shanghai, China, Shanghai’s Songjiang, People’s Republic of China, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Jilin

☆ Son Jun-ho: South Korean soccer player says Chinese authorities forced match-fixing confession out of him
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —South Korean soccer player Son Jun-ho tearfully denied on Wednesday accusations by Chinese authorities that he participated in match-fixing and bribery when playing in the country and said he gave a false confession under duress. “I never took part in match-fixing,” Son told a news conference. He was not mistreated during detention, Son added, but described the conditions in which he was held as harsh. The General Administration of Sport of China and the foreign and public security ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Son, who has now signed for South Korean side Suwon FC, said he hoped to continue his career.

Persons: Son, ho, “, ” Son, Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu, Gu Chao Organizations: CNN, South, Chinese Football Association, CFA, Administration of Sport, Chinese Super League, Shandong, Shandong Taishan FC, South Korean, Suwon FC Locations: South Korean, China, Administration of Sport of China, Shandong Taishan

☆ China bans 43 soccer players and officials for life for match-fixing
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Chinese Football Association has banned for life 38 soccer players and five club officials after a two-year investigation into match-fixing and gambling, as part of a crackdown on corruption in one of China’s most popular sports. Power Sport Images/Getty Images/FileJin Jingdao during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Australia and China on September 2, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. CFA President Song Kai said 43 of the 44 had been banned for life from football-related activities, and 17 others received five-year bans. The findings were announced ahead of a World Cup qualifier in Dalian later on Tuesday where Team China will host Saudi Arabia after last week’s 7-0 loss away to Japan. A former chairman of the CFA was sentenced to life in prison in March.

Persons: Zhang Xiaopeng, Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu, Gu Chao, Son, Mohamed Farag, Zhang, Song Kai Organizations: CNN, Chinese Football Association, Ministry of Public Security, Xinhua News Agency, Administration of Sport, CFA, Visual China, Getty, FC, AFC, China, men’s Locations: Dalian, China, South, Administration of Sport of China, South Korea, Hungary, Australia, Doha, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Japan

☆ China detains artist for scathing Mao works created more than a decade ago, family says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

At the height of their careers, the Gao Brothers created provocative sculptures of Mao in a country notoriously sensitive about its former ruler’s legacy. Due to the “deteriorating environment” in China, Gao Zhen relocated to New York two years ago when his son, an American citizen born in the US, reached school age, Gao Qiang said. “Before he set off, his friends and family — myself included — had all reminded him to consider whether it was safe to go,” Gao Qiang said. “Our father’s death was a devastating disaster for our family.” Gao Zhen told the Southern People Weekly, a once-outspoken news outlet, in 2010. Gao Zhen’s detention shows that freedom of expression in China has shrunk significantly compared to a decade ago, Gao Qiang said.

Persons: Mao Zedong, Gao Zhen, China’s, ”, Gao Qiang, Gao Brothers, Mao, Xi Jinping, “ Miss Mao, ’, Du Yinghong, —, “, ” Gao Qiang, Gao Zhen’s, ‘ Miss Mao, Gao, David Gray, Yue Minjun, “ uglifying, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN Sunday, Chinese Communist Party, CNN, ”, Police, Reuters, Communist Party, Southern People, Ukraine, Centre Pompidou, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, New York, Hebei province’s Sanhe, American, Yanjiao, Hebei, Sanhe, India, “, Paris , New York, Moscow, Berlin, Paris

A third teenager has been arrested in connection with a foiled attack on now-canceled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna. The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, according to Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner. Taylor Swift fans gather in Vienna. Authorities display a photo of a man arrested in connection with a plot to attack Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Vienna, Austria. The U.S. State Department and the broader U.S. government have been in contact with Austrian officials about the alleged plot, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Gerhard Karner, Karner, Ernst Happel, Thomas Kronsteiner, Karl Nehammer, “, ” Nehammer, it’s, ” Swift, Sadiq Khan, We’re, ” Khan, Swift, ’, Southport , England Peter Powell, ”, Omar Haijawi, Franz Ruf, Taylor, Roland Schlager, Pirchner, Matthew Miller, “ Taylor, Pedro Gomes, TAS24, Elle, Magnus Ranstorp Organizations: Austrian, Authorities, Islamic State, Investigators, Ernst, London’s Wembley, London, Manchester Arena, Getty, Islamic, of State Security, Intelligence, Ministry of, Interior, CIA, U.S . State Department, State, ” Barracuda, Barracuda Music, Estadio da Luz, Las, Strip, Swedish Defense University, Associated Press Locations: Vienna, al Qaeda, Europe, Gelsenkirchen, Austria, Ariana Grande, Manchester, England, Southport , England, AFP, Ternitz, Austrian, Lisbon, Portugal, United Kingdom, Stockholm

☆ Iraqi teen arrested in Vienna after Taylor Swift terror attack plot thwarted
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Mia Alberti | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Austrian authorities have arrested an 18-year-old Iraqi national in connection with an inquiry into an alleged ISIS-inspired plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, the country’s interior minister said Friday. Organizers took the extraordinary decision on Thursday to cancel three Swift concerts in Austria after authorities said they foiled a terror attack planned for the Vienna leg of her blockbuster Eras tour. “A planned attack on a concert event was successfully thwarted thanks to the timely intervention of the authorities. Austrian authorities said they expected around 65,000 audience members at each of Swift’s Vienna shows, with up to 20,000 fans outside the stadium. It would have been her first Swift concert since she first became a fan in 2018, and she’d been excitedly waiting since buying the ticket last summer.

Persons: Taylor, “, Franz Ruf, ’, Tiffany Kidd, ” Kidd, Vanessa Szombathelyi, she’d, ” Organizations: CNN, Austrian, Vienna, ISIS, Wembley, Swift’s, Hungary – Locations: Vienna, Austria, Iraqi, Macedonian, ’ Vienna, Canada, Swift’s Vienna, Arizona, United States, Ireland, Hungary, Austrian, London

☆ Vietnam’s president is confirmed as the new Communist Party chief — the country’s most powerful role
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Vietnamese President To Lam was confirmed Saturday as the new chief of the Communist Party after his predecessor died July 19. Lam will be the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country’s most powerful political role, state media said. The previous general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, dominated Vietnamese politics since he became party chief in 2011. He was elected to a third term as general secretary in 2021. Giang said the party will vote for the general secretary again in 2026, and Lam’s performance will be a factor.

Persons: Lam, Nguyen Phu Trong, ” Lam, Trong, Nguyen Khac Giang, – Yusof, Giang, ” Organizations: Communist Party, Communist Party of Vietnam, Ministry of Public Security, Vietnam Studies Locations: PHNOM PENH, Cambodia

It’s hard to be anonymous online in China. Websites and apps must verify users with their phone numbers, which are tied to personal identification numbers that all adults are assigned. Now it could get more difficult under a proposal by China’s internet regulators: The government wants to take over the job of verification from the companies and give people a single ID to use across the internet. The Ministry of Public Security and the Cyberspace Administration of China say the proposal is meant to protect privacy and prevent online fraud. A national internet ID would reduce “the excessive collection and retention of citizens’ personal information by internet platforms on the grounds of implementing real-name registration,” the regulators said.

Organizations: of Public Security, Cyberspace Administration, China Locations: China

☆ 10 migrants killed in floods crossing Darién Gap in Panama
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Elizabeth González | Michael Rios | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Ten migrants drowned in a flooded river near Panama’s coastal community of Carreto while crossing the Darién Gap, Panama’s National Border Service (Senafront) said Wednesday. Senafront did not specify the nationalities of the migrants or when they drowned. The agency said the case is still under investigation but suspects that transnational organized criminals and local collaborators led the migrants through unauthorized border crossings, putting their lives at risk. The Darién Gap is a mountainous rainforest region connecting Colombia in South America to Panama in Central America that is a crucial passage for migrants hoping to reach the United States and Canada. Senafront said the only authorized migration corridor is one that leads to Cañas Blancas, “where specialized patrols are available for their protection and humanitarian assistance.”This is a developing story.

Persons: Senafront, José Raúl, “, ” Mulino, Cañas Organizations: CNN, National Border Service, country’s Ministry of Public Security Locations: Carreto, Colombia, South America, Panama, Central America, United States, Canada

☆ China: A spate of stabbings has sparked online debate about country’s economic woes
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But China has been rocked by a number of high-profile stabbing cases in recent decades, including multiple such attacks at schools. These worries were clear on Chinese social media after the latest attacks, with several commentators connecting China’s dire economic circumstances to the violence, even as the attackers’ motives remained unclear. Rare violent crimeTwo of the most high-profile recent attacks came in June – and both targeted foreign nationals. Video Ad Feedback Four Americans are stabbed in a shock attack in China 04:20 - Source: CNNUltra-nationalism has risen across China and Chinese social media in recent years, as has anti-American and anti-Japanese sentiment. On social media, the belief that economic insecurity is making the country less safe remains palpable.

Persons: “, haven’t, China –, Michelle Miao, ”, Mao Ning, Adam Zabner, David Zabner, Adam, Stabbings, Miao, CUHK Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Chinese University of Hong, Stanford University’s Center, Behavioral Sciences, CNN, Ministry of Public Security, World Bank, United Nations Office, Drugs, Americas, Xinhua, Youth Locations: Hong Kong, China, Guangxi, Weibo, ”, Chinese University of Hong Kong, –, Iowa, Beishan Park, Jilin, Asia

☆ Panama installs barbed wire to block migrants traveling through the Darién Gap
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Abel Alvarado | Gerardo Lemos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Panama has placed barbed wire across several routes in the Darién Gap, the country’s Ministry of Public Security said in a statement Thursday, in a bid to block migrants making their way north. At least five passages near Panama’s border with Colombia have been shut using barbed wire installed by the country’s border agency (Senafront). The government said the navy is instructed to stop and detain people traveling by boat with “irregular migrants” and to hand them over to police or immigration authorities from Colombia. The United States and Panama signed an agreement this month on immigration issues that aimed to “close the passage of illegal migrants” through the Darién Gap. Panamanian figures show at least 174,513 migrants crossed the treacherous Darién Gap, from January to June 6 of this year.

Persons: José Raúl Mulino, ” Mulino, Mulino, Panama’s, ”, Gustavo Petro Organizations: CNN, Panama, country’s Ministry of Public Security, Central American, Colombian, Central America, Migration Service Locations: Panama’s, Colombia, country’s, United States, Panama, “, South, Central, Canada, Ecuador, China

☆ Germany blocks sale of VW gas turbine business to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London/Berlin CNN —Germany has blocked the sale of a Volkswagen subsidiary to China on national security grounds, delivering a fresh blow to the already tense relationship with its biggest trading partner. MAN Energy Solutions, part of the Volkswagen Group, said in June 2023 that it planned to sell its gas turbines business to Chinese state-owned CSIC Longjiang GH Gas Turbine Co (GHGT). But a German government review, initiated in September, raised concerns that China might use the gas turbines to power warships, according to Reuters. In November 2022, Germany blocked the sale of one of its semiconductor factories to a Chinese-owned tech company, also citing security concerns. “(We) will now initiate a structured process to close-down the gas turbine division, which will take place over the coming months,” the company added in a statement shared with CNN.

Persons: Robert Habeck, ”, Nancy Faeser Organizations: Berlin CNN —, Volkswagen, MAN Energy Solutions, Volkswagen Group, GH Gas Turbine Co, Reuters, European Union, Ukraine —, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CNN Locations: Berlin, Berlin CNN — Germany, China, Beijing, Germany, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Chinese authorities used bubble wrap to secure a hand grenade kept by villagers for 20 years to smash nuts and hammer nails
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese police said on Monday that they secured a grenade kept as a hammer by a villager in Hubei. A video published by police showed two men in T-shirts and hard hats putting the grenade in bubble wrap. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementPolice in China's Hubei province said on Monday that they had confiscated a hand grenade kept by a 90-year-old villager for 20 years as a hammer for everyday use. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Authorities, Service, Police, Public Security, Business Locations: Hubei, China's Hubei, Baokang

☆ For many Muslim pilgrims, a dangerous unauthorized Hajj is the only option
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Magdy Samaan | Clamping Down On Unauthorized Pilgrimage | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

He was among the more than 1,300 pilgrims who died during this year’s Hajj as temperatures in Saudi Arabia reached record levels. The tragedy, resulting in one of the highest Hajj death tolls in years, has brought attention to the shadowy industry of unauthorized pilgrimage agents. It is unclear how many unauthorized pilgrims made it to this year’s Hajj, but Saudi news outlet Al Sharq Al Awsat reported Tuesday that 141,000 such pilgrims received free medical treatment during the Hajj season. Clamping down on unauthorized pilgrimageBefore this year’s Hajj season started, Saudi authorities warned pilgrims against using agents selling unauthorized Hajj packages and had been in contact with other governments in an effort to crack down on the trend. Authorities had also arrested some illegal agents and issued warnings about penalties for those found to assist unauthorized pilgrims.

Persons: Cairo CNN —, Mahmoud, Salem, “, Abdelzaher Abdo Salem, Om Waleed, Abdelzaher, Mount Arafat, Salem’s, ” Mahmoud, –, Atef, ”, ” Aglan, Aglan, Al Sharq Al Awsat, Hania Hassan Salama, Salama, Mustafa Mohammed, Ahmad, General Muhammad bin Abdullah Al, Rafiq Maqbool Organizations: Cairo CNN, Al, Ma’aisam, Saudi, Egyptian Travel Agents Association, CNN, Hajj, Authorities, Public Security, Hajj Security Locations: Cairo, Abdo Salem, Mecca, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Salem, Abdelzaher, Mount, Mina, “, AFP, Saudi, Medina , Saudi Arabia

☆ China threatens death penalty for ‘diehard’ Taiwan separatists
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —China on Friday threatened to impose the death penalty in extreme cases for “diehard” Taiwan independence separatists, a ratcheting up of pressure even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction on the democratically governed island. The guidelines are being issued in accordance with laws already on the books, including the 2005 anti-succession law, Xinhua said. That law gives China the legal basis for military action against Taiwan if it secedes or seems about to. Sun Ping, an official from China’s Ministry of Public Security, told reporters in Beijing the maximum penalty for the “crime of secession” was the death penalty. Such punishments have little practical effect as Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

Persons: Lai Ching, ”, Lai, Sun Ping, Hsiao Organizations: CNN, diehard, Xinhua, China’s Ministry of Public Security, Reuters, Senior Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, United States

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