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Asked about the protests on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the Chinese government was adjusting its Covid measures based on the realities on the ground. “We believe that with the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the support of the Chinese people, our fight against Covid-19 will be successful,” he said at a regular news briefing. Zhao also addressed the detention of BBC journalist Ed Lawrence, who was arrested Sunday while covering the protests in Shanghai. The Communist Party “has a lot of experience accumulated over the years in dissipating social unrest,” she said. Most of the people who protested appeared to be from the Han ethnic group that dominates China.

☆ China set to launch Shenzhou-15 spacecraft to its space station on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, Nov 28 (Reuters) - China will launch the Shenzhou-15 spacecraft to its space station at 11:08 p.m. (1508 GMT) on Nov. 29, the China Manned Space Agency said on Monday. The astronauts of the spacecraft are Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu, the agency said. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Liz Lee; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Tim Draper Touts Decision to Pull Out of China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Joyu Wang | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TAIPEI— Tim Draper , a venture capitalist known for his early bets in Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, is feeling good about his decision to stop investing in China. In an interview in Taiwan, where he is pursuing new investments, Mr. Draper slammed China’s Xi Jinping , whom he called a “weak leader,” saying the country is going backward after more than four decades of former leader Deng Xiaoping’s “reform and opening up” policy.

☆ Resurrection of U.S.-China Ties Boosts COP27 Climate Talks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Chao Deng | Sha Hua | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—The revival of formal dialogue between the U.S. and China at United Nations climate talks in Egypt is injecting diplomatic momentum into negotiations that delegates say have been rife with division. Cooperation between the U.S. and China is critical if the world is to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, according to climate scientists. Without the world’s two largest emitters of carbon dioxide working together, they say, it will be impossible to meet the target of limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius and preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius.

☆ Egypt Dims the Lights in Cairo to Free Up More Gas for Europe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Chao Deng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

CAIRO—Egypt is racing to provide more natural gas to Europe by cutting back on its domestic energy consumption, part of an effort to bulk up state coffers amid an economic crisis. The Egyptian government started this summer to direct the scaling back of domestic electricity consumption, reducing lighting in some streets, squares and other public areas, as well as in shops and government buildings. The aim is to try to lower the amount of natural gas needed for generating electricity by 15% and ship that surplus to buyers in Europe, who are paying top dollar for liquefied natural gas.

☆ Every World Cup 2022 squad announced: USMNT, Germany, Belgium and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —‘Tis the season for wall charts and fans gathering around to pick their starting teams for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “It’s always difficult when a guy helps you get to the World Cup, he scores three goals in World Cup qualifying and isn’t going to be a part of the program. Again, it’s more about who we did add that we felt good about.”All but one of the 26 will be making their World Cup debut at this year’s tournament and, according to the USMNT, it will be the youngest team to qualify for the World Cup. Octavio Passos/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesGhanaManager: Otto AddoThe final squad has not been announced yet. READ: Meet Otto Addo, the coach responsible for guiding some of Europe’s brightest young talents (2021)—–PortugalManager: Fernando SantosThe final squad has not been announced yet.

The U.S. outlined a new carbon-credit plan that aims to pump billions of dollars into developing countries’ energy transition, while some businesses expressed caution over investing in the program. On Wednesday, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry presented the program, called the Energy Transition Accelerator, at United Nations climate talks in Egypt. The program, he said, aims to enlist investors in efforts to reduce emissions across entire regions or countries by paying developing nations to shut down fossil-fuel energy sources and accelerate the construction of renewable energy.

☆ U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry Rekindles Contact With China at COP27
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Chao Deng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said on Tuesday that he spoke with his Chinese counterpart during the COP27 United Nations climate conference, rekindling contact between countries that are pivotal in the global effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions. “We need to be talking to each other because we’re the two biggest economies in the world and the two biggest emitters,” Mr. Kerry told The Wall Street Journal at a live event at the Egyptian seaside resort where the 27th U.N. climate gathering is taking place.

☆ Egypt’s Food Supply in Danger as Farmers Struggle to Adapt to Climate Change
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Chao Deng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

FAYOUM, Egypt—Armyworms have ravaged Mohamed Abdel Tawab’s maize crop, the result of increasingly frequent heat waves in this central Egyptian oasis that lies to the west of the Nile. In recent years, the changing weather patterns have helped give rise to pests that have attacked his tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis and eggplants. Earlier this year, he tried to plant clover, but the weather was too hot and no sprouts appeared.

☆ Factbox: List of squads for the 2022 World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Midfielders: Aaron Mooy (Celtic), Jackson Irvine (FC St. Pauli), Ajdin Hrustic (Hellas Verona), Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Keanu Baccus (St Mirren). Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras). Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United). Midfielders: Thomas Delaney (Sevilla), Mathias Jensen (Brentford), Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur). JAPANDefender Yuta Nakayama was called up but will miss the World Cup after suffering an Achilles injury.

☆ Xi shook up the power order in China, but the world should expect little change — because Xi is still the complete puppet master, 2 experts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Last month, Xi Jinping announced who would join him to be the top seven officials in China. Kevin Frayer/Stringer/Getty ImagesBoosted to the second-in-command spot by Xi, Li is thought to be one of the president's closest protégés. Having been the lowest-ranked member of the previous standing committee, Zhao has jumped four positions to get to his current role. It indicates to me that Xi Jinping is satisfied with the work that Zhao has done," said Loh. "Xi Jinping makes it very clear.

☆ Egypt Keeps Tight Grip on Protests as Host of COP27 Climate Conference
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Chao Deng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Demonstrators have to navigate through a complex registration system to gain access to a limited “Green Zone” protest space outside the main COP27 conference area in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—Egyptian authorities have detained more than a hundred people in connection with demonstrations planned for the COP27 climate summit with rights groups saying the government appears increasingly concerned that protests could spill over into a broader display of dissent against President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi . Human Rights Watch, a New York-based nonprofit, on Sunday said that camera-surveillance networks had been set up in taxis in Sharm El Sheikh to monitor who is traveling around the town. It also pointed to a complex registration system to gain access to a limited “Green Zone” protest space outside the main conference as a further indication that Egyptian authorities are trying to limit free speech around the summit.

☆ Leaders Gather for COP27 as Fallout From Ukraine War Complicates Climate Talks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Eric Niiler | Chao Deng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

COP27 is expected to focus on boosting funds to developing countries to help them adapt to the effects of climate change. SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—World leaders began to converge on Egypt on Monday at the outset of two weeks of climate talks overshadowed by the war in Ukraine and energy-market turmoil. French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will help kick off the proceedings, while President Biden will join the talks later in the week. Absent from the summit are the leaders China and Russia, countries that have a pivotal role in shaping the global energy map.

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is planning to propose a new carbon-credit program that aims to ramp up funding from businesses and governments in wealthy economies to help developing countries cut back on fossil fuels. Mr. Kerry said in an interview that he plans to make the proposal at the United Nations climate-change conference in Egypt on Wednesday, adding that he was still consulting with representatives of other countries on the size and structure of the program.

☆ British minister to visit Taiwan for trade talks, meet president
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, Nov 7 (Reuters) - A British minister will visit Taiwan this week for trade talks and meet President Tsai Ing-wen, his office said on Monday, the latest high-level engagement between a Western government and the island which China claims as its own territory. Britain's Department for International Trade said Greg Hands, minister of state for trade and also a member of parliament, would meet Tsai and co-host the 25th annual UK-Taiwan Trade Talks during his two-day visit. "Visiting Taiwan in person is a clear signal of the UK's commitment to boosting UK-Taiwan trade ties. Hands will also meet Taiwan's top trade negotiator John Deng and Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua, it added. China staged war games near Taiwan in August following a visit to Taipei by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

☆ IMF to Lend Egypt $3 Billion to Help Safeguard Economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Chao Deng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Egyptian authorities have been struggling to import enough wheat, corn and soybeans to feed the country’s population. CAIRO—The International Monetary Fund reached an agreement on Thursday to lend $3 billion to Egypt, its latest effort to help emerging markets hit by the war in Ukraine and global inflation. Egypt has been one of the hardest hit emerging market economies amid the strengthening dollar, with authorities struggling to import enough wheat, corn and soybeans. Private businesses in particular have been squeezed as the government imposes import restrictions to try to preserve its foreign currency reserves.

☆ Analysis: Xi's next premier faces tough task reviving Chinese economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Kevin Yao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China's economic tsar, Liu He, a U.S.-trained economist who is seen as the brains behind earlier reforms, will be replaced by He Lifeng, another Xi acolyte. "We face the problem of weakening expectations and confidence and it's empty talk if we cannot revitalise the economy," Jia said. China's economic miracle started in 1978 when Deng Xiaoping kicked off historic reforms, allowing more private enterprises and opening the economy to foreign investment. The poll showed China's growth could pick up to 5.0% in 2023, helped by a lower base. Xi's Standing Committee choices disappointed investors who had been hoping he would keep some reform-minded officials, including former Guangdong party boss Wang Yang.

HONG KONG — Xi Jinping secured a historic third term as leader of China on Sunday, cementing his status as the country’s most powerful figure in decades and extending his authoritarian rule over the world’s second-largest economy. The Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping introduced the limit in 1982 to prevent a return to a Mao-style cult of personality. The Chinese leader reiterated the goal of peaceful “reunification,” without renouncing the possible use of force. “Xi still promises no specific timeline on unification.”But the Chinese leader did put greater emphasis on warning “external forces” to stay out of the Taiwan issue. A telecast of Chinese President Xi Jinping plays on a screen in Hong Kong on Monday.

☆ Factbox: China's Communist Party amends its charter, strengthens Xi power
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Oct 22 (Reuters) - China's ruling Communist Party amended its constitution on Saturday, further cementing President Xi Jinping's power ahead of what is expected to be his precedent-breaking third term as party general secretary. The party constitution, or charter, is a document of ultimate authority by which all 96 million party members must abide, and amendments remain effective indefinitely. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterXi, 69, is widely expected to be confirmed on Sunday to a third five-year leadership term as party general secretary. Saturday's revisions incorporate priorities and policy directions that Xi had outlined in the past, including:-"Two Establishes", which defines Xi as the "core" leader of the party and cements his ideas as the guiding principles of China's future development. -"Two Safeguards", which assures Xi's "core" status within the party and the party's centralised authority over China.

☆ China says it's running on a new version of democracy that doesn't rely on elections. Experts say it's just another mind game.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

He first introduced the term "whole-process democracy" to China in a 2019 speech. However, by November that year, "whole-process democracy" was mentioned in 128 People's Daily articles, per CMP. "China's whole-process people's democracy integrates process-oriented democracy with results-oriented democracy, procedural democracy with substantive democracy, direct democracy with indirect democracy and people's democracy with the will of the state," says China's white paper on the subject, per CGTN. Semantics aside, a key point to note is that "whole-process democracy" plays down the need for elections. Even so, Chong said, whole-process democracy might still help the CCP give the impression that it cares about the average citizen.

☆ Sen. Patrick Leahy Blocks $75 Million in Funding to Egypt, Citing Human Rights
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Chao Deng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Human rights groups say Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi oversees one of the world’s worst crackdowns on human rights. CAIRO—A U.S. senator blocked $75 million in military funding this year to Egypt, citing insufficient progress on the country’s treatment of political prisoners, despite recent prisoner releases by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi . Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.), chairman of the Senate appropriations committee, informed the State Department that he would put the money it approved on hold ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline for the release of the funds.

But the theme of the event is continuity — of President Xi Jinping as leader, and with that the likelihood of friction with the U.S.-led West. Xi, China’s most powerful leader in decades, is poised to secure an unprecedented third term at this week’s twice-a-decade National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. “Those achievements have certainly strengthened the president’s leadership.”Under Xi, China’s gross domestic product has more than doubled to $17.7 trillion. Born in Beijing in 1953, Xi enjoyed a privileged youth as the second son of Xi Zhongxun, a Chinese communist revolutionary. “The long-term goals of President Xi, as well as general attitudes in the West, will make it very difficult for us to have more cooperation during his third term,” she said.

☆ The Thoughts of Chairman Xi
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The most important election in the world this year is no election at all. When China’s Communist Party anoints President Xi Jinping for a third five-year term this week, it will confirm China’s combination of aggressive nationalism and Communist ideology that is the single biggest threat to world freedom. It all but guarantees an era of confrontation between China and the U.S.***We say this with regret, and not only because war with China would be a catastrophe. When China embarked on its reform project under Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s, there was reason to hope that the Middle Kingdom might eventually leave behind its murderous Communist past. For a time, into the 2000s, that still seemed possible as reforms continued and Chinese living standards increased.

☆ China ex-official Zhang makes first appearance since sexual assault claim
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Chinese former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli made his first public appearance on Sunday since Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai accused him of sexual assault last year, attending the 20th Communist Party Congress. Her post led the Women's Tennis Association to suspend tournaments in China and caused an international outcry over her safety. Hu, 79, slightly unsteady but appearing healthy, followed immediately behind Xi onto the stage and sat next to Xi. Other retired leaders on the rostrum included other former members of the party's elite Standing Committee, which rules China, including Jia Qinglin and Zeng Qinghong. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Yew Lun Tian; Writing by Ben Blanchard and William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"Given the economic and social strain caused by sticking to an increasingly unpopular COVID zero policy, Xi's speech might sound defensive to many Chinese citizens, insisting that the Party has their best interests in mind. ALFRED WU, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, LEE KUAN YEW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE"It is obvious that security is Xi's greatest concern. ZHIWU CHEN, PROFESSOR OF FINANCE, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG"One significant change is to de-emphasise economic development and economic reform. BATES GILL, PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF SECURITY STUDIES AND CRIMINOLOGY, MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY, SYDNEY"This speech said 'continuity' and full speed ahead. "But this was not intended as a policy speech.

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