China - capitaltimesnews.com

CapitalTimesNews / 1 week

1 min read

Tragedy has struck the football world with the news of the death of Gabonese footballer Aaron Boupendza, who fell to his death from the 11th floor of a building in China. The 28-year-old striker was known for his impressive performances in the Turkish Süper Lig, where he once emerged top scorer, and for his standout role in Gabon’s campaign at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Boupendza began his career in Moanda, Gabon, and rose through the ranks at CF Mounana before joining Bordeaux in France in 2016. His success in Turkey and strong performances for the national team earned him recognition as one of Africa’s top young forwards. The Gabonese Football Federation paid tribute to his contributions to the sport, calling him a striker who left a lasting impression at AFCON. “He was a talented player who made a significant impact on the team,” the federation noted. Tributes have since poured in from across the football world, mourning the loss of a talented and promising player. Boupendza’s death has sent shockwaves through the football community, with many fans and fellow players expressing their condolences.

CHINA RETALIATES WITH TARIFFS, ANTITRUST PROBE AGAINST GOOGLE, AND EXPORT CONTROLS ON CRITICAL MINERALS

Nicolas Adekeye / 3 months
0
2 min read

China has announced retaliatory tariffs on select American imports and an antitrust investigation into Google, just minutes after a sweeping levy on Chinese products imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump took effect. The tariffs include a 15% levy on coal and liquefied natural gas products, as well as a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-engine cars imported from the U.S. The State Council Tariff Commission stated that “the U.S.’s unilateral tariff increase seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization…it is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also damages normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.” China also announced export controls on several critical minerals, including tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, and indium, which are essential to U.S. economic or national security. Philip Luck, an economist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that “they have a much more developed export control regime…we depend on them for a lot of critical minerals…they could put some significant harm on our economy.” Additionally, China placed two American companies, PVH Group and Illumina, on an unreliable entities list, which could bar them from engaging in China-related import or export activities and from making new investments in the country. George Chen, managing director for The Asia Group, stated that “it’s almost like telling American companies, what your government is doing is bad, you need to tell the government that if you add more tariffs or hurt U.S.-China relations at the end of the day it’ll backfire on American companies.” The move comes as Trump plans to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the next few days, amidst an escalating trade war between the two countries. Analysts believe that China is better prepared this time, with a slew of measures that go beyond tariffs and cut across different sectors of the U.S. economy.

BREAKING: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS FEDERAL LAW BANNING TIKTOK UNLESS SOLD BY CHINESE PARENT COMPANY

Nicolas Adekeye / 3 months

2 min read

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has upheld a federal law banning TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app. The law, which takes effect on Sunday, prohibits app stores from offering TikTok and internet hosting services from hosting the app unless a sale is made to an approved buyer. The decision comes amid concerns over national security risks posed by TikTok’s ties to China. The US government has expressed concerns that TikTok collects vast amounts of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. TikTok has denied that it could be used as a tool of Beijing, and pointed out that the US has not presented evidence that China has attempted to manipulate content on its US platform or gather American user data through TikTok. The law was passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden in April. A three-judge panel upheld the law in December, prompting TikTok’s quick appeal to the Supreme Court. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar defended the law at the Supreme Court, saying that having the law take effect “might be just the jolt” ByteDance needs to reconsider its position. ByteDance has said it won’t sell, but some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s US assets. The decision has significant implications for TikTok’s 170 million users in the US, who will no longer be able to download the app or receive updates once the law takes effect. However, experts say that existing users will still be able to use the app, at least for now. SOURCE: AP

IRAN PUSHES TO RECOVER 25 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL STRANDED IN CHINA

Nicolas Adekeye / 4 months

2 min read

Iran is making a concerted effort to recover 25 million barrels of oil worth $1.75 billion that have been stuck in Chinese ports for six years due to sanctions imposed by former US President Donald Trump. The oil, which was documented as Iranian oil when delivered to Chinese ports in 2018, never found buyers or cleared Chinese customs after Trump scrapped waivers in early 2019. According to sources familiar with the matter, Iran’s national oil company NIOC stored the oil in the ports of Dalian and Zhoushan in east China, leasing tanks from PDA Energy and private storage operator CGPC. However, PDA Energy is now asking Iran to pay over $450 million in storage fees accumulated since 2018. The talks between Iranian officials and Chinese storage operators have taken on added urgency due to concerns that Trump, who is set to return to power on January 20, may tighten sanctions again on Iranian oil exports. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Beijing in December and made some progress on the issue of stranded oil, but details of the discussions remain scarce. To recover the stranded oil, Iran would need to reload it from tanks into ships, make a ship-to-ship transfer at sea, and redocument it to circumvent Chinese customs. This complex process highlights the challenges Iran faces in selling oil even in China, despite Beijing’s willingness to buy Iranian oil at discounted prices.

POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE HITS CHINA AND NEPAL, KILLING AT LEAST 95 PEOPLE

Nicolas Adekeye / 4 months

2 min read

A devastating earthquake struck a remote, high-altitude region of western China and Nepal on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction and death in its wake. The quake, which measured 7.1 in magnitude, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, killed at least 95 people in Tibet and injured over 130 others. The earthquake’s epicenter was located in Tibet’s Tingri county, a seismically active area where the India and Eurasia plates clash. The region is home to some of the world’s tallest peaks in the Himalayan mountains. Rescue workers were quickly deployed to the affected areas, where they searched for survivors amidst the rubble. “It is a big earthquake,” a woman was heard saying in a video posted online. “People are all shaking.” Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” to rescue those trapped, minimize casualties, and resettle those whose homes were damaged. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was dispatched to the area to guide the relief efforts, and the government allocated 100 million yuan ($13.6 million) for disaster relief. The earthquake also affected neighboring Nepal, where people in the northeastern part of the country felt the tremors strongly. However, there were no initial reports of injuries or damage. The quake’s impact was felt as far away as Mount Everest, about 75 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of the epicenter. The area was largely empty due to the harsh winter conditions, but the earthquake still caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure. As the rescue efforts continue, officials warn that the death toll may rise. The Chinese government has promised to do everything in its power to support those affected by the disaster. SOURCE: AP News

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GABONESE FOOTBALLER AARON BOUPENDZA DIES IN TRAGIC FALL IN CHINA

CHINA RETALIATES WITH TARIFFS, ANTITRUST PROBE AGAINST GOOGLE, AND EXPORT CONTROLS ON CRITICAL MINERALS

BREAKING: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS FEDERAL LAW BANNING TIKTOK UNLESS SOLD BY CHINESE PARENT COMPANY

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