Dengfeng, China | AFP | The young martial arts pupils cartwheeled across a pitch, before football coach Sun Dawei ordered one to deliver him a kung fu kick to the stomach. “You see I avoid the kick like this,” Sun said, dodging out of harm’s way before grabbing his young …
Read More »Chinese media praises Trump’s ‘experience and ideology’
Beijing, China | AFP | Chinese state-run media lauded Donald Trump Tuesday after a phone call between him and President Xi Jinping, saying that the president-elect’s emergence could mark a “reshaping” of Sino-American relations. The pair spoke Monday, when Xi said that the two powers needed to co-operate and Trump’s …
Read More »China official’s election as Interpol chief sparks concern
Nusa Dua, Indonesia | AFP | A Chinese security official was elected president of Interpol Thursday for the first time, sparking criticism from activists who say Beijing uses the agency to track down dissidents abroad. Vice Minister of Public Security Meng Hongwei was chosen as the new head of the …
Read More »Iran back, signs major gas deal with France’s Total
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Iran signed a deal with France’s Total on Tuesday to develop a major offshore gas field, its first big contract with a Western energy firm since sanctions were loosened in January. Total will lead a consortium also including China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Iran’s …
Read More »China replaces finance minister Lou Jiwei
Shanghai, China | AFP | China Monday replaced finance minister Lou Jiwei, state media reported, with some analysts predicting more fiscal stimulus in the world’s second-largest economy. Lou was relieved of his duties and replaced by 59-year-old Xiao Jie, the deputy secretary-general of the State Council, or cabinet, Xinhua news …
Read More »Chinese angry with Museveni
Threat to cut funding leads to fight among energy bosses Sparks are flying between President Yoweri Museveni and his Chinese lenders, Exim Bank, on one hand and between Ministry of Energy officials and of the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL) on the other. Trouble is over the piling up …
Read More »Algeria awards China contract to revamp refinery
Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Algeria’s state energy company Sonatrach on Sunday awarded the China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation (CPECC) a 380-million-euro ($420-million) contract to renovate its Algiers refinery. CPECC, which is affiliated to the China National Petroleum Corporation, will rehabilitate the refinery after Sonatrach severed an initial deal …
Read More »New York fines Chinese bank $215 mn for money laundering violations
New York, United States | AFP | New York’s state bank regulator fined the giant Agricultural Bank of China $215 million on Friday for violating anti-money laundering laws and obscuring suspicious transactions involving Russia, China, Afghanistan and other countries. Citing a deliberate failure to scrutinize dubious money transfers, the Department …
Read More »Huawei takes jab at Samsung with ‘no explosion’ phone
Munich, Germany | AFP | Chinese electronics firm Huawei on Thursday unveiled its latest Mate 9 smartphone in Munich, designed to challenge global market leaders Apple and Samsung with features including a high-quality camera and higher-capacity battery. As Korea’s Samsung struggles with negative publicity following the high-profile recall of its …
Read More »Kenya accuses UN of bowing to pressure in South Sudan probe
United Nations, United States | AFP | Kenya on Thursday accused the United Nations of bowing to pressure from certain countries by setting up an investigation that pinned the blame for peacekeeping failures in South Sudan on the Kenyan force commander. Ambassador Macharia Kamau charged that “certain current and future …
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