Tag: china

Kobe: US Dream Team days are over

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Kobe Bryant leapt to the defence of the United States basketball team after their failed World Cup campaign, saying on Friday: “The days of the 1992 Barcelona ‘Dream Team’ are gone.” A Team USA missing their biggest names were beaten for the second time in as many days on Thursday in China and are left fighting for a best finishing spot of seventh. It is a sorry end to a long […]

Mall brawls and street fights as Hong Kong polarization deepens

  by Jerome TAYLOR Agence France Presse HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Fights erupted in Hong Kong on Saturday with political rivals trading blows in a mall and Beijing supporters using Chinese flags to assault opponents on a street, deepening the city’s polarisation after months of pro-democracy protests. The once-stable international hub has been convulsed by weeks of huge, sometimes violent rallies calling for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability. The movement is the biggest […]

Pangilinan accuses admin of “laying down red carpet” for Chinese telco inside military camps

(Eagle News)–Senator Kiko Pangilinan has accused the administration of “la(ying) down the red carpet” for Dito Telecoms, a Chinese telecommunications company, inside military camps, noting supposed plans to construct  telecommunications towers there. “The planned installation of electronic communications inside our military camps raises fears of electronic espionage and interference given the record of some Chinese firms for engaging in this illegal activity,” Pangilinan said. According to Pangilinan, “this fear is especially acute” considering  China’s National […]

Philippines arrests more than 270 Chinese citizens in fraud raid

https://youtu.be/jP9ownw9m_s   Philippine police have arrested more than 270 Chinese nationals in a raid on a gang wanted over a vast investment fraud that cost victims in China millions of dollars, authorities said Friday. Agents swooped on an office building in the capital Manila on Wednesday to take four suspects into custody in connection with the 100 million yuan ($14 million) scam, but stumbled upon many more. “The operation then yielded the incidental arrest of […]

US wants to make ‘meaningful progress’ in China trade talks

by Heather SCOTT WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US trade negotiators want to make “meaningful progress” in upcoming talks with China, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday, one day after conciliatory gestures by both sides boosted hopes of an eventual resolution. Mnuchin said on CNBC he is “cautiously optimistic” about chances for a deal to resolve the conflict, but Washington and Beijing will first hold talks at the deputy level to ensure senior officials who […]

New era at Alibaba as Jack Ma rides into the sunset

by Dan Martin SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — Jack Ma steps aside on Tuesday as chairman of Alibaba, ending a spectacularly successful 20-year run during which the charismatic former English teacher’s e-commerce company left a profound impact on China’s economy. Ma, who turns 55 on Tuesday, hands the reins of the company he co-founded to a team of executives led by CEO Daniel Zhang. Ma intends to put his $41 billion fortune toward philanthropic projects such […]

Hong Kong leader tells US not to ‘interfere’ after fresh protests

by Jasmine LEUNG / Sean GLEESON HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong’s embattled leader warned the United States on Tuesday not to “interfere” with her government’s response to the city’s pro-democracy movement, after fresh protests called on Washington to ramp up pressure on Beijing. Millions of people have demonstrated over the last 14 weeks in the biggest challenge to China’s rule of the financial hub since its handover from Britain in 1997. Protesters took […]

Labor report alleges violations by China iPhone supplier

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — Apple and its supplier Foxconn admitted they have been using too many temporary workers to staff an iPhone factory in central China, as a labour rights group accused them Monday of a number of workers rights violations. China Labor Watch said it had its investigators working inside the factory in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou — which makes around half of the iPhones produced worldwide — assessing working conditions […]

Clashes after peaceful crowd takes Hong Kong message to US consulate

  by Jerome TAYLOR / Yan ZHAO Agence France Presse HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Pro-democracy activists jammed Hong Kong streets in a march to the United States consulate on Sunday in a bid to ramp up international pressure on Beijing, but hardcore protesters later clashed with riot police across the city’s core. Millions have demonstrated over the last 14 weeks in the biggest challenge to China’s rule since the city’s handover from Britain in […]

Clashes after peaceful crowd takes Hong Kong message to US consulate

by Jerome TAYLOR / Yan ZHAO HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Pro-democracy activists jammed Hong Kong streets in a march to the United States consulate on Sunday in a bid to ramp up international pressure on Beijing, but hardcore protesters later clashed with riot police across the city’s core. Millions have demonstrated over the last 14 weeks in the biggest challenge to China’s rule since the city’s handover from Britain in 1997. The protests were […]

Merkel in Beijing says Hong Kong freedoms must be ‘guaranteed’

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong “must be guaranteed”, after meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing. Hong Kong has faced months of pro-democracy protests, and ahead of her three-day visit to China this week, demonstrators in the semi-autonomous city appealed to the German chancellor to support them in her meetings with China’s leadership. Merkel said she had discussed tensions […]

Hong Kong protesters aim to ‘stress test’ airport

  by Jasmine Leung and Jerome Taylor  HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters are planning to disrupt transport links to the airport Saturday in the first mobilization of their movement since the city’s leader made a surprise concession earlier this week. Millions of pro-democracy supporters have taken to Hong Kong’s streets for the past three months in the biggest challenge to China’s rule since the city’s handover from Britain in 1997. On […]