Tag Archives: Japan

China: Daily Scan, July 19, 2022

Chinese vice premier stresses innovation-driven development of Xinjiang: Xinhuanet
July 18, 2022

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on Monday called for efforts to boost industrial vitalization and innovation-driven development in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Click here to read…

Top political advisor calls for greeting 20th CPC national congress with steady progress: Xinhuanet
July 18, 2022

China’s top political advisor Wang Yang on Monday called for steady progress to greet the convocation of the 20th national congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) later this year. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), urged steady progress in improving the quality and efficiency of the CPPCC’s work in the second half of the year. Click here to read…

Beijing issues coupons to boost catering consumption: Xinhuanet
July 18, 2022

Beijing began issuing coupons worth a total of 100 million yuan (14.82 million U.S. dollars) on Monday to spur catering consumption, according to the municipal commerce bureau. Funded by the government and platform enterprises that provide catering services, the promotional campaign is expected to cover more than 70,000 restaurants, the bureau said. Click here to read…

China reaffirms determination to wipe out mafia gangsters, protectors: Global Times
July 18, 2022

China will wipe out all gang-related crime, reaffirmed the top prosecutor on Monday, saying that China has indicted 230,000 people who were engaged in mafia-like gangs and other crimes, and 2,987 people who acted as their protectors, in the three-year national crackdown on gang crimes from 2018 to 2021. Click here to read…

Huawei to launch HarmonyOS 3.0 soon, to shake off US export ban: Global Times
July 18, 2022

Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei is set to launch an updated version of its self-developed operating system (OS), the HarmonyOS 3.0, on Saturday, putting the firm on the fast track to shake off reliance on Google’s Android, while also paving the way for it to recover from a hobbled handset business amid years of the US’ ruthless sanctions. Click here to read…

Wristbands, big data used to monitor people who commit ‘less serious’ crimes in China: South China Morning Post
July 18, 2022

Chinese prosecutors say they have been using electronic wristbands and big data to monitor people who have committed offences that are not serious enough to warrant arrest. It is part of a move to make fewer arrests and be more cautious about prosecutions under a new criminal justice policy, prosecutors told reporters in Beijing on Monday during a review of progress over the past decade. Click here to read…

Afghan minister holds talks with Chinese mining firm, progress to be expected: Global Times
July 18, 2022

An Afghan government official from the mining sector met with the representative of a Chinese mining company Sunday, and they discussed issues ranging from technical to financial operations of the Aynak copper project, the second-largest copper ore body in the world. But an insider said that no substantive progress was made. Click here to read…

EU, China to hold trade dialogue amid simmering tensions: Reuters
July 19, 2022

The European Union and China will hold a high-level economic and trade dialogue on Tuesday amidst tensions over a number of issues including the war in Ukraine, Xinjiang and an as yet unratified investment agreement. Click here to read…

Japan, China cut holdings of U.S. Treasuries to multi-year lows –data: Reuters
July 19, 2022

Japan and China pared back holdings of U.S. Treasuries in May to multi-year lows, data from the U.S. Treasury department showed on Monday. Japan’s holdings fell to $1.212 trillion, the lowest since January 2020, when the country’s stash of Treasuries was $1.211 trillion. In April, Japan’s holdings were at $1.218 trillion. China’s hoard of U.S. government debt dropped as well to $980.8 billion in May, still the lowest since May 2010 when its holdings were at $843.7 billion, data showed. In April, China had $1.003 trillion in Treasuries. Click here to read…

China’s military puts advanced rocket launch system to the test at high altitude: South China Morning Post
July 19, 2022

China’s military has put the precision strike capability of its new rocket launch system to the test at high altitude, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The People’s Liberation Army used the PCL191 multiple launch rocket system – which is mounted on a truck – to hit a target several kilometres away at a desert shooting range in the west of China during a recent test, Sunday’s report said. Click here to read…

Shanghai enforces new virus testing: Taipei Times
July 19, 2022

Several large Chinese cities, including Shanghai, are on alert due to new clusters of COVID-19 infections, rolling out repeated mass testing or extending lockdowns on millions of residents, with some measures triggering a public outcry. China has reported an average of about 390 local daily infections in the seven days ending on Sunday, higher than about 340 seven days earlier, according to Reuters calculations based on official data as of yesterday. That is tiny compared with a resurgence in other parts of Asia. Click here to read…

China refutes U.S. report on Xinjiang-related issues: Xinhuanet
July 19, 2022

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday that the issues related to Xinjiang are not about human rights, ethnicity or religion, but about fighting terrorism and separatism, and the Chinese government’s counterterrorism and deradicalization measures have substantially turned the security situation around in Xinjiang. Click here to read…

China, Vietnam agree to strengthen inter-party exchanges: Xinhuanet
July 19, 2022

Chen Xi, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), held talks with Truong Thi Mai, head of the Organization Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), via video link on Monday. Click here to read…

Researchers propose new AI model to better understand human expectations: Xinhuanet
July 19, 2022

A research team has proposed an artificial intelligence (AI) system in which robots not only serve as listeners but also speakers, providing an opportunity for AI to better understand human expectations. Click here to read…

Eight injured in apartment building gas explosion in north China’s Tianjin: Xinhuanet
July 19, 2022

Eight people were injured after a gas explosion in a residential building in Beichen District, north China’s Tianjin Municipality Tuesday morning. The explosion, which took place at around 7:15 a.m. and damaged the six-story building, has not led to life-threathening injuries, according to local authorities. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 199 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet
July 19, 2022

The Chinese mainland Monday reported 199 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 134 in Guangxi and 32 in Gansu, the National Health Commission said Tuesday. Altogether 500 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified in 14 provincial-level regions on Monday. Click here to read…

Judicial system tightened to better protect minors: China Daily
July 19, 2022

Comprehensive judicial protection for minors is being improved, with some 2,900 people with criminal records and engaged in industries that have close contact with minors removed from their posts since 2020, senior prosecutors said on Monday. Click here to read…

Number of legal disputes rises: China Daily
July 19, 2022

The number of civil disputes related to bride prices surged from dozens in 2009 to tens of thousands at the peak in 2016, before leveling off in the thousands, according to China Judgments Online, an official government database that reports court decisions from across the country. Click here to read…

China, India agree at latest commander-level meeting to work out mutually acceptable resolution of remaining border issues at the earliest: Global Times
July 19, 2022

The resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) can help in the restoration of peace and tranquility of the region and enable progress in bilateral relations, China and India reaffirmed after a commander level meeting on Sunday, called by both as “frank and in-depth.” Click here to read…

China: Daily Scan, July 08, 2022

China’s Wang Yi meets Indian FM Jaishankar on bilateral ties: Xinhuanet
July 7, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar here on Thursday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali, Indonesia. Click here to read…

China plans to improve gig economy services to boost employment: Xinhuanet
July 7, 2022

China plans to bolster support for the development of the gig economy in its latest bid to boost employment. Recruitment information of odd jobs will be incorporated into the scope of public employment information services, according to a guideline issued Thursday by the country’s human resources and social security ministry and other four government agencies. Click here to read…

China Development Bank bolsters financial support for sci-tech innovation: Xinhuanet
July 7, 2022

The China Development Bank (CDB), one of the country’s policy banks, has issued loans worth 157.7 billion yuan (about 23.5 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of the year to support science and technology innovation. Click here to read…

Former Liaoning police chief help criminals evade punishment, court says: China Daily
July 7, 2022

A former police chief of Liaoning province was tried on Thursday for helping criminals escape punishment and taking bribes totaling 546 million yuan ($81.48 million), a local court said. Prosecutors said Li Wenxi also abused his power to help people apply for licenses for businesses and mining rights, according to a statement released by the Intermediate People’s Court of Tai’an city, Shandong province. Click here to read…

China to conduct flight test for aircraft of key ‘strategic, historic significance’: Global Times
July 7, 2022

China is planning to conduct a flight test for an important type of aircraft that has crucial strategic and historic significance, said a top official at the flight test center of the Chinese military’s top warplane contractor in a recent meeting. Click here to read…

China, Russia apparently agree to boost surveillance around Japan: Kyodo
July 7, 2022

Chinese and Russian military officials are likely to have agreed to strengthen their surveillance activities to boost “strategic deterrence against Japan,” sources close to the matter said Thursday, reflecting Beijing and Moscow’s relations with Tokyo deteriorating recently. Click here to read…

How Communist Party membership and state-sector jobs became fashionable choices for young Chinese: South China Morning Post
July 7, 2022

Beijing university student Kathy Yao takes occasional breaks from summer holiday preparations for the national civil service exams to check for social media posts on the latest fashion trend in mainland China – cadre style. There are hundreds of videos posted on Xiaohongshu – Little Red Book – the mainland’s leading fashion social media platform, showing how to dress like a government official or Communist Party cadre. On Zhihu, a question and answer website and mobile application, users posted over 700 answers last month to the question “what is cadre-style dress”, and they attracted nearly 7 million views. Click here to read…

Chinese premier stresses implementing macro policies, promoting reform and opening-up: Xinhuanet
July 8, 2022

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday stressed implementing macro policies and promoting reform and opening-up, and encouraged coastal provincial-level regions in southeast China to play a pivotal role in stabilizing the economy. Click here to read…

New follow-up project for China’s south-to-north water diversion begins construction: Xinhuanet
July 8, 2022

The construction of a project linking China’s two mega water infrastructures — the Three Gorges project and the South-to-North Water Diversion Project — started Thursday, a new move to further transfer water to the country’s dry north and improve its national water network. Click here to read…

China, Russia pledge to expand cooperation, safeguard interests of developing countries: Xinhuanet
July 8, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed here on Thursday to further expand bilateral cooperation and jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 47 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet
July 8, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 47 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 17 each in Shanghai and Anhui, the National Health Commission said Friday. Altogether 331 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified in nine provincial-level regions. Click here to read…

Li: 5 regions play pivotal growth role: China Daily
July 8, 2022

Premier Li Keqiang called on Thursday for China’s southeastern provincial-level regions to continue playing a pivotal role in supporting national development, stabilizing the economy and ensuring the nation’s fiscal strength. Click here to read…

Former Xizang official expelled from Party for violations of discipline, laws: Global Times
July 08, 2022

Zhang Yongze, former vice chairman of the People’s Government of Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office over serious violations of Party discipline and laws, China’s top anti-graft body announced on Thursday. Click here to read…

Senior Chinese military official holds video talks with US chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff: China Military
July 8, 2022

General Li Zuocheng, member of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) and chief of the CMC Joint Staff Department, held video talks at invitation with General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Thursday. Click here to read…

China military holds exercises around Taiwan, berates United States: Reuters
July 8, 2022

China’s military recently held joint combat readiness exercises and patrols in the sea and airspace around Taiwan, the eastern command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said on Friday. Recent U.S. support for Taiwan’s ‘separatist forces’ is futile and will only disturb peace in the Taiwan Strait, Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the eastern theater command, said in the statement published on its official social media account. Click here to read…

China tightens rules on $1.3 trln credit card business: Reuters
July 8, 2022

China unveiled tighter rules late on Thursday to better regulate its $1.3 trillion credit card industry, urging lenders to adopt a “prudent” growth strategy, and monitor risks more closely. Click here to read…

Face-recognition business puts SoftBank between China, U.S.: Reuters
July 8, 2022

A SoftBank-owned company is thriving by offering face-recognition technology fuelled by a blacklisted Chinese firm to the likes of Mastercard and Visa, an opportunity for the Japanese conglomerate, fraught with geopolitical and privacy risks. Click here to read…

WeChat closes Bloomberg’s financial news account, making it latest victim of China’s online control: South China Morning Post
July 8, 2022

A Bloomberg social media account on Tencent Holdings’ WeChat accused of violating China’s regulations on online public accounts has been shut down, as the government tightens its control over the dissemination of financial news on the internet. WeChat said it had received “complaints” that Bloomberg’s “Daybreak” account, which has been posting global market updates on a daily basis since January 2021, has breached Chinese regulations, according to a notice on the account page. Click here to read…

China population: ‘extremely low’ birth rate in Wuhu highlights national demographic crisis: South China Morning Post
July 8, 2022

The number of births in the eastern Chinese city of Wuhu has fallen to “an extremely low level” and the local population is at risk of natural decline, authorities have said, in the latest example of the demographic crisis facing the world’s No 2 economy. In 2020, the fertility rate in Wuhu was 1.11, meaning that a woman of childbearing age between 15-49 years old had on average one child in her lifetime, lower than the national rate of 1.3 in the same period. Click here to read…

China: Daily Scan, July 07, 2022

China criticizes U.S. attempt to ban Dutch chipmaking tech exports to China: Xinhuanet
July 6, 2022

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Wednesday censured the United States for pushing a Dutch supplier to stop selling chipmaking gear to China, calling the U.S. moves a typical example of “tech-terrorism.” Click here to read…

Construction of China’s first commercial spacecraft launch site starts in Hainan: Xinhuanet
July 6, 2022

Construction of China’s first commercial spacecraft launch site started Wednesday in Wenchang City, south China’s island province of Hainan. As a major project of the Hainan free trade port construction, the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site is committed to becoming world-class, market-oriented, and further improving the launching capability of China’s commercial carrier rockets. Click here to read…

China sees over 10 mln new energy vehicles on road: Xinhuanet
July 6, 2022

By the end of June, China saw a total of 10.01 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) going on the road, according to statistics by the Ministry of Public Security. The country saw approximately 406 million motor vehicles on the road and 492 million motor vehicle drivers as of June, said the ministry. Click here to read…

China cracks down on ecological damage through environmental inspections: China Daily
July 6, 2022

China has implemented two rounds of nationwide inspections on ecological conservation and environmental protection in seven years and tackled problems in multiple fields, an official said Wednesday. Click here to read…

PLA naval activities around Japan intensify amid Tokyo provocation, ‘to become routine’: Global Times
July 6, 2022

Over the past month, the Japanese Defense Ministry has posted more than a dozen reports on Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval activities around the island country, as the last ship in the PLA Navy task force led by the Type 055 large destroyer Lhasa reportedly returned to the East China Sea on Tuesday, wrapping up its voyage that went round Japan almost entirely. Click here to read…

India’s frequent investigations into Chinese firms chill investment confidence: Global Times
July 6, 2022

The frequent investigations by Indian authorities into Chinese enterprises not only disrupt normal business activities and damage the goodwill, but also impede the improvement of business environment in India and chill the confidence and willingness of market entities from other countries, including those from China to invest in India, Wang Xiaojian, counsellor and spokesperson from Chinese Embassy in India, said on Wednesday. Click here to read…

COVID and bust: China’s private health system hurt by tough coronavirus controls: Reuters
July 6, 2022

On March 24, a court in the central Chinese city of Fuyang announced that a $1.5 billion hospital built just four years earlier had filed for bankruptcy because it was unable to pay its debts. For most of the last two years, the Fuyang Minsheng Hospital had been fully involved in mass coronavirus vaccination and testing programmes in the city, training almost 100 staff to perform throat swabs and setting up mobile vaccination facilities to go to schools and workplaces, at the order of city officials. Click here to read…

China studying extending tax exemption for NEVs: Reuters
July 7, 2022

China is studying the possibility of extending a tax exemption for new electric vehicles (EV) as part of a raft of efforts to spur vehicle consumption in the country, the commerce ministry said on Thursday. It also announced a series of measures to encourage trade-ins of old vehicles and support the second-hand market. Click here to read…

U.S. counterintelligence warns of China stepping up influence operations: Reuters
July 7, 2022

A U.S. counterintelligence agency on Wednesday warned state and local officials that China is intensifying influence operations aimed at manipulating them into pressing the federal government to pursue more Beijing-friendly policies. Click here to read…

COVID-19: Fresh lockdowns ordered in China: Taipei Times
July 7, 2022

Tens of millions of people were under lockdown across China yesterday and businesses in a major tourist city were forced to close as fresh COVID-19 clusters sparked fears of wider restrictions. Chinese health authorities have reported more than 300 infections in Xian, with new clusters found in Shanghai, Beijing and elsewhere. Click here to read…

Directors of FBI and Britain’s MI5 raise fresh alarms about Chinese spying in rare joint speech: South China Morning Post
July 7, 2022

Top American and British intelligence officials warned Western businesses that deal with China on Wednesday to become far more vigilant about Beijing’s relentless industrial espionage. “When you deal with a Chinese company, know you’re also dealing with the Chinese government – that is, the MSS and the PLA – too, almost like silent partners”, FBI Director Christopher Wray told business leaders in London, referring to China’s spy agency and military. Click here to read…

China robotics industry cools down as top maker of robot waiting staff slashes jobs: South China Morning Post
July 7, 2022

A major Chinese maker of robot waiting staff is cutting jobs in the company, in a sign that the country’s robotics industry is cooling down, as the prospects of profitability remain remote. Shenzhen-based Pudu Technology, which received 1 billion yuan (US$149 million) from investors including Tencent Holdings, Meituan and Sequoia Capital in a fundraising round last year, will start laying off employees, according to a leaked letter from founder and CEO Felix Zhang Tao. Click here to read…

China stresses rectifying problems in central budget execution, fiscal revenues and expenditures: Xinhuanet
July 7, 2022

An executive meeting of China’s State Council has made arrangements for the rectification of problems discovered through the audits of central budget execution and other fiscal revenues and expenditures. Click here to read…

China, Philippines vow to enhance good-neighborly friendship, deepen cooperation: Xinhuanet
July 7, 2022

Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Luis Enrique Manalo agreed here on Wednesday that their countries will further enhance friendship and mutual trust, adhere to good-neighborliness and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 94 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet
July 7, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 94 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 39 in Anhui and 32 in Shanghai, the National Health Commission said Thursday. Click here to read…

Govt to promote use of electronic licenses: China Daily
July 7, 2022

China will promote in an orderly manner the application of electronic licenses and certificates involving companies, as part of efforts to boost the vitality of market entities, the State Council’s Executive Meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Nation bracing for climate change: China Daily
July 7, 2022

China has doubled down on efforts to build up resilience to climate change with a blueprint designed to serve as a stronger response to climate-related risks, establish heightened monitoring capacities and protect vulnerable areas and sectors. Click here to read…

China urges US to stop lies-based Xinjiang bill and to fulfill promise of no support to ‘Taiwan independence’: Global Times
July 7, 2022

The US should abide by the provisions of the Three Joint Communiqués, stop hollowing out the one-China principle, stop supporting “Taiwan independence” forces, and take concrete actions to safeguard the political foundation of China-US relations, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday when responding to whether the Taiwan question and Xinjiang-related issues will be discussed at the upcoming China-US foreign ministers’ meeting. Click here to read…

Financial firms eye yuan payment channel for India-Russia trade: Global Times
July 7, 2022

Some financial institutions in India plan to come up with a payment channel that enables direct settlements in Chinese yuan for India’s trade with Russia, as trade between the two countries, especially in energy goods, has jumped significantly in recent months, according to a financial sector insider on Wednesday. Click here to read…

China: Daily Scan, July 05, 2022

Climate change: melting Tibetan glaciers could unleash potentially dangerous bacteria, scientists say: South China Morning Post
July 3, 2022

Scientists have found nearly 1,000 species of bacteria – many of them new – in glacier samples taken from the Tibetan Plateau, which they say could pose health risks downstream if climate change causes the ice to melt. More than 80 per cent of the microbes identified had not been seen before, according to the team from China, Australia and Denmark, led by scientists from Lanzhou University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Their genetic analysis found that the microorganisms had more than 27,000 molecules that could help the bacteria to make plants, animals or people ill, and nearly half of those molecules were previously unknown. Click here to read…

Chinese FM announces 6 measures to benefit Mekong countries: Xinhunaet
July 4, 2022

Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday announced six measures in the next phase of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) to share with the Mekong countries benefits of cooperation and add momentum to their development. The measures were unveiled at the seventh LMC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting chaired by the Chinese foreign minister. Click here to read…

Enhanced currency swap agreement signed between PBOC, HKMA: Xinhunaet
July 4, 2022

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced Monday that the Currency Swap Agreement has been enhanced. It has become a long-standing arrangement with no need for renewal. Its size has also been expanded from 500 billion yuan (about 75 billion U.S. dollars) to 800 billion yuan. Click here to read…

Former Everbright official under corruption investigation: China Daily
July 4, 2022

Zhang Huayu, former deputy head of China Everbright Bank, is under investigation for serious violation of Communist Party of China discipline and the national law, according to the country’s top anti-graft bodies. The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission issued a statement on Monday saying Zhang had been expelled from the Party and removed from his public post, and his case and illegal gains had been transferred to the procuratorial organ for prosecution. Click here to read…

Himalayan land port becomes regional success: China Daily
July 4, 2022

Born and raised near Gyirong Port, Basang is a beneficiary of the development of one of the largest land ports in the Tibet autonomous region. Located in the Himalayas, the port is 800 kilometers from the regional capital, Lhasa, and about 130 km from the Nepali capital, Kathmandu. Click here to read…

China opens more than 5,000 free blood sampling sites to help family reunions: Global Times
vJuly 4, 2022

China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has released a list of more than 5,000 free blood sampling sites across the country on Monday with the aim to help abducted children and women reunite with their families, as China is launching a national crackdown on human trafficking crimes. Click here to read…

Huawei debuts more new products in summer, as firm still seeks growth areas amid US ban: Global Times
July 4, 2022

Chinese tech giant Huawei on Monday launched a series of new products ranging from phones, smart watches, smart home systems and an electric car named the AITO M7 SUV, as it is still seeking to diversify its sources of revenue amid the years-long US sanctions. Click here to read…

Eastern China cities tighten COVID curbs as new clusters emerge: Reuters
July 4, 2022

Cities in eastern China tightened COVID-19 curbs on Sunday as coronavirus clusters emerge, posing a new threat to China’s economic recovery under the government’s strict zero-COVID policy. Click here to read…

Hacker claims to have stolen 1 bln records of Chinese citizens from police: Reuters

July 4, 2022

A hacker has claimed to have procured a trove of personal information from the Shanghai police on one billion Chinese citizens, which tech experts say, if true, would be one of the biggest data breaches in history. The anonymous internet user, identified as “ChinaDan”, posted on hacker forum Breach Forums last week offering to sell the more than 23 terabytes (TB) of data for 10 bitcoin , equivalent to about $200,000. Click here to read…

Chinese warship chases Russian frigate near Japan-controlled Senkakus: Kyodo
July 4, 2022

A Chinese naval ship chased a Russian warship on Monday just outside Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, the government said, in an apparent attempt to demonstrate to others that Beijing has sovereignty over the Tokyo-controlled isletsClick here to read…

Chinese ships enter Japanese waters near Senkakus, 15th this year: Kyodo
July 5, 2022

Two Chinese coast guard vessels entered Japan’s territorial waters near the Senkakus on Tuesday, a day after a Chinese naval ship was spotted near the China-claimed islands, as tensions heighten between Tokyo and Beijing despite the approaching 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties. Click here to read…

Chinese-Canadian tycoon on trial in China: Taipei Times
July 5, 2022

Chinese-Canadian billionaire Xiao Jianhua who went missing in Hong Kong five years ago, was due to go on trial in China yesterday, the Canadian embassy in Beijing said. China-born Xiao, known to have links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) elite, has not been seen in public since 2017 after he was investigated amid a state-led conglomerate crackdown. The specifics of the probe have not been disclosed by officials. Click here to read…

US-China relations: economic chief Liu He, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hold ‘pragmatic, frank’ exchange: South China Morning Post
July 5, 2022

Top economic officials from China and the United States held a long-awaited meeting on Tuesday, with the Biden administration reportedly mulling the rolling back of tariffs on Chinese products to help curb America’s 40-year-high inflation. During the virtual conference at the request of the United States, Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He had a “pragmatic and frank” exchange with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on economic and tariff issues, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 69 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhunaet
July 5, 2022

The Chinese mainland Monday reported 69 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, 52 of which were in Anhui Province, the National Health Commission said Tuesday. A total of 266 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified on Monday in eight provincial-level regions, including 179 in Anhui and 66 in Jiangsu. Click here to read…

Xi calls for putting development front and center on international agenda: China Military
July 5, 2022

China is willing to work with countries around the world to put development front and center on the international agenda, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday. Xi made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to a forum on global development attended by think tank and media representatives in Beijing. Click here to read…

Massive science facilities drive innovative research: China Daily
July 5, 2022

Zhangjiang Science City in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area has been strengthening its innovative abilities and developing a cluster of massive photon science facilities over the past several years, serving as an interdisciplinary research platform. The Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, a public scientific experimental platform that has been running since 2009, is a synchrotron light source with 27 beamlines in operation to date, compared with 15 beamlines four years ago. Click here to read…

China’s Tibet builds over 620 prosperous border villages: People’s Daily
July 05, 2022

By the end of 2021, over 620 prosperous border villages were built in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region as a campaign to vitalize the country’s border areas in addition to bringing prosperity to residents in Tibet. There are 21 counties in Tibet along the national border. To effectively build and develop these border counties is of great significance to the long-term peace and stability of Tibet. Click here to read…

China to set up infrastructure fund worth $75 bln to revive economy: Reuters
July 5, 2022

China will set up a state infrastructure investment fund worth 500 billion yuan ($74.69 billion) to spur infrastructure spending and revive a flagging economy, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. Click here to read…

China: Daily Scan, July 01, 2022

Cai Qi elected Party chief of Beijing: Xinhuanet
June 30, 2022

Cai Qi has been elected secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Beijing Municipal Committee. Cai was elected to the post at the first plenary session of the 13th CPC Beijing Municipal Committee on Thursday. Click here to read…

China urges U.S. to stop suppression of Chinese firms: Xinhuanet
June 30, 2022

The United States should immediately correct its mistakes and stop sanctioning and suppressing Chinese enterprises, China’s commerce ministry said Thursday. Shu Jueting, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, made the comments in response to recent U.S. moves to impose sanctions on relevant Chinese companies on excuses related to Russia, Iran, and military links at a press briefing. Click here to read…

China urges U.S. to immediately cease malicious cyber activities: Xinhuanet
June 30, 2022

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday the United States is worthy of the name of the “empire of wiretapping” and “empire of secret stealing,” urging the country to stop its malicious cyber activities immediately. Click here to read…

Desert highway in southern Xinjiang opens: China Daily
June 30, 2022

A desert highway in the south of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region opened on Thursday, slashing travel time, benefiting local residents and boosting regional socioeconomic development, according to the line’s constructor. The 334-kilometer highway, linking Yuli and Qiemo counties in Bayingolin Mongol autonomous prefecture, is located at Tarim Basin between the southern slope of the Tianshan Mountains and the north side of the Altun Mountains.Click here to read…

644,000 punished since 2012 for violating Party rules on frugality: China Daily
June 30, 2022

About 4.71 million people were placed under investigation for suspected violation of Party disciplines and laws from the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012 to the end of April, an official said on Thursday. Click here to read…

Naval base project not aimed at any nation, ministry says: China Daily
June 30, 2022

The Ream Naval Base’s upgrade project in Cambodia, which is aided by China, is legitimate and doesn’t target any third party, said a spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry on Thursday. Click here to read…

China punishes 4.7 million people in decade-long anti-graft campaign: Global Times
June 30, 2022

China has won an overwhelming victory in the fight against corruption in the past decade with the anti-graft watchdog investigating 4.39 million cases and punishing 4.7 million people as of April. Chinese observers believe upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is the fundamental guarantee for China’s achievements in countering graft, which also reflects China’s institutional strengths compared with the US and a few Western countries where corruption has been institutionalized. Click here to read…

China issues $180.4 billion in local government bonds in May: Global Times
June 30, 2022

Bonds issued by China’s local governments totaled 1.21 trillion yuan ($180.4 billion) in May, accounting for about 40 percent of this type of bonds issued from January to May this year, according to statistics from the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on Thursday. Click here to read…

Chinese tech giants vow to stop NFT secondary trading: Reuters
June 30, 2022

Chinese tech giants including Tencent Holdings (0700.HK) and Ant Group have signed a pact to stop the secondary trading of digital collectibles and “self-regulate” their activities in the market, Chinese state media reported on Thursday. Click here to read…

China’s Communist Party nears 97 million, with more younger and educated members: South China Morning Post
June 30, 2022

China’s ruling Communist Party has grown bigger and more educated, expanding to a record 96.71 million members by the end of last year, according to official statistics.
The total amounted to a 3.7 per cent increase over the year, the organisation department of the Communist Party Central Committee said on Thursday, the eve of the party’s anniversary. Click here to read…

3 Chinese navy ships circumnavigate Japan as Tokyo remains on alert: Kyodo
July 1, 2022

Three Chinese navy ships have circumnavigated the Japanese archipelago over the past weeks, as Tokyo stays on alert for increasing military activity by Beijing and Moscow in nearby waters, Japan’s Defense Ministry said Thursday. Click here to read…

Human rights fears affecting views of China: Taipei Times
July 1, 2022

Concerns about China’s policies on human rights have led to negative views toward the world’s most populous nation, a Pew public opinion survey has found. Negative views of China remain at or near historic highs in many of the 19 countries polled in this year’s survey, which spoke to people in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. The findings are largely consistent with Pew’s previous study in 2020, but with some countries now reporting even more unfavorable views of China. Click here to read…

Xi Jinping says Hong Kong’s unique status and advantages must be upheld as he hails ‘one country, two systems’: South China Morning Post
July 1, 2022

President Xi Jinping on Friday officiated the swearing-in ceremony of the new administration led by John Lee Ka-chiu on day two of his visit to Hong Kong to mark the 25th anniversary of the city’s turn to Chinese rule. Having spent the night in Shenzhen, Xi crossed the border again by high-speed rail in the morning to deliver a keynote speech, giving a vigorous endorsement of “one country, two systems”, and saying it should not be altered. On Thursday, in a brief arrival speech, the president described Hong Kong as having “risen from the ashes” after overcoming various severe challenges since his last visit in 2017, which proved that “one country, two systems is a good system”. Click here to read…

China to step up financing support for major projects: Xinhuanet
July 1, 2022

China will increase financing support for its major projects through policy-based and developmental financial instruments, a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Plan eyes energy efficiency at big firms: Quishi
July 1, 2022

China aims to cut large industrial enterprises’ energy consumption per unit of added value by 13.5 percent from the 2020 level, according to a plan jointly released by six government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Click here to read…

China’s biological economy gets on higher stage: Quishi
July 1, 2022

China is one of the countries in the world that boast the greatest abundance of biological resources and see the broadest consumption market of life and health products. With complete categories and systems of the biological industry, the country is in an advantageous position to accelerate the development of biological economy. Click here to read…

China’s cabinet to raise $45b to replenish capital for major projects, boost employment: Global Times
July 01, 2022

The State Council, China’s cabinet, decided on Thursday to expand effective investment to boost employment and consumption. It will raise 300 billion yuan ($44.6 billion) through financial bond issuance to replenish capital for major projects and special debt projects. Click here to read…

China to inspect enforcement of Foreign Investment Law: People’s Daily
July 1, 2022

The National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee announced Thursday that it will launch an inspection of the enforcement of the Foreign Investment Law. An inspection team is set to carry out related work in eight provincial-level regions from July to mid-August, according to the first plenary session of the team. Click here to read…

China makes ecological protection more efficient with digital technology: People’s Daily
July 1, 2022

The prospering digital economy is gradually becoming a solid foundation supporting economic and social development, as internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and other new technologies are seeping into industries. Click here to read…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 26, 2022)

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

United States of Africa: Ultimate Dream of a Pan-Africanist

Every year on May 25, the world celebrates Africa Day. It was on May 25, 1963, that the first organisational body of Africa, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), was established in Ethiopia. Click here to read…

Mozambique’s Reversal of Fortune

Just a year ago, the news from Mozambique was rather glum. The security crisis in the northern region of Cabo Delgado had displaced hundreds of thousands of people, created a humanitarian crisis. Click here to read…

NEWS

As election season nears, Kenyans brace for unrest and hope for peace

A fleet of shiny SUVs descended on the dusty city of Wajir in northeast Kenya on a spring afternoon. Click here to read…

Tunisia’s president plans to omit ‘Islam’ from new constitution

The secularist Kais Saied is putting the constitution to a referendum on July 25 in the hope of overhauling the country’s legal, political and economic structures and granting himself more powers. Click here to read…

Somalia parliament endorses new Prime minister

Somalia’s parliament on Saturday unanimously endorsed Hamza Abdi Barre as new prime minister, paving the way for the creation of a new government for the troubled Horn of Africa nation. Click here to read…

Mali strongman Goita adopts electoral law, key to civilian rule

Mali’s strongman ruler on Friday signed into law election legislation adopted by parliament a week ago, paving the way for polls and a return of civilian rule, according to a presidential decree. Click here to read…

World Bank to provide war-torn Ethiopia with $715 mln

The World Bank on Friday agreed to provide $715 million in grants and loans to Ethiopia, which has been ravaged by drought and a devastating conflict, the country’s government said. Click here to read…

Tanzania’s Masaai demand Indigenous rights in UN framework

Tanzania’s Maasai people, resisting government pressure to leave their ancestral homes in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, have presented their demands for Indigenous land rights to negotiators in Nairobi finalizing the proposed U.N. global biodiversity framework. Click here to read…

UK names new envoy for Horn of Africa

Britain has named a new envoy for the Horn of Africa and Red Sea., strategic region beset by multiple security and humanitarian crises. Click here to read…

Shaked heads to Morocco on Monday, in 3rd visit by government minister

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked will travel to Morocco for a diplomatic visit on Monday, becoming the third government minister to do so. Click here to read…

China Says It Is Willing to Help End Conflict in Horn of Africa

China’s special envoy to the Horn of Africa, Xue Bing, has said Beijing is ready to help the region’s countries find peace and get rid of what he called external interferenceClick here to read…

Qatar’s emir makes first visit to Egypt since thaw in ties with Doha

Qatar’s emir arrived in Cairo late Friday for talks with Egypt’s president, his first visit to the country following years of frayed ties and a boycott of Doha by four Arab states, including Egypt. Click here to read…

Sheikh Mohamed reaffirms UAE’s support for Somalia during meeting with president

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has affirmed the UAE’s continuous, all-out support for Somali people to achieve their aspirations for development, stability, prosperity. Click here to read…

Window of opportunity closing for South Sudan, on road to lasting peace

With eight months remaining, the window of opportunity is closing for South Sudan to meet critical benchmarks required to complete its transition away from long-running civil conflictClick here to read…

Algeria, Niger, Nigeria resume talks on Trans-Sahara gas pipeline

Algeria, Niger and Nigeria held talks this week on the revival of a decades-old project to pipe gas across the Sahara, a potential opportunity for Europe to diversify its gas sources as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso: 14 days to evacuate before vast army operation

Burkina Faso’s army has given civilians two weeks to evacuate vast areas in northern and southeastern regions of the country in advance of military operations against rebel fighters. Click here to read…

Morocco: 18 migrants die in attempt to enter Spain’s Melilla

Moroccan authorities said that 18 migrants were killed and dozens of migrants and police officers were injured in a “stampede” of people trying to cross into the Spanish North African enclave of Melilla. Click here to read…

Attacks in Sudan’s Darfur bring new surge in people fleeing their homes

Violence in western Sudan this month alone has displaced more than 84,000 people, doubling the number of those driven from their homes so far this year, according to UN reports. Click here to read…

Libya’s Interior Ministry condemns deadly clashes in Tripoli

Libya’s Interior Ministry has condemned the deadly clashes that broke out between armed groups in the capital Tripoli. Click here to read…

Suspected Jihadists ‘Systemically’ Slaughter Over 130 People in Western Africa’s Mali

Suspected jihadists massacred more than 130 civilians over the weekend in neighbouring central Mali towns, the latest mass killings in the Sahel regionClick here to read…
Click here to read…

Morocco, US launch annual ‘African Lion’ military exercise

Morocco and the US kicked off the annual African Lion military exercises on Monday, which will last until the end of the month. The exercises include 7,500 personnel from ten nations, among them Brazil, France and BritainClick here to read…

Commonwealth heads call for climate action at Rwanda meeting

Leaders of Commonwealth nations are calling for increased climate action at a meeting in Rwanda this week, ahead of the United Nations climate change summit in Egypt later this year. Click here to read…

Eight UN peacekeepers wounded in Mali blast

Eight UN peacekeepers were wounded Thursday in a mine explosion in Mali’s Timbuktu region, the United Nations said. Click here to read…

M23 rebels ask Congolese refugees in Uganda to return home

Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have asked refugees fleeing the conflict torn North Kivu province of the nation to return home. Click here to read…

DR Congo welcomes deployment of regional force to fight rebels

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has welcomed Kenya’s proposal to deploy a regional force to fight the M23 rebel group in the east of the country, but said it won’t accept neighbour Rwanda’s participation. Click here to read…

Commonwealth meet draws attention to Rwanda’s human rights record

Commonwealth leaders met in Kigali on Friday to discuss cooperation on topics from trade to health to climate, against a backdrop of criticism of host Rwanda’s human rights record and of a British policy to deport asylum seekers thereClick here to read…

Cameroon Deploys Hundreds of Troops to Protect 40,000 People Displaced by Boko Haram

Cameron has deployed hundreds of troops along its border with Nigeria after attacks by Boko Haram militants forced more than 40,000 villagers over the past two months to flee the area. Click here to read…

Saudi Arabia, Djibouti sign joint cooperation agreement on maritime transport

Saudi Arabia, represented by the Transport General Authority (TGA), has signed a joint maritime transport cooperation agreement with the Department of Maritime Affairs in Djibouti. Click here to read…

Gabon eyes Commonwealth entry to advance economic diversification

Gabon, a French-speaking country in Central Africa that has been seeking membership in the Commonwealth, is awaiting the final decision made at the Commonwealth summit currently held in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. Click here to read…

African court orders Kenya to pay $1.3 million as reparations to indigenous Ogiek people

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, an international court established by members of the African Union, ordered the Kenyan government June 23, 2022, to pay $1.3 millionClick here to read…

Chinese fugitive wanted for racist videos of Malawi children arrested in Zambia

A fugitive Chinese national wanted in Malawi for filming children singing racist chants in Chinese has been arrested in neighbouring ZambiaClick here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

EAM Jaishankar meets several leaders, counterparts in Rwanda

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday called on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong here and also met several leaders and his counterparts from the Commonwealth nations to discuss bilateral ties and geopolitical trends. Click here to read…

Jaishankar discusses growing defence ties with Tanzanian counterpart

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Friday (local time) met with the Tanzanian Foreign Minister Liberata Mulamula and discussed strengthening defence and security ties between the two countries. Click here to read…

Jaishankar meets Mauritius PM, discusses thriving relations between nations

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Friday (local time) met with the Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth in Rwanda and discussed the thriving relations between the two countries. Click here to read…

EAM Jaishankar meets counterparts from Tanzania, Solomon Islands; discusses bilateral cooperation

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met his counterparts from Tanzania and the Solomon Islands here and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors. Click here to read…

External affairs minister S Jaishankar interacts with Indian community in Rwanda

External affairs minister S Jaishankar lauded the Indian community in Rwanda for its contribution towards strengthening bilateral ties and spoke about India’s progress. Click here to read…

EAM Jaishankar calls Rwanda ‘important’ friend of India

External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar who is on his first visit to Kigali described Rwanda as the most progressive, business-friendly, and socially inclusive societies. Click here to read…

Indian embassy in Madagascar begins free Hindi classes for language enthusiasts

The Indian embassy in Antananarivo on Thursday began free Hindi language classes for all language enthusiasts in Madagascar, Indian Ambassador to Madagascar, Abhay Kumar said. Click here to read…

Senegal, India Renew Alliances with 3 MoUs

This month saw Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu in Dakar, received by Senegalese President H.E. Macky Sall and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Aissata Tall Sall. Click here to read…

Indian Embassy in Madagascar celebrates 8th International Day of Yoga

The 8th International Day of Yoga celebrations took place at the University of Antananarivo, organised by Indian Embassy in Madagascar on June 21st 2022. The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga is “Yoga for Humanity” Click here to read…

Airtel Africa issues tender offer to clear $300 mn debt

Bharti Airtel International (Netherlands) BV, which manages Airtel’s Africa business, has issued a tender offer to buy back up to USD 300 million (about Rs 2,348 crore) of senior notes. Click here to read…

China: Daily Scan, June 22, 2022

China’s top legislature starts standing committee session: Xinhuanet
June 21, 2022

The Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, started its 35th session Tuesday in Beijing. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the session’s first plenary meeting. Click here to read…

Wang Menghui elected Party chief of China’s Hubei: Xinhuanet
June 21, 2022

Wang Menghui has been elected secretary of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Wang was elected to the post at the first plenary session of the 12th CPC Hubei Provincial Committee on Tuesday. Click here to read…

China addresses fiscal irregularities following audit: Xinhuanet
June 21, 2022

China has almost addressed all the fiscal irregularities spotted by auditors between June 2020 and May 2021, the country’s top auditor said Tuesday. Such rectifications involve improvements to more than 1,520 rules and regulations, while more than 8,300 people have been held accountable, said Hou Kai, auditor general of the National Audit Office of China (CNAO), who delivered a report at the ongoing bimonthly session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. Click here to read…

Qingdao summit sees 99 foreign-investment projects inked: Xinhuanet
June 21, 2022

A total of 99 major foreign-investment projects have been inked at the third Qingdao Multinationals Summit, which concluded on Tuesday in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province. Click here to read…

Chinese SOEs to recruit more university graduates: Xinhuanet
June 21, 2022

China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are set to recruit more university and college graduates this year amid efforts to bolster employment, according to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Click here to read…

Shipbuilder delivers first methanol hybrid tanker: China Daily
June 21, 2022

The country’s first methanol-propelled dual-fuel vessel was delivered on Monday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. The vessel was developed and built by Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), which is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. It is a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp. Click here to read…

China’s weather satellites to share data globally: China Daily
June 21, 2022

The head of the China Meteorological Administration, Zhuang Guotai announced that the data produced by the country’s two Fengyun series meteorological satellites will be shared with global users. He made the remarks at the 75th session of the Executive Council of World Meteorological Organization on Monday. Fengyun 3E and Fengyun 4B are used to help monitor and forecast weather, as well as prevent and mitigate disasters. Click here to read…

PLA warships circumnavigate Japan in distance sea drills amid US, Japanese provocations: Global Times
June 21, 2022

Led by the Type 055 large destroyer Lhasa, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy flotilla reportedly sailed from northwest to the east and south sides of Japan on Monday and Tuesday after making transits in three strategic straits near the island country, and the vessels are expected to make a full circle around Japan if they are to continue in their path and return to base, similarly to a voyage by a Chinese-Russian joint flotilla last year. Click here to read…

More in G-7 now view China as “threat” than ally : Kyodo
June 21, 2022

China’s perception in Group of Seven developed nations has worsened due to Beijing’s failure to explicitly condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, with more people considering it a “threat” compared with before Moscow’s invasion, according to survey results released Tuesday. Click here to read…

China gives up host role with call for urgent meeting on biodiversity, UN says: South China Morning Post
June 21, 2022

China on Tuesday officially gave up its role as host of the UN Biodiversity Conference, which had been set to take place in the city of Kunming but now will be moved to Montreal, Canada. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) announced on Tuesday that the UN Biodiversity Conference, known as COP15, would be held in Canada in December. Click here to read…

U.S. import ban over China’s forced labor in Xinjiang takes effect: Kyodo
June 22, 2022

A U.S. law broadly banning imports from China’s Xinjiang region took effect Tuesday, a move aimed at adding pressure over Beijing’s alleged use of forced labor among the Uyghur minority that could pose supply chain challenges. Click here to read…

China supercomputer achieves global first with ‘brain-scale’ AI model: South China Morning Post
June 22, 2022

Chinese scientists say a new supercomputer is so fast it has successfully run an artificial intelligence model as sophisticated as a human brain. The achievement puts the Newest Generation Sunway supercomputer on a par with Frontier, the latest machine built by the US Department of Energy, which earlier this month was named the world’s most powerful.
The Chinese team used the Sunway machine to train the AI model – called bagualu which means “alchemist’s pot” – with 174 trillion parameters, rivalling the number of synapses in the brain for the first time. Click here to read…

Outbreaks of COVID-19 in China shift to the south: Taipei Times

June 22, 2022

China’s COVID-19 outbreak is shifting to its south coast, with a flareup in Shenzhen triggering mass testing and a lockdown of some neighborhoods, while Macau — an hour’s drive away — is racing to stop its first outbreak in eight months. Click here to read…

China’s Guangdong activates top emergency response for flood: Xinhuanet
June 22, 2022

The flood control and drought relief headquarters of south China’s Guangdong Province upgraded its flood control emergency response to Level I at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The headquarters ordered governments of areas at risk to promptly suspend schools, production, traffic or businesses if necessary, sparing no efforts to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property and minimize disaster losses. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 10 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet
June 22, 2022

The Chinese mainland Tuesday reported 10 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, including four each in Beijing and Shanghai, and one each in Inner Mongolia and Guangdong, the National Health Commission said Wednesday. Click here to read…

Nation’s coal king speeds up its green transition: Quishi
June 22, 2022

The Inner Mongolia autonomous region is ramping up efforts to invest in new energy as China goes full throttle on its green energy transition, with the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2060. As the country’s largest coal producer, the region has been adjusting its energy structure while keeping the coal flowing in recent years. In Ordos, for example, the Bortoi coal mine, which has produced 175 million metric tons of coal, is currently covered with 1.12 million photovoltaic panels that can generate up to 900 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy each year. Click here to read…

Draft set to strengthen quality, safety of agricultural products: China Daily
June 22, 2022

A draft revision to the Law on Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, for a second review on Tuesday. The draft highlights the responsibilities of ensuring agricultural products’ quality and safety during cold chain transportation and on e-commerce platforms. Click here to read…

Chinese think tank report clarifies international misconceptions about the BRICS: Global Times
June 22, 2022

Ahead of the 14th BRICS summit in Beijing, China’s top think tank released a report on Tuesday on the results the BRICS has achieved in the past and its development expectations, clarifying some misconceptions about the block. Click here to read…

Taiwan scrambles jets to warn away Chinese planes in its air defence zone: Reuters
June 22, 2022

Taiwan scrambled jets on Tuesday to warn away 29 Chinese aircraft in its air defence zone, including bombers that flew south of the island and into the Pacific, in the latest uptick in tensions and largest incursion since late May. Click here to read…

Ant, Alibaba plan for less intertwined future after China crackdown: Reuters
June 22, 2022

Ant Group and Alibaba are untangling their operations from each other and independently seeking new business as the Jack Ma-founded companies navigate China’s devastating regulatory crackdown, four sources familiar with the matter said. Click here to read…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 25, 2022)

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

Africa: Requiem for a continent

Every year on May 25, the world celebrates Africa Day. It is to commemorate May 25, 1963, when 30 independent African leaders signed the founding charter of the OAU (Organization of African Unity). Click here to read…

Africa Day 2022: An Odyssey of a Continent

Every year on May 25, the world celebrates Africa Day. On May 25 1963, 30 independent African leaders signed the founding charter of the OAU (Organization of African Unity). Click here to read…

Kenya’s political titans gear up for electoral fight

After 10 years of outgoing president Uhuru Kenyatta’s rule, a faltering economy and rising prices, shopkeeper Betty Kagwiria wants to vote for change in this year’s elections in Kenya. Click here to read…

NEWS

CHOGM 2022: Commonwealth heads to assemble in Rwanda

From June 20 to 27, Rwanda will host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). What exactly is the Commonwealth? What is the point of this international summit? Click here to read…

Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces move towards negotiations

The Ethiopian government has formed a committee to negotiate with forces from the Tigray region, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a televised speech to parliament on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Kenya’s political titans gear up for electoral fight

After 10 years of outgoing president Uhuru Kenyatta’s rule, a faltering economy and rising prices, shopkeeper Betty Kagwiria wants to vote for change in this year’s elections in Kenya. Click here to read…

Somali president nominates Hamza Abdi Barre as prime minister

Somalia’s president has nominated Hamza Abdi Barre, a former chairman of the Jubbaland state election commission, as prime minister. Click here to read…

Voters head to polls in Nigeria’s key local election

Voters in Nigeria’s Ekiti state have started casting their ballots to elect a new governor in what could be a bellwether for who wins next year’s presidential election. Click here to read…

Tunisians protest against constitution referendum as opposition grows

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tunis on Saturday in opposition to a referendum on a new constitution called by President Kais Saied that would cement his hold on power. Click here to read…

South Sudan’s President hails bilateral relations with Israel

South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Wednesday held discussions with the Israeli ambassador to the country, Gershon Kedar during which he hailed the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. Click here to read…

Is Uganda heading for a dynastic succession?

He is the son of the president and a vainglorious Twitter user. He is also a belligerent general whose soldiers are accused of kidnapping and torturing opponents. Click here to read…

‘Farmgate’ threatens Cyril Ramaphosa’s South Africa re-election bid

The South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is facing the most serious personal challenge of his four years in power after claims he tried to cover up the theft of millions of US dollars hidden at his game farm. Click here to read…

Algeria is increasingly aligned with Russia, Spanish minister says

Algeria’s decision to suspend a friendship treaty with Spain last week was not surprising because Algiers is increasingly aligning itself with RussiaClick here to read…

What DRC brings to the EAC table

The DR Congo, a sub-Sahara’s largest country, became the seventh member state of the East African Community (EAC) on March 29, joining Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Click here to read…

IMF bailout alone will not solve Zambia’s debt crisis

As Zambia began talks with its creditors to resolve its debt crisis, Hannah Ryder, the CEO of China-based African consultancy Development Reimagined, spoke to African Business about the country’s chances of obtaining an IMF bailout and its prospects for economic growth. Click here to read…

Egypt boosts ties with Tanzania amid ongoing Nile dam dispute

Egypt is boosting ties with the Nile Basin countries while Ethiopia inches toward the third filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without an agreement with the downstream countries. Click here to read…

Rights groups condemn Tanzanian police violence against Maasai

Human rights organisations have accused Tanzanian police of using violence to evict members of the Masaai Indigenous community in Loliondo, in the country’s northern district of Ngorongoro. Click here to read…

Russian Mercenaries in Mali Base Days After France Pullout: Sources

Russian mercenaries arrived in the Malian town of Menaka on Wednesday just days after France’s military pullout from the site, sources briefed on the matter told AFP. Click here to read…

U.K. vows more Rwanda deportation flights after legal setback

The British government vowed Wednesday to organize more flights to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda, after a last-minute court judgment grounded the first plane due to take off under the contentious policy. Click here to read…

Gambia: Officials Accused of Crimes Under Jammeh to Be Suspended

The Gambian government has announced this week that it would order suspensions for state employees accused of crimes under the former Yahya Jammeh regime, one of the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). Click here to read…

State controls just 60 percent of Burkina Faso: ECOWAS mediator

Authorities in Burkina Faso control just 60 percent of the country and the remaining territory is outside state control, a mediator from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said. Click here to read…

DRC closes Rwanda border after soldier is shot dead during attack

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has closed its border with Rwanda after a Congolese soldier was shot dead while attacking border guards inside Rwandan territory. Click here to read…

France says it has captured Islamic State bigwig in Mali

French troops operating at the border between Mali and Niger have arrested a senior figure of the Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS) armed group, authorities in Paris have said. Click here to read…

Libya Has Another Chance at Democracy

Libya was founded as a democracy. It is not too late to be a democracy again. Click here to read…

Clashes in Sudan’s Darfur Kill More Than 100

Clashes in Sudan’s Darfur between Arab and non-Arab groups have killed more than 100 people, adding to a toll of hundreds in the region over recent months. Click here to read…

Forty fighters ‘neutralised’ in drone strikes in Niger

French drone strikes have killed nearly 40 fighters earlier travelling on motorcycles near Niger’s border with Burkina Faso, France’s military said on Thursday. Click here to read…

Kenya calls for immediate deployment of regional force to eastern Congo

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday called for the immediate deployment of a new regional military force to try to stop rebel violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Click here to read…

Thousands flee as jihadist attacks resume in Mozambique

At least seven people have died in a spate of jihadist-related violence in northern Mozambique, local sources said Tuesday, as the UN said 10 000 people had fled their homes. Click here to read…

Somalia: Security Forces Kill Nearly 70 Al-Shabab Terrorists In Galmudug Region

Somalia’s state forces, on Friday, killed 67 Al-Shabab terrorists and inflicted injuries on several others. The clashes happened in the Galhaduud. Click here to read…

One-third of Sudan’s population faces hunger crisis: UN

Aid groups warn food insecurity may dramatically increase to ‘unprecedented levels’ and lead to more conflict and displacement unless Sudan receives ‘robust agriculture support’. Click here to read…

Egypt localizes environment-friendly transport ahead of COP27

Egypt has developed a future strategy to introduce electric means of transport into public transport. This comes as the state is only 138 days away from hosting the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, referred to as (COP27). Click here to read…

In Zimbabwe, reporter’s conviction sparks fears of renewed abuse

For the first time in more than a year, Jeffrey Moyo, reporter for The New York Times in Zimbabwe, is breathing rather easy. Click here to read…

Urgent support needed for 14,000 who fled following Burkina Faso massacre

In Burkina Faso, UN humanitarians on Friday appealed to the international community for help, after attacks by armed groups forced thousands to flee their homes in the east of the country. Click here to read…

Spain Resumes Operation Crossing the Strait with Morocco

Following a closure that lasted for two years, Spain has yesterday resumed Operation Crossing the Strait, which will allow movement between the continent of Europe and Africa for three months. Click here to read…

Cameroon, Central African Republic Agree to Demarcate Border

Cameroon and the Central African Republic have agreed to demarcate several hundred kilometers of their shared border. Click here to read…

Chad rebels threaten to pull out of Doha talks

Chad rebels due to take part in landmark talks with opposition groups and the military government on Saturday threatened to pull out citing “provocations and attempted aggression” by the government. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe breaks ground on $300 million lithium project

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa oversaw the groundbreaking of a 300 million U.S. dollar spodumene project at the Bikita Minerals mine. It’s hoped the spodumene project will ramp up lithium production and extend the life of Zimbabwe’s oldest mine. Click here to read…

Angola to become Germany’s first supplier of green hydrogen
Angola is set to become Germany’s first supplier of green hydrogen from renewable energy after its state-owned energy company Sonangol signed a letter of intent to build a factory with two German engineering firms on WednesdayClick here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

African Union is India’s 4th largest trading partner

The African Union is India’s fourth largest trading partner after the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates, propped up by diversification in Indian exports to the continent. Click here to read…

Egypt looks to India for wheat to make up losses from Ukraine war

A potential deal between Egypt and India to import 500,000 tons of Indian wheat in exchange for Egyptian fertilizers is in the works amid ongoing global wheat shortages. Click here to read…

India, Tanzania hold foreign office consultations

India and Tanzania on Thursday reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations including political, economic and defence at the second round of Foreign Office Consultations between the two countries. Click here to read…

Vedanta starts iron ore mining in Liberia via subsidiary

Vedanta Iron & Steel sector has ventured into International Iron ore mining operations in Liberia, West Africa through its subsidiary Western Cluster Limited (WCL). Click here to read…

BCG Digital Ventures Launches New Innovation Centers in India and Morocco

BCG Digital Ventures (BCGDV), the corporate innovation and business-building arm of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), is opening innovation centers in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Casablanca. Click here to read…

Lessons for India: How Benin got its bronzes back

Formal requests began in the 1960s and were ignored. Nigeria persisted, lobbied the international community, kept the pressure up. Now, countries one by one are returning the treasures. Click here to read…

Muslim Conference of Ghana demands apology from India over insulting comments by two politicians

The National Muslim Conference of Ghana has joined Muslims across the world to call on the Indian government to render an unconditional apology for insulting comments made by two political figures. Click here to read…

China: Daily Scan, June 16, 2022

Former head of state reserves authority under probe: Xinhuanet
June 15, 2022

Zhang Wufeng, former director of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, is being investigated for suspected severe violations of discipline and law. Zhang is also a former secretary of the leading Party members group of the administration. Click here to read…

Xi’s article on China’s human rights development to be published: Xinhuanet
June 15, 2022

An article by President Xi Jinping on unswervingly following China’s human rights development path and advancing the development of China’s human rights cause will be published Thursday. Click here to read…

Top political advisor stresses consultation on promoting common prosperity: Xinhuanet
June 15, 2022

China’s top political advisor Wang Yang Wednesday stressed the significance of research, investigation, and consultation on effectively promoting common prosperity. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks during a seminar on the subject. Click here to read…

Xi talks with Putin over phone: Xinhuanet
June 15, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday afternoon held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. During their conversation, Xi noted that since the beginning of this year, bilateral relations have maintained a sound development momentum in the face of global turbulence and transformations. Click here to read…

China to step up efforts to support private investment: Xinhuanet
June 15, 2022

China will step up efforts to support private investment and push ahead with multi-purpose projects aimed at further boosting effective investment, consumption and employment, according to a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday. Click here to read…

China adopts targeted measures to prop up foreign trade: Quishi
June 15, 2022

Against headwinds from the latest resurgences of COVID-19 and external factors causing further disruption, China has implemented a series of targeted measures to promote the continued growth of its foreign trade. Click here to read…

PLA Navy’s Type 055 large destroyer Lhasa holds 1st far sea drills in Sea of Japan: Global Times
June 15, 2022

China’s second Type 055 large destroyer, the Lhasa, is reportedly holding its first far sea drills by entering the Sea of Japan, with experts saying on Wednesday that the ship has achieved full operational capability and demonstrated its capabilities in deterring possible foreign military interference in the Taiwan Straits at a time when the US and Japan have been repeatedly provoking China over the Taiwan question. Click here to read…

Comrades-in-arms and netizens share their tribute to commemorate border heroes on 2nd anniversary of Galwan Valley clash: Global Times
June 15, 2022

As June 15 marks the second anniversary of the deadly Galwan Valley clash, comrades-in-arms of border defense heroes and many Chinese netizens expressed their tribute with some sharing moments on social media, commemorating the martyrs and paying tribute to those Chinese soldiers hailed as the real model of the young generation. Click here to read…

Chinese companies’ overseas projects boost image of “Made in China construction”: People’s Daily
June 15, 2022

Chinese companies’ overseas projects have not only helped to improve local infrastructure, create job opportunities for local people and cultivate a batch of professionals and technicians, but have also contributed to local economic and social development while introducing advanced Chinese technologies, equipment and construction management standards to the rest of the world, thus boosting the image of “Made in China construction.” Click here to read…

US anxiety to push decoupling with China in mineral supply chains ‘a dangerous signal’: Global Times
June 16, 2022

Since NATO will adopt a new Strategic Concept for the coming decade at its summit in Madrid later this month, the US is getting increasingly anxious on the issue of critical mineral supply, especially on mineral resources that it heavily relies on China and Russia. Some voices in the US are calling for decoupling with China in relevant fields, and seeking a replacement to ensure US demand due to “the risk of war.”
Click here to read…

China’s holdings of U.S. Treasuries skid to 12-year low; Japan also cuts holdings: Reuters
June 16, 2022

China’s holdings of U.S Treasuries tumbled in April to their lowest since May 2010, data showed on Wednesday, with Chinese investors likely cutting losses as Treasury prices fell after Federal Reserve officials signaled sizable rate hikes to temper soaring inflation. Click here to read…

Washington rebuffs Beijing’s claims over Taiwan Strait: Taipei Times
June 16, 2022

The US on Tuesday backed Taiwan’s assertion that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, a further rebuff to Beijing’s claim to exercise sovereignty over the strategic passage. On Monday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country “has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait,” and called it “a false claim when certain countries call the Taiwan Strait ‘international waters.’” Click here to read…

U.S. concerned over China’s alignment with Russia after Xi-Putin call: Kyodo
June 16, 2022

The United States on Wednesday expressed concern over China’s alignment with Russia after the leaders of the two countries reaffirmed their partnership in phone talks in the midst of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Click here to read…

China vows to crack down on online racism, spurred by new details of video featuring Malawi children: South China Morning Post
June 16, 2022

China has promised to crack down on online racism against Africans after it emerged that a racist video first circulated in 2020 was shot in Malawi by a Chinese producer. A BBC investigation aired early this week found that a video in which a group of children are being told to chant phrases in Chinese was shot in Malawi by Chinese national Lu Ke, who allegedly takes hundreds of videos a day to sell. In the video, the children are told to repeat the words: “I am a black monster and my IQ is low”. Click here to read…

China’s party congress promotions to emphasise political security: South China Morning Post
June 16, 2022

President Xi Jinping is expected to consolidate his reshaping of China’s national security apparatus at the 20th party congress in the autumn, to rebuild the battered reputation of a sector that has been plagued with corruption scandals. Under Xi’s leadership, Beijing has significantly sharpened and reshaped the country’s zhengfa departments, the political and legal organs that form its security mechanisms. Observers and insiders expect the process to continue, with appointments that will reinforce Xi’s all-encompassing security vision covering everything from politics, through technology and the Covid-19 response, to food supply. Click here to read…

Senior Chinese official chairs BRICS security meeting: Xinhuanet
June 16, 2022

Yang Jiechi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chaired the 12th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security via video link on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 42 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet
June 16, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 42 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 14 in Beijing, 13 in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and nine in Shanghai, the National Health Commission said Thursday. Click here to read…

Postgraduate education expanded in past decade: Quishi
June 16, 2022

China has not only educated more postgraduate students in the past decade than ever before, but has also improved the quality of teaching and research programs, training more capable graduates to better serve national development needs. According to the Ministry of Education, more than 600,000 doctoral graduates and 6.5 million master’s graduates have been educated in the past decade. Click here to read…

Modest subsidies less likely to boost birthrate: China Daily
June 16, 2022

The distribution of subsidies to help couples raise children is not expected to have a marked impact on encouraging births among college students, according to a recent survey. Instead, boosting nursery care services and offering housing subsidies could play a larger role in raising students’ willingness to have children, according to the questionnaire-based survey released by researchers from the Population Development Studies Center at the Renmin University of China in April. Click here to read…

Anhui space lab to foster local talent: China Daily
June 16, 2022

China has established a deep-space exploration laboratory to serve future lunar and interplanetary programs, according to the China National Space Administration. The lab, headquartered in Hefei, capital of Anhui province, is managed by the CNSA, the provincial government of Anhui and the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei. Click here to read…

Guideline released for monkeypox: China Daily
June 16, 2022

China released its first diagnosis and treatment guideline for monkeypox on Wednesday, making it clear that the virus can spread through close contact and droplets, but most patients can recover without special treatment. Click here to read…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 24, 2022)

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

Decoding The Gambian Voting System – Keep It Simple

On 4th December 2021, The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, held its presidential election. The successful election and transfer of power were a powerful message toward Gambia’s successful transition into a democratic society. Click here to read…

NEWS

New Somali President Inaugurated, Warns of Famine

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was inaugurated as the 10th president of Somalia Thursday in a colorful ceremony attended by hundreds of people, including the leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Click here to read…

Mozambique elected to serve on UN security council

Mozambique was unanimously elected Thursday as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Click here to read…

Algeria suspends trade ties with Spain over Western Sahara row

Algeria has suspended foreign trade in products and services with Spain amid an escalating dispute over the status of Western Sahara. Click here to read…

Belgian king expresses ‘deepest regrets’ to Congolese

Belgium’s King Philippe expressed his “deepest regrets” for his nation’s abuses in its former colony Congo, telling lawmakers Wednesday on his first official trip to the country that Belgian colonial rule was unjustifiable and racist. Click here to read…

Guinea Bissau President Embaló names new government

Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on Thursday appointed a new government tasked with the preparation of the December 18 legislative election. Click here to read…

Nigeria Ruling Party Picks Tinubu as Presidential Candidate

Nigeria’s ruling party selected Bola Tinubu as its presidential candidate in elections scheduled for next February, establishing him as the frontrunner to become the next head of state in Africa’s biggest economy. Click here to read…

TikTok videos stoke tensions ahead of Kenya vote – Mozilla report
As Kenya’s general election draws closer, an increasing number of TikTok videos featuring “hate, incitement and other political disinformation” have been on the rise. Click here to read…

Ethiopia willing to resume dam talks with Egypt, Sudan

Ethiopia has expressed interest in resuming talks with Egypt and Sudan on a huge and controversial Blue Nile dam which is expected to be Africa’s largest hydroelectric power plant. Click here to read…

Talks to end Sudan crisis begin as anti-coup groups boycott

Talks aiming at ending Sudan’s ongoing political deadlock began Wednesday, the United Nations said. Click here to read…

UK judge allows first flight sending asylum-seekers to Rwanda to go ahead

The United Kingdom’s controversial plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda as early as next week was green-lit on Friday. Click here to read…

Djibouti Strategically Placed to Become Global ICT Center, Says Adesina

African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina met with President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti Guelleh and senior government officials. Click here to read…

Turkey Delivers Six Bayraktar Drones to Niger

Turkey delivered six Bayraktar TB2 drones to Niger earlier this month as part of an arms deal Ankara signed with Niamey in November, Radio France Internationale reported. Click here to read…

ISWAP blamed for church massacre in Nigeria

The Nigerian government has blamed an ISIL-affiliated armed group in the country for carrying out an attack that killed dozens of worshippers at a church. Click here to read…

ECOWAS unhappy with Mali’s 24-month transition decision

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it regrets a decision by Mali’s interim government to delay the return to civilian rule by 24 months while negotiations between the two sides were ongoing. Click here to read…

Libya oil shutdown expands with threat to close new port

A blockade of Libyan oil output by groups aligned with forces in the east of the country expanded on Thursday and Friday with the closure of two more export terminals. Click here to read…

Uganda announces discovery of huge gold deposits

Uganda has announced that it has struck a deposit of 31 million tonnes of gold ore, with extractable pure gold estimated to gross 320,000 tonnes. Click here to read…

Cape Verde, Togo to Open Consulates in Morocco’s Western Sahara

Cape Verde and Togo will will soon open general consulates in Dakhla, Western Sahara’s second largest city. Click here to read…

Tunisia’s president, opposition battle over who will fold first

Tunisia is approaching a crossroads as President Kais Saied continues to clash with growing opposition to his proposed new constitution. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe Leaning to Russia as Others Shun Moscow for Invading Ukraine

As much of the world is shunning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Zimbabwe this month hosted Russia’s third highest ranking official. Analysts say Zimbabwe is looking to Russia for fuel as well as cooking oil and wheat that it used to get from Ukraine, while Russia has its eyes on Zimbabwe’s minerals. Click here to read…

Chad declares food emergency as grain supplies fall

Last week, Chad declared a food emergency due to a lack of grain supplies. The landlocked African nation on Thursday urged the international community to help its population cope with rising food insecurity. Click here to read…

Soldiers kill 9 villagers in Cameroon, investigation launched

Cameroon’s government said Tuesday that a group of soldiers killed nine villagers, including an 18-month-old girl. The authorities called the incident a “manifestly disproportionate” and “hasty” response to a confrontation in the restive English speaking part of the country. Click here to read…

South Africa’s president faces probe over unreported theft

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing a criminal investigation after a revelation that he failed to report the theft of about $4 million in cash from his farm in northern Limpopo provinceClick here to read…

Russia launches production for Egypt’s nuclear power plant

Ukraine war not stopping Russia’s Rosatom from manufacturing equipment for Egypt’s first nuclear power plant. Click here to read…

Zambia commissions China-funded modern conference center

Aerial photo taken on May 26, 2022 shows the Kenneth Kaunda International Conference Center in Lusaka, Zambia. Zambia on Tuesday commissioned an ultra-modern international conference center financed by China. Click here to read…

Togo and Israel want to improve their cooperation, at the economic level especially

After more than 60 years of diplomatic relations, Togo and Israel have decided to actualize their cooperation. Click here to read…

Morocco is Home to Africa’s Fifth Largest Gold Reserves

Morocco’s gold reserves are estimated at 22.12 metric tonnes (mt) and are the fifth largest in Africa, according to the German database Statistica. Click here to read…

Total Energies ploughs $850 million into new Angola project

TotalEnergies and its partners have taken a final investment decision on an $850 million project in Angola to further develop the deepwater Clov complex in Block 17. Click here to read…

Why the Central African Republic adopted Bitcoin

The Central African Republic’s decision to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender came as a surprise to many, but the government argues that it will secure an independent financial future for the country. Click here to read…

Botswana tight lipped on the value of its ivory stockpile

Botswana has remained mum on the value of its ivory stockpile despite a desperate campaign to have a decade-long ban on sales by the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) lifted. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

India is a “Friend in Need” says Tanzania

India and Tanzania share a multifaceted relation. Recently, Dy NSA Vikram Misri had visited the country followed by Def-Expo organised by India with participation of 16 Indian defence manufacturers. Water sector has also evolved as an important area of partnership in recent years. Click here to read…

India committed to be Gabon’s reliable partner, says Vice President Venkaiah Naidu

Venkaiah Naidu arrived in Libreville on the first leg of his three-nation tour of Gabon, Senegal and Qatar. Click here to read…

MoS Muraleedharan Meets Malawi’s VP; Explores Areas Of Cooperation Between Both Nations

After completing his visit to Zimbabwe, Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan met with the Vice-President of Malawi Dr Saulos Chilima and held a dialogue to explore various areas of cooperation between both the countries.Click here to read…

India, Ghana holds consultations on UN, multilateral issues in Accra

India and Ghana held consultations on UN and Multilateral issues level in Accra on June 9 and discussed issues on the agenda of the UNSC, including on West Africa and Sahel region, and other issues related to counter-terrorism and UN Peacekeeping. Click here to read…

India’s first wheat shipment to Egypt clears quality tests

The first Indian wheat consignment of 55,000 tonnes to Egypt has got through all government tests for quality and other parameters. Click here to read…

India announces donation of 5,000 tonnes of rice to Madagascar as humanitarian aid

India’s Ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros, Abhay Kumar, called on the Prime Minister of Madagascar Christian Ntsay and announced the donation of 5,000 tonnes of rice to the island nation as humanitarian aid. Click here to read…

India-Africa Trade Council appoints Gagan Arora, Founder Vertex Group as Trade Commissioner of Nigeria Division

Gagan Arora, the Founder of Vertex Group, has been appointed as the Trade Commissioner of India-Africa Trade Council Incharge of Nigeria Division at the India-Nigeria Trade Conference held in Delhi a few days ago. Click here to read…

Outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles commends 22 completed projects

The outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles has said his tenure in the island nation has been a beautiful experience and over 20 projects have been accomplished. Click here to read…

Morocco Showcases Outsourcing Opportunities in India

The Moroccan delegation paid a visit as well to the International Institute of Information Technologies to explore the research in the IT industry and discuss ways for future collaborations. Click here to read…

India’s Saatvik to supply 9.3 MW of solar modules in Mauritius

Indian solar module manufacturer Saatvik Solar has won an order for 9.3 MW of modules to be installed at a solar project in Mauritius. Click here to read…

Airtel Africa, Others Receive Notice to Pay About $180 Million to Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo has ordered mobile-phone companies operating in the African nation to pay a levy estimated at about $180 million a year. Click here to read…

Rise and fall of Gupta brothers: An Indian-South African tale of politics, power, & corruption

Two of the three Gupta brothers- Rajesh and Atul Gupta- have been arrested by the UAE authorities for alleged corruption committed when Jacob Zuma was South Africa’s president. Click here to read…

Book Review

‘Born in Blackness’ is a compelling, unforgettable read

In the first book in this year’s African Politics Summer Reading Spectacular, journalist Howard French shows how European explorers’ curiosity about a wealthy African king shaped the modern world. Click here to read…