Tag: CHINA

Australia reaches deal with China that could end barley trade dispute

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Australian government has reached a deal with China that could lead to the lifting of tariffs on barley that was introduced in 2020. The Australian foreign affairs and trade ministries said this jointly on Tuesday that the deal would create a pathway toward resolving the dispute. Australia said China agreed to undertake an expedited review of the duties over the next three to four months. During this time, Australia will suspend its proceedings against Beijing before the World Trade Organisation (WTO). If the duties are not lifted at the…

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Cash-strapped Nigeria secures China funding to fix National Grid

Aminu Imam

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has signed an agreement with a consortium of Chinese companies to secure financing required for projects that will enhance the national grid, the TCN head, Sule Abdul-Aziz, said. During a panel session at the Middle-East Energy Conference in Dubai on Tuesday, Abdul-Aziz said securing funding to complete over 100 ongoing transmission projects, including building transmission lines and sub-stations, has been difficult. But now there are companies coming to us with PPA, we signed MOUs and agreements with some of them so that they can…

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UK announces Covid restrictions for anyone arriving from China

Aminu Imam

The United Kingdom (UK) government has announced that passengers coming into the country from China will soon be required to show a negative Covid test. According to local newspaper reports, the authorities announced on Friday that those coming into the UKs airports from China, including Londons Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, must prove they have tested negative. Travellers will have to test negative within 48 hours of departure. Anyone taking a PCR test in UK hospitals or care homes will be asked if they have recently travelled to China. Those samples…

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“We are worried 100 million Nigerians live below poverty line” – China

Aminu Imam

The Republic of China has expressed its concern that Nigerians, many living below the poverty line, continue to grapple with grinding penury. According to the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, We have lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty in China; and in Nigeria, there are 200 million, with 100 million living below the poverty line; this is my great concern. And efforts that make me try to do things for Nigeria, and the most important thing now is agriculture. The diplomat stated this on Tuesday when…

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16 dead, 36 missing after flash flooding in north-western China

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

At least 16 people have died and a further 36 are missing after a flash flood in north-western China, according to a report on state television on Thursday. The flash floods occurred on Wednesday evening in the mountains in Datong County near the city of Xining in Qinghai Province, after heavy rainfall. The downpours triggered landslides that blocked and diverted rivers, affecting more than 6,000 people in two towns and six villages, the report said. The authorities mobilised around 2,000 rescue workers, including police officers, paramilitary units, emergency services and…

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Concern mounts, as Nigerias dependency on China deepens

Aminu Imam

Trade deficit, debt balloon Bi-lateral trade deficit against Nigeria is widening in favour of China, with available data showing a steady increase in Nigerias importation from the Asian country, rising by 183.91% from N530.98bn in the first quarter of 2018 to N1.51tr in Q1, 2022. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data on foreign trade, China is responsible for the bulk of imports into Nigeria, ranking number one on the list of top 10 countries in the five quarters under review. However, export to China is negligible, as…

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Millions locked down as China wrestles worst virus outbreak in 2 years

Aminu Imam

China yesterday placed all 17 million residents in one of its biggest cities under lockdown, as virus cases doubled nationwide to nearly 3,400 and anxiety mounted over the resilience of its zero-Covid approach in the face of the worst outbreak in two years. The southern tech-hub of Shenzhen told all residents to stay at home as the city struggles to eradicate an Omicron flare-up linked to neighbouring virus-ravaged Hong Kong. The lockdown and a suspension of public transport will last until March 20, a city government notice said, adding that…

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China seizes 7,221 human male organs in container from Nigeria

Aminu Imam

Chinese Customs officers have made the worlds biggest seizure of human organs in history this morning, a total of 7,221 penises of African origin hidden in a refrigerated freight container, according to World Daily News Report. Acting on information from an anonymous informer, Chinese officers found the organs in 36 boxes labelled as plantains (cooking bananas) inside a refrigerated container on a ship harboured in the Shanghai Port. Chinese General Administration of Customs spokesman, Li Wu, says an increasingly large number of armed groups in Africa use organ trafficking to…

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China bans classroom mobile phone use over addiction concerns

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Ban Chinas primary and middle schools have introduced a ban on mobile phone use in classrooms, among wider efforts to protect pupils from internet and video game addiction. Primary and middle school students should not bring mobile phones into classrooms, according to a circular from the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Monday on phones on campus. If students must have a mobile phone at school, a special request should be submitted to the school authorities along with written consent from their guardians, said the ministry. Once the request has been…

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22 sentenced for deadly mine accident in China

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

A local court has sentenced 22 people to jail for their involvement in a mine accident that left 22 dead and 28 injured in north Chinas Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2019. The accident occurred on February 23, 2019 when a shuttle vehicle lost control and crashed into the side of a tunnel in a lead, zinc and silver mine site. The site was under Yinman Mining Company in the West Ujimqin Banner of Xilingol League. An earlier investigation revealed that the vehicle involved in the accident was illegally purchased…

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