China | Common News Update

Apr152023 by adminNo Comments

Yellow dust: Sandstorms bring misery from China to South Korea

Science

NEWS1By Yuna Ku, Joel Guinto and Fan Wangin Seoul and SingaporeFrom his high rise office window, Erling Thompson watches the Seoul skyline fade into a yellow-grey cloud as fine dust from sandstorms in China blankets South Korea.On the streets below, people wear face masks and hooded jackets to ride out another dust-covered day that is no less miserable and unhealthy, even if it is expected at this time of the year.Yellow dust is a seasonal ordeal for millions in North Asia, as sandstorms from the Gobi desert that borders China and Mongolia ride springtime winds to reach the Korean peninsula and this year, farther east to Japan.It aggravates air pollution and puts people at greater risk of respiratory disease as the particles are small enough to be inhaled into the lungs. "You don't feel ha...

Apr102021 by adminNo Comments

China fines Alibaba $2.8B fine for violating anti-monopoly law

Business

April 10 (UPI) -- Chinese regulators have imposed a record $ 2.8 billion fine on Alibaba for violating anti-trust laws. The fine stems from an anti-monopoly investigation of China's Alibaba Group Holding, known as the world's largest e-commerce company and owner of the South China Morning Post, opened in December. Regulators said in a statement at the time they were looking into practice of limiting Internet merchants to exclusively choose a single platform to sell their wares, South China Morning Post reported. Advertisement China's State Administration for Market Regulation said in a Chinese-language statement Saturday the policy of forcing merchants to choose a single platform from two "infringes on the businesses of merchants on the platforms and the legitimate rights and interests of...

Mar312021 by adminNo Comments

Climate change: China absent from key UK meeting

Science

WPA PoolA critical meeting on climate change, organised by the UK, appears to be the latest victim of an ongoing row with China. Ministers from around 35 countries are due to participate in today's summit on climate and development.But while the US, EU, India and others are taking part, China is notable by its absence. The UK says that China was invited to the event but is not participating. Relations between the UK and China have deteriorated in recent weeks after angry exchanges about human rights. Why are people not doing more about climate change?The people under threat from Uganda's melting glacierConsumers pose 'growing threat' to tropical forestsJust a few days ago China imposed sanctions on nine UK citizens - including five MPs- for spreading what it called "lies and disinformation...

Mar212021 by adminNo Comments

Elon Musk denies Tesla cars are used for spying in China

Technology

EPAElon Musk, the chief executive of the US electric carmaker Tesla, says his firm would be "shut down" if its vehicles were used for spying on China.His comments came in response to reports that China's military had banned Tesla cars from its facilities.The military had raised security concerns about the data collected by cameras installed in the cars.China is Tesla's largest market after the US, accounting for about a quarter of the firm's global sales in 2020.On Saturday, Mr Musk said if a business did engage in spying on a foreign government, "the negative effects for that company would be extremely bad"."There's a very strong incentive for us to be very confidential with any information," Mr Musk told an influential Chinese business forum via video link. "If Tesla used cars to spy in ...

Mar192021 by adminNo Comments

China tries Canadian Michael Spavor behind closed doors

World

March 19 (UPI) -- A Chinese court said it tried behind closed doors on Friday one of two Canadian citizens facing espionage charges after being detained by the Asian nation in late 2018, stating the verdict will be announced at a later date. In a brief statement, the Liaoning Dandong Intermediate People's Court, near China's southern border with North Korea, said Michael Spavor and his defense lawyers appeared in court Friday where he was tried "for spying overseas and illegally providing state secrets." Advertisement Spavor is one of two Canadians along with Michael Kovrig who were arrested in China within weeks of Canadian authorities detaining Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei, on Dec. 1, 2018, at the request of the United States, which had issued a warrant for her ar...