The Nation Newspaper

Tag: china

Police detain 90 suspects in telecom fraud case

Police in Central China’s Hubei Province have detained 90 suspects in connection with an alleged telecommunications fraud case.

The suspects were caught at four major locations in the city of Enshi.

More than 100 computers were confiscated, according to police in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, which administers the city.

An initial investigation found that most of the suspects are neighbours and classmates who illegally purchased personal information of members of the public.

They extorted money from victims in various provinces using web phones.

The group had conducted more than 4,000 events of fraud before being detained.

Further investigation is under way.

Earlier this year, seven people were sentenced to prison in east China’s Shandong Province for involvement in a telecom fraud case linked to the death of a teenager.

Xu Yuyu, a high school graduate from Linyi, died of cardiac arrest in August 2016 after being defrauded of 1,500 U.S. dollars which she intended to use to pay university tuition fees.

Read Also: Police arraign herdsman over alleged rape in Benue

November 27, 2017
Chinese league will be tough for foreign players next season – Ideye

The Chinese Super League has been the new pasture for many world and Nigerian football stars but Tianjin Teda of China and Super Eagles’ striker, Brown Ideye revealed that foreign players will find the league very difficult as the local players were now upping their play.

The former junior international, who had been reported to have been in disagreement with management of Tianjin Teda said this on Tuesday in an interview on Sports Café.

He also confirmed that he would be plying his trade away from the Chinese League next season.

“I don’t think I will be playing football in China next season maybe Europe,” Ideye said.

“The Chinese owners are doing their best, they are bringing more big names to the league.

“Month by month it is really tight because most of the Chinese players are picking very fast. From next season, it’ll be a big task on the foreign players.”

Ideye also discarded talks that he alongside Super Eagles captain – John Mikel Obi and other big stars joined the Chinese Super League because of the money.

According to him, football was the reason he moved to China and he alongside the big names in the league were being rewarded based on their input to the league.

On what took him to China, Ideye, said: “It is football. I’m not the only one playing there, Mikel too is playing and some other big names like Pato and Tevez.

“They too have the same aim which is going to China and play football and enjoy every moment on the pitch.

“People think it is that good but you have to work for it (money); nothing good comes easy. You work for it and get your reward.”

The 29-year-old former Olympiakos player, who has been out of the Super eagles squad for over a year also added that he was looking forward to be part of the players that would represent Nigeria at the World Cup.

He added, “I’m looking forward to Russia just like every other player looking forward to the World Cup and hoping to do their best.”

November 23, 2017
Nigeria to take exciting crop of young talents to Russia

Nigeria are the only one of Africa’s five representatives from the last World Cup, who return for the 2018 edition in Russia and will be looking to better their place in the last 16 in Brazil.

A crop of exciting youngsters headline a team representing Africa’s most populous nation and who will play at the World Cup for the fifth time, having mostly underachieved in the past.

Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Henry Onyekuru and Moses Simon represent a new generation that has emerged since the 2014 finals.

Nigeria surprisingly qualified easily from a tough group that included Algeria, who also reached the second round of the last World Cup, and African champions Cameroon.

Nigeria were the first African country to book a berth in Russia and finished unbeaten in Africa’s Group B, winning all their home games with two draws and a victory away under German coach Gernot Rohr.

The German was a surprise appointment just weeks before the start of the group phase of the preliminaries.

The 64-year-old Rohr is a former Girondins Bordeaux midfielder who returned to coach the French club to the 1996 UEFA Cup final, and in more recent years was national coach of Burkina Faso, Gabon and Niger.

He will have high hopes that Nigeria can make an impact at the finals, particularly after they beat Argentina 4-2 in a friendly in Russia earlier this month.

Africa’s best return at the World Cup was a quarter-final place for Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).

But there will be concern about Nigeria’s dependency on Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel, with the level of performances over the last year falling dramatically when they were absent.

Obi Mikel now plays his club football in China while his old Chelsea team mate Moses is the biggest name in Nigeria’s team.

NAN

November 23, 2017
China says it respects Mugabe’s decision to resign

China said on Wednesday that it respects Robert Mugabe’s decision to resign as Zimbabwe’s president, a week after the African country’s army and Mugabe’s former political allies moved to end his four decades of rule.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remark during a news conference, adding that China’s policy toward Zimbabwe would not change.

The 93-year-old Mugabe finally resigned on Tuesday, moments after parliament began an impeachment process, prompting dancing in the streets of the capital, Harare.

China has close ties with Zimbabwe and traditionally also with Mugabe himself, who is reviled in the West as a despot whose disastrous handling of the economy and willingness to resort to violence to maintain power destroyed one of Africa’s most promising states.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a news conference that China was happy to see Zimbabwe peacefully and appropriately resolve the issue via talks, and that its policy toward the country would not change.

Read: Mugabe resigns as President of Zimbabwe

“China respects Mr Mugabe’s decision to resign. He remains a good friend of the Chinese people,” Lu said, adding that Mugabe had made “historic contribution to Zimbabwe’s independence and liberation”.

Zimbabwe’s army seized power after Mugabe sacked his former vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was a favorite to succeed him.

Mugabe’s move was an apparent bid to smooth a path to the presidency for his wife Grace, 52, known to her critics as “Gucci Grace” for her reputed fondness for luxury shopping.

Mnangagwa is expected to be sworn in within days and serve the remainder of Mugabe’s term until the next election, which must be held by September 2018.

Asked about a U.S. call for free elections in Zimbabwe, Lu said China believed it could handle its own affairs and China hoped other countries would not interfere.

China and Zimbabwe have a close diplomatic and economic relationship, and China had stood with Mugabe’s government in the face of Western economic sanctions, investing in auto, diamond, tobacco and power-station projects.

In August, Zimbabwe said a Chinese company planned to invest up to two billion dollars to revive operations at Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company, which ceased production in 2008 at the height of an economic meltdown.
That year, China vetoed a proposed Western-backed UN resolution that would have imposed an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and financial and travel restrictions on Mugabe and 13 other officials, saying it would “complicate”, rather than ease, conflict.

Read Also: China launches commercial remote sensing satellites

November 22, 2017
China, others complete border disarmament inspections

China has completed the last round of inspection on the obligation of border disarmament agreements with four countries, the official newspaper of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has said.

The PLA daily said the countries that signed the agreements with China are; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

The newspaper reported on Tuesday that China and a team, representing the other four countries, inspected each other’s border defence forces in mid-August.

According to the PLA, the five countries signed agreement on Confidence-Building in the Military field along border areas in 1996.

Similarly, in 1997, they signed agreement on Mutual Reduction of Military Forces in the border areas.

The PLA reports that the agreements opened the cooperation process of the “Shanghai Five” and laid solid foundation for the establishment and development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ( SCO ).

During the past two decades, the two sides convened more than 30 meetings and organised more than 140 mutual inspections along the borders, with over 7,600 kilometers between China and the other four nations, according to the report.

Currently, the number of military personnel and amount of arms and military technology equipment are below the limits set by the agreements in applicable areas, said the report.

The two sides also stepped up exchanges by visiting each other’s border defence posts and border cities, as well as organising literary and sports contests and military training and performances, it added.

They have organised several “Peace Mission’’ joint military exercises under the SCO framework, carried out regular joint patrols, and regularly reported border situations to the other side, it added.

“Though the staff are different in their professional backgrounds, language and culture, they can trust and understand each other and cooperate closely,’’ Huang Xiaodong, head of the office for the obligation of border disarmament agreements, Ministry of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China, was quoted as saying.

The report said the China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would continue to deepen implementation of the two agreements and cooperation on border defence.

November 21, 2017
China completes border disarmament inspections with 4 countries

China has completed the last round of inspection on the obligation of border disarmament agreements with four countries, the official newspaper of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said.

The PLA daily said the countries are; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

The newspaper reported on Tuesday that China and a team representing the other four countries inspected each other’s border defence forces in mid-August.

In 1996, the five countries signed Agreement on Confidence-Building in the Military Field Along Border Areas.

In 1997, they signed Agreement on Mutual Reduction of Military Forces in the Border Areas.

The agreements opened the cooperation process of the “Shanghai Five’’ and laid solid foundation for the establishment and development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

During the past two decades, the two sides convened more than 30 meetings and organised more than 140 mutual inspections along the borders, with over 7,600 kilometers between China and the other four nations, according to the report.

Currently, the number of military personnel and amount of arms and military technology equipment are below the limits set by the agreements in applicable areas, said the report.

The two sides also stepped up exchanges by visiting each other’s border defence posts and border cities, as well as organising literary and sports contests and military training and performances, it added.

They have organised several “Peace Mission’’ joint military exercises under the SCO framework, carried out regular joint patrols, and regularly reported border situations to the other side, it added.

“Though the staff are different in their professional backgrounds, language and culture, they can trust and understand each other and cooperate closely,’’ Huang Xiaodong, head of the office for the obligation of border disarmament agreements, Ministry of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China, was quoted as saying.

The report said the countries would continue to deepen implementation of the two agreements and cooperation on border defence.

Read Also: Zimbabwe military chief’s visit, normal – China

November 21, 2017
China launches commercial remote sensing satellites

China launched three remote sensing satellites on Tuesday from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in north China’s Shanxi Province.

The three satellites Jilin-1 04, Jilin-1 05 and Jilin-1 06 carried cameras designed to improve observation capability to promote commercial use for the remote sensing industry.

It was the third launch of the Jilin-1 satellite family, a remote sensing system of more than 60 satellites developed by Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd.

The system would be used for wide imaging, video imaging and multispectral imaging.

Remote sensing data would serve administrations and commercial customers.

The satellites were carried by a Long March-6 rocket, a new generation of China’’ liquid-fueled carrier rocket developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

The launch is the second mission of the Long March-6 and the 255th flight carried out with the Long-March series of carrier rockets.

Read Also: China approves domestically-developed Ebola vaccine

November 21, 2017
Volkswagen earmarks $11.8b to develop, build China electric cars

Volkswagen Group said on Thursday it plans to spend 10 billion Euros (11.8 billion dollars) by 2025 to develop and manufacture all-electric-and-plug-in hybrid-vehicles as it seeks to comply with upcoming stringent rules in China.

“The group, which includes Volkswagen AG and Audi AG, intends to inaugurate 15 of the so-called new energy vehicles (NEV) models over the next two to three year.

“The firms will inaugurate an additional 25 vehicles after 2025, China Chief Jochem Heizmann told Media on Thursday.

China’s NEV production and sales quotas, which must be met by 2019, had prompted a flurry of electric car deals.

Also it has encouraged new inauguration as automakers in China race to ensure they do not fall short. Automakers that do fall short will be required to buy credits.

Volkswagen presently has around 10 NEVs already in China market, although all are imported models with limited sales volumes, according to a company spokeswoman.

Heizmann, speaking ahead of the Guangzhou auto show, added that the group is aiming to sell 400,000 new energy vehicles per year in China by 2020 and 1.5 million per year by 2025.

NEVs refer to all-electric battery cars and heavily electrified plug-in hybrids.

Heizmann said some of those models will have between 400 and 600km driving range on a single full charge.

By comparison, Tesla’s (TSLA.O) model S has a range of 490km and as much as 632km depending on battery capacity, according to the company.

The Volkswagen Group is also confident that its group companies and their local China joint venture partners will be able to generate enough NEV sales volume to account for NEV quotas by 2019, Heizmann said, adding that there will be no need to buy credits.

“We need high volumes of new energy vehicles, we are working on full speed on that.’’

Last week, General Motors Co’s China chief Matt Tsien told reporters GM’s China joint ventures would be able to generate enough NEV sales volume to account for NEV quotas by 2019.

There will be no need to buy credits.

Tsien said both GM (GM.N) and its China joint-venture partners “are working to at least meet, if not exceed, those credit mandate requirements.”

The Guangzhou auto show starts on Friday.

NAN

November 16, 2017
Zimbabwe military chief’s visit, normal -China

China said on Wednesday that Zimbabwe military chief Gen. Constantino Chiwenga’s visit to China on Friday was a normal military visit, after the southern African nation’s military said it had seized power.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily news briefing that China is closely watching the situation in Zimbabwe and hopes that relevant parties can properly handle their internal affairs.

Zimbabwe’s military took control targeting “criminals” around President Robert Mugabe but gave assurances on national television that the 93-year-old leader and his family were “safe and sound”.

Read Also: Zimbabwe: Mugabe, family ‘safe, sound’ – Military

Chiwenga met Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan in Beijing on Friday, where Chang expressed a willingness to promote relations with Zimbabwe, China’s Defence Ministry said.

The ministry showed a picture of the two men, both wearing military uniform, shaking hands, and another one of officers from both countries sitting opposite each other holding a meeting at the People’s Liberation Army headquarters in Beijing.

Asked whether Chiwenga had briefed China on plans to seize power, Shuang said the Defence Ministry had already released information about his trip and that he didn’t have an understanding about the specifics of his reception in China.

“I can only tell you that his visit to China this time was a normal military exchange mutually agreed upon by China and Zimbabwe,” Geng said, referring other questions to the Defence Ministry, which has yet to respond to a request for comment.

“As a country that is friendly with Zimbabwe, we are paying close attention to developments of the situation in Zimbabwe,” Geng added.

“Maintaining peaceful and stable development accords with the fundamental interests of Zimbabwe and regional countries, and is the common desire of the international community.

“We hope the relevant parties in Zimbabwe appropriately handle their internal matters.”

In contrast to his elevated status on the continent, Mugabe is reviled in the West as a despot whose disastrous handling of the economy and willingness to resort to violence to maintain power destroyed one of Africa’s most promising states.

China and Zimbabwe have a close diplomatic and economic relationship and Beijing has stood with Mugabe’s government in the face of Western economic sanctions.

In August, Zimbabwe’s government said a Chinese company planned to invest up to $2 billion to revive operations at Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company , which ceased production in 2008 at the height of Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown.

That same year, China vetoed a proposed Western-backed U.N. resolution which would have imposed an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and financial and travel restrictions on Mugabe and 13 other officials, saying it would “complicate”, rather than ease, conflict.

November 15, 2017
FG denies export racketeering allegations against Amina Mohammed

The Nigerian Government has denied the allegations of wood export racketeering to China levelled against UN Deputy Secretary-General Ms Amina Mohammed.

The Minister of State for Environment, Mr Ibrahim Jibril, in a statement denied the allegations being widely circulated in the media against the ex-Minister of Environment.

The statement read: “The report which contained spurious and unsubstantiated allegations against the former Minister, is a pure misrepresentation of facts, baseless and intended to smear not just Mrs Mohammed, but the Nigerian Government.

“The Ministry of Environment wishes to state unequivocally that the ex-Minister is not under any probe whatsoever over any purported wrongdoing whether locally or internationally.

“The ex-minister acted within the ambit of the law of both the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the protocols of International Environmental conventions while in office between November 2015 to February 2017”.

The Nigerian Government noted for clarity the processes involved in issuing approvals for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

It said “potential exporters are required to apply to the Ministry” and for “inspection of factories and premises for compliance by wood experts”.

The statement said qualified exporters were issued ‘Letters of Supports’, with ‘Invitation of the Ministry by the exporter for the stuffing of the containers”.

The Ministry stated that all the CITES permits signed by the ex-minister were done in line with stringent guidance and procedures.

“Specifically, Rosewood (Kosso) is under CITES Appendix II, which allows Sustainable Trade to improve the livelihood of people in line with International best practices.

“For the records, the CITES permits signed by the ex-minister were in batches from August 2016 to January 2017.

“In line with established Public Service norms, the ex-minister continued to perform her duties diligently up to the last minute of her last day in office in Feb. 24, 2017.”

The ministry further stated that Mohammed, during her tenure as Minister of Environment, carried out far-reaching reforms in the environmental sector.

It cited that of bringing Rosewood from unguided trade of CITES Appendix III to Appendix II, which sanitised the wood industry in Nigeria.

It added that Mohammed “led the Review of Endangered Species Act, Convention on International Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora and duly signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Dec. 30, 2016.”

The Environmental Investigation Agency ( EIA ) had earlier claimed that the former Nigerian Minister might have benefited personally from signing thousands of allegedly backdated permits in January 2017 which were allegedly used to clear illegal rosewood exports to China.

EIA further claimed this happened at the time Mohammed was preparing to leave as Nigeria’s minister of environment following her UN appointment.

EIA’s report said over 1.4 million illegal rosewood logs from Nigeria worth $300 million were detained at the ports in China in 2016 but were released after the presentation of CITES certificates signed by the ex-minister.

NAN

November 12, 2017