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Tag: China

US Forces Storm Cargo Ship Travelling From China to Iran: Report

Fola Badmus03 mins

United States forces reportedly raided a cargo ship travelling from China to Iran in November, marking the latest example of increasingly aggressive maritime tactics by the administration of President Donald Trump. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal published on Friday, US military personnel boarded the vessel several hundred miles from Sri Lanka. Unnamed officials said the incident marked the first time in several years that US forces had intercepted cargo travelling from China to Iran. The operation took place weeks before US authorities seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela earlier this week, citing alleged sanctions violations. Officials described the November raid as another step in a pattern of actions Washington has not taken in years. US Indo-Pacific Command did not immediately confirm the report. However, an official told the newspaper that materials seized during the operation were “potentially useful for Iran’s conventional weapons.” The official added that the items were considered dual-use, meaning they could have both civilian and military applications. Sources said the ship was allowed to continue its journey after the interdiction, which reportedly involved US special operations forces. Iran remains under extensive US sanctions. Neither Tehran nor Beijing immediately responded to the report, though China, a key trading partner of Iran, has consistently criticised US sanctions as illegal. Earlier on Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker by US forces, which was taken to a port in Texas. Guo said Beijing opposes unilateral sanctions and what it described as “long-arm jurisdiction” without authorisation from the United Nations Security Council. The latest maritime action comes amid heightened US pressure on Venezuela, a move Caracas has accused Washington of pursuing in an effort to undermine President Nicolas Maduro’s government. Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that the Trump administration would not rule out additional vessel seizures near Venezuela in the future.

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China Pulls Popular Gay Dating Apps From Domestic App Stores

Wale busari02 mins

Chinese authorities have removed two major gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from app stores in the country, Apple confirmed to AFP on Tuesday. Same-sex marriage remains illegal in China, and LGBTQ+ individuals often face discrimination. Activists say efforts to curb LGBTQ+ expression have intensified in recent years, especially under President Xi Jinping. Over the weekend, users on Chinese social media noticed that the full versions of Blued and Finka, both owned by a Hong Kong-based company, were no longer available on Apple and Android app stores. An Apple spokesperson told AFP, “Based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have removed these two apps from the China storefront only.” The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is the country’s top internet regulator and censor. In recent months, it has taken action against social media platforms over content management. Apple added that Finka had earlier been voluntarily removed from stores outside China, while Blued was only available domestically. AFP was unable to reach the CAC or the apps’ owner for comment. An express version of Blued is still available in China, and an international version, HeeSay, can be downloaded outside the country. HeeSay’s store description notes it connects “54 million LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide.” In 2022, Grindr was removed from Chinese app stores during a CAC campaign ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics, but Blued remained accessible at that time.

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JUST IN: China Warns Against Trump’s Military Threat Over Christian Genocide in Nigeria

Wale busari02 mins

China has strongly condemned any external interference in Nigeria’s domestic affairs, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning of potential military action over alleged persecution of Christians. At a press conference on Tuesday, Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed Beijing’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “China firmly supports the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as it leads its people along a development path suited to Nigeria’s national conditions,” she said. Describing Nigeria as a “comprehensive strategic partner,” Ning stressed that China stands by the West African nation amid rising international pressure. “China firmly opposes any country using religion or human rights as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations or to threaten them with sanctions and force,” she added. Her comments came after Trump suggested that the U.S. could take military action if reports of religious persecution in Nigeria continue. China’s statement signals strong diplomatic backing for Tinubu’s administration at a time when Nigeria faces scrutiny from Western nations, particularly the U.S., over its human rights record and internal security challenges.

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Trump Confirms Planned Visit to China Early Next Year

Kamal Yalwa02 mins

United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to visit China early next year after receiving an official invitation from Beijing, marking what could be a pivotal moment in US-China relations amid ongoing trade and security tensions. “I’ve been invited to go to China, and I’ll be doing that sometime fairly early next year. We have it sort of set,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. The announcement follows a period of cautious diplomacy between Washington and Beijing, as both sides seek to stabilize ties after years of tariff disputes and mutual suspicion over regional security issues. Trump also expressed optimism about finalizing a trade agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, despite recent friction over new tariffs. “I think we’ll be just fine with China. China doesn’t want to do that,” he said, in apparent reference to U.S. intelligence claims that Beijing was preparing to seize Taiwan by 2027. The planned visit would be Trump’s first official trip to China since returning to the White House and comes as Washington pushes for renewed dialogue on trade, technology, and global security. This is a developing story. More updates to follow.

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Education Ministry Denies Snubbing 15-Year-Old Nigerian Math Whiz Chosen For China Olympiad

Wale busari03 mins

The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed reports that it failed to sponsor a 15-year-old Nigerian student who allegedly qualified to represent the country at the International Mathematics Olympiad in China. The clarification followed public outrage sparked by a post from Educare’s Chief Executive Officer, Alex Onyia, who accused the ministry of denying financial support to the student, identified as Agbo Adoga from Graceland International School, Port Harcourt. Onyia claimed the refusal prevented the teenager from attending the global mathematics competition. In his post on X, Onyia wrote, “Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, just informed me that Agbo Adoga qualified to represent Nigeria in the International Maths Olympiad in China. Nigerian Ministry of Education said they don’t have money to sponsor anybody. So he will not attend. Nigeria lost again!” However, in a press statement released on Sunday, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Feo Folasade, denied receiving any official correspondence requesting sponsorship for the student. “The Federal Ministry of Education wishes to state clearly that it is not aware of the report circulating online regarding a supposed sponsorship request for a 15-year-old student said to have qualified to represent Nigeria at the International Mathematics Olympiad in China,” the statement said. It further explained that no document or communication from any recognised institution or body was found in the ministry’s records regarding the alleged sponsorship. The ministry also urged members of the public to disregard unverified information and ensure that all education-related matters are confirmed through its official channels. Reaffirming its dedication to promoting excellence, the ministry stated that it remains committed to encouraging and supporting outstanding students through proper and transparent procedures.

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Trump Threatens 100% Tariff on China Over ‘Aggressive’ Trade Moves

Trump Threatens 100% Tariff on China Over ‘Aggressive’ Trade Moves

Kamal Yalwa04 mins

By Trend Brio News Published: October 11, 2025 | Updated: US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose an additional 100% tariff on all Chinese imports, escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing in what could become the sharpest trade confrontation in years. In a post on his Truth Social platform late Friday, Trump accused China of taking an “extraordinarily aggressive position” on trade, saying Beijing had issued an “extremely hostile letter to the world” and introduced sweeping export controls on key goods, including rare earth materials vital to global manufacturing. “Starting November 1st, 2025 — or sooner, depending on China’s actions — the United States will impose a tariff of 100% on China, over and above any existing tariffs,” Trump wrote. “It is impossible to believe China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is history.” The move marks a major escalation in the long-running US-China trade dispute, sparking renewed fears for global economic stability. The White House said the new tariffs come in direct response to Beijing’s restrictions on rare earth exports, which China claims are necessary for “national security.” The US, however, views them as economic retaliation. Trump also announced plans to impose US export controls on “all critical software” bound for China, intensifying the technology standoff between the two nations. On Friday, Trump suggested he may cancel a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, originally set to take place during his visit to South Korea later this month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. “I was to meet President Xi in two weeks at APEC in South Korea, but now there seems no reason to do so,” Trump posted. The trip is expected to include stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, with the US president hinting at “other countermeasures under serious consideration.” The announcement sent Wall Street tumbling, with the S&P 500 falling 2.7% on Friday — its worst single-day drop since April — as investors feared a renewed trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Beijing has not yet issued an official response, but analysts warn that a 100% tariff could disrupt global supply chains and increase costs for US consumers. Relations between the US and China had shown tentative signs of stabilization in recent months, but Trump’s announcement signals a fresh rupture between “the world’s biggest factory” and “its largest consumer.”

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Nigeria Seeks $2 Billion China Loan to Fund New Electricity Super Grid

Nigeria Seeks $2 Billion China Loan to Fund New Electricity Super Grid

Wale busari03 mins

The Nigerian government is in advanced negotiations with China’s Export-Import Bank for a $2 billion loan to build a new electricity super grid aimed at tackling the country’s persistent power supply challenges. Bloomberg reports that the proposed super grid will boost power transmission across the eastern and western regions, home to most of Nigeria’s industrial consumers. At an economic summit in Abuja on Monday, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu said the project is part of efforts to decentralize power generation and encourage large commercial users, who previously disconnected from the unreliable national grid, to return. “It’s part of plans to decentralise power generation in Nigeria and get the heavy commercial users that left the power grid because of its unreliability to return,” Adelabu said. Negotiations with China’s Exim Bank are reportedly progressing, and cabinet approval for financing the project has already been granted, according to Bloomberg. Currently, Nigeria generates about 13 gigawatts of electricity, but only a third reaches consumers due to frequent grid collapses. By comparison, South Africa, with a quarter of Nigeria’s population, has an installed capacity of roughly 70 gigawatts. The unreliable power supply has pushed many businesses to rely on self-generated electricity, which now makes up nearly half of national consumption. The super grid is expected to improve power delivery to industrial zones, stimulate manufacturing, and support economic growth. Since taking office in 2023, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has implemented economic reforms, including removing fuel subsidies, overhauling the tax system, and improving security in oil-producing regions to attract investment. The government also approved higher tariffs for some urban electricity consumers to strengthen the financial viability of the power sector. According to Bloomberg, these measures helped electricity distribution companies raise revenue by 70 per cent in 2024, with further growth projected to reach ₦2.4 trillion ($1.6 billion) in 2025.  

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Former Chinese Agriculture Minister Sentenced to Death with Reprieve for $38M Bribery

Fola Badmus03 mins

Beijing, China — Sept. 29, 2025 — China’s former Minister of Agriculture, Tang Renjian, has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for accepting more than 268 million yuan ($38 million) in bribes over a 17-year period, according to a statement released Sunday by the People’s Court of Changchun in Jilin province. The court said Tang’s crimes were “particularly severe,” causing major losses to state and public interests. Although the sentence includes a two-year reprieve — a common practice in China that can lead to life imprisonment if the individual demonstrates good behavior — the ruling underscores the government’s zero-tolerance stance on high-level corruption. Tang was found guilty of accepting bribes in both cash and property from 2007 to 2024, while serving in various government roles including governor of Gansu province and vice chairman of the Guangxi autonomous region. The court noted that Tang had confessed to his crimes and expressed remorse, which was taken into consideration during sentencing. His conviction marks the latest development in President Xi Jinping’s wide-reaching anti-corruption campaign, which has ensnared numerous top officials in recent years. While supporters of the campaign argue it strengthens governance and accountability, critics contend it also serves as a political tool to eliminate rivals and tighten Xi’s control over the Communist Party. Tang’s sentencing follows a string of similar cases, including the downfall of former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, both of whom were investigated for graft. Li was removed from office after just seven months and later expelled from the Communist Party. His successor, Dong Jun, is also reportedly under investigation. The ruling against Tang highlights Beijing’s continued crackdown on corruption at the highest levels of government, a cornerstone of Xi’s leadership since taking power in 2012.

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