China’s ‘iPhone city’ Zhengzhou braces for uncertainty as Trump returns to office

Despite speaks that Foxconn may depart Zhengzhou, there have been new indicators that the condition may be improving.

The technology producing large brought in around 50,000 workers in its latest getting rampage in August. It also promised to invest 1 billion yuan ( US$ 137 million ) to build a new business headquarters in the city.

Foxconn did not respond to CNA’s ask for opinions on its Zhengzhou plan.

TRUMP AND Taxes

Trump’s taxes pose a significant risk not only to the town ’s market, but also to the livelihoods of many workers who rely on those sectors. The flutter effects extend to the areas where these staff live, potentially disrupting regional economies and social security.

However, the influence of Trump’s industry plan on China may be felt beyond its technologies sector, said businesses.

For example, Jungle Tiger, a Zhengzhou-based company that sells outdoor experience products such as camping tents, tents, and pan, is worried it may be affected.

The business ’s items are listed on e-commerce programs like Alibaba and exported to overseas buyers.

Its leader Zhang Gaofeng said the company started selling to the US in 2018, and managed to buck the trend in Trump’s first name because it principally targets the high-end business.

The company exports mainly to Europe and America, with the US being its largest industry, accounting for about 40 per cent of its imports.

However, Zhang said he is not putting all his eggs in one basket, especially after Trump’s challenges to hit further tariffs on Foreign items.

“We are now entering areas in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The Middle East accounts for 20 per cent of our sales, ” he added.

“As US laws evolve, we are diversifying our business target. We are likewise exploring Russia due to its potential and proper relations with China. ”

Authorities said many companies still need to supply components or components from China.

“Redirecting funding to Vietnam, to India, is not as red. The business environment may not be able also to compare with Zhengzhou, ” said Liu Baocheng, director of the Center for International Business Ethics at the University of International Business and Economics.

“The important matter is that China has a pretty strong professional cluster. For some of the little devices or parts, you still need to supply within mainland China. ”

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently reaffirmed China’s devotion to more open up its business and align itself with global trade rules, warning that business wars produce no winners.

But whether that is enough to encourage Trump that China is in for good business remains to be seen, said spectators.

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16 dead, 5 missing in Indonesia landslide: Officials

JAKARTA :  At least 16 people have been killed and five more are missing after a landslide triggered by heavy rain in Indonesia’s Central Java province, local police and disaster officials said on Tuesday ( Jan 21 ). ” Sixteen persons were confirmed dead. For injured patients, 10 have beenContinue Reading

What does Shanghai’s shrinking expatriate population mean for China?

Shanghai-based F& B blog Shen Yiding said he noticed the number of international visitors dropped after 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

With higher rental charges in Shanghai, the little restaurant strategy has also become more common in the town, said Shen.

“The dining areas and recipes are then cut to size, and scaled to pin a smaller group of people. It is largely due to hire price because in Shanghai, leasing makes up a bigger part of operating cost, ” he added.

In the past year, franchises that went great or catered to the expat business have struggled to fill their furniture. Some closed, with other life companies that expanded also rapidly suffering as well.

For starters, Will’s Fitness was again Shanghai’s largest exercise string, boasting more than 70 gyms in the town only at one point.

Today, a majority of them have closed – some shuttered by store landlords over rental and power arrears.

Rewards FROM ECONOMIC Swings

The stranger absence may alter as China tries to connect its policies for progress, said Lim Han Shen, an associate professor of exercise in financing at Oxford Shanghai.  

“There’s going to be a need for funding, talent, innovation, ” he added.

“And from my standpoint, having been here in China for the last 18 years, Shanghai is near the top of also attracting skills into China, if not from international countries, at least internally within China. ”

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Indonesia minister Satryo denies allegations of abuse, unfair staff dismissal, following civil servant protests

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology has denied allegations of abuse and cruel termination which fuelled civil servant demonstrations in Central Jakarta.  

Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro held a meeting with civil servants who staged a demonstration on Monday ( Jan 20 ), following dissatisfaction with his handling of employee rotations and allegations of verbal abuse, as well as alleged dismissals without due process.    

“We told them our purpose, which is to realize President Prabowo Subianto’s ask and I explained that such a movement process is expected for any company, ” Satryo said, as quoted by Kompas Television on Tuesday.

Satryo was referring to a meeting that was held with the legal workers who were demonstrating at his ministry’s office tower in the cash.

Previously, he had said that common reshuffling of his department was necessary to improve productivity and job collaboration, emphasising his determination to ensuring a fulfilling career for his staff, Kompas reported.

“We are making significant adjustments as the government is then divided into three parts and the reform is in line with the senator ’s phone to be more efficient with the finances, ” he was quoted as saying on Monday by media company Jakarta Globe.  

President Prabowo Subianto has divided the Education and Cultural Affairs Ministry into three separate entities- the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry, the Higher Education, Science and Technology Ministry as well as the Cultural Affairs Ministry.  

On Monday, hundreds of civil servants from his ministry reportedly gathered outside the ministry’s office building in Central Jakarta holding banners that read” We are civil servants, paid by the state, working for the state, not slaves of the family,” fuelled by concerns of the rotation and the abrupt dismissal of several employees.

This included a staff member who was fired, allegedly after a minor incident involving a piece of office furniture.  

The civil servants were dressed in black and sang the national anthem during the demonstration.

“State institutions are not Satryo and his wife’s private companies, ” another banner said.  

“Mr President, please save us from an angry minister who likes to slap and fire employees, ” a separate banner said.  

In a voice recording that had circulated online, a voice similar to Satryo’s could be heard allegedly scolding and slapping one of his ministry’s vendors because of some water issues at his house.  

Satryo denied allegations that he had anger issues and had slapped his employees.

“That is not my voice, ” he said, as quoted by Tempo.

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Malaysia seeks gag order on talk of jailed ex-PM’s bid to reveal royal document 

The former king’s palace has issued a letter saying the document does exist, but Malaysia ‘s  law department said it has no history of it, its house secretary has denied understanding and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said” we did not hide anything”.  

Bernama on Monday quoted Shamsul Bolhassan, deputy chief of the chambers ‘ legal department, as saying the joke get request had been filed to a judge. The national had previously said the situation touched on delicate problems, according to Bernama.    

Najib was found guilty in 2020 of legal breach of trust and abuse of power for illegally receiving cash misappropriated from a system of state investment 1Malaysia Development Berhad. He is on trial for corruption in several other 1MDB-linked situations and denies wrong.

Najib this quarter hailed as “one move ahead” the Court of Appeal’s decision to reject the departure of his attempt to access the report. The situation may go back to judge to get heard by another judge.

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Lonely sunfish in Japan aquarium cheered up by human photos, staff uniforms

Fish have feelings also– at least if a lonely bream in a Chinese aquarium is anything to go by.  

Pet carers at the Kaikyokan in the southern area of Shimonoseki were concerned when Mambo the bream appeared to fall poor, immediately after the hospital closed for repairs in early December.  

Staff took several steps to perk up the thing, with minimal results.

They immediately suspected worms and digestive problems as Mambo stopped eating jelly and began rubbing its figure against the plastic container, reported the Mainichi Shimbun.

But a discovery came when an individual suggested that the bream may be depressed due to the lack of customers, the pond said in a social media post earlier this month.  

Despite being convinced of the “99 per share” possibility that it would not job, staff decorated the fish tank with images of human eyes and ocean uniforms.  

An image shared by the ocean showed holes of mind stuck to the wall, alongside outfits draped on clothing hangers and a plate.  

It worked- Mambo’s heath improved the very next day.  

“ I honestly can’t feel it, but the specific currently on display was very curious and often came close to the front of the container when visitors were present, ” said the aquarium, adding that it was probable that the sudden disappearance of visitors did certainly impact health.  

Thanks to further observation and more waving from staff members, Mambo’s health returned to normal.

There is still some time to go before the fish gets a regular stream of real human visitors as the facility is slated to reopen sometime in summer this year.  

MOLA MOLA

According to the Mainichi Shimbun, Mambo arrived at Kaiyokan from off the coast of Kochi Prefecture in February 2024. At the time, it was 79. 5cm long and weighed about 28kg.  

It has since grown slightly larger and Mambo’s gender is unknown, said the report.  

The ocean sunfish, also known as mola mola, can grow up to 335cm long and weigh up to 2. 5 tons.  

According to the National Geographic, the omnivorous fish can live up to 10 years in captivity.

Despite their size and unusual appearance, sunfish are harmless to humans. They primarily feed on jellyfish but will also consume small fish and algae.  

It is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
 

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Trump’s inauguration pledge to expand US territory: What’s at stake as he eyes Greenland, Panama Canal?

Beyond Greenland, US President Donald Trump has even set his sights on acquiring the Panama Canal on the grounds of national security. He has also refused to act out monetary or military force to this end.

The 80km global canal essentially provides a shipping shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, allowing vessels to minimize the long, hazardous voyage around the southwestern tip of South America.

Trump has accused Panama of charging increased prices to use the Central American passing while also alleging, without foundation, that China is involved in its control and that Chinese military operate the river.

“It’s being operated by China. China! We gave the Panama Canal to Panama, we did n’t give it to China, ” Trump said in a freewheeling press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Jan 7.

Trump doubled down on his claims in his political inauguration speech on Jan 20. “China is operating the Panama Canal, and we did n’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back, ” he said.

A goods send traverses the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal in Colon, Panama, Sep 2, 2024. ( File photo: AP/Matias Delacroix )

China does not handle or handle the Panama Canal, although a company of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings has huge managed two ships on both ends of the lake.

Panama leaders have pushed up strongly on Trump’s danger to recapture the key international waterway, which the US had built and owned before handing over control in 1999.

China has even weighed in. “China did as always value Panama’s independence over the river and accept the river as a completely natural international waterway, ” said a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson in late December.

Trump’s remarks have stirred controversy and hinted at the aggressive foreign policy he is expected to take during his second presidency.  

Analysts say the chances of the Trump 2. 0 administration taking the Panama Canal by force are unlikely.

The US position in Latin America would be severely undermined if Trump were to proceed, cautioned Amalendu Misra, a professor of international politics at Lancaster University.

It would prompt many nations in the region to pull out from the Organisation of American States, which comprises more than 30 countries in the Americas, cautioned Misra in an article published by independent news site The Conversation on Jan 9.

“Worse still, it could also encourage many of the fearful nations to openly seek military alliances with enemies of the US, such as Russia, China and Iran- an outcome that would far from strengthen US security, ” he said.

Either way, Trump’s expansionist rhetoric has already wrought harm to America’s reputation, said Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times.

“Even if Trump never makes good on his threats, he has already done enormous damage to America’s global standing and to its alliance system, ” Rachman said in a Jan 15 commentary on CNA.

“Any sniggering at Trump’s ‘jokes ’ is misplaced. What we are witnessing is a tragedy – not a comedy. ”

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