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Nico Beckert

Nico Beckert Published: May 12th, 2022

Dessert

Two workers repair a section of the Datong-Qinhuangdao railroad in the northern Chinese province of Shanxi. The line is a main artery of Chinese coal transport.

Nico Beckert Published: May 12th, 2022

Study: Millions of potential Covid infections without Lockdowns

Should China’s government abandon its zero-covid strategy, the country could face 1.6 million Covid deaths. This is the result of a new study by Fudan University in Shanghai. The peer-reviewed study shows that the immunity built by previous vaccination campaigns in the Chinese population is insufficient to prevent an Omicron wave without strict restrictions. Critical […]

Nico Beckert Published: May 12th, 2022

Trade between China and Africa grows

China’s bilateral trade with the African continent increased by 23 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022. One reason for this was rising commodity prices. Chinese imports from Africa rose 29 percent to nearly $30 billion. Exports increased 18 percent to $35 billion, according to the South China Morning Post. However, logistics problems at […]

Nico Beckert Published: May 12th, 2022

Life inside the factory – the Covid hardship of workers

Many companies resort to a drastic measure to keep production going during the recent Covid lockdowns: Their employees stay overnight, eat, live in the factories or adjacent dormitories. From Bosch, Tesla and Foxconn to German mid-sized companies like Wirtgen and Chinese companies, many businesses isolate their workers in the factories. They are no longer allowed […]

Nico Beckert Published: May 11th, 2022

Editorial Energy & Climate 24

China’s food supply is one of the biggest challenges for the political elites. In the past, millions of people suffered from hunger. Feeding the people is one of the basic tasks of the Communist Party. It is not only climate change that threatens harvests (China.Table reported). Soil contamination with heavy metals, plastics or phosphorus is […]

Nico Beckert Published: May 11th, 2022

Climate funds grow rapidly

China’s climate-focused investment funds have doubled their volume in 2021. This is according to figures from analysis company Morningstar. The funds had reached $47 billion in assets by the end of the year, Bloomberg reports. An increase of almost 150 percent. In the US, the volume of climate funds was $31 billion. In Europe, it […]

Nico Beckert Published: May 11th, 2022

11.05.2022_Dessert

Using a magnifying glass against Covid-19? Customs officials inspect herbs from Vietnam. Chinese authorities assume that the Coronavirus is also introduced through imported goods – hence the protective suits.

Nico Beckert Published: May 11th, 2022

Editorial

Xi Jinping faces a dilemma. The People’s Republic struggles with the Omicron wave, and Xi’s course is: zero-Covid. But the weeks-long lockdowns jeopardize economic growth. International companies have already announced plans to withdraw investments. And resentment among the people is rising. There have even been street protests in some areas. Xi, however, cannot back down, […]

Nico Beckert Published: May 11th, 2022

Personal data

Cai Jianyong is to become the new head of research at battery manufacturer CATL. He is responsible for research into batteries that will be integrated into the chassis of future EVs. Previously, he was responsible for smart car control systems at Huawei.Su Qing is also leaving Huawei’s “smart car” business unit. Su was Head of […]

Nico Beckert Published: May 11th, 2022

Car market slumped in April

Car sales have slumped in the People’s Republic in light of extensive Covid restrictions. In April, 35.7 percent fewer cars were sold than in the same period last year, according to data released on Tuesday by the China Passenger Car Association (PCA). This is the biggest decline since March 2020. According to analysts estimates from […]