Anglais

U.S.-China trade tensions deepen with Meng extradition request

Published

6 années ago

janvier 23, 2019

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OTTAWA—The head of the U.S. China Business Council says he is concerned about China’s “nationalistic response” to the extradition arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

Craig Allen, a former U.S. diplomat and now president of the Washington-based group that promotes bilateral trade with China, said in an interview with the Star that China’s threats against the U.S. and arrests of two Canadians are especially worrying.

“I think President Trump really muddied the waters when he said he’d be willing, essentially, to link the two issues, that is the trade issue and allegations (against Meng) of criminal activity. And I think that was very unfortunate because it opened the door for allegations that this has been done for trade negotiating purposes.”

“And I think it behooves us, really, to keep legal and criminal types of issues separate and divorced from trade policy negotiating issues.”

Trump told Reuters in December he wouldn’t hesitate to intervene with the Justice Department in the Meng case: “Whatever’s good for this country, I would do.” He said, “If I think it’s good for what will be certainly the largest trade deal ever made — which is a very important thing — what’s good for national security — I would certainly intervene if I thought it was necessary.”

As the deadline looms next week for the U.S. to submit its formal request, there is a lot of speculation in U.S. business circles about deep divisions within Trump’s chaotic White House over whether to proceed with the Meng extradition, with some suggestions of a split between administration “hawks” on China and those who want to drop the Meng case in order to secure a trade deal with China. Those rumours have reached industry circles in Canada as well, according to a source who spoke to the Star on condition of anonymity.

Allen told the Star he too has heard talk of differences of opinion within the Administration but had no direct knowledge of any discussions.

Nonetheless, the U.S. justice department through a spokesman said Tuesday publicly what it has conveyed privately to its Canadian counterpart, as the Star reported last week: it is going to press ahead with charges against Meng and will file necessary documents to support its extradition request with Canada’s justice department before the Jan. 30 deadline.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told a Bloomberg interviewer on Tuesday the Canadian government has not and will not ask the U.S. to drop its extradition request, saying it would be “absolutely wrong” to politicize the case.

Yet in Beijing, the Chinese government made clear Tuesday there would be an impact on the high-stakes U.S.-China trade talks if the extradition were to proceed.

“This case is a serious mistake and we urge the U.S. to immediately correct its mistake,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.

“What the U.S. has done, with its egregious nature, severely infringes upon the legal and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens. China is firmly opposed to that. We urge the U.S. side to take seriously the solemn position of the Chinese side, take measures to correct its wrongdoings and withdraw its arrest order for the Chinese citizen. China will make further response in view of the actions taken by the U.S.”

Allen said many American businesses are concerned about the latest developments including China’s detention of Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor on unspecified allegations of violating national security laws.

“We’re waiting and watching to see what happens with Meng Wanzhou because there is absolutely a connection here. You’d have to be deliberately blind not to notice that,” he said.

The Trudeau government has protested Kovrig’s and Spavor’s arrests as “arbitrary” — the same word it used to describe a Chinese court’s ruling last week that converted a Canadian man’s 15-year jail term into a death sentence.

Beijing rejected Canada’s call for clemency, saying it will not interfere with “judicial sovereignty.”

“We’re thinking and praying for our Canadian friends who are in a difficult circumstance in China,” Allen said.

It has all made U.S. businesses, especially tech company employees who work in China, nervous about travel and determined to “scrupulously” follow local laws and regulations, he said.

A U.S. China Business Council survey of its members in 2018 showed American companies are worried about the “increasingly rocky” U.S.-China relationship.

The survey found 73 per cent reported their business is affected by bilateral trade tensions, with “political risk” in the bilateral relationship cited as the top concern. “And their political risk has risen as a result of the confrontational attitude between the two countries, and the threat of additional tariffs being imposed on March 2 if no accommodation is reached is a real threat,” said Allen.

Washington and Beijing have set a deadline to reach a trade agreement of March 1 but the two governments are at loggerheads over what the other regards as protectionist measures, especially when it comes to intellectual property, and forced technology transfers.

Both countries have imposed significant tariffs on the other, and Trump has threatened to double rates on Chinese exports if no deal is reached.

“I believe that could happen,” said Allen. “We all believe that that could happen and it would have quite large implications on bilateral trade and it would have negative implications on economic growth in the United States and probably China too, not to mention regional and global supply chains.”

“Business hates uncertainty,” he said.

So does Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau.

Morneau told the Star the day before Beijing stepped up its criticism of the U.S. that while the Canadian economy is doing well overall, the uncertainty created by U.S.-China trade tensions is “the bigger unknown” that could have an impact on global growth.

“The Canadian discussions, the diplomatic challenge we’re having with China, of course there will be impacts,” Morneau said Monday. “Our sense is that those impacts for some businesses could be something they’re considering, but more broadly for the economy they’re not the first thing we’re worried about, we’re looking more at the global trading situation as a bigger challenge.”

Tonda MacCharles is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics. Follow her on Twitter: @tondamacc

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

Published

3 années ago

août 10, 2021

admin

Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline.

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors.

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity.

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement.

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level.

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet.

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

Published

3 années ago

juillet 23, 2021

admin

In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

Published

3 années ago

juillet 23, 2021

admin

MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.