The “China threat” rhetoric has morphed into a campaign issue, with the Democrats and Republicans competing to show who can be tougher on the Asian superpower.Continue Reading
BEIJING: Shanghai Disney Resort abruptly shut its doors on Monday (Oct 31) as Chinese authorities imposed a snap lockdown, trapping guests who are not permitted to leave until they test negative for COVID-19. China is the last major economy wedded to a zero-COVID policy, with authorities brandishing snap lockdowns, massContinue Reading
The 50 signatories include the United States, Britain, Japan, France, Australia, Israel, Turkey, Guatemala and even Somalia. They urged Beijing to “implement the recommendations of the OHCHR assessment” which include “taking prompt steps to release all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in Xinjiang, and to urgently clarify the fateContinue Reading
Beijing should take note of the risks posed by a property bubble and demographic changes, says the Financial Times’ Leo Lewis.Continue Reading
WASHINGTON: North Korea on Monday (Oct 31) demanded that the United States and South Korea stop large-scale military exercises, calling them a provocation that may draw “more powerful follow-up measures” from Pyongyang. “The situation in the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity has entered the serious confrontation phase of power forContinue Reading
The pedestrian bridge in Gujarat was seen swaying before it suddenly gave way.Continue Reading
WHY WAS IT SO BAD? Experts say the crowd crush could have been prevented with proper preparation, But they admit things have gotten more difficult after years of pandemic-related lockdowns. “Everywhere in the world event organisers are struggling with the post COVID-19 crowd,” said Eric Kant, a crowd safety specialistContinue Reading
KUALA LUMPUR: Tony Fernandes resigned as AirAsia X’s group CEO on Monday (Oct 31), about four months after he was reappointed to the post. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the airline said that the resignation was due to Fernandes’ “other commitments”. The filing did not give any other reasonContinue Reading
BEIJING: China successfully launched the final module of its Tiangong space station on Monday (Oct 31), state media said, the latest step in Beijing’s ambitious space programme. The space station is one of the crown jewels of Beijing’s ambitious space programme, which has landed robotic rovers on Mars and theContinue Reading
SEOUL: Across South Korea, events such as autumn foliage festivals and K-Pop concerts are cancelled, and grief-stricken communities are putting off gatherings after a Seoul crowd crush killed at least 154 people, threatening to crimp growth further. A major K-pop concert called Busan One Asia Festival, set for Sunday (OctContinue Reading