The stress on China’s rural cadres to meet Beijing’s targets has multiplied in the past decade, raising a serious risk to stability in the countryside, a researcher specialising in rural governance has warned. In an article posted on social media last week that was swiftly taken down, Luo Shan, a researcher from the Rural Governance … Read more
CPTPP represents about 15 percent of the global economy. Current members include Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia. The U.K., which is the first new member to join, will complete its accession on Dec. 15. Taiwan and China’s applications to join the bloc came less than a week … Read more
Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s popularity has slid to a new low, weighed down by a wave of social discontent and political turmoil that has amplified public dissatisfaction with his administration. Lai’s approval rating dropped to 42.8 per cent this month, well down from the 58 per cent recorded in May when he assumed office, … Read more
Relations later frayed under Boris Johnson, however, as Trump pressured Britain to purge Chinese firm Huawei from Britain’s 5G network. Given that the matter was one of national security, the U.K. sided with America, but the move clearly soured relations with China. Trump may well want to make that relationship more awkward again. Elsewhere on … Read more
In a recent stream on his YouTube channel, Naoki Hyakuta, a Japenese novelist and Conservative Party leader, argued that societal changes— such as banning women over 18 from attending university and women over 25 from getting married, as well as removing the uteruses of women above 30— could increase the country’s birth rate. He has … Read more
-2.jpg?itok=kPRSvyq9 "Hyogo’s Finest: Gourmet in Japan")
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Hyogo Prefecture, nestled between verdant mountains and pristine seas, offers a culinary adventure that extends far beyond its famous Kobe beef. With premium seafood like Kasumi red snow crab, Akashi sea bream, and Awaji conger eel, it’s no wonder that food enthusiasts flock … Read more
China’s Chancay, Peru port project The Chinese-funded megaport in Chancay, Peru, may reshape Pacific trade, but has also made the United States uneasy. This two-part series looks at the development of the project, its impact on global trade, its social cost and the implications for the whole of the South American continent. Updated: 12 Nov, … Read more
A UK family’s travel adventure turned into an unexpected nightmare in Shanghai, China, when a simple visa oversight led to their detention, fine, and forced exit from the city after just one night. Nadia, Irfan, and their young son Zakariya, who document their journeys for over 55,000 followers on TikTok (@fieldofvisions), shared their unsettling experience, … Read more
The Southeast Asian e-commerce market is expected to more than double in the next six years to reach US$370 billion by 2030, according to a report from US technology giant Google, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings, and consultancy Bain & Co. The booming sector has attracted a slew of Chinese players – including Alibaba … Read more
 "What is trachoma, the eye disease eliminated by India? – Firstpost")
After decades of fighting, India has finally eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it has become the third country in the Southeast Asia Region to achieve this milestone. The disease is one of the leading causes of blindness globally and has been a public health concern. Here’s … Read more
