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☆ China is building new villages on its remote Himalayan border. Some appear to have crossed the line
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

“Knowing India has a strong presence in Bhutan, China naturally becomes vulnerable in the bordering region,” said Rishi Gupta, assistant director at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New Delhi. “None of the roads connect into Bhutan, they start from the Chinese border and end in forest areas. ‘No intrusion’Bhutan has repeatedly denied that Chinese construction has taken place in its territory. Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meet in Beijing in October 2023. They picked up formal talks last October for the first time since the Doklam standoff, with Bhutan’s foreign minister making a rare visit to Beijing.

Persons: ”, that’s, Xi Jinping, Robert Barnett, Lotay Tshering “, SOAS ’ Barnett, Barnett, Bhutan’s, ” Barnett, Doklam, Bhutan –, Rishi Gupta, Jieluobu, Jieluobu –, Yun Sun, “, SOAS’s Barnett, –, Damien Symon, Symon, relocatees, Lotay Tshering, it’s, Karma Phuntsho, Manoj Joshi, Tandi Dorji, Wang Yi, Xi Organizations: CNN, East China Seas, Planet Labs, SOAS University of London, Tibet Autonomous, Labs, Bhutan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SOAS, Gurinder, India’s Ministry, Affairs, Asia Society Policy, Beijing, Jieluobu, Stimson, Demalong ., Demalong . Tibet Federation of Industry, Commerce, Intel Lab, Chatham House, La, National, ” Observers, Observer Research, Trade, Foreign, Ministry Locations: Bhutan, China, Tibet, South, East, India, Tibet Autonomous Region, Demalong, Lhuntse, “ China, Indian, Chinese, Nathu La, Sikkim, Gurinder Osan, Delhi, Beijing, Siliguri, New Delhi, Doklam, Washington, Semalong, Luozha, WeChat, Demalong . Tibet, London, Jieluobu, Belgian, ”, Thimphu, Kula, Bhutanese

☆ Israeli commandos raid Lebanon — the latest sign Netanyahu is ignoring Biden's warnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is rapidly escalating Israel's campaign against its regional foes and trampling on US diplomatic efforts in the process. In the latest sign he's ignoring US warnings, The Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli special-operations forces were carrying out raids into southern Lebanon as the possibility of a ground incursion this week loomed. Getty Images"We are shocked," one US official told CNN after Netanyahu rejected the cease-fire proposal before Israel launched its attacks. It's the latest instance of the Israeli leader ignoring or rejecting Biden's attempts to restrain Israeli military action in Gaza and, more recently, Lebanon.

Persons: Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Avivi, Avivi, Fateh Sherif Abu el, Amin, Hezbollah's, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel's, Joe Biden, Gilbert Achcar, Jasmine El, Obama, He's, Netanyahu, Israel, Nasrallah, he's, Richard Dannatt, hadn't, Dannatt, It's, Sarah Leah Whitson, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Blinken Organizations: Service, Street Journal, IDF, Hamas, SOAS University of London, US Marine Corps, Getty, CNN, Israel, British, East, Sky News, Foreign Relations, Political, Military Affairs, United Nations, White Locations: Israel, Lebanon, Beirut, Iran, Gaza, France

☆ China’s Great Wall of Villages
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Muyi Xiao | Agnes Chang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

China’s Great Wall of Villages China has moved thousands of people to new settlements on its frontiers. Mr. Akester and Mr. Barnett, who have studied Tibet’s border villages for years, reviewed The Times’s findings. In neighboring Xinjiang and Yunnan, The Times identified six new and 59 expanded border villages. (China says there are hundreds of villages like them, but few details are available and many appear to be mere upgrades of existing villages.) A Times investigation found 12 villages in disputed areas Disputed areas Villages in disputed areas Other villages CHINA CHINA TIBET Arunachal Pradesh Controlled by India Claimed by China BHUTAN INDIA MYANMAR 50 miles CHINA CHINA TIBET Arunachal Pradesh Controlled by India Claimed by China BHUTAN MYANMAR INDIA 75 miles Source: RAIC Labs and The Times analysis of Planet Labs satellite imageryChina makes clear that the villages are there for security.

Persons: ”, Xi Jinping, Bhutan Gyalaphug, Tian Shan Wang, Matthew Akester, Robert Barnett, Akester, Barnett, India Demchok, ” Mr, Xi’s, Brahma Chellaney, Mr, Chellaney, Liu Pengyu, Brian Hart, India Migyitun, Jing Qian, Tenzin, “ Organizations: Daily, New York Times, RAIC Labs, Planet Labs, The Times, SOAS University of London, India, China United Front News Network, Times, ”, Embassy, Local, Planet Labs India, China Power, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Maxar, Center for, Asia Society, Communist Party, Human Rights Watch Locations: China, India, Beijing, Arunachal Pradesh, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Tajikistan Fumin, Aimin, Vietnam, Luozha county, Shannan, Tibet Autonomous, Fumin, Xinjiang, Yunnan, China’s, CHINA CHINA TIBET Arunachal Pradesh, China BHUTAN INDIA MYANMAR, China BHUTAN MYANMAR INDIA, New Delhi, South China, Washington, ” India, Ladakh, Times, ”, Center for China, Central Asians, Dokha

☆ A North Korean defector was made a minister in South Korea, likely irking Kim Jong Un, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Joshua Nelken-Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tae made a high-profile defection to South Korea in 2016, and was previously an ambassador at the North Korean Embassy in London. The appointment makes him the first North Korean defector to be given a vice-ministerial job in South Korea, according to AP. Related stories"He's definitely considered a traitor of the current North Korean regime and I think that's how they'll paint it," she said. But "North Korea doesn't consider the Council to be particularly relevant," Pardo, the KF-VUB Korea Chair, told BI. Smith added: "He has been and will continue to be actively involved in campaigns that expose the North Korean government and the problems of the North Korean population."

Persons: —, Yoon Suk, Yongho, Tae, Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Sarah A ., Kim Jong, He's, Pardo, Hazel Smith, Smith, It's Organizations: Service, Korea, Advisory Council, North Korean Embassy, Business, North, KF, VUB, Brussels School, Governance, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, National Assembly, CNN, Korean Studies, University of Sheffield, South Korea's National Assembly, Korea doesn't, SOAS University of London, South Korean, Korean Locations: North Korean, South Korea, London, VUB Korea, Vrije, North, Korea, North Korea

☆ Modi’s latest campaign message to supporters: ‘God has sent me’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a new message for supporters on the campaign trail: God has chosen him. “This is why I have dedicated myself to God.”Modi continued: “God doesn’t reveal his cards. This, he added has “rallied his base who feel pride in such religiosity.”India is a deeply religious country. “(He is) the first prime minister, they say, to be unashamed about this faith,” Sinha said. It ignited widespread anger among Muslim leaders and opposition politicians and calls for election authorities to investigate.

Persons: CNN —, Narendra Modi, “ I’m, God, ”, ” Modi, doesn’t, Modi, Subir Sinha, “, ” Sinha, Ganga, I’m, Ram, Modi’s, ” Modi fasted, Lord Ram, Pratishtha ”, –, spokespeople Organizations: CNN, CNN — India’s, NDTV, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, South Asia Institute, SOAS University of London, ” Locations: India, Varanasi, Ayodhya

☆ Spending in Shenzhen: Chinese used to escape to this former British colony. Now Hongkongers are heading in the opposite direction
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Chris Lau | Veronica Lin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Hong Kong CNN —With Hong Kong’s sky-high cost of living, residents like Andy Tsui have been looking for alternative ways to have more fun and spend less. Rather than spending his cash in his hometown of Hong Kong, he’s been crossing the border into mainland China to splurge instead. Such trips are noteworthy because, for much of Hong Kong’s modern history, the traffic has been largely — conspicuously, even — in the other direction. Hong Kong used to be the place where Chinese would escape to, not from. In 2023, just 26 million mainlanders — about half of the 2018 crowd — visited Hong Kong.

Persons: Andy Tsui, he’s, boba, ” Tsui, Justin Robertson, Noemi Cassanelli, CNN Hong Kong’s, Hong Kong —, misbehaving, —, ”, Steve Tsang, Hong, Shenzhen’s, Hongkongers, Gilles Sabrie, Hongkonger Eddy Lam, Lam, Cherrie Leung, Qilai Shen, Hugo Sin, “, Gary Ng, John Lee, Tsang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Shoppers, Yuen, Britain, Newspapers, Hong, Hong Kong Immigration Department, China Institute, SOAS University, Huawei, Tencent, Bloomberg, Getty, Sam’s Club, Costco, Sam’s, Walmart, Hong Kong, Shenzhen hasn’t, Xinhua, RTHK, SOAS University of London Locations: Hong Kong, China, splurge, Peking, Shenzhen, East, Hong, People’s Republic of China, British, Beijing, London, Bay Area, San Francisco , New York, Tokyo, Kowloon, Coco, Shanghai, “, Inner Mongolia, Taiwan, Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong’s, Britain, Canada, Australia, Bay, ”

☆ AI ‘resurrects’ long dead dictator in murky new era of deepfake electioneering
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“As a member of Golkar, I am very proud of Suharto because he successfully developed Indonesia,” Aksa wrote on X. The Golkar-produced Suharto video was just one of dozens featured in official party campaigns, they said. AI photos made by supporters, have also been used by Ganjar’s party in his campaign. Indonesia’s Communications Ministry issued advisories following several viral AI videos, warning tech companies and voters to be cautious of deepfakes. TAPP (Tim Advokasi Peduli Pemilu), a Jakarta-based nonprofit, said that videos like the Suharto deepfake showed AI’s potential for voter manipulation.

Persons: Suharto, ”, Erwin Aksa, Golkar –, Prabowo Subianto, –, ” Aksa, Golda Benjamin, Ganjar, Darryl Ramadhan, Muhammad Zulfan Dalimunthe, ” Budisatrio, Prabowo’s, Ganjar Pranowo, Anies Baswedan, Anies, ” Anies, TAPP, Tim Advokasi Peduli, Suharto deepfake, Gugum Ridho, Rahmat Pribadi, Suharto Suharto’s, Soe Tjen, Anton Pratama, “, ” Anton Organizations: CNN, Facebook, YouTube, Golkar, Asia Pacific, ”, Gerindra Party, Central Java Gov, Ganjar’s Democratic Party of, Jakarta Gov, Indonesia’s Communications Ministry, Getty, SOAS University of London Locations: Indonesia, Indonesian, Asia, Jakarta, Lubuk Pakam, North Sumatra, AFP, Gugum Ridho Putra, East Timor, Aceh, West Papua, Maluku, Yogyakarta

"David Cameron was a disastrous PM. Britain's former Prime Minister and newly appointed Foreign Secretary David Cameron walks outside 10 Downing Street in London, Britain November 13, 2023. "David Cameron was at the heart of the biggest lobbying scandal of recent times," said the Liberal Democrat party's foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran. "I understand there's a lot of baggage that comes with David Cameron," Conservative lawmaker Tobias Ellwood told Times Radio. Theresa May, who replaced Cameron as prime minister before being ousted herself amid a party rebellion over Brexit three years later, said his experience would be invaluable.

Persons: David Cameron, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Cameron, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Steve Tsang, David Lammy, Suzanne Plunkett, Layla Moran, Akshata Murthy, Tobias Ellwood, Dehenna Davidson, Theresa May, Martin Pollard, Alex Richardson Organizations: Downing, European Union, Conservative Party, China Institute, SOAS University of London, Reuters, Labour Party, REUTERS, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Eton College, Times Radio, Thomson Locations: European, Britain, China, Beijing, London, Downing

☆ Evergrande’s chairman has been detained. The company will struggle to survive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But that plan now looks to be in peril, after police detained its chairman as well as staff at a financing subsidiary. Previously China’s second biggest real estate company, Evergrande’s default in 2021 ignited a crisis in the property sector that continues to weigh on the wider economy. It said it needed to reassess the terms of the restructuring plan, in part because sales had been weaker than expected. “The debt restructuring can’t really happen if Evergrade can’t issue new debt or equity, and it doesn’t seem like it can,” Magnus said. As for Magnus, he believes Evergrande’s time as an independent company is over.

Persons: Evergrande, Xu Jiayin, Hui Ka Yan, ”, George Magnus, Bobby Yip, ” Magnus, “, Tyran Kam, Fitch, Kam, Yicai, What’s, Magnus, “ They’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Sunday, Oxford University’s China, SOAS University of London, Shenzhen government’s, CNN, Fitch Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, United States

The zoo is run by the local government, which was said to be running out of money and therefore unable to feed its charges. These vehicles are legal entities created by Chinese cities to circumvent borrowing restrictions imposed by the central government in Beijing. “Why hurt small businesses which are the weakest?”Noodle sellers in Shanghai have been fined for adding cucumber to their dishes. Last year, Beijing issued a directive forbidding local governments from imposing “arbitrary fines” to generate income, and dispatched inspection teams to check that the policy was being followed. The scale of financial stress among China’s local governments is so big that “creative” sources of income can only cover a relatively small shortfall, he said.

Persons: hadn’t, Xi Jinping’s, ”, Willy Lam, Lam, “, Aly Song, Jiemian, Logan Wright, hasn’t, Li Qiang, Steve Tsang, Joseph Cheng, —, Martha Zhou Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Species Fund, CNN Local, China Newsweek, ” CNN, China National Radio, Washington, Jamestown Foundation, CNN, ”, Weibo, “, SOAS China, SOAS University of London, City University of Hong Locations: China, Hong Kong, Dongshan, Liaoning, Beijing, Shanghai, Henan, Huizhou, Nanchang, Qingdao, City University of Hong Kong

“I don’t necessarily need a higher paid job or a better life,” she added. College graduates looking for jobs at a fair in central China's Hubei province on July 20. A growing trendOn Douban, about 4,000 members of a group called “full-time children’s work communication center” discuss topics related to their daily “working” lives. By contrast, today’s “professional” children spend time with parents and do housework in exchange for financial support. In addition to her family duties, she’s busy applying for government jobs and taking exams for graduate school.

Persons: Litsky Li, Li, ”, “, headwinds, Zhang Dandan, ” hashtag, somethings, today’s, ’, Fang Xu, Nancy Chen, she’s, Chen, hasn’t, It’s, George Magnus, Magnus Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, College, CNN, Peking University, University of California, China News Service, Harvard University, China Centre, Oxford University, SOAS University of London Locations: Hong Kong, Luoyang, China's Hubei, Beijing, ”, China, University of California Berkeley, Jiangxi, Wanshou, China's Jiangxi

Mugabe’s successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, had promised sweeping political, economic and social reforms. Several opposition activists, journalists and human rights activists have been arrested over the last year, including Job Sikhala, a Parliament member and senior official with the CCC. Obey Shava, a prominent Zimbabwean human rights lawyer who has represented various opposition party supporters facing questionable charges, was violently attacked earlier this month. Human rights group Amnesty International called it a “brutal assault on civic space.”At the same time, government corruption remains a problem in Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa has blamed Western sanctions for the current economic crisis in Zimbabwe, where the annual inflation rate reached 175% in June.

Persons: Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s, Mugabe’s, Emmerson Mnangagwa, “, ”, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Nelson Chamisa, Job Sikhala, Obey, Bill –, Bill, Al Jazee, Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai, Mnangagwa, Macky Sall, Felix Tshisekedi, Stephen Chan, ” Chan, Ruben Mbofana, –, Mbofana, Leonard Koni, Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei, Emmerson Mnangagwa Jr, ” Koni Organizations: U.S . Congress, “, ZANU, Citizens Coalition, Amnesty, Movement, Democratic, Mugabe, U.S, Congress, Zimbabwe Democracy, ., U.S . Treasury, Union, Reuters, SOAS University of London Locations: MUTARE, Zimbabwe, Mutare, Rhodesia, U.S, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Senegal

☆ A Lebanese Feast at a Traditional Dutch Canal House
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Ellie Pithers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Hospitality comes naturally to the Lebanese Dutch creative strategist Carmen Atiyah de Baets. While her professional background is in fashion, she has an instinct for organizing generous, family-style gatherings that she honed during trips to Beirut with her Lebanese mother. “Lebanon is a place of contrasts,” says Atiyah de Baets, who was raised in the Netherlands and has a degree in Middle Eastern studies from SOAS University of London. - Three Easy Summer Dishes: The French chef Yann Nury elevates classic seasonal recipes with fresh flavor combinations and a few luxurious additions. - A Lebanese Feast in Amsterdam: In a traditional Dutch canal house, a creative strategist organizes a dinner party to introduce a new collection inspired by her mother’s homeland.

Persons: Carmen Atiyah de, ”, Atiyah, Baets, Yann Nury, Atiyah de Baets, Gilles Khoury, Joris ter Meulen Swijtink, Carmen, Carmen Kitchen, Ter, —, John Organizations: SOAS University of London, “, Credit, London’s Locations: Lebanese Dutch, Beirut, “ Lebanon, Netherlands, Ibiza, Long, French, Amsterdam, Lebanon, London’s St

☆ Can the Zibo barbecue frenzy save China from economic crises?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Zhu Zheng/Xinhua/Getty ImagesSo many tourists flocked into Zibo, now dubbed China’s outdoor barbecue capital, that even the local tourism authorities urged visitors to go elsewhere. A few may, but most won’t.”A shop owner shows off grilled meat during a barbecue festival on April 29, 2023 in Zibo, eastern China. The city Zibo became a tourism hot spot after videos of its barbecue went viral online. China’s economy is navigating a growing array of challenges. The informal trade might reduce unemployment temporarily, and give people feeling poorer a boost, but it “won’t save China’s economy,” Tsang said.

☆ China may have to bail out one of its poorest provinces
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hong Kong CNN —One of China’s poorest and most indebted provinces has admitted defeat in trying to sort out its finances and is appealing to Beijing for help to avert default. Guizhou, located in a mountainous region of southwest China, has hired a top state-owned distressed debt fund, China Cinda Asset Management, to resolve its “urgent” problems. China’s local governments are struggling with trillions of dollars of debt, after three years of strict pandemic controls and a real estate crash drained their coffers. The Pingtang Bridge links two cities in southwest China's Guizhou province. In China, most local government liabilities are composed of “hidden debt” issued by their financing arms.

☆ China resorts to extraordinary measures to soothe entrepreneurs amid deep retreat of private business
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hong Kong CNN —After years of regulatory crackdowns and draconian Covid curbs, private entrepreneurs in China are low on enthusiasm. If anything, the private sector seems to be retreating even more so far this year. State-led investment surged 10.5%, while private investment increased a mere 0.8%. In 2022, state investment rose 10.1%, while private investment ticked up 0.9%. “We always regard private enterprises and private entrepreneurs as people on our own side,” Xi said.

☆ Russia's war in Ukraine is affecting countries around the world. Here's how ordinary Egyptians are feeling the consequences.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Fcdo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine has led to spiraling food prices worldwide, including in Egypt. Egyptians are paying a heavy price for Russia's war in Ukraine. Before the war, Ukraine and Russia typically supplied 85% of Egypt's wheat imports. These are not the only actions taken to mitigate the economic impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia's war in Ukraine has triggered one of the country's most severe domestic crises.

Almost six weeks after the death of Mahsa Amini, the unrest in Iran shows little sign of abating. Defying security forces, thousands marched to her grave in the northwestern city of Saqqez on Wednesday, as crowds clashed with security forces on the streets of the capital, Tehran, and several other major metropolitan areas. Wednesday was 40 days since Amini's death after she was detained by morality police last month. “Freedom, freedom! A crowd chants "Freedom, freedom!

☆ China says it's running on a new version of democracy that doesn't rely on elections. Experts say it's just another mind game.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

He first introduced the term "whole-process democracy" to China in a 2019 speech. However, by November that year, "whole-process democracy" was mentioned in 128 People's Daily articles, per CMP. "China's whole-process people's democracy integrates process-oriented democracy with results-oriented democracy, procedural democracy with substantive democracy, direct democracy with indirect democracy and people's democracy with the will of the state," says China's white paper on the subject, per CGTN. Semantics aside, a key point to note is that "whole-process democracy" plays down the need for elections. Even so, Chong said, whole-process democracy might still help the CCP give the impression that it cares about the average citizen.

India's foreign minister followed up last week at the U.N. Security Council, describing the trajectory of the Ukraine war as "very concerning" and the risk of a nuclear escalation as of "particular anxiety". Moreover, India is worried the war is pushing Russia closer to China, which has fraught relations with New Delhi, the analysts said. "This is countering a narrative that India and China are both doing the same thing – that China is supporting Russia and India, by sitting on the fence, is also supporting Russia," Raghavan told Reuters. India and Russia have had deep relations for decades: Russia accounted for $5.51 billion of the $12.4 billion that India spent between 2018 and 2021 on arms imports. "As the Ukraine conflict continues to rage, we are often asked whose side are we on," he said, again without mentioning Russia.

☆ Analysis: As Putin escalates Ukraine war, China stands awkwardly by him
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Brenda Goh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China will instead dig in on its awkward stance of calling for dialogue and peaceful resolution while refusing to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they said. But China has been careful not to provide any direct material support that could trigger Western sanctions against it. "I don't see how different any new position will be ... China doesn't support the war, it doesn't support conflict, that's been very clear from the beginning," said Henry Wang Huiyao, founder of the Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization. Russia says its actions in Ukraine are a "special operation" to degrade its neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it calls dangerous nationalists. Although China probably hoped for a short war, Putin's battlefield moves in Ukraine - seeking to counter recent defeats - are unlikely to concern Beijing or change the substantive nature of the countries' relationship, analysts said.

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