Emanuele Scimia

The latest case is that of investor Bao Fan. The hi-tech sector targeted. Xi Jinping does not want tycoons who are too rich to challenge his power. The best known, Jack Ma, has been missing for over two years. The supreme leader launches an 'investigation' campaign with a Maoist flavour.

Today's headlines: China vs US for warship passage in South China Sea; Honduras envoy headed to Beijing to establish diplomatic relations; Kurdish opposition will not present candidate in Turkish presidential election; Two dissidents arrested in Cambodia; Russian police raid homes of members of the humanitarian association Memorial.

Russia’s leader highlights the building of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline by 2030, but China keeps it out of the final declaration. While willing to buy more Russian gas at discounted prices, Beijing also wants to keep its traditional suppliers. The Chinese are already in talks with the Turkmens for another pipeline.

Today's headlines: Beijing registers first population decline in since 2003; New US troop bases across the Philippines; Another Israeli air raid in the Aleppo area of Syria; A strong earthquake rocks Afghanistan and Pakistan; A Russian conscript is granted the right not to go into combat for religious reasons.

Technology cooperation agreement signed between the two countries. Berlin risks infuriating China, its largest trading partner. German authorities in advanced talks to build a factory in Germany for TSMC, the world's leading chip producer. The knot of EU subsidies.

Today's headlines: Sri Lanka gets bailout from International Monetary Fund; Turkey blocks passage of sanctioned goods to Russia; Japanese PM visits Kiev: Indonesia passes controversial presidential decree; Russian Orthodox Church opens theological dialogue with China. Low turnout in Kazakhstan elections.

Cui Maohu falls after anti-corruption agency started investigating his work in his native Yunnan. In June 2022 he was appointed head of the National Religious Affairs Administration, the executive arm of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China. His is the third disciplinary action against a high-ranking official after China’s parliament ended its annual meeting a few weeks ago.

Today's headlines: Hunt underway in India for a Khalistani separatist leader; China-Cambodia hold naval exercises; Thai PM Preyuth back in political polls: Former Australian soldier arrested for alleged crimes in Afghanistan; Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza's condition worsens.

This is the government's likely response to the effects of the rapidly aging population on the welfare system. Survey: 74% of respondents want retirement under 55; only 6% accept it over 61. Reform to raise the retirement age to 65 under consideration: it would have strong social and economic effects.

In a new blow to Hong Kong’s autonomy, undermined already by China’s security law, the Communist Party, not the government, will be directly in charge of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. Jimmy Lai’s son Sebastian speaks out against his father’s imprisonment on “trumped up” charges. Labour activist Elizabeth Tang’s sister is arrested.

The search engine Baidu has unveiled its chatbot. After the presentation it lost USD 3 billion in value on the Hong Kong stock exchange. On the other hand, the US company OpenAi is launching GPT-4, which is also capable of artificially interpreting images and no longer just texts. Tech war with Washington threatens Xi Jinping's plans.

Honduras is set to switch from Taiwan to China. Since 2016, Xi Jinping has wrested eight diplomatic allies from Taiwan. Now the spotlight is on Paraguay. Taiwan is not standing idly by and could gain diplomatic recognition from Micronesia, which wants to break ties with China.