Day: September 4, 2023

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un set to meet Putin this month, officials say

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this month — a development that would complicate the U.S.’s plan to curb both Russian aggression in Ukraine and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. “As we have warned publicly, arms negotiations between Russia and the DPRK are actively advancing,” U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said Monday, referring to North Korea by its formal name. “We have information that Kim Jong Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia,” she added.…

China’s services activity expands at slowest pace in 8 months in August amid sluggish demand

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China’s services activity expanded at the slowest pace in eight months in August, a private-sector survey showed on Tuesday, as weak demand continued to dog the world’s second-largest economy and stimulus failed to meaningfully revive consumption. The Caixin/S&P Global services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) dropped to 51.8 in August from 54.1 in July, the lowest reading since December when the coronavirus confined many consumers to their homes. The 50-point mark separates expansion from contraction in activity. The data broadly aligned with the official services PMI released last week, which showed…

Pakistan roiled by protests over surging electricity costs

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Receive free Pakistan updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Pakistan news every morning. A surge in electricity costs in Pakistan has triggered nationwide protests in an outpouring of popular anger that threatens to derail the crisis-hit country’s $3bn IMF programme.  Pakistan narrowly avoided default in June after securing a loan from the fund that came with strict conditions to enact economic reforms, including cutting energy subsidies and imposing taxes to reduce heavy losses in the power sector. The measures, combined with a weakened…

Surge in electricity costs triggers Pakistan protests

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Receive free Pakistan updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Pakistan news every morning. A surge in electricity costs in Pakistan has triggered nationwide protests in an outpouring of popular anger that threatens to derail the crisis-hit country’s $3bn IMF programme.  Pakistan narrowly avoided default in June after securing a loan from the Fund that came with strict conditions to reform the country’s economy, including cutting energy subsidies and imposing new taxes to reduce heavy losses in the power sector. Combined with a weakened…

North Korea’s Kim plans to visit Putin in Russia to discuss arms sales, says US

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Receive free War in Ukraine updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest War in Ukraine news every morning. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to travel to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin and discuss weapons sales to Moscow, a senior White House official said on Monday. A meeting between Kim and Putin would point to a significant deepening of military ties between Russia and North Korea as Moscow’s occupying forces try to contain a counteroffensive in southern and eastern Ukraine. Washington…

US Vice President Heads to ASEAN Summit as Regional Tensions Ramp Up

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ALASKA —  Vice President Kamala Harris stopped in Alaska Monday for a refuel on her way to Jakarta to meet with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, in a summit hosted by Indonesia, the outgoing chair of the 10-nation group. Her visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region as China released a controversial territorial map that has drawn the ire of India, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines. Harris is expected to raise the issue of what the administration calls Beijing’s “false…

US Navy group heading for Yellow Sea in biggest show of strength near eastern China in 10 years

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The United States Navy is expected to take part in its first large-scale exercises in the Yellow Sea off the coast of northern China in 10 years, a move that risks further fuelling tensions with Beijing. A South Korean defence ministry official said a US amphibious ready group, led by the USS America, and the Canadian frigate HMCS Vancouver would “participate in the celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the Battle of Incheon during the Korean war and the 70th anniversary of the US-South Korea alliance”. Local media, citing senior…

China’s coal power emissions per capita grew more than any other G20 country between 2015 and 2022, report finds

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The nation’s per-person emissions last year were almost double the 1.6 tones average across G20 members, and virtually three times the average of 1.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted by every person worldwide. 01:32 China set to drill Asia’s deepest crude-oil well in Xinjiang China set to drill Asia’s deepest crude-oil well in Xinjiang Twelve of the Group of 20 nations saw their per capita emissions decline as they shifted towards clean energy sources. Advertisement Australia and South Korea remained the top emitters in 2022, despite achieving reductions of 26…

China ‘gifts’ and cost concerns: Pacific Games stir controversy in Solomon Islands

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Luke Haga has spent the past two years getting ready for the race of his life. Haga, a sprinter, is preparing for the Pacific Games which will be held in his home of Solomon Islands in November. “It’s a time for sports, fun, and to celebrate our togetherness, ” says the 23-year-old, who is training for his events in China. Held every four years, athletes from 24 Pacific Island countries will compete in the Olympic-style tournament. While many share Haga’s excitement, the Games have also attracted controversy, primarily over the…

FirstFT: Kim Jong Un plans to visit Putin for weapons sales talks

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Receive free Kim Jong Un updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Kim Jong Un news every morning. Good morning. This article is an on-site version of our FirstFT newsletter. Sign up to our Asia, Europe/Africa or Americas edition to get it sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning Good morning. We begin with the news that North Korea leader Kim Jong Un expects to travel to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss weapons sales to Moscow, according to a senior…