Day: January 18, 2024

North Korea Says It Tested an Underwater Nuclear Drone

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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA —  North Korea has conducted a test of its underwater nuclear weapons system in a protest against this week’s joint military drills by South Korea, the United States and Japan, state media KCNA said on Friday. The test of the “Haeil-5-23” system, a name North Korea has given to its nuclear-capable underwater attack drones, was carried out by the defense ministry’s think tank in the waters off its east coast, the report said, without specifying a date. The ministry’s unnamed spokesperson accused the United States, South Korea…

N Korea tests ‘underwater nuclear system’ to counter allies

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North Korea said Friday it had carried out a test of an “underwater nuclear system,” showcasing its latest nuclear capabilities, underscoring the growing security challenges on the Korean peninsula.  “The Underwater Weapon System Institute under the DPRK Academy of Defence Science conducted an important test of its underwater nuclear weapon system,” an unnamed spokesman for the North’s Ministry of National Defence said in a statement, referring to North Korea’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The “Haeil-5-23”, North Korea’s underwater nuclear system involving drones, was tested off its…

Chinese stock rout accelerates as foreign investors sell out

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Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. A punishing sell-off for Chinese equities has worsened in recent days, as international investors who bet on a rebound lose faith that economic stimulus from Beijing is on the way. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index, a closely followed gauge of large Chinese listings in Hong Kong, has dropped about 11 per cent so far this month after losing 14 per cent last year. The benchmark CSI 300 index for…

Why foreigners are leaving China, Singapore’s S. Iswaran resigns, Cathay Pacific’s new hires: SCMP’s 7 highlights of the week

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Hong Kong has rebounded in liveability rankings for expatriates from Asia but is still way behind where it was a decade ago, according to an annual survey. 3. Singapore minister S. Iswaran resigns after being charged with taking bribes Former minister S. Iswaran leaves the Singapore State Courts on January 18. Photo: Bloomberg Thursday’s charges conclude months of speculation surrounding the high-profile case that had shocked citizens when it first came to light last year that the politician of nearly three decades could allegedly be susceptible to bribery and corruption.…

Nearly Half of Journalists Jailed in China Are Uyghurs, Report Says

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washington —  Nearly half of the 44 journalists imprisoned in China in 2023 were Uyghurs, according to a report released Thursday. Data from the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ — which offered a global snapshot of journalists jailed for their work as of December 1 — found China had the most media workers imprisoned. The high proportion of Uyghurs detained in the country highlights the intersection between Beijing’s poor press freedom record and its human rights abuses against the majority-Muslim ethnic group, analysts said. An examination of the cases…

Arakan Army wins control of 2 major junta camps in Rakhine state

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Nearly 300 junta troops surrendered to the Arakan Army this week as the ethnic rebel group took control of a major Myanmar military encampment in northern Rakhine state, residents told Radio Free Asia. The Arakan Army’s victory in Kyauktaw township on Tuesday came two days after it captured a nearby artillery battalion, a resident told RFA on condition of anonymity. The advances are the latest in a series of victories for the Arakan Army and two other rebel groups that make up the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which launched a campaign…

Sony’s fraught $10bn deal reveals Hollywood’s struggle to crack India

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In 2021, Sony secured a deal that seemed to be the perfect way to ride India’s growth wave: a majority stake in Zee, the country’s largest listed media company and a stalwart of Bollywood. Sony arrived as a white knight to aid Zee’s 73-year-old founder Subhash Chandra and his chief executive son Punit Goenka in their battle against US investor Invesco, which wanted to oust the family over a “long shadow” of alleged mismanagement that left Zee’s share price floundering. A last-minute agreement giving Sony a 53 per cent stake…

S Korea calls for UN action amid escalating N Korean provocations

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South Korea has urged the United Nations to take action in response to North Korea’s escalating provocations, as Pyongyang intensifies tension in the Korean peninsula on multiple fronts ranging from verbal threats to military activities. Speaking to reporters in New York Thursday, South Korea’s envoy to the U.N. Hwang Joon-kook said: “We need to break through the U.N. Security Council’s silence regarding our response. Figuring out the way forward presents a significant challenge.” The statement came after the UNSC held this year’s first informal consultation on North Korea issues. The…

China’s navy starts open water trials for new Type 054B frigate

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China’s new-model frigate Type 054B has begun open water trials, indicating an accelerated push towards commission by the Chinese navy. The first ship of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)’s next-generation frigate has appeared sailing on the Huangpu River near the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, where it is built, according to photos circulating on Chinese social media. This vessel was reportedly launched five months ago, on August 26, 2023. The accelerated progress reflects an urgent demand of the PLAN for a new midsized combat vessel that is bigger and faster…

Hit Chinese TV show Blossoms Shanghai taps into culture and ignites spending – but can the consumption craze be copied?

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The surging popularity of the restaurant, which was founded in 1993 and specialises in traditional Shanghai cuisine, came as fans of the series have been flocking to the landmarks, indulging in the cuisine, and buying the clothes featured in the show. The spending spree set off by the show – which details the lives of Shanghainese people in the early days of China’s economic rise – epitomises how local culture and domestic products are increasingly driving consumption in the country at a time when retail choices have begun to shift…