NYT
China’s Disappearing Generals
Author: Media Library
NIH-funded biomedicine researcher Gao Zhonghua leaves US for China
Leading brain development and gene regulation researcher Gao Zhonghua has joined a newly established university in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen after more than two decades working in the United States. Gao became a full-time research professor at the Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (SUAT) last month, according to the university website. Officially approved in 2024, SUAT is a research-focused institution aimed at training talent for cutting-edge industries such as biomedicine and artificial intelligence. Advertisement Before returning to China, Gao was a tenured associate professor at the Pennsylvania State…
How Thailand became the ‘sick man’ of Asia
Like millions of Thais, Tipvimol Wanitthaphan came to the capital Bangkok in search of a better livelihood to support her family. For most of the past four years, she managed to do so by running a small restaurant catering to office workers. But sales have plunged by two-thirds in recent months, as an economic downturn kept cost-conscious customers away. With losses mounting, Tipvimol, 57, plans to shut up her shop when her lease expires in April. “Right now, a lot of people are being laid off . . . so the purchasing power is…
Power and politics of China’s military
South China Morning Post
Unfinished bridge collapses in eastern China, leaving 2 dead and others missing
A sudden and catastrophic collapse at a major bridge construction site in China’s eastern Jiangsu province has left two workers dead, three others missing and a critical regional infrastructure project in disarray. At 5.46pm on Monday, a significant section of the under-construction Yuegang Bridge collapsed in Yancheng City’s Xiangshui County when the main span – measuring 95 metres (312 feet) – of the unfinished bridge suddenly gave way. The unfinished Yuegang Bridge collapsed on Monday when the main span suddenly gave way. Photo: Handout Two people pulled from the wreckage…
Will China replace the US on the world stage? – podcast
Xi Jinping had a busy January. First came the Irish taoiseach, Micheál Martin. Then it was Mark Carney of Canada’s turn. He was followed by the Finnish prime minister, the Uruguayan president and then, last week, Keir Starmer. But what does this rush to China mean? The Guardian leader writer Tania Branigan says much of it is to do with Trump. “There are real opportunities that people see in China – and at a point where the US looks so erratic, so hostile to people who have traditionally been among…
China’s C919 to lift off again at Singapore Airshow in bid for Asean sales
China’s chief builder of commercial aircraft will display its full product line – including the home-grown C919, the company’s marquee narrowbody airliner – at the Singapore Airshow as it seeks to widen its footprint in Southeast Asia. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has “set up” a C919 at the twice-yearly expo, according to independent aviation analyst Li Hanming. The air show is set to begin on Tuesday and run for six days. A source close to the matter confirmed that the Chinese airliner would have another demonstration flight…
Global investors need to go on Japan watch right now
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. The writer is a senior economist at JPMorgan Over the past few weeks, Japan’s government bond yields have surged to highs last seen in the 1990s — raising eyebrows both in Tokyo and elsewhere in the world. Ostensibly, this latest jump was a reaction to the mulling of a temporary consumption tax holiday on food. Given the relentless rise in the cost of staples — rice prices have doubled —…
‘Value for money’: AI agent OpenClaw adopts Chinese models for cost edge over US rivals
OpenClaw, which has been a runaway success since its late 2025 launch, announced on Friday that it was offering Chinese start-up Moonshot AI’s latest Kimi K2.5 and Kimi Coding agent for free in its service, while adding support for MiniMax, another Chinese foundational AI developer. Analysts said Chinese open-source models were being picked up mostly for their “value for money” compared with other models, according to Luo Liang, a Beijing-based AI analyst at consultancy Intelligent Parameters. Advertisement Luo said many users had reported letting the autonomous agent run on its…
FirstFT: Trump to lower India tariffs after Modi ‘agrees’ to stop buying Russian oil
Good morning and welcome back to FirstFT Asia. In today’s newsletter: Trump and Modi cut a deal Inside Indonesia’s market meltdown Wall Street and crypto companies battle over the future of money Donald Trump said the US would lower its tariffs on India to 18 per cent after Prime Minister Narendra Modi “agreed” to halt purchases of Russian oil, ending months of trade friction between the countries. What happened: The president said he spoke with Modi yesterday and had discussed “many things”, including trade, ending the war in Ukraine and…