Gu Songfen, one of China”s leading aircraft designers and a pioneer in the nation’s aviation industry, died of illness on Sunday. He was 96. Born in February 1930 in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, Gu came from a well-educated family as the second child of two intellectual parents. At age seven, he witnessed Japanese bombers flying over his home to attack nearby Chinese military barracks. He saw flames and smoke billowing after the raid, and the windows of his home were shattered by blast waves. “After witnessing those scenes, I formed a wish: to learn to design aircraft when I grow up…
Author: Isla
Jun 2, 2026 As US-Iran talks advance toward a definitive and lasting ceasefire, two audiences are monitoring developments closely: international financial markets, where an agreement might reduce crude prices and revive stock momentum, and Dubai’s property sector, where the return of transactional trust would probably facilitate a wider normalization of market operations, an industry expert noted.Against this backdrop, fresh data reveals a more robust situation than media reports imply, according to Vijay Valecha, Chief Investment Officer at Century Financial. He identified the following defining patterns:Capital Did Not Exit Dubai – It Merely PausedEven with heightened geopolitical tensions, Dubai’s real estate…
Hong Kong social welfare authorities are expected to take over the care of an undocumented baby for at least a year and may arrange foster care after his parents were arrested over suspected child neglect, a lawmaker has revealed.Legislator Reverend Peter Koon Ho-ming told the South China Morning Post that the Social Welfare Department would later consider placing two-month-old Danny in foster care until his parents were deemed fit to regain custody.Koon disclosed the plan after the department said on Tuesday night that it had applied to the court for a protection order in the boy’s best interests and had…
June 3, 2026NEW DELHI – The talks over the proposed India-United States trade pact are set to intensify as a high-powered American delegation led by Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch has arrived in India to hold a four-day round of discussions aimed at pushing the long-pending Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) closer to conclusion.The June 1-4 visit is expected to focus heavily on finalizing the contours of an interim trade arrangement while simultaneously advancing broader negotiations on market access, customs cooperation, investment facilitation and economic security alignment between the two strategic partners.The American delegation will hold extensive discussions with the Indian negotiating…
Malaysia’s medical tourism sector recorded RM3.35 billion in revenue and RM1.84 million healthcare travellers in 2025. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s medical tourism sector continues to see strong growth, recording RM3.35 billion in revenue and 1.84 million healthcare travellers in 2025, surpassing its initial target of RM3 billion. But behind the headline numbers lies a more complex story. Regional competition is heating up, patient demand is shifting rapidly, and destinations are racing to stay ahead of the curve. For the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), the question is no longer how to sustain growth, but how to anticipate it.…
At its 28 May 2026 annual shareholders’ meeting, Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. approved a 2025 final cash dividend of RMB 1.1755 per 10 shares, totaling RMB 1.34 billion (tax inclusive), to be paid to H shareholders on 27 July 2026, with A share distribution details to follow. The meeting also approved the appointment of Ms. Cao Shinan and Ms. Gao Yang as independent non-executive directors, a move that could influence the bank’s governance framework and board oversight once regulatory approval is obtained. We’ll now examine how the newly approved cash dividend shapes Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank’s investment narrative and…
Investors in Tri Chemical Laboratories Inc. (TSE:4369) had a good week, as its shares rose 8.1% to close at JP¥4,050 following the release of its quarterly results. Results overall were respectable, with statutory earnings of JP¥170 per share roughly in line with what the analysts had forecast. Revenues of JP¥7.5b came in 8.5% ahead of analyst predictions. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company’s performance in its report, look at what experts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. We’ve gathered the most…
WHAT IS BALI’S WASTE PROBLEM? In Bali, trash has usually been most visible at the end of the year, when monsoon currents bring waves of plastic and debris onto its beaches. But the current problem is different. In some neighbourhoods, confusion about the new regulation has led residents to burn or dump their waste onto sidewalks and into drains when they do not know what else to do. Bali generated about 3,400 tonnes of waste per day in 2025 but only 29 per cent, or around 916 tonnes, was managed, according to Bali’s environment agency.The pressure is not evenly spread across the island. Environmental expert…
A Japanese lawmaker’s claim that China has its eyes on “a treasure trove” of resource wealth hidden beneath the Antarctic ice sheet has been dismissed by a polar law expert as a misreading of international obligations.But the claims made in parliament by Mitsuhiro Yokota, a member of the Japan Innovation Party, have also raised questions about what might happen to the world’s last great wilderness in future.“Beneath Antarctica lies a treasure trove of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, gold and platinum,” Yokota told a Foreign Affairs Committee in the Diet on May 15.“China naturally wants to acquire Antarctic resources.…
Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Wednesday that the authorities are ready to act on the foreign exchange if required.Key quotes Ready to act on forex if required.Aligns with BoJ governor on several matters.Market reactionAs of writing, the USD/JPY pair is up 0.04% on the day at 159.97. Bank of Japan FAQs The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is the Japanese central bank, which sets monetary policy in the country. Its mandate is to issue banknotes and carry out currency and monetary control to ensure price stability, which means an inflation target of around 2%. The Bank of Japan embarked in an ultra-loose…