BEIJING: Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, a key figure in the country’s economic transformation during the 1990s, has died at the age of 97. Zhu was known for his direct speaking style and his strong support for economic reform. His tenure was marked by major changes aimed at restructuring China’s state-dominated economy and opening it further to global markets. He served as China’s vice premier from 1991 to 1998 before becoming premier, a position he held until early 2003. Zhu’s political career began decades earlier. He graduated from Tsinghua University and joined the Communist Party in 1949. During the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to work in the countryside and experienced a period of political hardship. He was later rehabilitated and gradually returned to senior government positions. In 1987, Zhu became mayor of Shanghai. During his tenure, he helped guide the city through early economic reforms and development that eventually contributed to its emergence as a major international financial centre. He moved to Beijing in 1991 after joining the central government. As vice premier and later premier, Zhu became closely associated with efforts to tackle economic overheating, inflation and financial instability. His government introduced wide-ranging reforms to state-owned enterprises. Many inefficient state companies were closed, restructured or privatised, while large numbers of workers were laid off. Zhu also strengthened the central government’s control over taxation and introduced reforms that encouraged private home ownership. Those changes played a major role in reshaping China’s housing market. One of his most significant achievements was helping China secure membership of the World Trade Organization in 2001, following years of difficult negotiations. China formally joined the organisation in December that year. The WTO accession accelerated China’s integration into the global economy and helped expand international trade and investment. However, Zhu’s reform programme also had critics. Some observers argued that changes to agricultural policy, tax arrangements and state-owned enterprises created difficulties that later governments had to address. Despite those criticisms, Zhu remained widely regarded as one of the most influential economic reformers in modern Chinese history. His reputation for blunt remarks became particularly prominent after a collection of his speeches was published in 2011. The books contained unusually candid assessments of corruption, government debt, banking problems and weaknesses in public administration. The speeches attracted significant public attention because they addressed many of the economic and social challenges facing China at the time. Zhu warned about corruption, inequality and problems created by local officials. His comments continued to attract interest among reform-minded officials, academics and members of the public long after he left office. His death marks the passing of a leader who played a central role in one of the most consequential periods of China’s economic development. Zhu’s legacy is closely linked to the difficult reforms of the 1990s, when China moved towards a more market-oriented economy while maintaining the political control of the Communist Party.

Residents across Crimea are facing growing hardship after repeated Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure disrupted electricity and fuel supplies across the peninsula. Long power outages have forced many families to rely on community kitchens for hot meals as daily life becomes increasingly difficult. Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, has experienced months of pressure on its energy network following Ukrainian strikes targeting power plants and other strategic facilities. Ukrainian officials say the campaign is aimed at weakening Russia’s military capabilities and bringing the effects of the war closer to Russian controlled territory. The attacks come as Ukraine continues to endure regular missile and drone strikes on its own cities since Russia launched its full scale invasion in 2022. In the town of Massandra, local authorities have organised public meal services for residents who are unable to cook because of prolonged electricity cuts. Large pots of buckwheat and reheated canned beef are prepared each day and distributed to around 200 people. Officials say many households depend entirely on electric stoves, leaving them without a way to prepare food when the power goes out. Massandra town administration head Oksana Madyud said the community kitchens were set up to support families facing ongoing disruptions. She explained that many residents have no alternative cooking methods and need access to hot meals until electricity supplies become more stable. Local workers continue preparing food every day to help elderly residents and vulnerable families cope with the difficult conditions. The prolonged outages have created serious challenges for many people, particularly those living in high rise apartment buildings. Marina, a local resident, said she was forced to search for a gas stove and fuel cylinders after losing electricity in her apartment. She explained that climbing down from her tenth floor flat has become painful because of a leg injury, yet she had little choice because her home has only an electric cooker that cannot be used during blackouts. Another resident, Alexandra, said she had spent ten days without electricity before power was finally restored. She joined the queue for a hot meal after being drawn by the smell of freshly prepared food. Although electricity had returned that afternoon, she remained uncertain whether the supply would continue once she reached home, reflecting the uncertainty many families now face. Fuel shortages have added to the difficulties across towns and cities in Crimea, making transport and everyday activities more challenging. The continuing disruption has increased pressure on local authorities to provide emergency support while residents adjust to frequent interruptions in essential services. As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, civilians on both sides are increasingly feeling the consequences. While Ukraine says its strikes are intended to weaken Russia’s military infrastructure, residents in Crimea are left dealing with power shortages, limited fuel supplies and an uncertain daily routine as the war continues to affect civilian life far from the front lines.