Tim Seifert’s 72 powers Manchester to maiden Hundred title

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.

South Korea has called for renewed dialogue between the United States and North Korea after US President Donald Trump ordered a reduction in annual military exercises with Seoul. The South Korean government said it hopes Trump’s relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un can help restart diplomatic engagement between Washington and Pyongyang. President Lee Jae Myung’s office said Seoul was ready to take diplomatic steps to encourage meaningful discussions. The goal, according to the presidential office, is to reduce tensions and promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The statement followed Trump’s decision to scale back US military exercises with South Korea. Trump said his decision was influenced by his relationship with Kim. In a social media statement, Trump argued that the exercises were expensive and could send an inappropriate or hostile message to North Korea. Trump also referred to the situation involving Iran while explaining his decision. He said he had recently asked the South Korean president whether Seoul wanted to participate in efforts concerning the denuclearisation of Iran, but that South Korea had declined. North Korea had not immediately issued a response to Trump’s announcement. Pyongyang has repeatedly criticised joint US-South Korean military exercises. North Korean authorities have previously described the drills as preparations for a potential invasion and warned that they could trigger a strong response. The latest developments come after President Lee proposed direct discussions with North Korea on Saturday. Lee called for both sides to abandon threats and begin talks aimed at formally ending the long-running conflict on the Korean Peninsula. He said discussions between the directly involved parties could also create an opportunity to explore measures aimed at stopping the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. South Korea has long sought greater diplomatic engagement to reduce military tensions with its northern neighbour. However, negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have remained stalled. Trump and Kim previously held high-level meetings, raising hopes of progress on North Korea’s nuclear programme. Those efforts ultimately failed to produce a lasting agreement. Analysts believe Trump’s latest decision could be intended to create conditions for renewed negotiations. However, they warn that North Korea may demand significant concessions before returning to the negotiating table. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said Trump’s recent comments about Kim indicated a possible willingness to re-engage with North Korea. Easley also cautioned that Pyongyang has been strengthening its military capabilities while benefiting from its relationship with Russia during the war in Ukraine. He warned that reducing US-South Korean military exercises could create challenges for the alliance. It could also affect coordination between the two militaries and slow South Korea’s efforts to assume greater responsibility for its own defence. The professor further argued that a reduction in military preparedness could weaken deterrence against potential conflicts in the wider Asian region. South Korea now faces the challenge of balancing diplomacy with military preparedness. Seoul wants to use the current opening for dialogue while maintaining security cooperation with Washington.