At the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan emphasized the urgent need for more movie theaters in India. He pointed out that despite being a film-loving nation, the majority of the population does not have access to cinemas. With just 10,000 screens, India lags behind countries like the US and China, making it difficult for even the biggest movies to reach a wider audience. Khan urges investment in better infrastructure to support the growth of the film industry and realize the country's vast potential.
The Penang Hong Guan Cultural Association in Malaysia is leading the charge for lion dance to be added to the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list, making it a potential full-time job for enthusiasts of the traditional art. The dance, often seen during Chinese New Year and other celebrations, is a symbol of good luck and fortune and has been jointly nominated by Malaysia and China to be recognized by Unesco. With official recognition, lion dance is expected to gain more exposure and popularity.
This week saw a flurry of smartphone announcements in China, with the launch of several new models from popular brands like OnePlus, vivo, Motorola, and Realme. The OnePlus 13T boasts a 6.3-inch display and a 6,260mAh battery, while the vivo X200 Ultra features a big 6,000mAh battery and upgraded camera options. Motorola unveiled the Edge 60 and Edge 60 Pro, as well as the Razr 60 Ultra, while the Realme GT7 offers a more affordable option with a Dimensity 9400+ SoC and a massive 7,200mAh battery. These new releases are set to make a splash in the Chinese market, but unfortunately, they will not be available outside of China for now.
In light of the ongoing trade war between the US and China, the Chinese government has issued an order for its airline carriers to halt any new orders of aircraft from American manufacturer Boeing. This comes as a response to President Trump's recent decision to impose high tariffs on Chinese goods. China has also instructed its carriers to avoid buying any equipment related to aircraft from American companies. This latest move escalates the tension between the two countries, following China's decision to disrupt the US production of key materials.
Amidst the ongoing border tensions between India and China, the Ministry of External Affairs announced that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is set to resume in 2025, with its modalities yet to be finalized. This was stated by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his weekly media briefing, where he also highlighted the constructive engagement between the two countries at various levels since the meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping in October 2024. The External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, and the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, had also met in February to discuss the resumption of the yatra and other bilateral issues.
The "Two Countries, Twin Parks" initiative between Malaysia and Shenzhen, China aims to attract US$20 billion in strategic investments, creating a win-win future for both countries. This project will introduce the latest industrial park concepts and drive investments in Malaysia by leveraging China's supply chain strength and Malaysia's strategic gateway position. The initiative rests on five pillars of cooperation, including job creation, technology transfer, investment promotion, industrial collaboration, and economic growth. A recent visit to Shenzhen by a Malaysian delegation has solidified the partnership between both countries.
The United States and China are locked in a high-stakes trade war, with tensions reaching a new peak on Thursday. Trump has raised tariffs to 125 percent on Chinese imports, while China’s tariffs on US imports went into effect. Both sides show no signs of backing down, raising concerns about a global recession and the potential economic fallout.
The world is bracing for a potentially devastating trade war between the US and China after President Trump threatened to impose tariffs of over 100 per cent on Chinese goods. This has sparked concerns of a global recession and could lead to a more divided world. While China has vowed to fight back, experts fear the US's aggressive actions could ultimately backfire and hurt its own economy. Despite mounting pressure, Trump shows no signs of backing down as he continues to escalate the tariff threats.
Chinese officials have responded to Vice President JD Vance's recent comments on the Trump administration's tariffs, denying the claim that the US borrows money from Chinese peasants to buy goods manufactured by Chinese peasants. Vance made the remark while discussing the effects of the tariffs, stating that the US economy is based on incurring huge amounts of debt to import goods from other countries. Chinese officials called Vance's words lacking in knowledge and respect.
The Indian government has announced an increase in the excise duty rates on petrol and diesel by ₹2 per litre, raising the duty to ₹13 per litre for petrol and ₹10 per litre for diesel. However, despite the hike, the retail prices of both fuels are expected to remain unchanged due to recent cuts in global crude oil prices. This decision comes in light of the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, resulting in a drop in crude oil prices. OPEC+ group and its allies have also decided to increase crude oil production from May onwards. Follow Fortune India on social media for updates on this developing story.