Construction projects in Yemen are paused as rising fuel prices trigger a domino effect on building material costs.
On July 9, a fire burned through a shoe factory in Jinjiang, Fujian province, killing at least 28 people. The accident signals a larger problem: firms operating under financial pressure often cut costs by compromising safety. China’s low-cost business model needs reform, but why has change been so difficult? The plant that burned employed hundreds of workers, yet company filings for 2025 indicate that only a handful of them were enrolled in pension and medical insurance plans. A fire-safety...
For salt pan workers, the weather forms the basis of their livelihood: long, hot days take a toll on their body but allow them to earn, while spells of rain offer relief but mean wages are lost. Climate change is making their occupation increasingly precarious but help from the government remains limited