Hope of upward social mobility is eroding, especially for those from modest backgrounds
Since the 1980s, more than 800 million Chinese have risen out of poverty. China's middle class has expanded from virtually no one to about 400 million.
Villagers moved to cities. Tens of millions of people became the first in their families to attend college.
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Glasgow Times
30 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow sex attacker guilty of raping woman he met on Tinder
Rian Hood put the victim through a horror ordeal during a campaign of abuse at his hands. The 34-year-old ex-clothes shop supervisor denied being physically or sexually violent, even claiming in a bizarre video clip that the woman had instead hurt him. Hood was found guilty of rape and engaging in a course of abusive behaviour following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. READ MORE: Ex-director of whisky firm found guilty of domestic abuse He is already serving a seven-and-a-half-year jail term imposed in 2022 for preying on four other women. Hood was due to be sentenced for this latest crime as he returned to the dock this week. But, Judge Lord Colbeck continued the case again for a full risk assessment to be carried out on the sex attacker. This could eventually lead to an Order for the Lifelong Restriction being imposed on him. Hood is scheduled to be back in court in September. READ MORE: Comedian Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges Hood, formerly of the city's Knightswood, told jurors how he was initially in contact with the woman via Tinder. He stated he had never used the dating app before, as "you hear all these horror stories". It was not until early 2020 that the pair physically met. He had been aware at the time of allegations made by one of the victims in the later 2022 trial. Hood claimed he told the woman in this latest case about the then accusations. He said there was "not much reaction" from her. READ MORE: Man brought Poundland knife to Glasgow court Hood went on to move in with the woman and her mother at their home in the west of the city during one of the COVID lockdowns in 2020. He said: "It was a bit intense, but we managed it well." Hood insisted there was "seldom" any sexual contact between him and the victim while there. The woman, however, told how he stood on her face and then forced himself upon her during one attack. Denying it happened, Hood claimed: "We would not really do much in her mum's house as it was just awkward." The abuse also took place at other flats in the north of Glasgow. His lawyer Frances Connor put to him at one stage: "Any truth that you wanted cocaine so you could have sex for hours and hours?" He refuted this, insisting the drug would have had the "opposite effect" on him. Miss Connor also asked if anything had occurred without the woman's consent. Hood again denied this. The lawyer went on: "Anything ever happened when she was asleep?" He then claimed: "No, I would never have woken her up as she was a grouch if you did." Hood added that any evidence of him "choking" the woman only happened during consensual sex. The attacker was also physically abusive, which had included a claim he had hurled Chinese spring rolls at her. He instead alleged the woman had previously "erupted" at him after confronting him about cheating on her. Jurors were shown a mobile phone clip recorded by the woman where a drunk and topless Hood claimed he could not walk as she had "broke" his toe by allegedly throwing a towel at him. READ MORE: Former Celtic star has court case thrown out by prosecutors In the previous trial, Hood had been convicted of 10 charges of similar abuse against four women between 2010 and 2020. His lawyer said at the time how his life had been "somewhat blighted by a gambling addiction" which had affected his relationships. He first faced allegations involving the latest victim in 2023 while serving the seven and a half year sentence.
33 minutes ago
The last Hong Kong pro-democracy party holding street protests disbands
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong pro-democracy political party League of Social Democrats announced on Sunday it had disbanded due to immense political pressure, the latest casualty in a years-long crackdown that has already quieted much of the city's once-vocal opposition. Following massive anti-government protests in 2019, many leading activists were prosecuted or jailed under a 2020 national security law imposed by Beijing. Dozens of civil society groups dissolved. Media outlets critical of the government shuttered. The League of Social Democrats was the only pro-democracy party that still staged small street protests from time to time and held street booth activities to carry on its advocacy despite the risks. Its chairperson, Chan Po-ying, said the disbandment decision was made after careful deliberation, especially taking into account the consequences to its members and comrades. Chan refused to elaborate on the pressure but said she was proud to say that the party had still contributed to the city's pro-democracy movement in these few years. 'We have stayed true to our original aspirations and haven't let down to the trust placed in us by those who went to prison," she said. 'While we are now forced to disband and feel an ache in our conscience, we have no other choice,' she said. Hong Kong, a former British colony, will mark the 28th anniversary of returning to Chinese rule on July 1. The city used to hold annual pro-democracy protests that day and other various demonstrations demanding better policies. But those were ceased after most organizing groups were disbanded and the leading activists were jailed. Critics say the drastic political changes under the security law reflect that the freedoms Beijing promised to keep intact in 1997 are shrinking. The Beijing and Hong Kong governments insist the law is necessary for the city's stability. A Chinese official overseeing Hong Kong affairs in 2023 said protests are not the only way for people to express their views, signaling Beijing's stance toward demonstrations in the city. In April, Hong Kong's biggest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party, also voted to give its leadership the mandate to move toward a potential disbandment. Party veterans told The Associated Press that some members were warned of consequences if the party didn't shut down. A final vote is expected at a later date. Founded in 2006, the League of Social Democrats was a left-wing political party that opposed collusion between government and business, upheld the principle that people have a say and was firmly committed to the interests of underprivileged residents. It was widely known for its more aggressive tactics when fighting for change. Its members have thrown bananas, eggs and luncheon meat at officials or pro-Beijing lawmakers as a protest gesture. Its party platform said the group advocated non-violent resistance but would not avoid physical confrontations — a stance that set it apart from older, traditional pro-democracy groups. It once had three lawmakers in office. Its longest-serving lawmaker, Leung Kwok-hung — Chan's husband — was disqualified from the legislature due to his manner of taking his oath in office in 2017. On the streets, the group's activism led to the arrests and jailing of its members from time to time. Last year, Leung and prominent LGBTQ+ activist Jimmy Sham, a former party leader, were sentenced to nearly seven years and more than four years over their roles in an unofficial primary election under the sweeping security law. Sham was freed from prison last month. In recent years, the party has had limited political influence, no longer holding any seats in the legislature or local district councils. Even a bank ceased to provide bank account services to the group. But it continued to stage small protests from time to time, despite sometimes those activities leading to arrests. On June 12, Chan and other members were fined after being found guilty over their street booth activities. Undeterred by their convictions, they kept pressing on and protested against the ruling outside the court.
Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Indonesia begins $7.5b EV battery project despite environment fears
NGOs say Indonesia and the Chinese firms involved have not given assurances about environmental protections at the site. PHOTO: AFP JAKARTA - Indonesia broke ground on June 29 on a US$5.9 billion (S$7.5 billion) megaproject for EV battery production backed by Chinese giant CATL, despite NGOs raising concerns over a lack of environmental guarantees. Indonesia is the world's largest nickel producer and it is trying to capitalise on its vast reserves, with a 2020 export ban spurring a domestic industrial boom of the key metal used in EV batteries and stainless steel. The EV battery project will include a US$4.7 billion investment on the eastern island of Halmahera and a US$1.2 billion investment in West Java, energy minister Bahlil Lahadalia said in a speech alongside President Prabowo Subianto. 'According to my calculation, it won't take long, in probably between five to six years we will be able to reach energy self-sufficiency,' Mr Prabowo said at a groundbreaking ceremony in Karawang, West Java. Mr Bahlil said the Halmahera complex will focus on mining, smelting and production of cathodes which are a key component in rechargeable batteries. The West Java complex will focus on battery cell production, the minister said. The two politicians did not say when the megaproject was slated to be operational, but Indonesian officials have said a CATL plant in Halmahera would open in March 2026. Alongside CATL, the Halmahera complex is backed by China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Indonesia's state-owned Antam. Climate Rights International (CRI) and Greenpeace Indonesia this week issued a call for greater assurances from Jakarta that measures were in place to protect the surrounding environment at the bigger complex in eastern Halmahera. Environmental group Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) said in a statement on June 28 that Jakarta was 'chasing vague economic growth while consciously ignoring the people's scream' to end damage to the environment and residents' livelihoods. Halmahera, a once-pristine island in the Maluku archipelago, has seen environmental damage increase as operations have grown at a large industrial park that hosts the world's largest nickel mine. A CRI report in June warned the Indonesian government was allowing environmental damage to go unchecked around the Weda Bay mine and the industrial park that hosts it. An AFP report in May detailed how the home of the nomadic Hongana Manyawa tribe was being eaten away by mining operations there. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
