China is mourning former Premier Zhu Rongji, a driving force behind the economic reforms that transformed the country in the 1990s and early 2000s, following his death at the age of 97.
Flags were lowered at government headquarters on Tuesday as officials and citizens paid tribute to Zhu, who served as premier from 1998 to 2003 and played a central role in reshaping China’s economy during a period of rapid change.
Zhu was known for his tough approach to reform, overseeing major changes to state-owned industries, banking and taxation systems. His policies helped stabilise the economy, control inflation and prepare China to join the World Trade Organization in 2001.
Zhu’s economic reforms reshaped China’s role in the global economy, but they also came at a significant social cost.
His restructuring of state enterprises led to millions of job losses as inefficient firms were closed or reorganised, fueling a lasting debate about the human impact of his reforms.
Supporters credit him with helping lay the foundations for China’s economic rise, while critics argue that many workers paid the price for the reforms.
Public reactions to his death reflected that divide. Some citizens praised his leadership and recalled the rapid growth of the reform era, while others criticised the disruption caused by his economic policies.
Zhu rose through China’s political system as the country moved towards deeper integration with global markets.
As vice premier from 1991 to 1998 and later as premier, he became known for his direct style and determination to push through difficult economic reforms.
His death has renewed debate in China about the legacy of the reform period and the leaders who shaped the country’s emergence as a major global economic power.
More than 700 primary healthcare facilities in Afghanistan have closed since 2025 following cuts to international aid, a senior UN official has war...
Extreme heat is threatening agricultural production and food security in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province...
Pope Leo XIV has urged Argentina’s leaders to strengthen democracy, fight corruption and put people before economic interests in his first of...
Poland has declared two days of national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków's historic main square. Investigators are examining possible far-right influences and the discovery of three bodies at the suspect's home.
Monday marks the second of two days of national mourning in Poland as police bolstered security after six people were killed in a mass shooting in Kraków.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-aligned group towards Riyadh on Sunday (8 November), after loud booms were heard in the Saudi capital. The Aramco building was damaged by falling debris.
Azerbaijan is marking the sixth anniversary of Victory Day on Sunday, 8 November, with President Ilham Aliyev visiting the Victory Monument in Khankendi, laying a wreath and paying tribute to servicemen killed during the 44-day Second Garabagh War in 2020.
The gunman who allegedly killed six people in Poland’s unprecedented mass shooting in central Kraków on Saturday has died in hospital, police said early Monday. The attacker had demonstrated advanced military-style marksmanship skills, according to a spokesperson for the shooting club he attended.
Pope Leo XIV has urged Argentina’s leaders to strengthen democracy, fight corruption and put people before economic interests in his first official address in the country.
A Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at Russia's second-largest oil refinery overnight, while Moscow reported strikes on Ukrainian power facilities and a Black Sea cargo vessel. The attacks came ahead of U.S.-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for the 9th of November 2026. From a spy investigation shaking Silicon Valley to rising geopolitical tensions, these are the five stories you need to know today.
A passport application might seem an ordinary administrative request. For Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's ousted prime minister, it could mark the beginning of one of the country's most consequential political homecomings.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) will meet in Paris on Monday to assess whether the Democrats' gains in the U.S. midterm elections could influence President Donald Trump's foreign policy, particularly on Ukraine and the Middle East.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment