China formally arrests two Canadians on state secrets charges

29 Sept 07:29 Key points summarised by AI

China formally arrested Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig on charges of gathering and stealing state secrets, escalating a diplomatic dispute.
The arrests follow Canada's detention of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, with experts suggesting they are retaliatory despite China's claims of unrelated legal proceedings.
Canada's government, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, strongly condemned the "arbitrary arrests" and demanded the immediate release of both men.
Formal charges mean Spavor and Kovrig, detained since December, could soon face trial, having been held without access to family or lawyers.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Today 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.