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AI In-brief 11 Sept 00:40

‘Tofu-dregs building’: Was shoddy Chinese construction to blame for Bangkok collapse?

An under-construction State Audit Office building in Bangkok catastrophically collapsed during a 7.7-magnitude earthquake, earning the moniker "Tofu-dregs building" due to suspected shoddy construction.
Investigators are scrutinizing Chinese construction materials and design alterations as potential causes for the "pancake collapse," which trapped over 100 people and resulted in significant casualties.
The term "tofu-dregs project," originating in China to describe substandard construction linked to corruption, is being applied, with experts citing the building's pulverization as a hallmark of poor quality.
The project was a joint venture involving China Railway Number 10 Ltd., a subsidiary of a major Chinese state-owned conglomerate, prompting reports that Beijing is censoring news of the collapse to avoid embarrassment.

AI In-brief Today 17:18

The Opposition plans to censure 18 Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, under Section 151 of the Constitution.
This process mandates a post-debate vote, where ministers failing to secure majority parliamentary support will lose their Cabinet posts, with evidence being prepared for a December debate.