North Korea is targeting agricultural self-reliance in response to tightening international sanctions over its nuclear and missile programmes

Across China 1,939 locally transmitted cases were reported on October 9, the most since August 20. Many cases have also been found in Inner Mongolia recently, leading to more lockdowns.

Tesla delivered 83,135 China-made EVs in September, an 8% increase from August, and topping the previous high of 78,906 in June

The Caixin services purchasing managers' index fell to 49.3 in September from 55.0 the previous month as Covid curbs hit supply and demand, business confidence and deter people's travel

The Covid pandemic and reduced migrant workers has fast-tracked the country's path to high-tech farming

Thirteen Chinese firms have been added to a blacklist that bars US investment, including DJI Technology, Dahua Technology and BGI Genomics.

Anger has grown among the public to frequent sudden lockdowns that trap people in their homes, shops and workplaces, and the over-zealous reactions of officials to small case numbers.

Vaccine maker's refusal to give China the core intellectual property on development of its mRNA vaccine led to the collapse of talks on its sale there, the Financial Times reported on Saturday

China's factory activity rose in September but service sector growth slowed as the economy battled low demand and Covid curbs. The PMI data shows it is struggling to avoid contraction

Democrat leaders are among a bipartisan group who urged Biden to issue an order to "safeguard our national security and supply chain resiliency on outbound investments to foreign adversaries."

Covid restrictions have disrupted China's supply chains, industrial and services production, domestic sales and exports, the World Bank said

Pakistan could also forgo loan repayments to invest in climate-change resilient infrastructure instead, the UNDP said