The number of megacities (urban areas with over 10 million people) is projected to increase from 33 in 2025 to 37 by 2050, with Africa and South Asia driving growth, and potentially seeing the emergence of 'gigacities' like Lagos with over 100 million residents.
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport has intercepted multiple wildlife smuggling attempts in recent days. A 19-year-old passenger was caught with dozens of tortoises strapped to her body bound for Taipei. Previous seizures include hundreds of turtles, blue-green iguanas, a freshwater crocodile from Bengaluru, raccoons in a check-in box, and endangered gibbons with chameleons, all destined for India. One raccoon died in an airless container.
Dianjiang, a small county tucked away in southwestern China’s Chongqing, was transformed into a bustling live music hub in April as fans flocked to a concert headlined by Mandopop stars, including Jeff Chang. Such scenes are no longer unusual. Once the preserve of megacities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, high-profile concerts are now breathing life into lesser-known venues. As China endeavours to make consumption its main growth driver and targets untapped markets, entertainment spending...
