Chinese consumers, anxious about the slowing economy and worn out by endless retail discounts, are showing signs of fatigue toward the annual "Singles' Day" shopping extravaganza – a worrying trend for Beijing as it looks to boost spending. The event was first launched by Alibaba in 2009 and is held each year on November 11. It has since grown into a month-long sales marathon for China's e-commerce giants. We take a closer look.

Also in this edition, we look at the chaotic impact of the US government shutdown on air travel. Some 1,200 more flights were cancelled this Tuesday, adding to 9,000 axed nationwide. Even if the government reopens soon, relief for travellers won't be immediate.