1 hour ago Hong Kong’s Aggressive Construction appeals against rejection of licence renewal

A Hong Kong construction company has filed an appeal against the government’s decision to reject its licence renewal due to safety violations linked to five deaths in three accidents, including a 2022 crane collapse that killed three workers. Authorities said on Monday that Aggressive Construction Company had lodged an appeal with the Court of First Instance against the Buildings Department’s move to refuse the renewal application. “As the case is now undergoing judicial proceedings, the...

Politics

4 h. ago Shanghai firm sues to liquidate Hozon amid EV maker’s financial struggles

The cutthroat competition in mainland China’s electric vehicle (EV) market threatens to sink Hozon New Energy Automobile, as the maker of Neta-branded cars faces a lawsuit from a Shanghai-based advertising agency that wants the debt-ridden company to be liquidated. According to a document recently published on the National Enterprise Bankruptcy Information Disclosure Platform, a court in Jiaxing, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, is reviewing the bankruptcy case after Shanghai Yuxing...

Economics

4 h. ago Hong Kong’s shelved plan for 8,300 public flats to face 90% higher cost per home

Hong Kong housing authorities have revealed that the now-suspended plan to build 8,300 public flats in a northern town will face higher costs of up to 90 per cent for each home and require an extra 10 months to complete if it were to press ahead. The Housing Bureau said on Monday that the postponement was prompted by its ground investigation that the site had “complex geology with a deep bedrock layer”. “The authority stresses that it has not abandoned the project,” the bureau said. It added...

Politics

6 h. ago China is catching up to the U.S. in pharmaceuticals, but it’s not too late to turn that around

China is catching up to the U.S. in pharmaceuticals, but it’s not too late to turn that around  Fast Company

Politics

7 h. ago Baidu ramps up AI hiring as China faces talent crunch, joining other tech giants

Chinese internet search giant Baidu is accelerating its hunt for artificial intelligence (AI) talent with its largest-ever recruitment drive focused on the industry, as technology giants race to secure scarce expertise in the fast-growing sector. The Beijing-based firm said in a statement that job openings in its so-called AIDU annual recruitment drive – an initiative to attract and develop future AI tech leaders – had surged 60 per cent this year. The company did not specify the total number of...

Politics

8 h. ago BTS’ Jungkook apologises for wearing ‘Make Tokyo Great Again’ hat after backlash

Jungkook, a member of the K-pop supergroup BTS, has issued a public apology after coming under fire from fans for wearing a cap with the slogan “Make Tokyo Great Again”, a phrase criticised for invoking painful memories of Japan’s colonial rule over Korea. The 27-year-old K-pop star, who recently completed his compulsory military service in South Korea, was wearing the hat on Friday when he made a surprise appearance at rehearsals for the final performance of fellow BTS member J-Hope’s world...

Politics

9 h. ago The Pacific Asia Travel Association Teams Up With Visa To Drive Tourism SME Growth In Beijing Empowering China’s Tourism Businesses For Global Success

The Pacific Asia Travel Association Teams Up With Visa To Drive Tourism SME Growth In Beijing Empowering China’s Tourism Businesses For Global Success  Travel And Tour World

Transport

10 h. ago Ant International issues first sustainability report after spin

Ant International, which was spun off from fintech giant Ant Group last year, published its first independent sustainability report on Monday, underscoring its operational autonomy from its Chinese parent. Speculation has been rife over a potential listing by Ant International, which is registered in Singapore. In the report, the company emphasised its “new corporate identity”, describing its mission as “to make it easy to do business anywhere, bringing small and beautiful changes to the...

Politics

10 h. ago Chinese EVs: Xiaomi accelerates launch of Tesla Model Y rival YU7

Chinese smartphone and car maker Xiaomi has moved up the launch of its latest electric vehicle (EV) model amid strong consumer interest in the SUV, which is seen as a potential challenger to the dominance of Tesla’s Model Y. Sales of the YU7, the Beijing-based company’s second production model, would start at the end of this month instead of in July as previously planned, founder and CEO Lei Jun said in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Monday. “We are making the preparations, and...

Politics

11 h. ago China online shops sell ‘wisdom inspiring’ water from Peking University lake

Online shops in China are selling “wisdom-inspiring” bottled water taken from a lake at the prestigious Peking University. The so-called special water has captivated social media and delighted many internet users. Sellers usually advertise it for sale on second-hand product platforms, China News Service reported. It costs between 30 and 99 yuan (US$4 and US$14) for 500ml, the report said, far more expensive than normal bottled water, which sells for around 5 yuan. Peking University is one of...

Politics

12 h. ago John Lee pledges to improve Hongkongers’ lives amid ‘restructuring’ of economy

Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to improve people’s livelihoods and foster growth amid an “economic restructuring” of the city, as public consultation for his coming policy address was launched. The government said in a statment on Monday that it would hold more than 40 consultation sessions ahead of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s fourth policy address this September, while also conducting district visits to meet with members of the public and representatives from different sectors. “We are...

Politics

12 h. ago Hong Kong’s John Lee launches public consultation for fourth policy address

Hong Kong’s leader launched a public consultation on Monday for his coming policy address, as he vowed to improve livelihoods and foster growth amid an “economic restructuring”. The government said that it would hold more than 40 consultation sessions ahead of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s fourth policy address in September, while also conducting district visits to meet members of the public and representatives from different sectors. “We are committed to developing the economy and...

Events

12 h. ago China ‘stepping in’ as property concerns mount, but no ‘treading the old path’

Premier Li Qiang’s remarks on further shoring up the property sector and escalating policy support are said to be indicative of Beijing’s lingering concerns over the sector – once an economic pillar for China – that remains a drag on growth and consumption, as seen in the latest statistics. Analysts say that while there is no quick fix to the woes, Beijing has grown more wary of the impact on overall sentiment and domestic demand, as the economy grapples with external turmoil. A State Council...

Politics

12 h. ago China Bucks US Tariff Heat With Fastest Retail Sales Growth In Over a Year, Fueled By Beijing's Stimulus

China Bucks US Tariff Heat With Fastest Retail Sales Growth In Over a Year, Fueled By Beijing's Stimulus  MSN

Economics

12 h. ago China Bucks US Tariff Heat With Fastest Retail Sales Growth In Over a Year, Fueled By Beijing’s Stimulus By Stocktwits

China Bucks US Tariff Heat With Fastest Retail Sales Growth In Over a Year, Fueled By Beijing’s Stimulus By Stocktwits  Investing.com India

Economics

12 h. ago China retail sales jump while industrial growth slows on trade war turmoil

China retail sales jump while industrial growth slows on trade war turmoil  Financial Times

Events

15 h. ago China’s economy weathers US tariff storm in May as consumption picks up

China’s economic data sent mixed signals in May, with US tariffs continuing to weigh on the country’s manufacturing and exports but domestic consumption picking up slightly in the run-up to a major online shopping festival. Retail sales, a gauge of consumption, rose by 6.4 per cent in May, compared with the 5.1 per cent growth observed in April, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Monday. The figures exceeded a forecast of 4.85 per cent growth by financial data provider...

Economics

30 h. ago Indian EVs at risk! Delay in Beijing's rare earth magnets can decelerate auto sector growth; China tighte

Indian EVs at risk! Delay in Beijing's rare earth magnets can decelerate auto sector growth; China tighte  Times of India

Events

39 h. ago Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong’s T3 signal to stay in place for early afternoon

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. A No 3 typhoon warning will remain in force in Hong Kong throughout the early afternoon on Sunday, with local winds expected to ease slightly later in the day, the city’s forecaster has said. The Hong Kong Observatory said that Tropical Storm Wutip continued to weaken and move over inland...

Events

39 h. ago Wutip: Hong Kong’s T3 could be replaced by strong monsoon signal in afternoon

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. A No 3 typhoon warning in Hong Kong could be lowered and replaced by a strong monsoon signal on Sunday afternoon, as Tropical Storm Wutip continues to weaken and move away from the city, the local forecaster has said. The Hong Kong Observatory said that the storm was expected to further weaken...

Politics