6 h. ago Leeway urged for public housing applicants in Hong Kong to combat ‘lying flat’

A key member of Hong Kong’s Housing Authority has suggested offering some leeway to public rental flat applicants whose incomes are slightly above the threshold to prevent people from “lying flat” and earning less in order to qualify. Cleresa Wong Pie-yue, chairwoman of the authority’s subsidised housing committee, on Monday cited media reports as saying some families waiting for a public rental flat would quit their jobs, switch to part-time work or ask their children to remain unemployed after...

Politics

8 h. ago ByteDance’s China head of content quality leaves amid stricter censorship

ByteDance has parted ways with a senior executive who oversaw content moderation and data labelling for its China-focused apps, according to sources and media reports, as the Beijing-based company advances content security amid Beijing’s strict censorship requirements. Li Tong, who led the Content Quality and Data Service (CQC) team under Douyin Group, was no longer listed in ByteDance’s internal employee system, according to people familiar with the matter. Douyin, one of ByteDance’s core...

Politics

9 h. ago China urges ‘high vigilance’ from citizens in LA as ICE protests continue

China has urged its citizens in the Los Angeles area to stay vigilant and prioritise their personal safety amid “ongoing law enforcement actions” targeting immigration-related protests in California’s largest city. In a safety advisory issued on Monday, the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles reminded Chinese citizens in the area “to closely monitor official announcements and media reports, stay highly vigilant, strengthen safety precautions, avoid gathering sites, crowded areas, or locations with...

Events

3 d. ago China’s Xi meets Panchen Lama, urges continued ‘sinicisation of religion’

Chinese President Xi Jinping met the Panchen Lama on Friday and called for continued efforts to promote the “sinicisation of religion”, state media reports said. The call from Xi comes exactly one month before the exiled Dalai Lama’s critical 90th birthday, when the Tibetan spiritual leader has indicated he may reveal his preferred method for choosing a successor. According to state news agency Xinhua, Xi received a visit from the Panchen Lama in Beijing and expressed hopes that he would “work...

Politics

3 d. ago Chinese fugitive’s daring escape in Thailand ends in recapture 200km away

A Chinese national who escaped from Thai police custody by dramatically leaping from a second-floor window was recaptured less than 24 hours later in a hotel 200km (124 miles) away after an extensive manhunt. Li Jian, 38, was arrested at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport on Wednesday as he was about to board an AirAsia flight to Da Nang, Vietnam, local media reported. An existing warrant for his arrest related to fraud had been issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court earlier that day. Li reportedly...

Politics

4 d. ago Donald Trump and Xi Jinping held phone call on Thursday, Chinese state media reports

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping held phone call on Thursday, Chinese state media reports  Financial Times

Politics

6 d. ago Xiaomi’s EV unit to become profitable this year, CEO Lei Jun says

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi will start making money from its electric-vehicle (EV) venture by the end of this year, according to its founder and CEO Lei Jun, less than two years after rolling its first units off the assembly line, as demand surpassed expectations. Losses have narrowed, and the unit could become profitable by the third or fourth quarter, local media The Paper reported on Tuesday, quoting Lei during a presentation in Beijing. Xiaomi was confident about its sales following the...

Economics

8 d. ago China fails to win over the public with second chances for disgraced officials

Debate is raging in China over the case of a young Communist Party cadre who was disciplined over a drinking spree two years ago and is now up for promotion. State media reports have portrayed Xie Qin, a 38-year-old township party chief in southwestern Yunnan province, as a positive example of rehabilitation. But the idea is unpopular among the public, with many taking to social media to express frustration at officials like Xie being given a second chance and even “rewarded” for their...

Politics

1 week ago Chinese paraglider survives accidental flight in the clouds without oxygen, reports state media

Chinese paraglider survives accidental flight in the clouds without oxygen, reports state media  CNN

Events

1 week ago Disgraced Chinese admiral Miao Hua suspected of ‘legal violations’

China said that Miao Hua, a disgraced admiral and member of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), was suspected of “legal violations”, suggesting his wrongdoings were more serious than previously thought. The CMC’s political work department decided to expel Miao from the top legislature in March for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law”, according to a statement from the legislature dated May 15. The statement was made public recently and first reported by the media this...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong ombudsman probes oversight of tourist facilities at nature spots

Hong Kong’s ombudsman is assessing the management of tourist facilities at local nature spots, with the investigation aiming to enhance the city’s green tourism push. The Office of the Ombudsman said on Thursday that its investigation was prompted by media reports that essential amenities, such as toilets, were often inadequate, and that the information for transport and other facilities was frequently outdated or hard to find in nature areas. Complaints had surfaced about the slow progress of...

Politics

1 week ago Big BYD dealer in eastern China goes out of business, local media reports

Big BYD dealer in eastern China goes out of business, local media reports  Reuters

Economics

1 week ago US to pause student visa interviews ahead of new social media vetting: reports

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed America’s embassies worldwide to stop scheduling student visa interviews as US President Donald Trump’s administration considers more expansive vetting of the social media profiles of applicants, US media has reported. The order, laid out in a diplomatic cable on Tuesday, is the latest effort by the administration to restrict international students’ entry to the US over claims that they might promote antisemitism or otherwise threaten national...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong journalist group slams ‘tax review on 20 reporters, groups’

Hong Kong Journalists Association says Inland Revenue Department’s moves have placed extra stress on the reporters and media groups.

Politics

3 w. ago China confirms Japanese citizen has been jailed for spying in Shanghai

The foreign ministry did not reveal details of the case, but Japanese media reports said a man in his 50s had been given a 12-year sentence.

Events

4 w. ago Pope Leo XIV urges release of reporters held for ‘seeking truth’, asks media to choose peace

The first American pontiff called for peace-focused reporting and rejects “war of words”.

Politics

4 w. ago Pope Leo urges release of reporters held for ‘seeking truth’, as Zelensky invites to Ukraine

During the pope’s first address, President Zelensky invited him to Ukraine, seeking hope amid conflict.

Politics

4 w. ago Chinese nationalism surges across social media as viral video mocks downed Indian jets

Controversial influencer sparks social media fervour with Indian song parody remix over recently reported J-10C downing of French Rafale by Pakistan fighter pilots.

Politics