7 m. ago Labubu becomes bait for China’s Ping An Bank to lure young customers

Hoping the world’s trendiest monster will scare up some new customers, China’s Ping An Bank is rewarding those who open new accounts with a Pop Mart Lababu doll amid fierce competition for young customers among Chinese retail banks. New clients who open a savings account and deposit more than 50,000 yuan (US$6,954) for at least three months could receive a blind box from the first or second series of the Chinese toy retailer’s popular collectibles, according to media reports. Customers who also...

Economics

7 m. ago TikTok adds 500 UK jobs in expansion as US fate remains uncertain

TikTok, the short video app owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, is expanding in the United Kingdom, adding a new office and more than 500 jobs, while its fate in the US remains uncertain as a June 19 sell-or-ban deadline approaches. The new 135,000 sq ft office in Barbican, London, is set to open early next year, according to a statement published on TikTok’s website on Monday. The additional jobs will grow its UK workforce to 3,000 this year, the company said. In addition to its existing 88,500...

Politics

22 m. ago Living in China’s shadow has become ‘very dangerous’ for Filipino islanders

Living in China’s shadow has become ‘very dangerous’ for Filipino islanders  South China Morning Post

Politics

41 m. ago China’s Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers sail beyond second island chain

In an unprecedented show of strength, the Chinese aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong have been conducting exercises in the western Pacific Ocean beyond the second island chain, according to the Japanese defence ministry. In a statement on Monday, the ministry said the Shandong strike group was spotted earlier that day, conducting take-off and landing operations of its jet fighters and helicopters about 500km (311 miles) southwest of Iwo Jima and north of Okinotori. It followed the...

Transport

2 h. ago Beijing Woos US Influencers With Free Trip to Show ‘Real China’

Beijing Woos US Influencers With Free Trip to Show ‘Real China’  Bloomberg.com

Politics

2 h. ago Espace LV presents 'Painting From Nature' art exhibition in Beijing

Espace LV presents 'Painting From Nature' art exhibition in Beijing  China.org.cn

Politics

3 h. ago Price wars grip China as deflation deepens, $30 for a luxury Coach bag?

Price wars grip China as deflation deepens, $30 for a luxury Coach bag?  Reuters

Economics

3 h. ago World’s tallest monk? Victor Wembanyama spotted at China’s Shaolin Temple with shaved head

World’s tallest monk? Victor Wembanyama spotted at China’s Shaolin Temple with shaved head  CNN

Politics

4 h. ago Civilian group hosts Taiwan tabletop simulation of attack from mainland China

A think tank in Taiwan has started a two-day war game with retired US and Japanese generals to simulate the island’s defence in the event of a military attack from the Chinese mainland. The Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation, which organised the tabletop exercise, said the aim was to “identify the defence issues that Taiwan urgently needs to strengthen and provide recommendations for the government”. Described as the first operational-level military simulation by a...

Events

4 h. ago China EV insurance registrations for week ending Jun 8: Nio 2,630, Tesla 8,640, Xiaomi 4,370

China EV insurance registrations for week ending Jun 8: Nio 2,630, Tesla 8,640, Xiaomi 4,370  CnEVPost

Politics

4 h. ago China's Xi urges respect, 'right track' in call with South Korean counterpart

China's Xi urges respect, 'right track' in call with South Korean counterpart  Reuters

Politics

4 h. ago China’s Huawei says US is exaggerating its chipmaking capabilities

China’s Huawei says US is exaggerating its chipmaking capabilities  ft.com

Politics

4 h. ago Hong Kong to mark July 1 anniversary with 71,000 free MTR tickets: John Lee

More than 70,000 free MTR tickets will be up for grabs on July 1 as part of citywide celebrations to commemorate the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, the chief executive has said. City leader John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Tuesday he would bring forward his annual policy address by a month to September, in light of the Legislative Council election scheduled for the end of this year. Public consultation is set to kick off on Monday next week. He said the government would...

Politics

5 h. ago China’s $1.1tn asset manager becomes star player on ‘national team’

China’s $1.1tn asset manager becomes star player on ‘national team’  Financial Times

Politics

5 h. ago Concern in Japan as police investigation uncovers possible yakuza

A police investigation into alleged organised crime activity in Japan has uncovered what experts say could be signs of cooperation between a domestic yakuza faction and Hong Kong’s 14K triad, one of Asia’s most powerful criminal networks. The concern centres around a video found on a mobile phone seized during an arrest in September last year, which shows individuals sharing glasses of sake – a traditional ritual that experts say can symbolise an oath of loyalty or alliance. According to Jiji...

Events

5 h. ago As 2 Hong Kong art chiefs step down, what’s next for city’s culture scene?

Para Site and Asia Art Archive (AAA), two long-standing independent cultural institutions in Hong Kong, are simultaneously seeking new executive directors at a pivotal moment for the city’s cultural scene. On June 2, Para Site in Quarry Bay announced that Billy Tang had stepped down as executive director and curator after concluding his three-year contract. The British-born former senior curator of Shanghai’s Rockbund Art Museum took over from Cosmin Costinas – who had run Para Site for 11 years...

Culture

5 h. ago China orders trial of aged care robots that can cook, clean, and provide emotional support

China orders trial of aged care robots that can cook, clean, and provide emotional support  theregister.com

Politics

6 h. ago 'India has become excessively dependent on China': Top economist calls for 'carefully tailored policy' for trade with Beijing

'India has become excessively dependent on China': Top economist calls for 'carefully tailored policy' for trade with Beijing  MSN

Events

6 h. ago Nara’s famed deer could face food crisis in winter as acorn trees cut down

A move to cut down acorn-bearing trees in Japan’s Nara Park has sparked concern among researchers about the survival of the attraction’s free-roaming deer during the harsh winter. Acorns serve as a vital food source for deer, while the trees also provide critical shelter, with the animals often gathering beneath dense canopies for warmth and protection in the colder months. “The base of these trees becomes a critical place that determines whether the deer can survive winter,” said Shiro...

Events

6 h. ago China to make all hospitals offer epidurals to incentivize childbirth

China to make all hospitals offer epidurals to incentivize childbirth  CNN

Politics