52 h. ago Chinese robot maker Dobot’s humanoid cooks steak from 1,800km away using VR

A humanoid robot from the Chinese firm Shenzhen Dobot successfully cooked a steak – even sprinkling salt with its fingers – while being remotely controlled by an operator 1,800km away using a virtual reality (VR) headset. A video of the feat, published on Friday on the company’s official WeChat account, showcased its latest technology – which could eventually disrupt how humans perform housework, conduct surgeries, inspect nuclear plants and even explore outer space. The cooking was performed by...

Politics

69 h. ago France fines Shein US$47 million for ‘deceptive’ pricing amid EU scrutiny

The French government has fined online retailer Shein €40 million (US$47 million) for “deceptive marketing practices” and incomplete information about the environmental impact of its products. The penalty was announced just days after a European Union official said on Monday that he was “deeply concerned” about the millions of small parcels entering the region every day, many from Chinese-founded platforms like Shein and Temu. The fine by France’s Ministry of Economy followed investigations...

Economics

3 d. ago Xpeng launches G7 ‘Super AI’ SUV, taking on Xiaomi YU7 and Tesla Model Y

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng launched its G7 SUV on Thursday, sending another contender into a fierce battle in the premium SUV segment of the world’s largest EV market, where it joins Xiaomi’s recently introduced YU7 in taking on Tesla’s market-leading Model Y. Dubbed Xpeng’s first “Super AI [artificial intelligence] car”, the G7 starts at 195,800 yuan (US$27,325), with the top-of-the-line model selling for 225,800 yuan, the Guangzhou-headquartered company said during a launch...

Politics

4 d. ago Chinese sellers bracing as Amazon Prime Day sale and tariff pressure to collide

Ahead of Amazon’s annual Prime Day sales event, Chinese sellers are already walking a tightrope as they try to strike a balance between staying competitive and adjusting to Washington’s tariffs. Gloria Gu, an Amazon seller based in Zhejiang province, said her outlook for this year’s summer event – extended this year to a record four days, July 8-11 – was “not optimistic”. Her company mainly sells household consumables – low-margin products that are highly price-sensitive. “Depending on the item,...

Politics

4 d. ago Ford's CEO sounded the alarm again on China. Here are 3 ways Chinese EVs drastically differ from their US rivals.

Ford's CEO sounded the alarm again on China. Here are 3 ways Chinese EVs drastically differ from their US rivals.  Business Insider

Economics

6 d. ago Photographer finds surreal beauty — and few humans — inside a Chinese EV factory

Photographer finds surreal beauty — and few humans — inside a Chinese EV factory  CNN

Culture

6 d. ago ‘I’d rather be an arduous reformer than complacent idler’: Hong Kong’s John Lee

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. Hong Kong marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events start with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will...

Politics

6 d. ago Hongkongers, visitors enjoy discounts, freebies as city marks July 1 anniversary

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. Hong Kong marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu...

Politics

6 d. ago Hongkongers, visitors enjoy discounts, freebies as city marks July 1 anniversary – as it happened

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. Hong Kong marked the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu...

Politics

9 d. ago Xiaomi’s SU7 SUV a hit with mainland Chinese motorists as bookings reach 240,000

Chinese smartphone and electric-vehicle (EV) maker Xiaomi has been flooded with orders for its YU7 SUV, with analysts saying the car could challenge the dominance of the Tesla Model Y, the bestselling SUV on the mainland. The company said that it received 200,000 pre-orders for the YU7 in just three minutes after bookings opened at 10pm on Thursday, with the number rising to 240,000 by 4pm on Friday. The 240,000 bookings for the YU7, priced from 253,500 yuan (US$35,366) to 329,900 yuan, are...

Events

9 d. ago China becomes bright spot at uncertain time: SCMP’s ‘Summer Davos’ highlights

For those attending the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions this week, “uncertainty” was the inescapable word. It could be found on the lips of almost everyone; senior Chinese officials, global executives, foreign academics and thought leaders from all fields. This should not come as a surprise. Simmering regional tensions, unpredictable policy pivots from Washington and a foggy picture for global trade were all top of mind as speakers and panelists gathered in the...

Politics

1 week ago ‘Hotbed of opportunity’: Premier Li says China’s economy offers ‘certainty’

China will continue to be a land of opportunities and an engine of global growth and stability, even as the world faces rising geopolitical challenges and uncertainties, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) Annual Meeting in Beijing. “China remains the country that contributes the greatest impetus to global economic growth, and the most significant source of certainty for world peace and development,” he said on Thursday. Li’s remarks came a day...

Politics

1 week ago Xiaomi speeds up YU7 launch, Tesla’s Robotaxi vs Baidu’s Apollo Go: 7 EV reads

We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China’s BYD expands car-carrier fleet to bolster EV exports amid furious domestic competition BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) maker, has taken delivery of two new car-carrying ships – the largest yet in a growing fleet – as it bets on export growth to counter brutal...

Politics

1 week ago Chinese AI firm DeepSeek reportedly using shell companies to try and evade U.S. chip restrictions — allegedly procured unknown number of H100 AI GPUs after ban, but Nvidia denies the claim

Chinese AI firm DeepSeek reportedly using shell companies to try and evade U.S. chip restrictions — allegedly procured unknown number of H100 AI GPUs after ban, but Nvidia denies the claim  Tom's Hardware

Politics

1 week ago How Tesla’s Robotaxi service compares with Baidu’s Apollo Go in China

With the roll-out of Tesla’s new Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, here is how Elon Musk’s offering compares to the Apollo Go driverless taxi service by Chinese tech giant Baidu: When: Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the launch of the autonomous vehicle service on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, calling it the “culmination of a decade of hard work”. Baidu first tested its Apollo Go autonomous vehicle in September 2019, with official commercial service beginning in 2022. Where: Tesla’s Robotaxi...

Politics

2 w. ago Chinese EV maker Hozon enters bankruptcy proceedings, state media reports

Chinese EV maker Hozon enters bankruptcy proceedings, state media reports  Reuters

Politics

2 w. ago First flight for Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran arrives in Beijing

First flight for Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran arrives in Beijing  news.cgtn.com

Politics

2 w. ago China to evacuate citizens from Israel via Egypt border as conflict escalates

China’s embassy in Israel said it will begin evacuating nationals via the Egyptian border from Friday, after hundreds had already left the country, while about 1,600 others had left Iran over the last few days. In a statement on Thursday, the embassy said it was seeking to register Chinese citizens who wished to evacuate in organised groups, which would leave Israel by bus via the Taba border crossing, about 360km (224 miles) from Tel Aviv. Evacuees must hold a valid Chinese passport or valid...

Politics

2 w. ago Hundreds of Chinese citizens leave Iran as fighting with Israel continues

Hundreds of Chinese nationals have been evacuated from Iran while work is continuing to remove more than a thousand others amid the ongoing conflict with Israel. “As of now, under the organisation and coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese embassy and consulates in Iran, and with the active assistance and support of neighbouring countries, 791 Chinese citizens have been relocated from Iran to safe areas, while over 1,000 more are in the process of being evacuated,”...

Politics

2 w. ago Almost 800 Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran, Beijing says

Almost 800 Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran, Beijing says  Hong Kong Free Press

Politics