6 h. ago Greta Thunberg, once unpopular on Chinese social media, rises in esteem on Gaza

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist once widely criticised on Chinese social media, appears to be receiving a rare wave of support in the country, particularly after her bid to call attention to the Israel-Hamas conflict was stopped by Israeli forces who ended her attempt to sail to Gaza. The 22-year-old activist, along with 11 others, set sail this month for Gaza hoping to “break Israel’s siege” of the Palestinian territory in a show of solidarity. The boat, carrying aid, was...

Politics

20 h. ago China hints Fujian aircraft carrier may soon be commissioned

The Fujian, China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, is expected to be commissioned soon based on new images circulating on social media. On Monday state media dropped another hint that the ship would soon be entering service by referring to an “era” when the Chinese navy would have three carriers. New satellite images of the ship circulating on social media showed 36 newly painted spaces on the flight deck for warplanes, a higher capacity than the country’s two existing carriers. Song Zhongping,...

Events

20 h. ago Chinese state media says aircraft carrier may be commissioned by end of year

The Fujian, China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, is expected to be commissioned by the end of the year, according to state broadcaster CCTV. In a feature broadcast on Tuesday, the third anniversary of the ship’s launch, Wei Dongxu, a CCTV military commentator, said: “The sea trials of the Fujian have made very good progress and it is expected to enter service this year.” On Monday state media dropped another hint that the ship would soon be entering service by referring to an “era” when the...

Events

30 h. ago US sends second aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, to the Middle East as Iran

US sends second aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, to the Middle East as Iran-Israel conflict continues to boil  New York Post

Transport

38 h. ago What is the US’ island chain strategy and what does it mean for China?

China’s navy is pushing past the strategic island chains that for decades have marked defensive boundaries for the United States and its allies in the Western Pacific. The deployment of two Chinese aircraft carrier groups in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean since late May has underscored a critical advance in Beijing’s ambitions to become a blue-water navy by 2035. The Liaoning and Shandong have been on a routine training exercise to test their “far-sea defences and joint operational...

Politics

39 h. ago US Aircraft Carrier Nimitz Leaves South China Sea, Heads West Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

US Aircraft Carrier Nimitz Leaves South China Sea, Heads West Amid Rising Middle East Tensions  kurdistan24.net

Events

40 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

41 h. ago US aircraft carrier heads west from South China Sea amid Middle East tensions

US aircraft carrier heads west from South China Sea amid Middle East tensions  Reuters

Events

41 h. ago US Aircraft Carrier Heads West From S.China Sea Amid Middle East Tensions

US Aircraft Carrier Heads West From S.China Sea Amid Middle East Tensions  U.S. News & World Report

Events

42 h. ago ‘Uncertain future’ for US, Hong Kong MTR’s allure: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Setting sun’: on Trump’s parade day, Chinese media see a US in decline 2. Why are mainland Chinese tourists posing in front of MTR stations in Hong Kong? 3. China’s extreme heat shield breaks thermal limit on hypersonic flight 4. After the ceasefire, leaders of India and Pakistan seek cover...

Politics

62 h. ago Chinese media contrasts US pageantry and violence on Trump’s parade day

Donald Trump’s first large-scale military parade in decades has prompted Chinese commentators to compare and mock the contrast between the US president’s pageantry and the nationwide unrest sparked by his immigration policies. The festivities in Washington on Saturday occurred on a day marked by protests around the nation that underscored the country’s deep divisions. In China, some state media and online commentators declared Trump’s “America First” policy a failure in light of the mass...

Politics

62 h. ago ‘Setting sun’: on Trump’s parade day, Chinese media see a US in decline

Chinese state media were quick to declare the decline of the United States as protests throughout the country highlighted social divisions and overshadowed the pageantry of a large military parade in Washington on the weekend. The three-hour parade on Saturday was the first in the US in decades and staged to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army. The event also coincided with the birthday of US President Donald Trump. But as soldiers and tanks were rolling past Trump in Washington,...

Politics

67 h. ago Hong Kong wants an ecotourism boom, but can its parks handle more visitors?

Amy Zhang is dressed in full sportswear, with sunglasses and a lightweight hiking backpack. She is one of many visiting Hong Kong’s Dragon’s Back following the social media craze in mainland China over “in-depth travels” in the city. “The beautiful merging horizon and skyline make good photos for my friend circle on WeChat and RedNote,” the 30-year-old education worker from Hunan province said, referring to her networks on the Chinese social media platforms. “I only wish for better toilets...

Politics

3 d. ago Why are mainland Chinese tourists posing in front of MTR stations in Hong Kong?

Surrounded by a stream of passengers on an MTR platform in Hong Kong on a regular weekday, a couple paused to pose for photos next to a station sign to mark their journey. “We took photos at most of the metro stations we visited, just to record our metro route,” said Arale, a 36-year-old tourist who was visiting the city with his wife, Qing, 37, for the first time. Recording such a visual diary is part of a popular trend on Chinese social media in which people travel around Hong Kong to take...

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong Instagram influencer pleads for release of father arrested in Cambodia

A Hong Kong-based Instagram influencer has written an open letter to Cambodia’s prime minister, calling for the immediate release of her father, who needs urgent medical care. Stephanie Cheng, also known as Laparasian on Instagram, posted a copy of the letter in English, French and Chinese on her social media early Saturday morning. In a separate post the previous day, the influencer said that her father, Cheng Chi-gian, a French citizen, had been “kidnapped in Phnom Penh just before exposing a...

Events

4 d. ago Japan warns of collision risks after Chinese fighter jet manoeuvres

Japan has expressed serious concerns to Beijing through diplomatic and defence channels after a Chinese fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong made “abnormal approaches” to a Japanese patrol aircraft over the Pacific Ocean. In a statement, Tokyo’s defence ministry said a J-15 fighter shadowed its P-3C patrol aircraft operating over the Pacific for about 40 minutes from 10.30am on Saturday and again for around 80 minutes from 2pm on Sunday. The ministry said the Chinese fighter approached...

Events

5 d. ago ByteDance helps jewellery firm Lao Feng Xiang push AI glasses to China’s elderly

Social media giant ByteDance is helping the 177-year-old Chinese jewellery company Lao Feng Xiang develop a new generation of smart glasses, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), that feature real-time voice navigation and translation functions. Lao Feng Xiang debuted their initial line of wearable gadgets at Wednesday’s opening of the International Exhibition of Senior Care, Rehabilitation Medicine and Healthcare, the world’s biggest senior care expo, that is being held in the company’s home...

Politics

5 d. ago US Aircraft Carrier Holds 'Warfighting' Drills on China's Doorstep

US Aircraft Carrier Holds 'Warfighting' Drills on China's Doorstep  Newsweek

Events

5 d. ago Pictures Show Chinese Jet Buzzing US Ally From Aircraft Carrier

Pictures Show Chinese Jet Buzzing US Ally From Aircraft Carrier  Newsweek

Transport

7 d. ago ‘Chaotic era’: Chinese state media say LA protests are proof of a broken America

Chinese state media have sought to portray the escalating Los Angeles protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies as proof of a broken government and the lack of social cohesion in the United States. Such a framing, alongside a mix of gloating and schadenfreude on Chinese social media, comes amid sustained US-China tariff tensions and ongoing high-level trade talks in London. The state-backed Beijing Youth Daily, in a commentary published on its social media page on Tuesday,...

Events