3 h. ago China’s economic data, PLA’s patrols in disputed waters: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. The US-China rivalry is reshaping global supply chains – who benefits most? Supply chain competition between China and the United States is set to intensify over the next five years, with eight developing countries – including four in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) – poised to benefit from the relocation of manufacturing from China,...

Economics

6 h. ago Japan hospital sued after dementia patient swallows 12cm key

A hospital in Japan is facing a negligence lawsuit after an elderly patient was discovered to have swallowed a key in the ward and later died, sparking worries about dementia care in the rapidly ageing country. Kenichi Onishi, 82, was admitted to the Osaka hospital in January 2022 after breaking his chest bone in a fall. A few months later, in September, he complained about throat pain and was diagnosed with Covid-19. A chest X-ray, however, showed a large shadow in his throat, which was later...

Science

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

7 h. ago Mixed Economic Data in China in May: Factories Down, Retail Up

Mixed Economic Data in China in May: Factories Down, Retail Up  Asia Financial

Economics

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

11 h. ago 80% of 25 eyeshadows found to contain heavy metals: Hong Kong consumer watchdog

More than 80 per cent of 25 cream and liquid eyeshadows tested by Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog have been found to contain heavy metals that may cause skin allergy, with lead being detected in all products, but at levels that do not pose safety concerns. Nine of the 25 single-colour models in stick, cream and liquid form did not list an expiry date or period after opening, according to the Consumer Council. Ten products only listed ingredients in Japanese or provided no such label. “The industry...

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

13 h. ago Visitors can now tap international cards across Beijing subway

Visitors can now tap international cards across Beijing subway  China Daily

Politics

13 h. ago NZD/USD remains above 0.6000, moves little after China’s economic data release

NZD/USD remains above 0.6000, moves little after China’s economic data release  FXStreet

Economics

14 h. ago Australian Dollar steadies following mixed economic data from China

Australian Dollar steadies following mixed economic data from China  FXStreet

Economics

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

15 h. ago Going down: the acclaimed Japanese airport that’s sinking into the sea

Japan’s Kansai International Airport (KIX) has won international awards for its architectural design, efficiency and staff, and was recognised last year as the best airport in the world for baggage delivery after not mislaying a single item of luggage for a decade. Despite all the plaudits, KIX has a major drawback: it is sinking. Built on a man-made island in Osaka Bay, KIX was one of the largest construction and engineering projects ever undertaken in Japan. Made up of two islands, one...

Politics

16 h. ago China Reviews Impact of US Data Curbs Due to Trump’s Budget Cuts

China Reviews Impact of US Data Curbs Due to Trump’s Budget Cuts  Bloomberg.com

Politics

16 h. ago Hong Kong can lead world in AI healthcare by tapping trove of patient data: expert

Hong Kong has the potential to develop the world’s most sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) system for healthcare, thanks to the data of millions of residents stored in the city’s public hospitals, according to a leading expert in the field from mainland China. Professor Wang Haibo, director of the Research Centre of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine under the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, told the Post that the health data system in the...

Science

16 h. ago TRENDS participates in the Beijing International Book Fair 2025 with groundbreaking publications and intellectual insights

TRENDS participates in the Beijing International Book Fair 2025 with groundbreaking publications and intellectual insights  TRENDS Research & Advisory

Society

19 h. ago China’s nuclear stockpile is growing ‘faster than any other country’: SIPRI

China’s nuclear arsenal is growing “faster than any other country” and its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force could potentially match that of Russia or the US by the turn of the decade, a Swedish think tank dedicated to weapons research has said. According to the latest yearbook of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China has added 100 more warheads to its nuclear stockpile each year since 2023. It held at least 600 and that number was expected to “keep...

Events

31 h. ago How a ‘Harvard International’ could boost Hong Kong as an education hub

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has invited international students worried about finishing their courses at Harvard University in the US to continue their studies at one of Hong Kong’s universities. Other universities in Malaysia and Japan have put forward similar suggestions. This comes as Hong Kong is considering how to make best use of the part of the Northern Metropolis reserved for universities to bolster its role as an education hub. That site is at the heart of our future technology...

Politics

33 h. ago Noodles with heart: Beijing's homespun hospitality in a bowl

Noodles with heart: Beijing's homespun hospitality in a bowl  news.cgtn.com

Politics

35 h. ago China’s Wang Yi decries ‘unacceptable’ Israeli attack on Iran, urges diplomacy

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Israel’s attack on Iran an “unacceptable” breach of international law and urged measures to de-escalate tensions in phone calls with his Israeli and Iranian counterparts on Saturday. He told Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar that China could play a “constructive role” in the peaceful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue, saying diplomatic solutions remained viable and a peaceful resolution was still achievable, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign...

Politics

37 h. ago Gen Z’s ‘emotional consumption’ fuels surge in consumer stocks like Pop Mart

Stock investors are capitalising on the spending power of China’s Generation Z consumers, who splurge on everything from gold jewellery to low-priced drinks, delivering multifold returns on so-called new consumer stocks. The ascent of Pop Mart International Group, Mixue Group and Laopu Gold is one of the few bright spots in China’s sluggish consumer industry, which has been plagued by a weak jobs market and the deflationary trend. The robust performance has come at the cost of traditional...

Politics