57 h. ago EU accuses China’s AliExpress of ‘systemic failure’ over illegal goods

Regulators say online retailer failing to do enough to prevent sale of unsafe children’s toys, among other itemsThe European Commission has accused the online retailer AliExpress of a “systemic failure” to prevent the sale of illegal and dangerous goods on its platform, as Brussels steps up its case against the Chinese company.Issuing formal findings of an investigation launched in March last year, EU regulators said on Wednesday that AliExpress was failing to do enough to prevent the sale of counterfeit clothes and dangerous children’s toys, among other items. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago British businessman accused of spying for China reported to a Red Army agent with close ties to Chinese president Xi

John Miller (right), who the MoS last week revealed was the subject of an FBI sting operation, was arrested with his 'handler', Cui Guanghai (left).

Politics

2 w. ago China accuses US of ‘seriously violating’ trade war truce; UK factory output shrinks again – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsToday’s UK PMI report (see 9.52am) also shows that business confidence at British factories remained ‘subdued’ last month.Manufacturers continued to raise concerns that turbulent trade conditions, the weak economic outlook and rising cost burdens will make market conditions tough during the year ahead.Weak global market conditions, trade uncertainty, low customer confidence and cost pressures resulting from recent increases to UK employer NICs and minimum wages also contributed to clients’ reluctance to spend. That said, a recent bout of good weather did boost sales at some manufacturers. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago China vows ‘forceful measures’ after accusing US of violating tariffs truce

Beijing says it is ‘strictly implementing’ consensus reached in Geneva but US is taking steps that ‘seriously undermine’ it

Politics

2 w. ago China accuses US of ‘seriously violating’ trade war truce – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsTrade war fears don’t seem to have hurt the UK housing market last month.Lender Nationwide has reported that the average house price rose by 0.5% duing May, reversing most of the 0.6% fall recorded in April.“Despite wider economic uncertainties in the global economy, underlying conditions for potential home buyers in the UK remain supportive.“Unemployment remains low, earnings are rising at a healthy pace (even after accounting for inflation), household balance sheets are strong and borrowing costs are likely to moderate a little if Bank Rate is lowered further in the coming quarters as we, and most other analysts, expect.“What China is doing is they are holding back products that are essential for the industrial supply chains of India, of Europe. And that is not what a reliable partner does.” Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago China accuses US of ‘seriously violating’ trade truce and vows to respond

Beijing promises to take strong measures to defend its interests

Politics

2 w. ago British businessman accused of plotting to smuggle US military technology to China

John Miller and Chinese national Cui Guanghai are facing extradition in connection with an FBI investigationA British businessman has been indicted in the US with attempting to traffic sensitive American military technology to China and silence a critic of the Chinese president.John Miller, 63, was named by US authorities at the weekend after his arrest in Serbia, where he is facing extradition in connection with an FBI investigation. The Mail on Sunday reported that he was from Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago China accuses Pete Hegseth of sowing division in Asia in speech ‘filled with provocations’

US defence secretary ‘vilified china with defamatory allegations’ at Shangri-La DialogueChina’s government has accused Pete Hegseth of trying to “sow division” in the Asia Pacific region over his speech at a Singapore defence conference where he warned China was a potentially “imminent” threat.On Saturday Hegseth said China was “credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific”, and was rehearsing for “the real deal” of invading Taiwan. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump accuses China of ‘totally violating’ tariffs deal with US in blow to moves to avoid trade war

Trade talks between Washington and Beijing were said to be a ‘bit stalled’

Economics

3 w. ago China accused of ‘indoctrinating’ Tibetan children from age of four with state

Group says lives of Tibetan children are ‘irrevocably altered to serve the purposes of the Chinese government’

Politics

4 w. ago ‘When power can define madness’: China accused of using mental health law to lock up critics

More than a decade after China passed a groundbreaking mental health law, victims and activists say that involuntary hospitalisation remains commonZhang Po was barely one year out of school when an out of control mine-cart barrelled into him deep in a pit in Anhui province, causing injuries that ended his brief career as a coalminer. Since the accident in 1999, he has been living off disability allowances provided by his former employer in Huainan, Anhui’s coal city. But in 2024 Zhang was sent to hospital once again – this time to a psychiatric ward.Zhang was sectioned for 22 days in June after he protested outside the office of his former employer, demanding an increase in his disability allowance. “I endured more than 20 days of humiliation in there. There was no phone, and my belt and shoelaces were taken away,” Zhang said in a recent interview with Chinese media. Zhang said that he was forced to take medicines and tied to his bed for several hours a day. After the three weeks in...

Society