6 h. ago Local government investigation into kindergarten lead poisoning in China reveals deep distrust in authorities

Local government investigation into kindergarten lead poisoning in China reveals deep distrust in authorities  News Channel 3-12

Politics

7 h. ago Is Singapore key for the US to fight against China as Tammy Duckworth says?

Remarks by a US senator labelling Singapore as a key place for “fighting against” major rival China have offered a revealing glimpse into how some American politicians view the city state, amid Washington’s regional power struggle with Beijing. The comments came to light after clips of a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday showed an exasperated Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth admonishing Anjani Sinha, US President Donald Trump’s ambassador nominee to Singapore. “You want to be ambassador...

Politics

12 h. ago ‘Better safe than sorry,’ Hong Kong’s No 2 official says over school suspension

Hong Kong’s No 2 official has responded to parents’ concerns about the suspension of day schools on Friday despite the fine weather, saying it was a difficult decision due to the low predictability of rainstorms and the wish by authorities to be “safe than sorry”. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who chairs the steering committee on handling extreme weather, said the government had decided to halt certain classes due to the local forecaster predicting that Hong Kong could have faced its...

Politics

19 h. ago Why land and property remain at the core of China’s economic transition

Amid a prolonged economic transition, China’s growth engine is shedding its old gears. The heyday of real estate expansion is over. Urban home prices have lost their relentless upwards march and local governments, once flush with land revenues, are confronting fiscal strain. It is tempting to declare this the end of the land finance era, a long-anticipated turning point that will force Beijing to adopt a more sustainable fiscal model. Yet such a conclusion would be premature. For all the...

Economics

19 h. ago Why China can’t make a clean break from reliance on land and property

Amid a prolonged economic transition, China’s growth engine is shedding its old gears. The heyday of real estate expansion is over. Urban home prices have lost their relentless upwards march and local governments, once flush with land revenues, are confronting fiscal strain. It is tempting to declare this the end of the land finance era, a long-anticipated turning point that will force Beijing to adopt a more sustainable fiscal model. Yet such a conclusion would be premature. For all the...

Politics

27 h. ago China’s local governments are approaching a fiscal black hole

China’s local governments are approaching a fiscal black hole  The Economist

Politics

3 d. ago China needs to help young students facing unique pressures in age of AI

Suicide rates among adolescents in China reveal a unique pattern: some studies show that those from more affluent families and with better-educated parents are at a higher risk of taking their own lives compared to those from less privileged backgrounds. This stands in stark contrast to trends observed in many other countries, where children from poorer families and those exposed to domestic violence are more likely to attempt suicide. However, this does not imply that children from poorer...

Events

3 d. ago 8 detained in China after high lead levels detected in kindergarten children

The principal of the kindergarten in Maiji district in Tianshui, surnamed Zhu, was detained together with investor Li and six canteen staff on suspicion of “producing toxic and harmful food”. Two others have been placed on police bail pending trial, according to a release by investigators in Tianshui on Tuesday. The statement alleged the canteen staff bought decorative paint online with the consent of Zhu and Li, diluted it and used it in food. Laboratory tests confirmed the paint contained lead...

Politics

4 d. ago What China’s DeepSeek AI reveals about Beijing’s red lines on North Korea

What China’s DeepSeek AI reveals about Beijing’s red lines on North Korea  NK News

Politics

5 d. ago Why Chinese investors can still expect a warm welcome in many US cities

Most local government officials in the US still welcome Chinese-invested projects despite a rise in trade tensions this year, a Chinese chamber of commerce leader said this week as potential investors weigh up economic benefits and geopolitical risks. City leaders want Chinese investment to help stimulate their local economies, especially in manufacturing projects that are hard to source elsewhere, said Ni Pin, chairman of the China General Chamber of Commerce branch in Chicago. “There are a lot...

Economics

6 d. ago Why Singapore refused to be a ‘Third China’ – and how Lee Kuan Yew made it clear

In his new memoir Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel, Cheong Yip Seng reflects on the intersection of geopolitics, media, and identity through the lens of his long career as editor-in-chief of The Straits Times. In this excerpt, Cheong recounts a revealing moment during an official visit to China in 1976 with then-prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. Among the officials present was S.R. Nathan, later Singapore’s sixth president, who witnessed Lee subtly rebuff a Chinese attempt to influence the...

Politics

7 d. ago Hong Kong’s AI ambitions take shape with 90% of supercomputing capacity now in use

Hong Kong’s ambition to create an artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem is bearing fruit, with more than 90 per cent of the city’s flagship supercomputing centre at Cyberport now in use, according to officials. The AI Supercomputing Centre, which began operations in December, is a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to foster a vibrant local AI ecosystem. Authorities have earmarked HK$3 billion (US$418.6 million) in subsidies to support AI model development and applications. Cyberport said...

Politics

7 d. ago China TV host faces criticism for serving men drumsticks, women wings, exposes bias

A renowned Chinese TV host ignited a heated online controversy after openly expressing her preference for boys over girls and presenting drumsticks to two young men instead of a young woman during a show. Zhu Dan bizarrely justified it by stating that “boys need more nutrition to grow.” Zhu, 44, hailing from Zhejiang province in eastern China, is celebrated for her work on popular TV programmes like Do You Remember and The X Factor. She is a mother to a daughter and a son with her husband, actor...

Culture

7 d. ago China urged to issue 30 trillion yuan in bonds to tackle local debt crisis

China should issue 30 trillion yuan (US$4.2 trillion) in treasury bonds to swap local governments’ hidden liabilities to re-energise growth momentum and cut off financial risks at their root, a Beijing-based think tank has proposed. Such a move, combined with a few trillion yuan worth of additional bonds to shore up the property market, boost consumption and remove excessive industrial capacity, would be a strong step toward resolving China’s local-level debt and real estate crises once and for...

Events

8 d. ago From rocket ballet to space fireworks: China’s aerospace innovators push boundaries

A start-up company in southwestern China has revealed its latest innovations in rocket technology, highlighting how the country’s cutting-edge aerospace capabilities are expanding into the civilian sector. Lingkong Tianxing Technology unveiled its self-developed reusable liquid rocket with an animated video simulation posted to its official website on Tuesday. The clip showcased advanced flight control technologies, including mid-air flips and in-flight reignition. The clip shows the VTVL...

Events

8 d. ago New memoir reveals Lee Kuan Yew’s respectful strategy for China relations

Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew recognised early on that China demanded respect and equality in diplomacy – a posture that earned him Beijing’s enduring trust, according to veteran newspaper editor Cheong Yip Seng. In his newly released memoir Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel, Cheong reflects on Lee’s deft handling of China relations, drawn from personal experience covering his landmark 1976 visit to Beijing and later working closely with him as editor-in-chief of...

Politics

9 d. ago Hong Kong can chart path for growth in the space economy: Regina Ip

A top adviser to Hong Kong has called for the local government to aim for the space economy as the city’s answer to stimulating high-quality economic growth, while seeking to host top-tier international events such as the Apec finance ministers’ meeting to enhance global ties and boost local consumption. Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of the key decision-making Executive Council and chairwoman of the New People’s Party, also proposed a HK$50 million (US$6.4 million) fund on Wednesday to support...

Politics

9 d. ago Labubu’s rise reflects hitmaker ability of China’s digital ecosystem

The global frenzy around China’s Labubu, the candy-coloured monster character with the mischievous smile adorning bags, desks, streets and social feeds worldwide, is often hailed as a triumph of Chinese soft power. But Labubu’s success reveals something deeper: the unmatched sophistication of China’s integrated platform economy. Pop Mart, Labubu’s retailer, started with a small shop in Beijing in 2010 but has leveraged China’s unique digital ecosystem in recent years to build a global...

Events

9 d. ago Dalai Lama reveals his succession plan, shuts out China's role; Beijing fumes

Dalai Lama reveals his succession plan, shuts out China's role; Beijing fumes  India Today

Politics

9 d. ago “China Unleashes Invisible Firepower”: Newly Revealed Stealth Missiles Could Radically Transform the Future of Modern Warfare

“China Unleashes Invisible Firepower”: Newly Revealed Stealth Missiles Could Radically Transform the Future of Modern Warfare  Sustainability Times

Events