2 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

4 h. ago Trump tariffs challenge Asean’s unity and economic stability

When US President Donald Trump’s tariff chaos eventually calms, its long-lasting consequences will significantly affect the area just south of China and east of India – Southeast Asia – and its organisational bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Trump’s focus on protectionism is likely to replace uniform tariffs with varying import taxes for different countries. This shift could create divisive and harmful effects for Southeast Asia and Asean, which are interchangeable but...

Economics

5 h. ago Group tour prices from Hong Kong drop 10% as tourists opt for alternatives to Japan

Hong Kong travel agencies have launched cheaper outbound group tours this summer, driven by increased flight capacity amid a shift in tourists’ preference away from Japan due to increased earthquake concerns. Several tour operators have reported that prices for their summer group tours are either lower or have remained stable, adding that popular destinations include South Korea, Vietnam and cities in western mainland China. “Compared to last year, we see more than a 10 per cent drop in prices...

Politics

16 h. ago Russia's Rosatom, China's CNNC to lead consortiums to build first nuclear power plants in Kazakhstan

Russia's Rosatom, China's CNNC to lead consortiums to build first nuclear power plants in Kazakhstan  Reuters

Events

19 h. ago “China Is Already There”: Shocking Lunar Strategy Exposes How Beijing Plans to Dominate Space and Rewire Global Power Structures

“China Is Already There”: Shocking Lunar Strategy Exposes How Beijing Plans to Dominate Space and Rewire Global Power Structures  Sustainability Times

Events

20 h. ago Xi urges Communist Party to learn from pioneer of China’s economic planning

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the ruling Communist Party to learn from the legacy of early party figure Chen Yun – a pioneer of China’s economic planning – in remarks on Friday to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the late statesman’s birth. Xi called on the party to have unwavering confidence when facing “chaotic and complex turbulence”, and to strengthen its ability to cut a path for China’s economy with “objective and thorough” research, according to state news agency Xinhua. The...

Economics

27 h. ago Hong Kong plans new AI supercomputing centre to boost tech hub status

The Hong Kong government is set to enhance its computing power support for start-ups as part of its ambition to become a leading technology hub, according to the city’s innovation chief, as local start-ups seek global clients at one of Europe’s largest technology shows. Hong Kong planned to establish a new supercomputing centre at Sandy Ridge in the Northern Metropolis – part of a government blueprint that aims to transform a large swathe of land in the New Territories into an economic hub,...

Politics

41 h. ago Hong Kong Urban Renewal Authority eyes Middle East, Europe investors for bonds

Hong Kong’s cash-strapped Urban Renewal Authority (URA) will issue another round of bonds this year and has reached out to investors in the Middle East and Europe, the body’s outgoing chief has revealed. Authority managing director Wai Chi-sing also said that two sites the government gave to the URA this month had strengthened its bargaining power in talks with investors, and that he believed there would be more similar land grants in the future. Wai, who leaves the statutory body on Saturday...

Economics

42 h. ago China’s Security Office Flexes New Power With Hong Kong Probe

China’s Security Office Flexes New Power With Hong Kong Probe  Bloomberg

Events

42 h. ago Direct passenger flights set to take off between Tajikistan's Dushanbe and China's Beijing

Direct passenger flights set to take off between Tajikistan's Dushanbe and China's Beijing  Trend News Agency

Politics

63 h. ago Is China eyeing New Hampshire’s water as part of a ‘soft power invasion’?

Is China eyeing New Hampshire’s water as part of a ‘soft power invasion’?  NewsNation

Events

65 h. ago Xpeng and Chinese EV peers aim to win over Hongkongers amid global push

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng aims to start offering Hong Kong consumers smart cars featuring semi-autonomous driving systems next year as it gears up to take on Tesla’s FSD (Full Self-Driving) feature outside mainland China. He Xiaopeng, co-founder and CEO of the Guangzhou-based carmaker, said in Hong Kong on Thursday that testing of its Xpeng Navigation Guided Pilot (X NGP) driver-assistance system in the city would take only two months before sales could begin. However, he added...

Politics

66 h. ago China’s PLA Daily slams US Golden Dome plan, warns of space arms race

China’s military newspaper has condemned America’s planned “Golden Dome” space-based missile defence system, warning that it may threaten global strategic stability and trigger an arms race in space. “The development of the Golden Dome system and the US Space Force’s rapid expansion have further militarised outer space,” a commentary in the PLA Daily warned on Thursday, adding that such moves could potentially intensify great power rivalry and challenge international arms control norms. The...

Events

66 h. ago Japan conveys strong concern over China jet flying close to SDF plane

Japan conveys strong concern over China jet flying close to SDF plane  Kyodo News+ | Japan's leading news agency.

Politics

3 d. ago Chinese premier says officials must adapt to ‘complex and severe’ situation

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has urged the nation’s officials to improve their ability to anticipate challenges and accurately implement policies amid a turbulent geopolitical environment. “At present, the task to comprehensively promote the Chinese path to modernisation with high-quality development is heavy and difficult, with the external situation remaining complex and severe,” he said on Wednesday, as reported by state-run news agency Xinhua. During this difficult period, officials needed to...

Politics

3 d. ago China’s photonic chip debut to power AI, 6G and quantum computing push

As China joins the international drive to mass produce high-performance photonic chips, an industry pioneer said the technical performance of its chips will position the country for major advances in artificial intelligence (AI), 6G and quantum computing. Shanghai Jiao Tong University Chip Hub for Integrated Photonics Xplore (CHIPX) announced on June 5 that it had begun producing 6-inch (15.2cm) wafers for thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic chips, which rely on light – or photons – rather...

Politics

3 d. ago China’s photonic chip debut to power AI, 6G and quantum computing push: expert

As China joins the international drive to mass produce high-performance photonic chips, an industry pioneer said the technical performance of its chips will position the country for major advances in artificial intelligence (AI), 6G and quantum computing. Shanghai Jiao Tong University Chip Hub for Integrated Photonics Xplore (CHIPX) announced on June 5 that it had begun producing 6-inch (15.2cm) wafers for thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic chips, which rely on light – or photons – rather...

Politics

3 d. ago Huawei founder sheds light on China’s strategy to overcome US curbs

Recent comments from Huawei Technologies founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei regarding US chip restrictions have shed light on China’s strategies to overcome Washington’s sanctions, according to analysts. In a front-page interview published on Tuesday by the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, the 80-year-old Ren expressed confidence that there was no need to worry about China’s access to advanced chips, asserting that the nation could achieve computing capabilities comparable to the...

Politics

3 d. ago Why US defence chief’s attack on China won’t find favour in Southeast Asia

After listening to US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s all-out attack on “communist China” at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, some might have wondered what the Chinese people would make of it. But as a Chinese delegate listening to him live, I was wondering what Hegseth’s boss, US President Donald Trump, would think. In February, Trump called US Vice-President J.D. Vance’s speech in Munich bashing European allies “brilliant”. This time, we haven’t had his thoughts. I wondered, not only...

Events

3 d. ago Japan eyes 80% cut in 298,000 death toll for potential Nankai monster quake

Japan is seeking to reduce by 80 per cent in the next decade its estimated 298,000 death toll from a potential megaquake in the Nankai Trough. Authorities also intend to halve the maximum number of buildings expected to be completely destroyed in such a disaster from the current projection of 2.35 million. The targets align with a 2104 basic blueprint but will also take into account the latest damage estimates released in March, according to the Kyodo news agency. A revised plan for emergency...

Events