57 m. ago China’s smartphone shipments plunge 21.8% in May amid weak consumption

Smartphone shipments in China plunged 21.8 per cent year on year in May to 23.7 million units, the biggest decline this year, according to the latest data from a government-run research institute. Foreign brands, including Apple’s iPhone, saw shipments drop by 9.7 per cent in May from a year earlier, outperforming local brands. Domestic manufacturers, including Huawei Technologies and Xiaomi, saw their shipments fall a combined 24.2 per cent, according to data released on Friday by the China...

Politics

58 m. ago China talent agent Yang Tianzhen, who works with top stars, pursues US degree

She is one of the biggest names in China’s entertainment industry, and spotting talent is her business. But Yang Tianzhen is now putting her own skills to the test by studying for a master’s degree in the United States. The famous mainland talent agent and entrepreneur is studying global communication and public policy at the University of Southern California (USC). Her switch from the bright lights of the entertainment industry to the hallowed halls of academia has captivated mainland social...

Politics

1 hour ago China relaxes visa rules to show off rich history and cyberpunk cool

China relaxes visa rules to show off rich history and cyberpunk cool  The Washington Post

Politics

2 h. ago Did the US really ‘obliterate’ Iran’s nuclear ambitions, or just UN oversight?

Two weeks after the United States launched air strikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear sites, mounting evidence is puncturing President Donald Trump’s boasts that the facilities were “obliterated”. From the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog to leading American non-proliferation experts, scepticism is growing over Washington’s assertions that the strikes set back Tehran’s nuclear weapons ambitions “by years”. Trump “appears to have already lost interest”, according to Barbara Slavin, a...

Events

2 h. ago Solar energy milestone: China taps the ocean in breakthrough for industry

China has launched a fully seawater-based solar energy system – the first of its kind suitable for industrial use and large-scale power production – as part of broader efforts to expand renewables in coastal regions, boost the maritime economy and drive industrial innovation. Located in Qingdao, Shandong province, the floating solar station builds upon another offshore photovoltaic power generation project launched in late May. Together, they form the largest initiative of its kind by Sinopec,...

Politics

2 h. ago China driver accused of sexual harassment for praising passenger for ‘nice smell’

A driver has been suspended from an online ride-hailing platform for 21 days following accusations of verbal sexual harassment by a female passenger, who claimed he commented on her fragrance by saying she “smells good”. The driver, identified only by his surname Zhao, from Hangzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, was blocked from the platform after an incident on June 8, as reported by Zhejiang TV. During the ride, Zhao asked the woman three times if she was wearing perfume. When she...

Events

3 h. ago Mozambique seeks US$1.4 billion debt relief from China after unrest hits economy

Mozambique seeks US$1.4 billion debt relief from China after unrest hits economy  South China Morning Post

Economics

3 h. ago China’s Wang Yi urges new international deal on Iran after US, Israeli attacks

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi has called for a “new international agreement” on Iran while accusing the United States and Israel of destabilising the Middle East through military actions on Iranian nuclear facilities. Speaking at a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris on Friday, Wang also voiced deep concerns about escalating tensions in the region and warned of the looming spectre of a “nuclear disaster”. His remarks came as Beijing, a key ally of an...

Politics

3 h. ago ‘Risk is very real’: Malaysia’s Anwar gambles on petrol subsidy cuts

Expertly switching between woks as he whips up appam, the coconut and rice batter pancakes that draw morning commuters to his roadside stall in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, Raj Kumar harbours anxieties that simmer away beneath the calm: petrol subsidy cuts are looming and prices may soon rise again. At 44, Raj feels every shift in Malaysia’s rising cost of living – both in the prices he pays for ingredients and the rueful faces of his customers. “Our suppliers raised prices after diesel subsidies were...

Events

4 h. ago Trump to start TikTok sale talks with China, he says, with deal ‘pretty much’ reached

Trump to start TikTok sale talks with China, he says, with deal ‘pretty much’ reached  The Guardian

Politics

4 h. ago Why are more Hong Kong pupils opting for IB programme over DSE?

The number of students taking the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in Hong Kong has increased by nearly 20 per cent over the past five years, with more students and parents preferring its flexibility to the city’s traditional, exam-oriented university entrance system. More than 2,600 students taking the IB exam will learn their results on Sunday, while those of nearly 55,800 Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) candidates will be out the week after on July 16. According to figures...

Politics

4 h. ago Chinese man caught in wig disguise trying to take exam for woman escapes

A bizarre case of academic fraud has sent shock waves through the Chinese online community, as an impostor was caught red-handed cross-dressing as a woman – complete with a wig and face mask – in an attempt to take an exam on behalf of another student. The scandal came to light on June 24 when a Chinese netizen revealed that a male student from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in Wuhan, Hubei province, had attempted to impersonate a woman to take an exam at a public venue. According to...

Events

4 h. ago Mozambique Weighs Asking China to Rework Debt, President Says

Mozambique Weighs Asking China to Rework Debt, President Says  Bloomberg

Politics

5 h. ago China, France agree to promote multilateralism, bring more certainty to the world

China, France agree to promote multilateralism, bring more certainty to the world  news.cgtn.com

Politics

5 h. ago China ready to coordinate peace efforts on Ukraine with France – Foreign Minister

China ready to coordinate peace efforts on Ukraine with France – Foreign Minister  Ukrinform

Politics

5 h. ago China says quiet part out loud: Beijing tells EU it can't afford Russia losing war against Ukraine; wants

China says quiet part out loud: Beijing tells EU it can't afford Russia losing war against Ukraine; wants  Times of India

Events

5 h. ago Warship Shandong wows Hong Kong tour groups with fighter jets, military displays

The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong has left many Hong Kong residents and visitors impressed with its contingent of fighter jets and overall military prowess, while tourism sector veterans have said they are looking at how to capitalise on “future warship visits”. China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier and other vessels in its strike group began accepting tours on Saturday morning while the ships were calling at the city. The tours offer the public the chance to explore designated...

Events

5 h. ago How Chinese scientists cracked the secret of organ regeneration

Chinese scientists who successfully restored damaged outer ears in mice said their findings proved the existence of a genetic switch for organ regeneration, which meant it might also be present in other organs. While the scientific journey to achieving organ regeneration in humans remains long and challenging, the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science, has offered the researchers hope. Last week, co-corresponding authors Wang Wei and Deng Ziqing published their findings that a...

Politics

6 h. ago Brazil blasts the West ahead of Brics summit, while China avoids talk of tariffs

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and New Development Bank (NDB) president Dilma Rousseff accused the US, its allies and the Western-dominated financial order on Friday of weaponising tariffs and sanctions. They also used the opening of the Brics bank’s annual meeting to call for new models of development and cooperation across the Global South. Speaking before finance ministers and governors from Brics nations and new members in Rio de Janeiro, Lula said the NDB was proof that...

Politics

6 h. ago Trump never saw a Wind Farm in China, but Beijing has half of all Installed Wind Capacity and will Eat America's Lunch in this Industry

Trump never saw a Wind Farm in China, but Beijing has half of all Installed Wind Capacity and will Eat America's Lunch in this Industry  Informed Comment

Politics