20 h. ago Restaurant in China criticized for offering tea and lion cub hugs

Restaurant in China criticized for offering tea and lion cub hugs  NBC News

Politics

21 h. ago Restaurant in China offers lion cub cuddles alongside afternoon tea

Restaurant in China offers lion cub cuddles alongside afternoon tea  CNN

Politics

57 h. ago China Mama earns spot on Las Vegas' top 100 restaurants list

China Mama earns spot on Las Vegas' top 100 restaurants list  KSNV

Society

8 d. ago China told its officials to tighten their belts. Did they go a notch too far?

This is the first story in a three-part series exploring the domestic economic challenges China faces as it navigates an unprecedented trade war with the United States. In this piece, we explore Beijing’s drive to rein in wasteful government spending – and its unintended consequences. Wang, a civil servant from a small town in northeastern China, is too scared to go to restaurants these days. He even skipped his niece’s wedding due to his fear of being seen at a banquet. An avid foodie, the...

Politics

8 d. ago China tried to cut lavish spending. Now some officials fear ordering coffee

This is the first story in a three-part series exploring the domestic economic challenges China faces as it navigates an unprecedented trade war with the United States. In this piece, we explore Beijing’s drive to rein in wasteful government spending – and its unintended consequences. Wang, a civil servant from a small town in northeastern China, is too scared to go to restaurants these days. He even skipped his niece’s wedding due to his fear of being seen at a banquet. An avid foodie, the...

Politics

9 d. ago Brics leaders silent about Trump’s threat of more US tariffs on member nations

The leaders of Brics nations remained silent on Monday in the face of US President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat against the bloc, offering no public response to what critics called an alarming act of economic intimidation. Trump said on Sunday that he would impose an additional 10 per cent tariffs on imports from Brics members and aligned countries that pursue what he called the group’s “anti-American policies” after Brics issued a leaders’ declaration condemning tariffs, unilateralism...

Politics

9 d. ago Brazil’s Lula rebukes Trump on tariff threat as Brics bloc remains silent

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva rebuked US President Donald Trump for his latest tariff threat against Brics nations on Monday, while the bloc as a whole offered no public response to what critics called an alarming act of economic intimidation. “I don’t think it’s very responsible and serious for a president of a country the size of the US to threaten the world over the internet – it’s not right,” Lula said during a news conference at the conclusion of the Brics leaders’ summit...

Politics

9 d. ago ‘We don’t want an emperor’: Brazil’s Lula speaks up as Brics silent on tariffs

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva rebuked US President Donald Trump for his latest tariff threat against Brics nations on Monday, while the bloc as a whole offered no public response to what critics called an alarming act of economic intimidation. “I don’t think it’s very responsible and serious for a president of a country the size of the US to threaten the world over the internet – it’s not right,” Lula said during a news conference at the conclusion of the Brics leaders’ summit...

Politics

1 week ago KFC, Pizza Hut operator Yum China adopts AI to spur efficiency, profitability

Yum China Holdings, the operator of KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in mainland China, will further embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to improve operating efficiency and profitability and allow its store managers to focus on customer service. The firm, which introduced its Q-Smart AI-powered assistant in June, was expected to help reduce waste, improve quality and save labour costs, chief technology officer (CTO) Leila Zhang said in an interview. The AI-powered system could help with staff...

Politics

1 week ago China nears Airbus deal, famous Hong Kong restaurant chain closes: 7 highlights

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Most Chinese exporters to stay in Vietnam after US tariff deal, analysts say Chinese manufacturers in Vietnam breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday, after Washington and Hanoi agreed a “better than expected” trade deal that will...

Society

1 week ago Indonesia banks on critical minerals to avert US tariffs – will it work?

Indonesia is banking on its rich reserves of critical minerals to persuade the United States to pull back steep looming tariffs – an offer that could appeal to American strategic interests even as concerns remain about regulatory risks and China’s entrenched role in the country’s mineral supply chains. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has described Indonesia’s critical minerals proposal as its “second-best offer” to avert a looming 32 per cent tariff under President...

Economics

3 w. ago Could Starbucks be considering a partial sale of its China business?

Could Starbucks be considering a partial sale of its China business?  Nation’s Restaurant News

Economics

3 w. ago Sara Duterte warns against Marcos’ US pivot, ‘leaning’ on a foreign power

The Philippines’ Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio has called on the country to steer away from its “unbalanced” foreign policy in an implicit criticism of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, as she offered her clearest indication yet of where she stands on China. In a speech delivered to a group of Filipinos at the Parliament Gardens in Melbourne on Sunday, Duterte-Carpio warned against leaning on “a foreign power” and allowing its weapons systems to be deployed in the Philippines, calling such...

Events

3 w. ago Philippines’ Sara Duterte takes aim at US ties, attacks missile deployment

The Philippines’ Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio has called on the country to steer away from its “unbalanced” foreign policy in an implicit criticism of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, as she offered her clearest indication yet of where she stands on China. In a speech delivered to a group of Filipinos at the Parliament Gardens in Melbourne on Sunday, Duterte-Carpio warned against leaning on “a foreign power” and allowing its weapons systems to be deployed in the Philippines, calling such...

Events

3 w. ago Pakistan gets caught in Israel vs Iran disinformation crossfire

Pakistan, still on high alert after last month’s brief aerial clash with India, now finds itself swept into the digital maelstrom of disinformation accompanying the escalating hostilities between neighbouring Iran and Israel. Determined to distance itself from the turmoil unfolding just across its southwestern frontier, Islamabad has offered moral support to Tehran by publicly criticising Israel, while simultaneously backing diplomatic efforts to revive a nuclear deal between Iran and the United...

Events