47 m. ago China’s ethnic affairs chief to take Communist Party helm in Xinjiang

A senior Chinese official with a background in water resources and ethnic affairs has been named as the new Communist Party boss of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. In a one-paragraph announcement on Tuesday, state news agency Xinhua said the party’s Central Committee “recently decided” that Chen Xiaojiang would serve as party secretary of Xinjiang. The move might clear the path for Chen, one of the 300 or so members of the Central Committee, to be promoted within the party’s hierarchy, given...

Society

1 hour ago China offers tax refund to French cognac makers amid EU brandy probe: source

Beijing has extended an olive branch to French cognac producers by promising a “significant” tax refund if they cooperate with its anti-dumping investigation into European Union brandy sold in China, according to an industry source with knowledge of the matter. Major brands Hennessy, Martell and Rémy Martin have been offered the terms, said the person, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue. To qualify, producers must agree to Beijing’s demands, commit to a minimum selling...

Economics

2 h. ago Last gasp: Securing Europe’s wind industry from dependence on China

Last gasp: Securing Europe’s wind industry from dependence on China  European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)

Politics

2 h. ago Hong Kong train driver’s antics have passengers laughing as MTR clips go viral

A video clip in which a Hong Kong train driver can be heard imitating a recorded passenger announcement in an MTR carriage has gone viral online, along with two others involving the rail giant’s staff, with internet users applauding the workers’ creative and personal approaches. In one video, the East Rail line driver can be heard mimicking the standard announcement telling passengers to “please step back from the train doors” and then adding, “Du du du du du du duuu”, the warning sound that...

Politics

2 h. ago Malaysia faces judicial void as chief justice set to retire without successor

Malaysia’s judiciary faces a leadership vacuum as Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat prepares to step down on Wednesday without a successor named – a gap lawyers warn could undermine judicial independence and public trust. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration has opted not to extend the tenure of Tengku Maimun or Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, the president of the Court of Appeal, both of whom reach the mandatory retirement age of 66 this week. The constitution allows for a six-month...

Politics

3 h. ago China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chief

China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chief  Reuters

Society

5 h. ago Annexing Germany, China, UK, Japan, South Korea, US, and Canada with Explosive Travel Technology Innovations Topping and Gyrating with Bomb

Annexing Germany, China, UK, Japan, South Korea, US, and Canada with Explosive Travel Technology Innovations Topping and Gyrating with Bomb-Sized High-Tech Breakthroughs in 2025  Travel And Tour World

Events

5 h. ago On anniversary of Hong Kong handover, John Lee vows to be a ‘reformer’

Hong Kong’s leader has vowed to be a “reformer” that rises to challenges rather than becoming a “complacent idler” in the face of the economic restructuring and geopolitical tensions, as he enters his fourth year in office. In a speech to mark the 28th anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also laid down three priorities in his governance: boosting development backed by security; expediting the Northern Metropolis megaproject near the...

Politics

8 h. ago Japan races against time to avoid US car tariffs as deadline looms

Japan’s top negotiator has made a last-ditch trip to Washington in hopes of heading off a steep US tariff on Japanese cars – but with just over a week to go, and President Donald Trump doubling down in recent comments, analysts say neither side appears willing to compromise. Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief trade envoy on the issue, flew into the US capital on Thursday and spoke twice to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick by phone over the weekend. But he failed to secure a meeting with Treasury...

Economics

9 h. ago In Trump’s game, the US and China win and Europe pays the bill

In Trump’s game, the US and China win and Europe pays the bill  Asia Times

Politics

9 h. ago ‘I’d rather be an arduous reformer than complacent idler’: Hong Kong’s John Lee

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events start with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will...

Politics

9 h. ago Hongkongers, visitors enjoy discounts, freebies as city marks July 1 anniversary

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu...

Politics

9 h. ago Hongkongers, visitors enjoy discounts, freebies as city marks July 1 anniversary – as it happened

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong marked the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu...

Politics

17 h. ago By toy or tea, some China retailers still see US as path to profit

On a recent Sunday afternoon in lower Manhattan, a small shop inside the Oculus, a soaring curvilinear mall at the World Trade Center, stands out for the bustling crowd thronging its space. “We’re out of stock,” more than one employee can be heard telling customers. This is not one of New York’s many top-brand boutiques but Pop Mart, a Chinese designer toy brand that has become a sensation in the United States. Its signature “blind box”, containing collectable figurines revealed only when the...

Politics

18 h. ago China claims Canada’s order for Hikvision closure ‘damages’ trade relations

China claims Canada’s order for Hikvision closure ‘damages’ trade relations  Al Jazeera

Events

19 h. ago Hong Kong in ‘critical stage of opening new chapter’, Beijing liaison chief says

Beijing’s new liaison office chief has said Hong Kong is in a “critical stage of opening a new chapter” and should further embrace reforms to broaden its economy in a speech delivered on the eve of the city’s 28th handover anniversary. Zhou Ji also said on Monday evening Hong Kong should “achieve breakthroughs and tackle core issues” to improve development while maintaining a robust “bottom line” of safety to pave the way for further growth. “Hong Kong is in a critical stage of opening a new...

Politics

20 h. ago ‘Risky choice’: why Canada’s tough stance towards US and China may backfire

The Canadian government appears to be caught between “a rock and a hard place” after trying to introduce tough measures targeting both American and Chinese companies last week, analysts said. Ottawa raised eyebrows by ordering a high-profile Chinese company to cease operations in the country due to national security concerns on Friday – the same day that US President Donald Trump announced he was breaking off trade negotiations with Canada over its proposed digital services tax. But Canada has...

Events

21 h. ago Why China sees US trade deals with partners as a threat – and how it could react

Beijing has renewed its warning to other countries not to strike deals with the United States on terms that come at China’s expense – ahead of Washington’s looming deadline to conclude tariff negotiations with most of its trade partners. Chinese officials are concerned that nations from Europe to Southeast Asia may enter into trade agreements with the US that divert supply chains, reduce bilateral trade with China or compel governments to exit Beijing-led projects, analysts said on Monday. “The...

Events

23 h. ago China urges Canada to ’correct wrongdoing’ over Hikvision shutdown By Reuters

China urges Canada to ’correct wrongdoing’ over Hikvision shutdown By Reuters  Investing.com

Events

23 h. ago China urges Canada to 'correct wrongdoing' over Hikvision shutdown

China urges Canada to 'correct wrongdoing' over Hikvision shutdown  Reuters

Events