47 m. ago China toy platform refund policy requires parents slap child for unapproved spending

A major Chinese second-hand platform has sparked online controversy after allegedly requiring a mother to submit an uninterrupted five-minute video of herself slapping her child as a condition for processing a refund. The case drew public attention when Li Yun, the mother of an unidentified 11-year-old girl, tried to get a refund after discovering that her daughter had secretly spent over 500 yuan (US$70) on trading cards on the Qiandao app. Qiandao is widely regarded as China’s leading platform...

Society

3 h. ago China’s double threat, a hidden card in the trade war: 7 science highlights

We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Potassium railway’: China’s hidden card in the trade war For over a decade, China has invested heavily to build a dual-purpose passenger and freight railway through the thick rainforest between Kunming and Vientiane, the capital of Laos. This railway has become a critical conduit for China to secure potassium...

Events

8 h. ago China's vice president calls for 'partnership' with US ahead of possible Xi

China's vice president calls for 'partnership' with US ahead of possible Xi-Trump meeting  TRT World

Politics

22 h. ago Can J.D. Vance’s visit to Israel cement Gaza’s fragile ceasefire?

US Vice-President J.D. Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday to shore up the fragile US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza that has teetered over the past few days following a burst of deadly violence and questions over how to move forward with the plan for cementing a long-term peace. Also on Tuesday, Israel said it has identified the body of a hostage that was released by Palestinian militants overnight, while the chief Hamas negotiator said the group remains determined to implement the ceasefire...

Politics

34 h. ago ‘Reason to be together’: India, Brazil boost ties amid US tariff tensions

India and Brazil are doubling down on economic and climate cooperation in a bid to strengthen Brics and bolster the Global South’s negotiating power as both nations face rising trade tensions with the United States. Analysts say the push – announced during Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin’s visit to New Delhi last week – is not just about shielding their economies from punitive US tariffs, but also about asserting influence on multilateral issues ranging from energy security to global...

Events

3 d. ago Gangs in China exploiting US gift cards to move stolen cash, DHS says

Gift cards, one of the most basic financial products in the US retail market, have become the backbone of a billion-dollar criminal economy that investigators say is moving American money into China. Homeland Security Investigations agents say Chinese organised-crime groups have built a laundering network that uses US retailers, mobile wallets and cryptocurrency to steal and export wealth. Operatives inside the US drain compromised gift cards, buy high-value goods such as iPhones and laptops,...

Events

3 d. ago China Gangs Exploit US Gift Cards to Move Stolen Cash, DHS Says

China Gangs Exploit US Gift Cards to Move Stolen Cash, DHS Says  Bloomberg.com

Events

4 d. ago Alibaba confident AI tools will drive sales and empower Singles’ Day shoppers

Alibaba Group Holding is making tangible progress in applying artificial intelligence models into the search and recommendation engines of its e-commerce ecosystem, according to a senior executive, as the company kicked off its annual Singles’ Day promotion this week. At the campaign’s launch in Shanghai on Thursday, Alibaba vice-president Zhang Kaifu, who also serves as head of applications for the company’s e-commerce businesses, said the firm’s use of Qwen’s large language models (LLMs) had...

Economics

6 d. ago Why a police DNA collection drive in China has sparked privacy worries

A controversial plan by police in a northern Chinese city to build a crime-fighting tool using blood samples from men has sparked a debate over privacy rights. Police in Xilinhot in Inner Mongolia announced last month that they would start collecting DNA samples to update a data bank for identification information used for such items as ID cards and passports, according to a report by China Newsweek magazine. The police also said at the time that the samples would help in “preventing elderly and...

Events

6 d. ago China Played Its Strongest Card to Get Trump’s Attention. Will it Work?

China Played Its Strongest Card to Get Trump’s Attention. Will it Work?  The New York Times

Politics

7 d. ago Hong Kong Disneyland seeks new head after Michael Moriarty assumes global role

The head of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will assume a new global position as chief financial officer for the company’s experiences division, with a search now under way for his successor. Michael Moriarty has been appointed executive vice-president and chief financial officer for Disney Experiences, according to the company’s announcement on Tuesday. “We are thrilled that Michael Moriarty will become Disney Experiences’ next CFO and look forward to his continued leadership in this global role,”...

Politics

8 d. ago Dow futures soar 400 points after Trump, Vance calm markets over China trade war fears

Dow futures soar 400 points after Trump, Vance calm markets over China trade war fears  New York Post

Politics

8 d. ago Dow soars nearly 600 points after Trump, Vance calm markets over China trade war fears

Dow soars nearly 600 points after Trump, Vance calm markets over China trade war fears  New York Post

Politics

9 d. ago Vance warns of ‘painful’ and ‘deeper’ cuts as US shutdown continues

US Vice-President J.D. Vance on Sunday said there will be deeper cuts to the federal workforce the longer the government shutdown goes on, adding to the uncertainty facing hundreds of thousands who are already furloughed without pay amid the stubborn stalemate in Congress. Vance warned that as the federal shutdown entered its 12th day, the new cuts would be “painful”, even as he said the Trump administration worked to ensure the military is paid this week and some services would be preserved for...

Events

9 d. ago US has 'far more cards than' China, says Vice President Vance amid trade tensions

US has 'far more cards than' China, says Vice President Vance amid trade tensions  Anadolu Ajansı

Politics

9 d. ago US Vice President JD Vance says US holds more cards in escalating China trade spat

US Vice President JD Vance says US holds more cards in escalating China trade spat  The Economic Times

Politics

9 d. ago Vance Says US Holds More Cards in Escalating China Trade Spat

Vance Says US Holds More Cards in Escalating China Trade Spat  Bloomberg.com

Politics

9 d. ago Vice President to Attend Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing

Vice President to Attend Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing  БТА

Politics

1 week ago As China Opens The World's Tallest Bridge, Grant Cardone Asks, 'When's The Last Time America Built Anything Like This?'

As China Opens The World's Tallest Bridge, Grant Cardone Asks, 'When's The Last Time America Built Anything Like This?'  Yahoo Finance

Politics

2 w. ago How Philippine military chief foiled ‘soft coup’ bid to undermine Marcos

Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner Jnr has revealed he recently rebuffed a group of eight retired generals and colonels who urged him to tackle rampant corruption in the country, a call sources have described as a push for a “soft coup” to withdraw support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and back Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio. General Brawner, who spoke to This Week in Asia after a briefing with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) on Friday, said the...

Events