French leader Emmanuel Macron has urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to help stop Russia’s war in Ukraine. “I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses, and bring everyone back to the negotiating table,” he…
China Box Office: Makoto Shinkai’s anime hit Suzume soars with $50m opening
Japanese anime maestro Makoto Shinkai’s latest feature Suzume shot to the top of China’s theatrical box office over the weekend, earning a strong $50 million, the biggest start for a non-Chinese film this year. The performance underscores the growing potency…
China announces detention of Japanese national on suspicion of espionage activities
China has said it was detaining a Japanese national on suspicion of espionage, after Tokyo urged Beijing to release one of its citizens. “Relevant Chinese authorities took criminal coercive measures this month against a Japanese citizen, in accordance with the…
Jack Ma: Alibaba founder seen in China after long absence
Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who has rarely been seen in public in the past three years, has resurfaced at a school in Hangzhou, a report says. The 58-year-old has kept a low profile since criticising China’s financial regulators in 2020.…
US Envoy visits 3 US citizens jailed in China, official says
Chinese American citizen Kai Li, jailed in China on spying charges that he denies, received a rare in-person visit last week from the U.S. ambassador to Beijing and urged the U.S. government to continue to work for his release, Li’s…
Sri Lanka to get first tranche of $2.9b bailout in two days: IMF
Sri Lanka will get the first $330m tranche of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package in the next two days, says the global lender, putting the onus on the cash-strapped country to rein in its debt to sustainable levels.…
TikTok’s US future at stake as boss faces Congress showdown
On Thursday, TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, will be opening a lion’s mouth and placing his own head into it. He’s giving testimony in the US Congress for the first time, a scary thing to do. And at stake is…
Putin to Xi: We will discuss your plan to end the war in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has said he will discuss Xi Jinping’s 12-point plan to “settle the acute crisis in Ukraine”, during a highly anticipated visit to Moscow by the Chinese president. “We’re always open for a negotiation process,” Mr Putin said, as…
Doctor who exposed China’s cover-up of Sars crisis dies aged 91
A military surgeon who exposed the Chinese government’s cover-up of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) epidemic 20 years ago and lived for years under intermittent house arrest has died in Beijing. He was 91. Dr Jiang Yanyong died of…