China

Billionaire Jack Ma's Ant Group Co. sold its entire stake in the tech outlet 36Kr Holdings Inc., the latest asset disposal in its bid to comply with demands ...

The fintech giant’s exit from the tech news service was disclosed in a U.S. regulatory filing on Friday. In early March, China’s banking regulator said Ant has yet to complete rectification efforts sought by authorities.

The prospect of China offering Russia financial help is one of several concerns for US President Joe Biden.

During Mr Putin’s visit, the two leaders issued a 5,000-word statement declaring limitless “friendship”. “Moscow has received a positive response from Beijing,” said one official, describing a diplomatic cable sent to US embassies asking for them to inform their host governments of the information. We should promote diplomatic settlements instead of further escalating the situation.” Ukraine, while overmatched by Russian forces, is well-equipped with anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. A US official said that in recent days, Russia has requested support from China, including military equipment, to press forward in its ongoing war with Ukraine. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, did not provide details on the scope of the request. Meanwhile, two administration officials said the US had determined that China had signalled to Russia that it would be willing to provide both military support for the campaign in Ukraine and financial backing to help stave off the impact of severe sanctions imposed by the West. The officials said that assessment had been relayed to Western and Asian allies and partners earlier on Monday.

Chinese stocks in Hong Kong fell the most since the global financial crisis, as the country's worst nationwide outbreak of Covid-19 since the pandemic began ...

Beijing 'not a party to the crisis,' foreign minister says · U.S. has repeatedly warned China against helping Russia.

Nearly 90% of new infections in northeast province of Jilin, while tens of millions of people across China remain confined to their homes.

There were no new deaths, leaving the death toll unchanged at 4,636. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, stood at 1,768 compared with 906 a day earlier. A total of 3,507 domestically transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms were reported on Monday across more than a dozen provinces and municipalities, the National Health Commission said, up from 1,337 a day earlier.

Jake Sullivan's Rome meeting with Chinese counterpart left US officials pessimistic about steering Beijing away from backing Moscow.

“It really is a project of Xi Jinping. He is totally, fundamentally behind this closer partnership with Russia,” the US official said. The country is danger of default on its debt payments, with two interest payments due on Wednesday, though it will have a 30-day grace period. “This meeting was not about negotiating specific issues or outcomes, but about a candid, direct exchange of views.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi insisted Monday his country is “not a party” to Russia's war with Ukraine, after U.S. officials claimed Moscow had ...

Diplomats said national EU foreign ministers are “bound” to discuss it during a Council meeting next week. “Diplomats are planning to discuss it on the EU level,” a senior diplomat said. “All parties should exercise maximum restraint and protect civilians,” Yang added, according to the readout. “Some forces have kept smearing China on the Ukraine issue … and fabricated all sorts of disinformation.” “Ukraine has to be the main subject in the April 1 EU-China summit.” TheXinhua report onWang’s call withAlbares said the Chinese foreign minister stressed Beijing’s efforts to facilitate a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine.“Since Day One of the Ukraine crisis, China has been using its own ways to call for peace and facilitate talks,” Wang said.

Octopus Books, part of literary empire Hachette, and London-listed Quarto have removed references to Taiwan and other subjects banned by Chinese authorities ...

Moscow requested equipment including surface-to-air missiles, according to diplomatic cables.

Russia has denied asking China for military assistance after US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Vladimir Putin had turned to Xi Jinping.

“China could also provide diplomatic cover for Russia, especially at the UN. However, this position will become more difficult as Russian tactics become more brutal. However, this would represent an escalation and be a direct intervention from China which the US would likely respond to. “Overtly siding with pariah number one in the world does not look like a very good calculation…

Both the Kremlin and the Chinese Communist Party denied that such a request was made, with the Chinese foreign ministry calling it “disinformation”. If Chinese ...

The pair also issued a joint statement against Nato. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. China and Russia are closer now than they have been for decades, with Beijing very much “the clear senior partner in the relationship now”, according to former top CIA China analyst Chris Johnson. Although China is not actively supporting Russia in its war efforts, Beijing is toeing a fine line between maintaining its close alliance with Russia and trying not to worsen its relationship with the west. “We will not allow that to go forward and allow there to be a lifeline to Russia from these economic sanctions from any country, anywhere in the world,” he added. The Kremlin continues to claim the war is “going to plan” and that Russia can achieve its aims without outside support.

The West has constantly downgraded China's dangerous nature and it's Ukrainians who will suffer. FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, ...

From plastic cups to telephones, computers, and energy we have put ourselves in the position of feeding the ambitions of these totalitarian states. It is clear they are guilty of committing genocide against the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, persecuting Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities, while also placing Tibetans into slave labour. And now we discover Russia has approached China for military aid. As it turns out nothing could be further from the truth. They ignore the fact that China and Russia just before the Olympic Games openly struck up an even a deeper alliance than had previously existed. Now we know that this relationship is not just a mutual friendship pact.

Ukraine hails Turkish drones, America's tech hubs, ugly NFT art.

European stocks dropped on Tuesday, following another day of sharp declines for Chinese equities, as investors weighed the potential economic implications ...

China will face consequences if it helps Russia evade sanctions in its invasion of Ukraine, the US says. Unnamed US officials told multiple news outlets ...

You can also get in touch in the following ways: But Beijing at the same time has expressed "unwavering support" for Ukraine's sovereignty. The White House has decided to make public its claim just as President Biden's top security adviser is due to meet China's most senior diplomat. "Mr Sullivan raised a range of issues in US-China relations, with substantial discussion of Russia's war against Ukraine," a readout of the meeting said. "Russia possesses its own independent potential to continue the operation. Asked if he could clarify whether China had received a request for military help from Russia, Mr Zhao said this was "fake news" but did not deny it directly.

China had denounced reports that Moscow asked for military equipment as 'malicious disinformation'

Xi last week called for “maximum restraint” in Ukraine after a virtual meeting with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and French president, Emmanuel Macron, and said he was “pained to see the flames of war reignited in Europe.” Hass, now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said he did not expect to see any immediate breakthroughs at the Rome meeting. “The high priority now is to prevent the tense situation from escalating or even getting out of control.” And we have communicated to Beijing that we will not stand by and allow any country to compensate Russia for its losses from the economic sanctions.” Sullivan was also to argue that if China supplies weapons to Moscow it would be a further, historic mistake, and a turning point in global politics. China reacted angrily to the reports in multiple media outlets citing US officials.

Jilin residents ordered to stay at home and reservists sent to disinfect streets as 1437 new cases reported across China.

As of last week Hong Kong had the highest death rate in the developed world, inflaming criticism of the government for failing to adequately prepare for a large-scale outbreak during two years of being largely Covid-free. In Hong Kong the variant has overwhelmed the city and its government’s insistence on sticking to a strategy of elimination over mitigation. “The emergency response mechanism in some areas is not sound enough,” Zhang said at a news conference. China is among a few governments around the world still committed to the zero-tolerance approach. On Monday afternoon Foxconn, which produces iPhones for Apple, announced it was among businesses suspending operations in Shenzhen. Its larger production site in Zhengzhou remains open, and the company said it would reopen when advised by the local government. On Sunday a government notice said all residential communities in Shenzhen, a city of 17.5 million people, were being placed under “closed management,” meaning they would be locked down.

British manufacturers face a new supply chain crisis after China locked down the vital city of Shenzhen, hitting iPhone production and driving Chinese ...

The 8pc plunge in a gauge of Chinese tech firms reverberated around the region, leaving an Asia-Pacific equity index in the red for a second session. A new men's formal jacket/blazer item is being introduced to ensure men's formal/business wear is still represented in the basket. That is why we want to increase our interest in Oyu Tolgoi, simplify the ownership structure, and further strengthen Rio Tinto’s copper portfolio. IN Sports bra/crop top – The pandemic has helped to increase our awareness of fitness, with many people working out at home during lockdown periods. The all-cash offer price is $26.60 per share, a 32pc premium to Friday’s close. The NRDC said it would bring daily output to an average of 12.6m tons, which would be a record-breaking pace. Due to the nature of banking and financial services operations, this decision will take time to execute. Morningstar expects that fallout will be more limited than the 1998 default as foreign holdings of Russian debt are not as significant. Once we have that we will take the discount offer,” one of the Indian government officials said. Annington Homes, which is owned by Mr Hands, has kickstarted legal action in two courts after talks with the Ministry of Defence broke down. Mr Putin has warned that sanctions on Russia risked causing fertiliser prices to climb amid record high food prices around the world. The Hang Seng Tech Index of Chinese technology stocks plunged 11pc, its biggest fall since launching in July 2020.

Beijing rejects the US assertions as 'disinformation', as senior US and Chinese officials set to meet in Rome.

Chinese officials have said Washington should not be able to complain about Russia’s actions because the US invaded Iraq under false pretences. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said in recent days, Russia had requested support from China – including military equipment – to press forward in its ongoing war with Ukraine. The official did not provide details on the scope of the request. But questions remain over how far Beijing will go to alienate the West and put its own economy at risk. “In terms of economics, nothing has changed,” he said. The Kremlin also denied it has sought Chinese military help. So it would be hypocritical if they were to start helping Russia,” Tangen said.

Shenzhen — a Chinese city nicknamed “the world's factory” — is entering a lockdown of at least a week after daily Covid-19 cases nationally doubled to ...

That’s before we even consider the possibility of a new variant emerging. Are we underestimating the risks? All non-essential businesses are being shut as Beijing battles to control the worst wave of infections since early 2020.