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The cultural shift has spawned a booming business in divorce photography not only for Tan, but also for other photographers hoping to profit. Photos shared on Chinese social media Xiaohongshu show some couples signing their divorce papers, while others pose with their divorce certificate. Happy divorce,” one user wrote alongside a photo of her marriage and divorce certificates side by side. “It is not shameful to be brave enough to divorce,” Tan said. Faces on old wedding photos are spray-painted, to ensure privacy is respected, before being tossed into a crusher along with other tokens of memories.

Persons: Tan, ” Tan, “, Peng Xiujian, ‘, Peng, it’s, Liu Wei, Liu, Justin Robertson, ” Liu, he’s, Gary Ng, “ I’ll, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s National Bureau of Statistics, Companies, Victoria University, CNN Locations: Beijing, Hong Kong, Henan, China, Australia

CNN has attempted to reach BAC through the website that Gold Apollo gave to reporters. Later, the company told Gold Apollo it wished to make its own pagers and asked for the right to use its brand, he added. Taipei has no record of Gold Apollo pagers being shipped to Lebanon, the ministry said in a statement, adding it will continue to investigate. The logo of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo is seen outside its office in New Taipei City on September 18. Hsu founded Gold Apollo with 100 million New Taiwan dollars ($3.1 million) in capital in 1995, according to Taiwan’s corporate registry.

Persons: Hsu Ching, kuang, ” Hsu, “ I’ve, Apollo’s pagers, Hsu, Johnson Lai, Gold Apollo, Gold, ”, Yan Zhao, Hassan Nasrallah, pagers Organizations: New, Hong Kong CNN, New York Times, CNN, Consulting, BAC, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Getty, Taiwan’s Commonwealth Magazine, FBI Locations: New Taipei City, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Israel, Taiwan, Europe, Budapest, United States, Australia, Taipei, AFP, Iran

☆ China and Russia are ramping up joint military drills. What’s their end goal?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

China sent several warships and 15 aircraft to waters off Russia’s Far East coast for Ocean-2024, according to the Russian military. The latest Russia-China military drills fit a pattern of more than a decade of enhanced military coordination between the two countries, experts say. The joint drills also raise questions about whether the two nuclear-armed powers, which are not treaty allies, could act together in any potential future conflict. Russian military sailors attend the opening ceremony for a joint naval exercise in the South China Sea in July. But observers say that despite the growing coordination within joint drills, it’s unlikely there is a clear end goal past sending a strong signal – at least for now.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergei Bobylev, Xi, ’, “ They’re, ”, Alexander Korolev, Washington’s, Carl Schuster, Korolev, it’s “, Elizabeth Wishnick, “, Russia –, James Char, Schuster Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Kremlin, Canadian, Putin, NATO, Sputnik, Reuters, Soviet, Center for Strategic, International Studies, CNN, Russian, CSIS, University of New, US Navy, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Russian Defense Ministry, Beijing, South China, Pacific Security Affairs Division, CNA, India, Nanyang Technological University’s Institute of Defense, Strategic Studies, China, Navy Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, East, Ocean, Russian, Japan, Alaska –, South China, Beijing, Washington, Taiwan, Soviet Union, Communist China, Alaska, Pacific, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Asia, Germany, Philippines, South, Iran, lockstep, Nanyang, Singapore

☆ Typhoon Bebinca: Shanghai slammed by what China says is the city’s strongest storm in seven decades
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-15 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) said it packed top wind speeds of 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph), the equivalent of a Category 1 Atlantic hurricane. The administration on Monday issued a red typhoon warning, its most severe alert, warning of gale force winds, heavy rainfall and coastal floods in large swathes of eastern China. The typhoon is expected to quickly weaken into a tropical storm as it moves inland toward the west. Bebinca is the second major storm to hit China this month, following deadly Super Typhoon Yagi, the world’s second most powerful tropical cyclone so far this year. Shanghai is generally not in the direct path of strong typhoons, which typically make landfall further south in China.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Bebinca, Yagi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — Shanghai, Typhoon Warning, China Meteorological Administration, Shanghai, Shanghai Disney Resort, Disney, CCTV Locations: Hong Kong, China, Shanghai, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Bebinca, Hainan, Southeast Asia

☆ Shanghai slammed by Typhoon Bebinca, strongest storm to hit in seven decades
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-15 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong CNN —Shanghai was brought to a standstill on Monday morning by what authorities say was the strongest typhoon to directly hit the Chinese financial hub in more than seven decades, with flights, trains and highways suspended during a national holiday. Typhoon Bebinca made landfall in an industrial suburb southeast of the metropolis of 25 million people around 7:30 a.m. local time. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) said it packed top wind speeds of 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph), the equivalent of a Category 1 Atlantic hurricane. The storm is the strongest to make landfall in Shanghai since 1949, according to Chinese state media. The China Meteorological Administration on Monday issued a red typhoon warning, its most severe alert, warning of gale force winds and heavy rainfall in large swathes of eastern China.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Bebinca Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — Shanghai, Typhoon Warning, China Meteorological Administration, Shanghai Disney Resort Locations: Hong Kong, Shanghai, China

☆ Same-sex marriage was on a roll in Asia. Not anymore
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The winning formulaMore than 30 jurisdictions worldwide now recognize same-sex marriage, according to the Pew Research Center. Since the first same-sex marriage law was passed in the Netherlands in 2001, progress has been made mostly in Europe, the Americas and Australasia. Gay couples cut a wedding cake in Amsterdam on April 1, 2001 after the first same-sex marriage law was passed in the Netherlands. But on the national level, Japan does not recognize same-sex marriage and local courts have returned conflicting verdicts on the issue. Up to 68% of Japan’s adults support same-sex marriage, the highest share in Asia, according to the Pew Research Center.

Persons: Pokpong Jitjaiyai, ”, Pokpong, Watit Benjamonkolchai, Suen, Nadia Rahman, Marcel Antonisse, Kangwan Fongkaew, ” Kangwan, Jennifer Lu, ” Lu, Taiwan’s, Tsai Ing, Sanjit, Chanakarn Laosarakham, Carl Court, Asia’s, Anish Gawande, Narendra Modi, Gawande, Kazuhiro Nogi, –, Hiroshima’s, Scuffles, Andrew Kim, Roslan Rahman, Shawna Tang, Hong Kong’s, Peter Newman, ” Suen, CNN’s Samra, Yoonjung Seo, Aishwarya Iyer Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Thailand’s Senate, CNN, Chinese University of Hong, Pew Research, Amnesty, Racial Justice, Refugees, Migrants, Getty, Burapha University, Presidential, List, Court, Japan, Seoul Queer Culture, Christian, Korea University’s College of International Studies, University of Sydney, Appeal, University of Toronto’s, Inwentash, Social Locations: Hong Kong, Bangkok’s, Siam, Thailand’s, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Nepal, Asia, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Netherlands, Europe, Americas, Australasia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Bangladesh, Indonesia’s ultraconservative, Aceh, United Kingdom, Amsterdam, China, Kathmandu, AFP, Taiwan's, Taipei, India, List India, India’s, Delhi, Tokyo, Japan, South Korea, Daegu, Seoul, Korea, Singapore, aren’t, –, Beijing, Indonesia

☆ For decades, Chinese workers have retired relatively early. That’s about to change
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —For decades, Chinese workers have wrapped up their working lives at relatively young ages: 60 for men and as early as 50 for women. The announcement sparked immediate widespread discussion – and backlash – across Chinese social media. Some social media users appeared encouraged that the changes weren’t more drastic and included some flexibility. Major protests erupted in France in 2023 in response to a government attempt to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Even for those of working age, employment remains a steep challenge following the pandemic and a raft of government-led industry crackdowns in recent years.

Persons: ”, Yuan Xin, Yuan, Demographers, It’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Xinhua, Communist Party, Weibo, China Population Association, Nankai University, for Economic Co, Development, Social, Communist, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Employers Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, China, Tianjin, France, Communist China

☆ Students and startups are building the next generation of space exploration technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Amy Gunia | Woojin Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Editor’s Note: Tech for Good is a series that highlights young innovators developing technology to improve our world. Cast your vote below to help us decide what projects to feature in a special episode of the show, airing in November. Today, private companies dominate space launches and tourism, but entrepreneurs across the world are working on technology to make space exploration cheaper, more sustainable, and more efficient. On campuses and in classrooms everywhere, students are working on ideas that could seed a new generation of startups. Innovation like this could be crucial to continue the revolution that’s gripped the space industry in recent decades.

Persons: Phil McAlister, McAlister, “, “ They’re, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, SpaceX, Companies, CNN, Tech, ETH Zurich, Polytechnique Locations: Hong Kong, Switzerland, Japan, Canada

☆ Bao Fan: a CEO went missing. Then his bank got a mysterious bill for $11 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —A Chinese investment bank known for making some of the biggest deals in the country’s tech sector during its heyday has revealed it received a massive bill for 78 million yuan ($11 million) related to the disappearance of its star banker, Bao Fan. The request for payment from unspecified Chinese authorities only deepens the mystery surrounding the whereabouts of Bao, who founded boutique investment bank China Renaissance in Beijing in 2005 and made it one of the top dealmakers for Chinese tech firms. He helped broker the 2015 merger between two of the country’s leading food delivery services, Meituan and Dianping. In February 2023, China Renaissance reported him missing amid a wider anti-corruption crackdown. CNN has reached out to the investment bank for additional information.

Persons: Bao Fan, Bao, Mr Bao, Zhonghui, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Economic Observer, Central Commission, CNN, Financial Times, China Renaissance, Zhonghui Anda CPA, Deloitte Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Dianping, Bao, Zhonghui Anda

☆ China’s secretive space plane has returned to Earth
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Here’s what we know – and don’t – about China’s space plane. The term “space plane” often evokes NASA’s Space Shuttle, which flew 135 missions from 1981 to 2011, carrying astronauts into orbit and helping to construct the International Space Station. Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesWhat do we know about China’s space plane program? China’s space plane development comes as a growing number of countries are paying attention to the deepening connections between security on Earth and in space – and vying for so-called counterspace technologies with the potential to disrupt or even destroy adversaries’ assets in space. But observers have also raised questions about the activities of the space plane, including its own deployment of multiple small satellites.

Persons: –, “ It’s, Chance Saltzman, NASA's, “, It’s, ”, Juliana Suess, Clayton Swope, Joe Skipper, Brendan Mulvaney Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Boeing, Xinhua, Shuttle, Space, Space Force, Columbia, NASA's Kennedy Space Center, US Space Shuttle, Hulton, China Aerospace Science, Technology Corporation, Royal United Services Institute, Aerospace Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, SpaceX, Earth, US Space Force, United, Foundation, China Aerospace Studies Institute, US Air Force Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Soviet, “, Florida, Xinjiang, London, Washington

Beijing/Hong Kong CNN —Married for seven years, Hansen and his wife Momo care for six little ones at their apartment in downtown Beijing. By 2030, the number of pets in urban China alone will almost double the number of young children across the country, according to its projection. The country’s pet ownership rate would be even higher if the number of dogs and cats in rural areas were included. Its birth rate also dipped to 6.39 births per 1,000 people, the lowest rate since the founding of Communist China in 1949. I think it’s just that we love dogs,” Hansen said.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Hansen, Momo, ”, Beijing hasn’t, they’ve, Justin Robertson, Goldman Sachs, Mao Zedong’s, Goldman, It’s, “, Tao, CNN Tao, CNN Stuart Gietel, aren’t, Basten, “ We’re, ” Hansen, Xi Jinping Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Research, CNN, Publishing, Authorities, Communist, Hong Kong University of Science, Technology Locations: China, Beijing, Hong Kong, Australia, France, India, Japan, East China's Jiangsu, Communist China, Basten

☆ South Korea’s Hyundai and US’ GM to work together on developing new cars
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Hyundai and General Motors (GM) have agreed to look for ways to work together on developing new vehicles, supply chains and technologies in an effort to cut costs and move more quickly. Global carmakers are under intense pressure to come up with new electric vehicle (EV) and battery technology because they face vehicle emissions regulations around the world. South Korea’s Hyundai and America’s GM (GM) said on Thursday they would collaborate on joint product development, manufacturing and future clean energy technologies. The non-binding framework agreement was signed by Hyundai Motor Executive Chair Euisun Chung and GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. Including its affiliate Kia, Hyundai Motor is the world’s third-largest automaker by sales, according to Reuters, while GM is currently America’s largest carmaker, having retaken that title from Toyota in 2022.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, They’re, Euisun Chung, Mary Barra, “, ” Barra, ” Chung, Cruise Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — Hyundai, General Motors, Global, EV, Korea’s Hyundai, America’s GM, Hyundai Motor, Kia, Hyundai, Reuters, GM, Toyota, Nissan, Renault, Honda, — Locations: Hong Kong, Japan

☆ US and Chinese commanders hold rare talks to dial down risk of ‘miscalculation’
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —American and Chinese military commanders spoke in a long-anticipated call Tuesday as the two powers seek to manage their intensifying rivalry in a contentious Asia-Pacific region – and repair lines of military communication severed more than two years ago. Analysts have long warned that a miscalculation in the South China Sea could quickly spiral into a damaging regional conflict between the world’s two largest economies and that a lack of communication could compound those risks. Tuesday’s call marks a rare point of contact between top military officials leading American troops in the Indo-Pacific and Chinese strategy in the Southern and Eastern theater respectively. It comes within a broader, gradual resumption of high-level military communication following a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November. Top US and Chinese generals spoke in December after more than a year of silence, and US and Chinese defense chiefs held rare talks on the sidelines of a defense gathering in Singapore in May.

Persons: Pacific Command Adm, Samuel Paparo, Wu Yanan, Army’s, Nancy Pelosi, Jake Sullivan, “ Paparo, ”, Washington’s, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Pacific Command, PLA, Southern Theater Command, Communist Party, White House, Analysts Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, China, South, Taiwan, Beijing, South China, Philippine, Philippines, Washington, Russia, Southern, Eastern, Singapore

☆ China aims for historic Mars mission ‘around 2028’ as it vies for space power
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The projected mission launch is more ambitious than a 2030 target announced by space officials earlier this year, though the timeline has fluctuated in recent years. It also comes as an effort by NASA and the European Space Agency to retrieve Mars samples remains under assessment amid concerns over budget, complexity and risk. Becoming the first country to return samples from Mars would be a significant accomplishment for China’s ambitious space program and leader Xi Jinping’s stated “eternal dream” to make the country a space power. A key priority of China’s Tianwen-3 mission would be to search for traces of life on Mars. “The return mission requires launch from the surface of Mars.

Persons: Liu Jizhong, Xi Jinping’s, Liu, CGTN, It’s, China's Tianwen, ”, Planitia, Mars, Bill Nelson Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, NASA, European Space Agency, AP Missions, US Locations: Hong Kong, China’s Anhui, China’s, China, Soviet Union, United States

☆ Mate XT: China’s Huawei set to launch new tri-fold smartphone, its answer to Apple’s iPhone 16
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Successful sales of the Mate XT tri-fold smartphone, which began pre-orders on Saturday, would be another indication of the company’s sustained resurgence. It also comes after Chinese smartphone makers dominated the top five spots domestically on a quarterly basis for the first time ever, she said, pushing Apple to sixth place. “The close timing of Huawei and Apple’s product launches signals the start of a new competitive wave in the Chinese premium market,” Liu told CNN. Apple said that generative AI, like ChatGPT, on its iPhone 16 would allow users to create text and images with natural-language prompts. Last year, it launched an electric sedan to take on Tesla’s Model S. And it has big ambitions in AI.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Richard Yu, ”, Amber Liu, ” Liu, Apple, Liu, Yu, It’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Huawei, Apple, CNN, Counterpoint Research, Google, Nvidia Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Washington, Beijing, Weibo

☆ This 70-year-old med student just graduated. He has this advice for others
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-07 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Toh Hong Keng/Henry Ahn Photo StudioHis family constantly checked on him, helping to dispel many waves of doubt. “The only reason why I decided to study medicine was because I wanted something useful to do,” he said. “If I can’t be a practicing doctor, at least I can look after myself somewhat,” he said. Feeling a little dejected, he got in touch with his family’s former domestic worker whose daughter recently graduated from medical school in the Philippines. A week later, in 2019 he packed his bags, found a small apartment on the island and started his medical school journey.

Persons: ”, Hong Keng, Toh, ” Toh, didn’t, flashcards, Toh Hong Keng, Henry Ahn, “ Sir Toh, Marvi Dulnuan, “ Mr Toh, “, Hong, Atomic Leow Chuan Tse, Dr Howard Tucker, Tucker, he’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Southwestern University PHINMA, “, Southwestern University, American Medical Association, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Guinness World Records, University of Bradford, Association of American Medical Colleges, Private, Southwestern University for Toh Locations: Hong Kong, Malaysian, Cebu, Philippines, ”, Kyrgyzstan, Asia, 2019, United States, Romania, Europe, Cleveland , Ohio, Malaysia, Britain, London, jetting

☆ Japanese operator of 7-Eleven rejects merger offer worth billions from Circle K owner
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-06 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —The operator of 7-Eleven has rejected an opening offer from the owner of convenience store rival Circle K, indicating the bid was too low and that its global business was worth more. In a statement Friday, Tokyo-based Seven & I Holdings, which owns 7-Eleven, said it was “open” to “sincerely consider” any proposal that is in the best interests of its shareholders. The Financial Times reported on Thursday that Seven & I was open to the possibility of a higher offer from its suitor. Shares in Seven & I have rallied since the news of the offer broke last month, pushing its market value above $38 billion. Although 7-Eleven traces its origins to Dallas, Texas, it was the late Japanese entrepreneur Masatoshi Ito who is credited with turning it into a ubiquitous global brand.

Persons: “, Alimentation, Masatoshi Ito, Ito Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Holdings, Reuters, The Financial Times, Analysts, Speedway, Marathon Petroleum Locations: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Japan, North America, Europe, United States, Dallas , Texas

☆ China detains artist for scathing Mao works created more than a decade ago, family says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

At the height of their careers, the Gao Brothers created provocative sculptures of Mao in a country notoriously sensitive about its former ruler’s legacy. Due to the “deteriorating environment” in China, Gao Zhen relocated to New York two years ago when his son, an American citizen born in the US, reached school age, Gao Qiang said. “Before he set off, his friends and family — myself included — had all reminded him to consider whether it was safe to go,” Gao Qiang said. “Our father’s death was a devastating disaster for our family.” Gao Zhen told the Southern People Weekly, a once-outspoken news outlet, in 2010. Gao Zhen’s detention shows that freedom of expression in China has shrunk significantly compared to a decade ago, Gao Qiang said.

Persons: Mao Zedong, Gao Zhen, China’s, ”, Gao Qiang, Gao Brothers, Mao, Xi Jinping, “ Miss Mao, ’, Du Yinghong, —, “, ” Gao Qiang, Gao Zhen’s, ‘ Miss Mao, Gao, David Gray, Yue Minjun, “ uglifying, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN Sunday, Chinese Communist Party, CNN, ”, Police, Reuters, Communist Party, Southern People, Ukraine, Centre Pompidou, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, New York, Hebei province’s Sanhe, American, Yanjiao, Hebei, Sanhe, India, “, Paris , New York, Moscow, Berlin, Paris

☆ China economy: Young people in China aren’t spending on romance. That’s a problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Chris Lau | Hassan Tayir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“The Qixi Festival is not as robust as previous years. Couples attend a kissing contest during the traditional Qixi festival in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning province, on August 13, 2013. “The only part of the world where consumer confidence remains very low is China,” L’Oreal CEO Nicolas Hieronimus told analysts on an earnings call late last month. Lower-than-expected growth in the global beauty sector this year is largely a consequence of low consumer confidence in China, he added. People take photos at a bus stop decorated with flowers during Qixi Festival, or Chinese Valentine's Day, on August 22, 2023 in Chongqing, China.

Persons: China’s, Louis Vuitton, ”, forlornly, Huang Jinkun, Alfred Wu, Lee, “, Yeap Jun Rong, Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan, Stringer, De Beers, That’s, Niulang, Nicolas Hieronimus, Joanne Wilson, didn’t, ” Mercedes, Ola Kaellenius Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Weibo, CNN, Qixi, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public, National University of Singapore, Volkswagen, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Getty, Diamond, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Global, WPP, China News Service, Mercedes, ” Mercedes Benz Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shenyang, Liaoning province, Beijing, China's Liaoning province, AFP, Chongqing

☆ China celebrates historic Olympic gold medal tie with US after neck and neck battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Nectar Gan | Hassan Tayier | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

China has become one of the world’s most competitive sporting nations in recent decades, seeing its Olympic performance as a symbol of national strength. In 2008, it topped the gold medal table at the Beijing Games, surpassing the US for the first time. In Paris, the Chinese team appeared on course to top the medal table as it built up a sizable early lead over Team USA, thanks to its domination in shooting and diving. On microblogging site Weibo, the hashtag “China tied for first place on the gold medal leaderboard” became the top trending topic, racking up more than 500 million views. “We won every gold medal square and fair!” said a top comment with over 28,000 likes.

Persons: –, ’, ”, “, WADA, CHINADA, Erriyon Knighton, Knighton, ” “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, US, Beijing Games, Team USA, Soviet Union, Times, Olympics, Communist Party, Tokyo, Doping Agency, Tokyo Games, New York Times, ARD, Games, Embassy Locations: Hong Kong, China, United States, Paris, Soviet, Weibo, Taiwan, Taipei, British, Beijing, Washington, CHINADA, Los Angeles, USA

Hong Kong CNN —Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ running mate has a decades-long connection with China. “I remember waking up and seeing the news on June 4 that the unthinkable had happened,” Walz told Voice of America in an interview in 2014. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon taking students on two-week tours in China for sightseeing and classes on culture, education and history. In Chinese nationalist circles, which have an outsized voice on policy debates in China, there are no rosy illusions about Walz. The hashtag “Harris’ VP pick once taught in China” racked up 15 million views on microblogging site Weibo.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Kamala Harris ’, Tim Walz, Walz, ”, Dalai Lama, Joshua Wong, Shen Dingli, ” Shen, ’ Walz, “, Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, ” Walz, Gwen, Cara Roemhildt, ” Roemhildt, Jeff Widener, ’ ”, Liu Dongshu, Liu Xiaobo, Lobsang Sangay, ” Tim Walz, X, Hong Kong’s, Wong, ” Jeffrey Ngo, “ Walz, ” Ngo, ” Shen Yi, “ We’re, ” Stephen Roach, Morgan Stanley Asia, Harris, Eric Fish, Hong Kong's, Joshua Wang, George H, Bush, Bush’s, there’s, Liu, “ Harris, China ”, –, Xi Jinping, “ Heh, I’ve, they’re Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Democratic, United States ’, Republican, Communist Party, Star, Herald, CNN, Harvard University, Paramount, America, “, of, People, Associated, Congressional, Commission, City University of Hong, Hong, Hong Kong Human Rights, Democracy, White Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Minnesota, Tiananmen, Nebraska, Shanghai, Foshan, Guangdong, America, Congress, City University of Hong Kong, Tibet, Dalai, Washington, “, South China, Weibo

☆ Nikkei 225: Japan stock market rally fades as fears of US economic slowdown, yen volatility return
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Meanwhile, the yen strengthened 0.6% to 146 against the US dollar, after losing nearly 2% on Tuesday and Wednesday combined. But those fears, as well as a further jump in the value of the yen, are still haunting the market. The volatility in the yen, which was at the heart of recent market turmoil, remains elevated, he added. On Monday, the Nikkei plummeted by the most since 1987, sparking a broader global market sell-off. The narrowing of the interest rate differentials, which had enabled the yen carry trade, could push the yen higher, Kuptiskevich added.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Germany’s DAX, Shinichi Uchida, Uchida, ”, Stephen Innes, Alex Kuptsikevich, Masamichi Adachi, Innes, Taiwan’s Taiex, Hang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Nikkei, CAC, Nasdaq, Bank of Japan, Federal Reserve, FxPro, Federal, Fed, UBS, UBS Chief Investment, Kospi, Hang Seng Locations: Hong Kong, Europe, Japan, unwind

☆ Nikkei 225: Asian markets make solid gains following global rout
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-07 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Asian markets made solid gains Wednesday, with Japanese shares reversing early losses after a central bank official played down the prospect of an immediate hike in interest rates. The gains follow days of volatility, which saw the Nikkei suffering Monday its biggest daily loss since 1987. “We won’t raise interest rates when financial markets are unstable,” he was quoted as saying in a speech to executives in the northern Japanese city of Hakodate. The central bank has hiked interest rates twice this year in a bid to contain inflation. Decades of extremely low interest rates in Japan had seen many investors borrow cash cheaply there before converting it to other currencies to invest in higher-yielding assets.

Persons: Shinichi Uchida, Kospi, Hong, Taiex, Uchida, ”, Olesya Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, US, Dow, Nasdaq Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, South, Hakodate, “, Japan, Europe, London

☆ How ‘special forces travelers’ are making – and then breaking – Chinese tourism destinations
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Chris Lau | Hassan Tayir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The previously nondescript city in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong became one of China’s hottest spots for domestic tourism last year thanks to its affordable and juicy skewered meat. They’re known as “special forces travelers” because, like soldiers, they move from one checkpoint to another under incredibly tight schedules, often over weekends or short holidays. For the first half of this year, 29.22 million foreign nationals entered and exited, according to the latest figures. But the flash-mob-style approach of “special forces travelers” – switching from one community to the next – has called into question whether that type of domestic tourism is sustainable in the long term. Pan Wenbo, also from Beijing, said his favorite spots included Xi’an, home of the Terracotta Warriors, and Datong, a northern Chinese city known for ancient Buddhist architecture - both offering more affordable accommodation and food.

Persons: ” Zibo, Cici Li Yuetong, “, ”, Li, ” Li, Pan Wenbo, Jiumei, Yang ”, Yang, Mimi Li Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Immigration Administration, University, Cici, Warriors, China News Service, CNN, Labor, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Locations: Hong Kong, Zibo, Shandong, Beijing, China, Datong, Gansu, Tianshui City, Gansu Province, Weibo, Hong

☆ Pan Zhanle: China’s internet explodes with pride at ending US swimming 4x100m medley relay reign
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Nectar Gan | Hassan Tayier | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

This is China’s second gold in swimming at the Paris Olympics, following Pan’s record-setting win last Wednesday. In China, many social media users saw the Chinese swim team’s historic win in the relay as a resounding vindication. The hashtag “Pan Zhanle’s stunning reversal” racked up more than 500 million views, as did another hashtag about the relay gold medal. Pan, who turned 20 on Sunday, called the team gold medal his birthday present. The Chinese swim team is always the best!”Pan also won fans for his confidence and candidness.

Persons: Pan Zhanle, Pan, WADA, –, “, ”, Pan’s, Christian Liewig, Brett Hawke, Adam Peaty, we’ve, I’ve, ” Peaty, you’ve Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Olympics, Team USA, Paris, Tokyo, China’s, Doping Agency, Tokyo Games, New York Times, ARD, Paris Olympics, Australian Olympic, British, Reuters Locations: China, Hong Kong, States, Beijing, Weibo, Paris, Australian

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