Category: BBC

The abrupt cancellations of several Japanese music events in Shanghai – one of them midway through a song – have sparked criticism among fans, with some calling the moves “rude” and “extreme”. Maki Otsuki was halfway through the theme of hit anime One Piece on Friday when the lights and music went off, after which she was rushed off stage by two crew members. On Saturday, pop star Ayumi Hamasaki performed to an empty 14,000-seat stadium after organisers axed her concert in Shanghai, citing “force majeure”. This spate of cancellations…

Hong Kong officials mark beginning of official mourning period with moment of silence Hong Kong officials have held a moment of silence at the start of a three-day mourning period to remember those killed after the city’s deadliest fire in nearly 80 years. At least 128 people are now known to have died in the fire which engulfed several tower blocks on Wednesday. Hundreds remain unaccounted for. Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption over the renovation works the blocks had been undergoing. Three others were detained earlier…

At least 128 people are now known to have died in a devastating fire that engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong. A further 79 people have been injured in the city’s deadliest blaze in more than 70 years, which occurred in Tai Po on Wednesday. Dozens remain missing. The Wang Fuk Court blocks had been undergoing renovations when the fire began. The cause remains unclear – but officials say that polystyrene and protective netting placed on the outside of the windows facilitated its spread. Eight people were arrested on…

President Donald Trump has said he agreed to visit Beijing in April and invited Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit later next year, following a phone call between the two leaders. Trump and Xi – who met nearly a month ago in South Korea – discussed a range of issues including trade, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fentanyl and Taiwan, according to the president and China’s foreign ministry. “Our relationship with China is extremely strong!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. China’s state new agency released a statement…

Japanese tourism and retail stocks fell on Monday after China warned its citizens not to travel to the country as Tokyo and Beijing remain locked in a row over Taiwan. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has been a vocal critic of China and its military activities in the region, suggested this month Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan. Shares in cosmetics company Shiseido plunged nearly 10% while department store chain Takashimaya and the owner of global fashion chain Uniqlo fell more than 5% in early trading.…

China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has entered service days after a grand commissioning ceremony overseen by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, state media said. The Fujian, the country’s third warship, is equipped with electromagnetic catapults which will allow planes to be launched at higher speeds. Its launch marked a significant step forward for Beijing, which now has the world’s largest navy in terms of sheer number of ships. China has been expanding its navy at breakneck speed under Xi, putting pressure on the United States and its allies to…

Starbucks says it is selling a 60% stake in its business in China as part of a $4bn (£3.04bn) deal with investment firm Boyu Capital. Under the agreement, the world’s biggest coffee chain will have a 40% stake in the Chinese retail operation and retain ownership of the Starbucks brand there. Starbucks entered China in 1999 and the country is now its second-largest market outside the US, but has struggled in recent years with the rise of homegrown brands like Luckin Coffee. The business will continue to be headquartered in…

Beijing has said it will loosen a chip export ban it imposed after Dutch authorities took over Nexperia – a Chinese-owned chipmaker based in the Netherlands. In September, the Netherlands used a Cold War era law to take over the company after citing “serious governance shortcomings” and to prevent the chips from becoming unavailable in an emergency. In response, China said it would not re-export completed Nexperia chips to Europe which raised concern among carmakers. One association had described the move as “alarming”. Around 70% of chips made in the…

US President Donald Trump has hailed an “amazing” meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, amid rising hopes for a de-escalation of tensions between the world’s two biggest economies. Beijing was less effusive, saying the two side had reached a consensus to resolve “major trade issues” during the leaders’ first face-to-face meeting in six years. Trump’s trade war had set off tit-for-tat tariffs that shot past 100% on both sides, but they agreed to a truce in May – although tensions remained high. Thursday’s talks did not lead to a…