China News Live: New UK electric vehicle grant under £37,000 could benefit Chinese automakers

The UK's Department for Transport has reintroduced an electric vehicle grant, offering buyers a discount of up to 10% on new EVs priced below £37,000, according to a report in The Guardian. The scheme, which was previously scrapped in June 2022, is designed to encourage more drivers to switch from petrol and diesel vehicles. Due to the price cap, the move is expected to primarily benefit manufacturers of more affordable cars, including several Chinese brands, while vehicles from premium makers like Tesla will likely remain ineligible for the discount.

Chinese-owned Volvo Cars will book a $1.2 billion charge due to financial pressures from US and European tariffs, as well as delays in launching new vehicles, according to a report in Financial Times. The company, which is owned by China's Geely Holding Group, is exposed to duties aimed at Chinese-made goods. This financial measure follows a previously announced plan to cut 3,000 jobs globally as the automaker navigates the challenging trade environment.

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi described the relationship between Beijing and Moscow as showing great stability, maturity, and strategic value during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The discussion took place ahead of a meeting of Eurasian foreign ministers. Lavrov's arrival in Beijing on Saturday followed a working visit to North Korea, where he met with leader Kim Jong-un.

Efforts to clean up air pollution in China and across East Asia may have unintentionally contributed to a spike in global warming, a new study has found, according to a report in The Hill. The research indicates that a decline in aerosol emissions, which can cool the planet by reflecting sunlight, has added approximately 0.05 degrees Celsius in warming per decade since 2010. This occurs because reducing the cooling effect of aerosols unmasks the warming caused by existing greenhouse gases.

A resident of a care home for the mentally disabled in Hong Kong has been arrested on suspicion of murder after another resident died following a physical altercation, the South China Morning Post said in a report. The incident occurred on Monday evening at Ming Sum Home for the SEN in Yuen Long. A dispute between two male residents, both in their fifties, reportedly escalated into a fight where one man allegedly hit and kicked the other. The injured man was subsequently rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead.

Hong Kong lawmakers are pushing back against a government proposal to reduce the maximum number of prepaid SIM cards an individual can register from ten to three, arguing the measure is inadequate to address the city's rampant phone scam problem, the South China Morning Post says in a report. According to a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, the proposed amendment is aimed at curbing the use of easily obtainable prepaid SIM cards in criminal activities. However, legislators believe a more stringent approach is necessary to effectively deter fraudsters.

Taiwan's navy live-streamed a minelaying drill on Monday to demonstrate its readiness to counter a potential amphibious assault by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The drill, conducted off the Zuoying naval base in the southern city of Kaohsiung, is a component of this year's annual Han Kuang military exercise, which is designed to bolster combat readiness for a potential cross-strait conflict. The naval display occurred simultaneously with a separate urban warfare exercise where military police also tested defensive tactics.

Driverless taxis in mainland China have the potential to account for 6.2% of the country's total taxi market, aided by advanced digital infrastructure and high consumer willingness to embrace new technologies, South China Morning Post said in a report. Citing a projection from HSBC, the report notes the potential addressable market for these robotaxis is estimated to be around US$40 billion a year. The bank's report did not specify a timeline for when operators of driverless cabs could achieve this goal.

China is expanding its diplomatic influence as the United States, under President Donald Trump's administration, reduces its international engagement, Reuters says in a report. The findings, released on Monday by Democrats on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, are the culmination of months of staff research and travel. The report asserts that China's growing diplomatic footprint coincides with the Trump administration's deep cuts to diplomatic funding and its overall paring back of America's presence on the world stage.

Chinese group Rastar has reached an agreement to transfer ownership of the Spanish football club Espanyol to English-based Velocity Sport Limited (VSL), which has American shareholders, AP said in a report. The club announced on Monday that its current Chinese owners agreed to the deal, which will bring Espanyol into a strategic alliance with the English Premier League club Burnley, also part of VSL's portfolio. This transaction marks the divestment of the Barcelona-based club by its Chinese owners to the new holding company.

China's exports of rare earth elements increased significantly in June, reaching 7,742.2 tonnes, the highest monthly total since December 2009, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The figure, based on official customs data, marks a 60% increase from June 2024 and a 32% rise from May 2025. The surge follows a relaxation of export controls on the critical minerals by Beijing.

China's exports saw a larger-than-expected increase in June, rising 5.8% year-on-year to US$325.2 billion, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. This growth, which followed a 4.8% rise in May, surpassed the 3.6% increase that had been forecast in a market survey. The acceleration in outbound shipments is attributed to companies taking advantage of a 90-day tariff truce with the United States to expedite their deliveries before potential new tariffs could be imposed.

German medical AI scientists Roland Eils and Irina Lehmann have relocated from Germany to join Fudan University in Shanghai as full-time faculty members, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The married couple, considered pioneers in the field of artificial intelligence in medicine, officially joined the Chinese institution in April. Their move is noted as a significant development supporting China's strategic ambitions in the medical AI sector.

An appellate court in Hong Kong has begun hearing appeals for 11 opposition figures convicted of conspiracy to subvert state power in the city's largest national security trial, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. On Monday, legal counsel for the activists argued that legislators are entitled to block government budgets and bills to achieve political aims, and that such actions should be considered political matters, not criminal offenses. The defense urged the court to refrain from adjudicating on these political issues, stating that any peaceful attempt to force the government to accede to a political agenda does not constitute subversion.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) will carefully calibrate the intensity and pace of its "moderately loose" monetary policy to help achieve Beijing's annual economic growth target of around 5%, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Zou Lan, the central bank's deputy governor, stated on Monday that the agency will closely monitor and assess the impact of previously implemented measures. Future policy decisions will be based on evaluations of both domestic and international financial conditions.

Chinese robotics firms AgiBot and Unitree Robotics have secured new orders for humanoid robots totaling 124 million yuan (US$17.3 million) from state-owned telecommunications giant China Mobile, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The order, placed by a subsidiary of China Mobile in Hangzhou, reflects growing enterprise demand within China's developing humanoid robot market. AgiBot will supply 78 million yuan worth of full-size humanoid robots as part of the deal with the world's largest mobile network operator by subscribers.

Two Chinese aircraft, an Air China passenger plane and an SF Airlines cargo plane, were involved in a near miss in Russian airspace earlier this month, raising new concerns about aviation safety, the South China Morning Post said in a report. Based on recordings of pilot communications with air traffic control, the Air China plane made an unexpected and unrequested change in altitude. This maneuver put it on a potential collision course with the cargo plane, and the reason for the action is currently unexplained.

China's top leaders have indicated a significant policy shift to address excessive competition within the domestic market, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Following a July 1 meeting of the Central Finance and Economic Affairs Commission, chaired by President Xi Jinping, Beijing announced it will focus on regulating "disorderly and low-price competition." The stated goals of this new initiative are to guide enterprises toward improving product quality and to facilitate the "orderly exit of outdated production capacity." This move signals a greater government effort to steer market behavior away from aggressive price wars and towards more sustainable, quality-focused development.

Alibaba Group Holding reported it tied its record with 80 million on-demand deliveries on Saturday, as it competes with rivals Meituan and JD.com through discounts and promotions in China's instant commerce sector, the South China Morning Post said in a report. The e-commerce company also stated that its new instant commerce brand, Taobao Shangou, experienced a 15% week-over-week increase in daily active users. This development occurs as the major tech firms engage in an aggressive battle for market share in the country's quick-delivery market.

Hong Kong authorities will launch a guide by the end of July 2025 for professionals required to report child abuse cases, which will include a decision-making tool that can be used as a legal defence, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. An ordinance, set to take effect on January 20, 2026, will mandate that 25 professions in education, healthcare, and social work report suspected instances of child abuse. Those who fail to comply will face a maximum penalty of three months in jail and a HK$50,000 (US$6,370) fine.

Shanghai's West Bund waterfront area is successfully attracting multinational corporations like BMW and Adidas, bucking the widespread property slump affecting the rest of China, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The 11km-long zone in the Xuhui district is emerging as a new central business district, with companies and retail brands moving into its office buildings and shopping malls. This development stands in contrast to the national real estate downtrend, positioning the area as a significant economic hub in the country's financial capital.

Stock markets in Hong Kong and mainland China advanced on Monday as investors focused on China's better-than-expected trade data over renewed US tariff threats from President Donald Trump, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed 0.3% higher, while the Hang Seng Tech Index gained 0.7%. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite Index and the CSI 300 Index also saw gains, rising 0.3% and 0.1% respectively.

Hong Kong police are searching for a man suspected of pushing a nine-year-old boy into the sea in Hung Hom, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The incident occurred on Monday evening while the child was fishing with his mother on a staircase along King Wan Street near Hoi Sham Park. A witness saw the suspect approach and push the boy into the water and subsequently called the police. The boy was able to swim back to shore but suffered bruises on his arms.

Chinese battery manufacturers Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and BYD have signed initial agreements with Australian mining giant BHP to develop battery technology and electrify mining operations, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Melbourne-based BHP confirmed on Monday it signed non-binding memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with CATL, the world's largest battery producer, and FinDreams Battery, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BYD. The partnership is aimed at exploring new growth avenues for the Chinese firms amid a weakening global outlook for electric vehicles.

Shanghai is considering a move into stablecoins as part of an effort to solidify its position as a major financial and trade center, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Citing anonymous local officials, the report states that city leaders plan to direct a government-controlled digital service provider and a local financial institution to study the feasibility of launching stablecoins. This initiative is reportedly being framed as a method to mitigate risks while leveraging the digital asset for economic development, coming in the wake of Hong Kong's implementation of a new regulatory framework for stablecoins.

OpenAI has indefinitely delayed the release of its first open-source artificial intelligence model, a move that underscores the challenges the company faces in the open-source AI sector where Chinese firms like DeepSeek are prominent, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the delay, stating that more time is needed for development and testing. The report notes that while OpenAI's proprietary, closed-source models currently maintain a capability lead, the delay impacts its competition within the open-source AI movement.

A Chinese state-owned company has made its first export of advanced offshore drilling equipment to Brazil, as per a report in the South China Morning Post. The shipment consists of 24 deep-sea suction anchors, also known as caissons, which are capable of operating at depths of up to 2,000 meters. The equipment, reported on by state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday, will be used to secure platforms at the Mero ultra-deepwater oilfield off Brazil's southeastern coast.

Police in Hong Kong have arrested a couple for allegedly attempting to use approximately 10 counterfeit bonds, each with a fictitious value of HK$500 million (US$63.7 million), to open an account at an HSBC branch, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The suspects were arrested for using a false instrument after bank staff in the Central district reported the incident to authorities on Monday. The couple was subsequently detained following the police response to the bank's report.

China and Serbia will hold their first joint military training exercise this month, deepening defense ties between the two nations, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Chinese defence ministry spokesman Jiang Bin announced on Monday that special forces from both armies will participate in the 'Peace Defenders-2025' exercise in China's Hebei province in late July. The stated goal of the training is to enhance the combat skills of the participating troops.

A university in China has expelled a female student for having 'improper contact' with a foreigner, publishing her full name and stating her actions had 'damaged national dignity,' according to a report in The New York Times. The university's decision has reportedly triggered a significant online debate within the country, leading to accusations of sexism against the institution for its handling of the matter and the public nature of the punishment.

China has completed a 4,197-kilometer (2,608-mile) extra-high voltage power transmission project encircling the Tarim Basin within the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The project, which took 15 years to build, was officially completed on Sunday and transforms the vast inland basin, known as the "sea of death" and home to China's largest desert, into a massive transmission hub for new energy.

Global sovereign wealth funds are increasing their allocations to Chinese assets, betting on the country's prowess in digital technologies, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing to drive returns and hedge geopolitical risks, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. An Invesco study released on Monday revealed that nearly 60% of sovereign wealth funds plan to increase their investments in China over the next five years, a higher proportion than in 2024.

China's market regulator on Monday granted conditional approval for the acquisition of Ansys by fellow software firm Synopsys, according to a report in Reuters. The approval from the regulatory body was announced in a statement, clearing a significant hurdle for the major deal between the two US-based technology companies.

A $42 billion government trade-in program in China, which has boosted consumer spending on items like appliances and electronics, is now facing cutbacks in some cities, according to a report in The New York Times. The program was initiated to stimulate domestic consumption in response to a broader economic slowdown and a crisis in the real estate sector. However, some local governments have started reducing the subsidies in recent weeks, a move attributed to their own severe fiscal strain and mounting debt, highlighting the challenge of sustaining the nationwide stimulus effort.

A new pilot scheme to identify at-risk carers has launched in Hong Kong, prompting calls from a social worker and a district councillor for its expansion to better support vulnerable groups, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The program, which began on Monday, involves the Hospital Authority sending daily alerts to the Social Welfare Department to find hidden cases of struggling carers. Advocates argue the scheme should be broadened to cover low-income families and residents of subdivided flats, with more timely follow-up to address their needs effectively.

Malaysia is implementing a new permit requirement for the exports and transshipments of high-performance US artificial intelligence chips, Bloomberg said in a report. The policy change is interpreted as a measure by the Malaysian government to clamp down on the illicit diversion of these sensitive components to destinations such as China, which faces US export restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology.

Shares in China's biotechnology sector have surged, with returns exceeding 60% this year, as major Western pharmaceutical companies look to license cancer treatments developed by Chinese firms, according to a report in the Financial Times. The market's positive reaction is reportedly driven by investor confidence in the rapid pace of innovation within the country's biotech industry, marking a shift for China as a key source of new drug development.

An increasing number of Chinese students are opting for university majors in high-tech fields such as information and communications technology (ICT) and vehicle engineering after completing the competitive national 'gaokao' entrance exams, the South China Morning Post says in a report. This trend is heavily influenced by China's strategic national priorities, including the 'Made in China 2025' plan and the broader goal of achieving technological self-reliance. The government's significant emphasis on STEM education and the ongoing tech rivalry with the United States have made these fields strategic and attractive career paths for the nation's youth.

The number of phone scam cases in Hong Kong rose by nearly 22% to 2,574 between January and May 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year, the South China Morning Post said in a report. Despite the increase in incidents, police figures show that financial losses from these scams dropped significantly by almost two-thirds, totaling HK$430 million (US$54.8 million). Authorities, including Chief Inspector Grace Wong Chi-man of the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre, attribute the sharp decline in losses to a 45% year-on-year drop in cases involving mainland Chinese students being successfully cheated.

The Cook Islands is looking to China for potential funding to upgrade a vital World War II-era airstrip on the island of Penrhyn after traditional partners, including New Zealand, Australia, and the US, did not provide assistance, according to a report in The Guardian. Leaders on the island state their goal is to reseal the runway to accommodate larger tourist jets. The geopolitical shift comes as New Zealand reportedly cut millions of dollars in aid to the Cook Islands after the nation struck unspecified deals with Beijing, a move that has caused anger on the main island of Rarotonga over the damaged relationship with its traditional partner.

China has unveiled a maglev (magnetic levitation) train that reportedly achieves ground speeds faster than most commercial aircraft, Newsweek says in a report. This development is a significant part of China's broader strategy to build the world's largest high-speed rail network. While commercial planes fly faster at cruising altitude, the maglev's speed makes it highly competitive for medium-distance, city-to-city travel by potentially reducing the overall time spent on airport transit and security procedures.

Hong Kong is now the world's third most expensive city for high-net-worth individuals, dropping from its previous second-place position, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The 2025 Julius Baer Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report, released Monday, found that Singapore remains the costliest city, while London has moved up to second place, swapping positions with Hong Kong from the previous year. The annual study by the Swiss lender assesses the cost of a basket of luxury goods and services to determine the rankings.

Hong Kong aims to bolster its connectivity with countries under the Belt and Road Initiative by increasing flight frequencies to key destinations including Xinjiang, Riyadh, and Dallas, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The city's Commissioner for Belt and Road, Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, stated that the plan also involves launching new direct routes to second-tier locations in ASEAN and the Middle East. The move is intended to enhance Hong Kong's strategic role within the national infrastructure and investment plan.

A fire in a public housing flat in Hong Kong's Kwai Tsing district on Monday morning has resulted in one death and at least four injuries, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Police stated that the fire was first reported around 5 a.m. in a flat at Wo King House in the Lai King Estate. The blaze reportedly started in an air conditioner, causing thick smoke to billow from the unit. Approximately 60 residents were evacuated from the building, and the injured were transported to Princess Margaret Hospital. An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway.

A Chinese scholar and government policy adviser has argued that the country's think tanks must become more 'self-centred' and reduce their reliance on Western knowledge, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Professor Zheng Yongnian of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, stated that by incorporating 'Chinese characteristics' and focusing on the nation's actual conditions, policy advisers could better explain Chinese practices to the world. This approach, he said, is crucial for projecting the country's soft power and anticipating global developments.

The University of Hong Kong has issued a warning letter to a male law student accused of using artificial intelligence to create pornographic images of his classmates and other women, according to a report in South China Morning Post. The university confirmed on Saturday that it was aware of the accusations and has required the student to issue a formal apology to the affected individuals. The institution stated it has maintained communication with the students who were targeted.

Hong Kong's new Commissioner of Police, Joe Chow Yat-ming, underscored the importance of team spirit and unity in the 27,000-strong force at his first passing-out parade inspection on Saturday, according to a report in South China Morning Post. At the ceremony marking the admission of 43 probationary inspectors and 219 constables, Chow revealed that recruitment has risen significantly since entry requirements were eased three years prior. He expressed that he was honored to officiate the event and reiterated his message of unity to the new members of the force.

Hong Kong authorities are investigating a contractor to determine if necessary precautions were taken during a recent rainstorm, following an incident where a worker was killed by a falling steel beam, the South China Morning Post said in a report. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han stated on Saturday that employers must exercise "extra caution" and ensure a safe work environment during adverse weather. The official probe was launched after the fatal industrial incident occurred two days prior.

America’s highest-ranking military officer, General Dan Caine, has urged closer trilateral defence cooperation between the US, South Korea, and Japan, citing what he termed an "unprecedented" military build-up by both North Korea and China, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The remarks by the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff coincide with increasing pressure on Seoul to increase its financial contribution for the 28,500 American troops stationed there. The US is also pushing for these troops to have an expanded role beyond the Korean peninsula, a move that could challenge South Korea's position regarding broader regional security issues.