Latest news with #Chinese
Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
US student visas: Applicants' online activity to be reviewed
The US State Department said on Wednesday it is restarting the suspended process for foreigners applying for student visas but all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for government review. The department said consular officers will be on the lookout for posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or founding principles. In a notice made public Wednesday, the department said it had rescinded its May suspension of student visa processing but said new applicants who refuse to set their social media accounts to 'public' and allow them to be reviewed may be rejected. It said a refusal to do so could be a sign they are trying to evade the requirement or hide their online activity. The Trump administration last month temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the US while preparing to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said. Students around the world have been waiting anxiously for US consulates to reopen appointments for visa interviews, as the window left to book their travel and make housing arrangements narrows ahead of the start of the school year. On Wednesday afternoon, a 27-year-old PhD. a student in Toronto was able to secure an appointment for a visa interview next week. The student, a Chinese national, hopes to travel to the US for a research internship that would start in late July. 'I'm really relieved,' said the student, who spoke on condition of being identified only by his surname, Chen, because he was concerned about being targeted. 'I've been refreshing the website a couple of times every day.' Students from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines have posted on social media sites that they have been monitoring visa booking websites and closely watching press briefings of the State Department to get any indication of when appointment scheduling might resume. In reopening the visa process, the State Department also told consulates to prioritise students hoping to enroll at colleges where foreigners make up less than 15 per cent of the student body, a US official familiar with the matter said. Foreign students make up more than 15% of the total student body at almost 200 US universities, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal education data from 2023. Most are private universities, including all eight Ivy League schools. But that criteria also includes 26 public universities.
Malaysian Reserve
31 minutes ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
JD.com billionaire's viral stunt reignites China's food-delivery feud
ONE unusually warm evening in April, Richard Liu revved his scooter through Beijing's traffic-snarled streets alongside other delivery workers, and then personally handed food orders to surprised customers. Later that night, over spicy hotpot and ice-cold beer, the Inc. founder welcomed a pair of riders from two rival delivery firms to his company. The publicity stunt, broadcast on viral online videos, reignited a fight for China's $80 billion-plus food delivery market. In just a few months, JD, China's largest online retailer by revenue, amassed 25 million daily takeout orders across 350 cities, capturing more than half the volume of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s the runner-up to market leader Meituan. Neither saw Liu coming. confirmed that the viral photo posted by a Beijing user showing that the rider who delivered his food was the company's founder and Chairman Richard Liu was genuine. The Chinese e-commerce platform recently forayed into food delivery service and started a… — Yicai 第一财经 (@yicaichina) April 22, 2025 China's food delivery industry has been in an effective duopoly after brutal price wars forced out many smaller players almost a decade ago. Takeout became more expensive even as merchants and riders complained about making less. Liu is now turning to an old playbook: charging restaurants no commission, generous hiring bonuses for 100,000 new full-time riders, plus a 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) discounting campaign for consumers. During its flagship shopping festival this month, JD sold coffee and bubble tea for as cheap as 1.68 yuan. The food delivery war is indicative of the bifurcation in China's mammoth tech industry. On the one hand, players like DeepSeek are spurring major tech firms to invest in innovations like generative AI. On the other, the effects of Beijing's yearslong Covid lockdowns and regulatory campaigns against Big Tech still linger, and many companies are desperately searching for sources of growth in a saturated market. Liu's marketing stunt is also personal. The viral videos of him waiting to pick up boxed lunches and downing beers with other riders mark a surprise return to the public eye for the 52-year-old tech mogul, who faded from the spotlight in 2018 when he was arrested in the US on suspicion of rape, though prosecutors in Minneapolis ultimately declined to press charges. During Beijing's crackdown on the tech sector in 2022, Liu joined a long list of tech founders who stepped down. His departure coincided with some of JD's toughest times since its founding as a tiny electronics outlet in 1998. Its premium online shopping service ran into China's slowing economy, its own bargain app flopped, and an overseas foray was abandoned. That left JD with no growth story, as giants Alibaba and Tencent Holdings Ltd. bet big on generative AI and smaller rivals such as Meituan and Didi Global Inc. exported their gig-economy models abroad. Even Meituan has begun selling and delivering everything from iPhones to washing machines in a few hours. 'For JD, it's a lost five years, to put it bluntly,' Liu said during a rare news conference at the company's Beijing headquarters Tuesday. 'No innovation, no growth, no progress. It should be considered the most unremarkable and least valuable five years in my entrepreneurial history.' Explaining their rationale of getting into food delivery, Liu said that it's about leveraging JD's battle-tested logistics network to acquire new users, 40% of whom have already been converted into e-commerce customers. 'Our losses are smaller than what we would have spent on advertising,' he said. Not everyone is convinced. JD's takeout business could generate as much as 18 billion yuan in annualized losses, wiping out 36% of its parent's operating profit for 2025, says JPMorgan Chase & Co.. Arete Research estimates that as the market leader, Meituan will only need to spend about a quarter of JD's costs to defend its position. JD's loss per order will narrow to 3 yuan in the second half of 2025 from 8 yuan this quarter as it pares back subsidies to confront the economic reality, the equity research house predicts. 'We do not think JD will find material success in local services like insta-commerce, but understand management's sense of urgency in needing to diversify its business mix and feeling threatened by Meituan,' Arete analysts Shawn Yang and Richard Kramer wrote in a note in June. Representatives for JD, Alibaba, and Meituan didn't respond to requests for comment for this story. What's clear is that JD has injected new life into a long-dormant market. hardest hit by JD's offensive, gave out 10 billion yuan in subsidies to customers, then another 1 billion yuan to restaurants. Alibaba also integrated the takeout app into its flagship e-commerce platform Taobao in the hope of diverting more traffic to it. Meituan for the first time ever is giving away vouchers on things like smartphones and liquor during the June 18 sales event that JD invented more than a decade ago. Its founder Wang Xing declared to investors in May that it would do 'whatever measure it takes to win the game.' The renewed food-delivery battle is reminiscent of the all-out war in online shopping just years ago, when alleged abuses like forcing merchants into exclusive arrangements helped fuel Beijing's Big Tech crackdown, wiping out trillions in wealth. Though pressure has eased, government scrutiny remains heightened as high youth unemployment drives more and more people to take up gig work. Regulators in May summoned executives from the three takeout firms into meetings on fair competition and protection of riders, among other topics. By 2024, China had more than 10 million delivery riders, official data showed. In Beijing, there were 17,000 riders in the first half of 2024, up 50% from a year ago. And amid growing awareness of how riders often prioritize speed over safety to earn more, said in April that it would gradually phase out a cash penalty system for riders who miss their deadlines. JD is going further in worker benefits by paying social security — a government-sponsored welfare system including pensions and medical insurance — for all of its full-time riders. Meituan and followed suit with similar policies. JD has won over riders like Jiang Xiaoxi, a migrant worker in Shenzhen who joined Meituan before Covid but quit last year to take care of her sick grandfather in her hometown in Hunan province. When the 25-year-old returned to Shenzhen this year, she picked JD instead for regular eight-hour shifts and persuaded her peers to jump ship. 'I signed a contract on day one,' she said. 'Having social security as a full-time employee gives me a sense of belonging.' Others are wary of such promises, with memories of the past delivery price-war still fresh. Tang Zequan, 36, recalls how in 2016 he could make more than 10 yuan per order as a new driver for Meituan in Guangzhou. After Meituan emerged dominant, his earnings went down to 7 yuan per order. As a high-school dropout, he acknowledges that no other job could have helped him pay off debts so quickly after his real estate brokerage business went under during Beijing's crackdown on the property market. 'I have great gratitude for the food delivery industry, but I won't pay allegiance to any firm,' Tang said. 'Without choices we are left with a monopoly.' –BLOOMBERG
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Morning news wrap: Netanyahu warns Iran again; Bengaluru doctor threatens to crash plane over lost bag, and more
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to strike all nuclear facilities in Iran, declaring that he won't wait for US approval as tensions escalate in the Middle East. A bizarre scene unfolded at Bengaluru airport when a doctor threatened to crash an Air India flight if his bag wasn't found, causing delays and forcing crew to deboard him. Down south in Chennai, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran has accused his brother Kalanithi, head of Sun Group, of massive financial fraud, stirring up a family-business feud. On the sports front, Lionel Messi has once again made headlines by leading Inter Miami to a historic win over a European club, marking a first for the MLS. The match showcased Messi's enduring brilliance on the field. Here are the top five stories of the morning: Netanyahu threatens strikes on Iran nuclear sites Israeli PM Netanyahu said Israel is prepared to strike 'every nuclear site in Iran' and 'eliminate Khamenei' without waiting for US approval. The remarks come amid soaring regional tensions. Read full story Chinese hackers spying on Russia for Ukraine war intel: Report A US-based cybersecurity firm says Chinese hackers have targeted top Russian government agencies to steal classified data related to the Ukraine conflict. The motive appears to be Beijing's strategic positioning. Read full story Bengaluru doctor threatens to crash plane over lost bag An Air India flight from Bengaluru to Surat was delayed after a doctor allegedly threatened to crash the aircraft if his bag wasn't located. Crew had to deboard him for security reasons. Read full story DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran accuses brother of fraud Chennai MP Dayanidhi Maran has filed a complaint against his brother Kalanithi, accusing him of defrauding him of ?100 crore through forged signatures and false agreements. Read full story Messi leads Inter Miami to MLS history Lionel Messi starred in Inter Miami's latest victory, this time against a visiting European side, helping the club secure a historic milestone in the MLS. Read full story
Canada News.Net
37 minutes ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
New Zealand aims to attract Chinese tourists and students
BEIJING/WELLINGTON: New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon commenced his visit to China on June 17, seeking to strengthen trade relations and attract tourists and students while also addressing sensitive topics related to security and defense in discussions with key leaders. This marks Luxon's first trip to China since taking office in November 2023. He began in Shanghai before traveling to Beijing, where, as his office announced, he is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on June 20. "It's all part of our strategy to boost our economy—creating more jobs, increasing wages, and ensuring more money is in your pocket," Luxon shared on Instagram as he departed. This visit occurs against the backdrop of rising Chinese influence in the Pacific, which has raised concerns among many Western countries, whose previous more substantial security presence is being tested. "There are numerous issues and challenges in the relationship," noted Jason Young, director of the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University, who mentioned that both nations recognize their significant mutual interests. In February, New Zealand expressed worries when the Cook Islands, under its constitutional umbrella, signed several agreements with China regarding cooperation in areas such as economy, infrastructure, and seabed mining without prior consultation. Additionally, Young added that the presence of a Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy task force in the Tasman Sea and other Chinese activities in the Pacific present further obstacles to the relationship. Despite these challenges, trade and travel represent less contentious areas between the two nations. New Zealand was the first developed country to establish a free trade agreement with China in 2008, exporting significant amounts of dairy, meat, and wood products. The tourism and educational sectors are also substantial. According to the foreign ministry, New Zealand's exports to China in 2024 reached NZ$20.85 billion (US$12.64 billion), comprising NZ$17.75 billion in goods and NZ$3.1 billion in services. Chinese tourists make up the third-largest group of international visitors to New Zealand, although their numbers remain almost 20 percent lower than in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the weekend, New Zealand announced it would introduce a 12-month trial of visa waivers for Chinese passport holders arriving from Australia with valid visas starting in November. This move reciprocates China's policy of offering visa-free entry to New Zealanders implemented last year. Luxon has referred to China as "an essential part" of his country's economic narrative and indicated that discussions during his four-day visit will touch on security and defense matters. He has noted the importance of engaging with China on significant issues, given the challenging global landscape. Previously, leaders from both countries met during November's APEC summit in Peru, and Li visited New Zealand in June 2022. Historically, Wellington has adopted a more accommodating stance towards China compared to Australia and its fellow members of the Five Eyes security alliance. However, in recent years, it has become more assertive on topics such as human rights, international law, and potential militarization in the Pacific. In June 2023, former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visited Beijing ahead of Luxon's trip.
Business Times
37 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Times
Trump extends deadline for TikTok sale by another 90 days to Sep 17
[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (Jun 19) that he has given social media platform TikTok another 90 days to find a non-Chinese buyer or be banned in the United States. 'I've just signed the Executive Order extending the Deadline for the TikTok closing for 90 days (September 17, 2025),' he posted on his Truth Social platform, putting off the ban for the third time. A federal law requiring TikTok's sale or ban on national security grounds was due to take effect the day before Trump's January inauguration. The Republican, whose 2024 election campaign relied heavily on social media, has previously said he is fond of the video-sharing app. 'I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok,' Trump said in an NBC News interview in early May. 'If it needs an extension, I would be willing to give it an extension.' TikTok on Thursday welcomed Trump's decision. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'We are grateful for President Trump's leadership and support in ensuring that TikTok continues to be available for more than 170 million American users,' the platform said in a statement. Digital Cold War? Motivated by a belief in Washington that TikTok is controlled by the Chinese government, the ban took effect on January 19, one day before Trump's inauguration, with ByteDance having made no attempt to find a suitor. TikTok 'has become a symbol of the US-China tech rivalry; a flashpoint in the new Cold War for digital control,' said Shweta Singh, an assistant professor of information systems at Warwick Business School in Britain. Trump had long supported a ban or divestment, but reversed his position and vowed to defend the platform – which boasts almost two billion global users – after coming to believe it helped him win young voters' support in the November election. The president announced an initial 75-day delay of the ban upon taking office. A second extension pushed the deadline to June 19. He said in May that a group of purchasers was ready to pay TikTok owner ByteDance 'a lot of money' for the video-clip-sharing sensation's US operations. Trump knows that TikTok is 'wildly popular' in the United States, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday, when asked about the latest extension. 'He also wants to protect Americans' data and privacy concerns on this app, and he believes we can do both things at the same time.' The president is 'just not motivated to do anything about TikTok,' said independent analyst Rob Enderle. 'Unless they get on his bad side, TikTok is probably going to be in pretty good shape.' Tariff turmoil Trump said in April that China would have agreed to a deal on the sale of TikTok if it were not for a dispute over his tariffs on Beijing. ByteDance has confirmed talks with the US government, saying key matters needed to be resolved and that any deal would be 'subject to approval under Chinese law'. Possible solutions reportedly include seeing existing US investors in ByteDance roll over their stakes into a new independent global TikTok company. Additional US investors, including Oracle and private equity firm Blackstone, would be brought on to reduce ByteDance's share in the new TikTok. Much of TikTok's US activity is already housed on Oracle servers, and the company's chairman Larry Ellison is a longtime Trump ally. Uncertainty remains, particularly over what would happen to TikTok's valuable algorithm. 'TikTok without its algorithm is like Harry Potter without his wand. It's simply not as powerful,' said Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst at Forrester. Despite the turmoil, TikTok has been continuing with business as usual. The platform on Monday introduced a new 'Symphony' suite of generative artificial intelligence tools for advertisers to turn words or photos into video snippets for the platform. AFP
