China

Facebook finds way into China

It's dubbed the Colorful Balloons app, and, according to the Chinese app store's description, it works similarly to Facebook's (FB, Tech30) Moments app.

"Colorful Balloons can group users' phone pictures and videos based on time, locations and characters. It can help you create albums and share them with friends and family," the description reads.

The story was first reported by The New York Times and person familiar with the matter confirmed to CNNMoney that it is a Facebook app. But the Facebook name is nowhere to be seen.

India boxer offers to return belt for China peace

Vijender Singh, an Olympic medallist, beat Zulpikar Maimaitiali on Saturday, winning the WBO Oriental Super Middleweight belt from him.

But he dedicated his win to the "India-China friendship", and said he wanted to give the belt back.

India and China have been feuding over a disputed border area since June.

The row erupted when India opposed China's attempt to extend a border road through a plateau known as Doklam in India and Donglang in China.

Mr Singh, 31, has been widely praised in India for his win in the much-anticipated fight in Mumbai.

Apple defends complying with China over VPNs

Virtual Private Networks are often used to skirt censorship and surveillance in countries with tight restrictions on internet use.

The company has been heavily criticised for removing several VPN apps, and was accused of “aiding Chinese censorship efforts”.

Apple said it disagreed with China’s position but had to comply with the country’s laws.

"We would obviously rather not remove the apps,” Apple chief executive Tim Cook said on Tuesday.

"But like we do in other countries we follow the law wherever we do business.

Trump criticises China over North Korea

Writing on Twitter, he said he would not allow China to "do nothing" about the reclusive state.

His comments came a day after Pyongyang test-fired its second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in a month.

It later claimed the test proved that the entire US was within striking range of its weaponry.

On Saturday, two US B-1 bombers conducted exercises over the Korean peninsula with South Korean and Japanese planes.

China set to launch an 'unhackable' internet communication

The technology it has turned to is quantum cryptography, a radical break from the traditional encryption methods around. The Chinese project in the city of Jinan has been touted as a milestone by state media.

The pioneering project is also part of a bigger story: China is taking the lead in a technology in which the West has long been hesitant to invest.

In the Jinan network, some 200 users from the military, government, finance and electricity sectors will be able to send messages safe in the knowledge that only they are reading them.

China takes more of a lead with climate change efforts in the Pacific

After the U.S. President Trump withdrew support from the Paris agreement, the international accord to restrict global warming, others are looking to fill the gap.

Every day, Pacific nations are fighting for their islands' survival as they contend with the ongoing effects of climate change.

Fiji is the first small island state to preside over the conference of parties (COP23), the annual round of the ongoing UN climate negotiations later this year.

Advert criticised in China for being sexist

The ad compares buying a car to finding a wife, saying "an important decision must be made carefully".

It shows a woman having her nose, ears and teeth inspected by her mother-in-law on her wedding day.

An Audi spokesman told the South China Morning Post marketing in China was the responsibility of its local joint venture partner.

Some are calling for a boycott of the German carmaker - which is recognised as one of the big three in China, along with Mercedes Benz and BMW.

One user called it "a terrible ad!" with others branding it "disgusting".

Is WhatsApp being censored in China?

Many reported that voice messaging and pictures wouldn't send without a virtual private network (VPN) to circumvent China's censorship filters.

The seemed to be working normally on Wednesday morning, but there have been more interruptions since then.

The disruptions come as China clamps down on online platforms.

 

What was the disruption?

Users began noticing over the weekend that WhatsApp wouldn't send pictures, voice messages and video, although text messages continued to work normally.

World's most stylish airline

Now Chinese airline Hainan Airlines has staked its claim as the world's most stylish fleet, premiering a haute couture collection for its cabin crew.

Fusing traditions

Designer Laurence Xu has created these beautiful uniforms, which the airline says blends Eastern and Western design traditions.

Russia, China urge freeze in North Korea missile launches

Both countries also called for a simultaneous suspension of US-South Korea large-scale military exercises.

North Korea said its missile could hit anywhere in the world, but both the US and Russia said the missile presented no threat to either country.

Though the country appears to have made progress, experts believe the device cannot accurately hit a target.