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During thorny human rights talks with China on Friday, the European Union voiced concerns about what it called a “deterioration of fundamental freedoms” in the country.The EU cited “government interference” in the succession plan for the Dalai Lama, an ongoing crackdown in Hong Kong, and jailed Uygur and Tibetan activists as examples in its statement on the 40th edition of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels.The bloc accused China of “persistent restrictions on freedom of expression, religion or belief, peaceful assembly, and the right to equality and non-discrimination”.The bloc also called attention to what it said was an “erosion…

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the ruling Communist Party to learn from the legacy of early party figure Chen Yun – a pioneer of China’s economic planning – in remarks on Friday to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the late statesman’s birth.Xi called on the party to have unwavering confidence when facing “chaotic and complex turbulence”, and to strengthen its ability to cut a path for China’s economy with “objective and thorough” research, according to state news agency Xinhua.The party is preparing for an annual conclave, to be held later this year, focusing on the next five-year plan covering 2026–2030.…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Global Economy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.In recent years, June Fridays have often been viewed by financiers as a good moment to work from home. Not now. As news spread about the Israeli air strikes on Iran, traders across Wall Street and London — not to mention Asia — rushed back to their offices to prepare for the inevitable storm.It swiftly materialised: oil prices surged (initially by around 13 per cent), stock prices fell (initially by 1 per cent in the US), and the dollar reversed its recent downward…

Hong Kong pop diva and actress Karen Mok Man-wai bought a luxury unit in the Mid-Levels district for HK$85 million (US$10.8 million), as the city’s celebrities, tycoons and other wealthy investors continue to pick up plum properties that are selling for a song.According to the Land Registry, a 2,153 sq ft three-bedroom flat at Dynasty Court on Old Peak Road was sold for HK$84.5 million and handed over on June 12 to buyer Morris Karen Joy.Dynasty Court is a luxury housing estate completed in 1991 by Sun Hung Kai Properties. It comprises five blocks, with 409 residential units.Mok, 55, has…

As India embarks on its path to self-sufficiency in modern weapons production to shore up its defence clout, its military inventory may have already surpassed arch rival Pakistan’s, but still lags behind China.The drive is marked by New Delhi’s latest bid to acquire the Rs 30,000 crore (US$3.6 billion) Indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) system, after it fended off Turkish-origin drones and Chinese-made missiles launched by Pakistan last month at the height of clashes.The proposal for three QRSAM regiments is expected to be reviewed by the Ministry of Defence in a coming meeting of the defence acquisition council set…

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A sharp rise in global oil prices following Israeli strikes on Iran will benefit Russia and bolster its military capabilities in the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday in comments that were under embargo until Saturday afternoon.Speaking to journalists in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said the surge in oil prices threatens Ukraine’s position on the battlefield, especially because Western allies have not enforced effective price caps on Russian oil exports.“The strikes led to a sharp increase in the price of oil, which is negative for us,” Zelenskyy said. “The Russians are getting stronger due to…

A major space science cooperation project between China and Brazil is entering its last pre-commission stages, with the departure of what will be an Olympic pool-sized telescope from the northern Chinese port of Tianjin on Monday.The main structure of the radio telescope is expected to arrive in the hilly hinterland of Paraíba state on the Brazilian east coast in about two months and will be one of the largest of its kind in Latin America when completed in 2026.The remote location – nearly 2,000km (1,240 miles) from the capital Brasilia – was chosen for its low radio frequency interference, according…

The first batch of flats on offer at the Deep Water Pavilia project on the south side of Hong Kong island are expected to sell out, according to property agents, as homebuyers rushed to snap up available units this weekend on the back of discounted pricing and low interest rates.As of 1pm on Saturday, 75 of the 138 flats on offer at the New World Development (NWD)-led luxury residential project in Wong Chuk Hang were snapped up, about four hours after sales started, property agents said.All the units on offer, which are worth HK$1.53 billion (US$196 million), are expected to…

LONDON (AP) — Arise Sir David, Sir Gary and Sir Roger. And Dame Elaine, Dame Pat and Dame Penny.Former England soccer captain David Beckham, Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman and The Who’s frontman Roger Daltrey were knighted in King Charles III’s birthday honors list released late Friday.Elaine Paige, the renowned musicals singer, Booker Prize-winning novelist Pat Barker and former Conservative government minister Penny Mordaunt were given damehoods, the female equivalent of a knighthood. The honors, which aim to reward individuals for their contributions to British life, are awarded twice a year to celebrities and public figures as well as ordinary people:…

On Monday, the Madleen, a UK-flagged civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians, was stopped by Israeli forces in international waters, about 200km (124 miles) off the Gaza coast.The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had organised the voyage, setting sail from Sicily on June 1. The vessel’s 12 passengers included climate activist Greta Thunberg, European Parliament member Rima Hassan, two French journalists and several other activists from around the world.The Israeli military boarded the ship and diverted it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The aid it carried – baby milk formula, food, medical supplies, water desalination kits – was confiscated. All…