Business — 3,414 insights
Hamas’ lead negotiator in ceasefire talks elected as group’s new chief
Business

Hamas’ lead negotiator in ceasefire talks elected as group’s new chief

Khalil al-Hayya succeeds Yahya al-Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in 2024 Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced on Monday that it had elected Khalil al-Hayya, the group’s lead negotiator in indirect ceasefire talks with Israel, as the new head of its political bureau. “The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announces the election of brother mujahid Khalil al-Hayya as head of the movement’s political bureau, succeeding the martyred leader Yahya al-Sinwar,” Hamas said in a statement. Sinwar, whom Israel accused of being one of the principal architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza a year later. Since his death, Hamas has been led by a five-member leadership council headed by long-time senior official Mohammed Darwish. Born in 1960, Hayya survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Doha last year, though one of his sons was killed in the strike. Hayya defeated former Hamas chief and veteran leader Khaled Meshaal in the leadership contest.

July 20, 2026
Czech legislators ‘testing the waters’ with China visit after years of tension
Business

Czech legislators ‘testing the waters’ with China visit after years of tension

A change of government in Prague late last year signalled a more pragmatic and Beijing-friendly approach A group of Czech lawmakers are visiting China in the first high-level engagement between the two countries since 2019, a move Chinese analysts described as “testing the waters” rather than representing a more substantive thaw. Tomio Okamura, speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and head of the delegation, told local media he was hoping to secure agreements on more direct flights, an increase in Chinese tourist numbers and visa-free travel for Czech citizens. Representatives from 40 Czech firms – representing sectors such as energy, mechanical engineering and industrial technology – are also taking part in the five-day visit in the hope of exploring fresh business opportunities. It is the first high-level exchange between the two sides since former president Milos Zeman, who was known for his China-friendly stance, made a state visit in 2019. But Shi Zhiqin, a professor of international relations at Tsinghua University, warned that the impact of the visit should not be overstated because of deep divisions over China among Czech politicians.

July 20, 2026
Taiwan reviews Papua New Guinea LNG imports after economic office’s forced closure
Business

Taiwan reviews Papua New Guinea LNG imports after economic office’s forced closure

The Pacific nation and Cambodia have both handed Beijing diplomatic wins by reiterating support for the one-China policy Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian swiftly welcomed the decision, saying Beijing “highly commends” the closure of the Taipei Economic Office. He described it as further proof that adherence to the one-China principle “reflects the will of the international community and the prevailing trend of the times”. Lin said Beijing would continue to support Port Moresby on issues concerning each other’s “core interests” while deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership. Taipei criticised the move, saying it had not been consulted beforehand and would keep its office open while negotiating with Port Moresby. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said the government had launched a review of bilateral economic ties, including long-term LNG imports.

July 20, 2026
As EU’s China trade deficit widens, Germany changes tack to join France’s Beijing pushback
Business

As EU’s China trade deficit widens, Germany changes tack to join France’s Beijing pushback

Both nations call on Brussels to strengthen its defences as EU adds US$1.14 billion a day to its China trade shortfall, while losing jobs The EU’s top two economies jointly called for swift and systematic use of the bloc’s existing tools while they pledged to press Brussels “to promptly submit concrete proposals on how to strengthen our trade defence toolbox, industrial policy as well as economic security”, according to the joint statement. “We had a very good discussion; I think we had never been so convergent on the question of China,” Macron said during the press conference. Macron insisted that neither France nor Germany were anti-China. But the numbers, he stressed, speak for themselves: every day, Europe adds €1 billion (US$1.14 billion) to its trade deficit with China and loses thousands of jobs.

July 20, 2026
EU fines AliExpress US$630 million over illegal products
Business

EU fines AliExpress US$630 million over illegal products

It is the largest fine ever imposed under the EU’s powerful Digital Services Act, part of the bloc’s legal armoury to police big tech The EU on Monday slapped a €550 million (US$630 million) fine on online retailer AliExpress for allowing the sale of illegal products, including unsafe toys and cosmetics. The EU found some of the products sold on the platform did not meet the bloc’s strict environmental and safety standards during its investigation into AliExpress launched in March 2024. “Risks must be identified and addressed systematically to ensure consumers can safely shop online. Today, we are holding AliExpress to this standard and request it to take action,” EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement. It is the largest fine ever imposed under the EU’s powerful Digital Services Act (DSA), part of the bloc’s legal armoury to police big tech that entered into force in 2022.

July 20, 2026
‘Systemic leap’: China’s drug innovation push yields bumper crop
Business

‘Systemic leap’: China’s drug innovation push yields bumper crop

Home-grown therapies account for 80 per cent of approvals in first six months of the year Domestically produced novel drugs accounted for more than 80 per cent of market approvals in China in the first half of the year, reflecting a “leap” in the quality of the country’s pharmaceutical innovation, according to a government spokesman. A total of 38 innovative drugs were cleared for sale in the six-month period, of which 31 were home-grown medicines, said Ministry of Industry and Information Technology spokesman Tao Qing, at a media briefing in Beijing on Monday. Among the most closely watched approvals was Satri-cel, a personalised cell therapy that uses a patient’s own immune cells to attack cancer cells, developed by Shanghai-based CARsgen Therapeutics. It became the world’s first chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) treatment cleared for solid tumours, according to the company’s filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange. Approved on June 22, the therapy targets patients with late-stage stomach cancer who have not benefited from at least two earlier rounds of treatment, a group with few remaining options.

July 20, 2026
Mentally disabled Hong Kong waiter gets 28 months for inciting subversion
Business

Mentally disabled Hong Kong waiter gets 28 months for inciting subversion

Chan Ho-hin, 23, earlier pleaded guilty to publishing 118 subversive messages on his social media accounts A Hong Kong court has sentenced a man with an intellectual disability to two years and four months in prison for inciting subversion, promoting a pro-Taiwan party and disseminating anti-Communist Party messages, with the judge noting that his condition had affected his moral judgment. District Court Judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi on Monday sentenced Chan Ho-hin, a 23-year-old waiter, who had earlier pleaded guilty to publishing 118 subversive messages on his social media accounts between June 27, 2024, and April 24, 2025. In April last year, the defendant also sought to disseminate his views offering to mail letters to like-minded individuals locally and attempting to send leaflets to Thailand to promote the Chinese Pro-Taiwan Anti-CCP Restoration Party, which is based on the self-ruled island. Though he denied being a party member, evidence showed that the defendant had frequent exchanges with a person claiming to be Cheng Kai-li, the party’s secretary general. The defendant said he supported the party’s manifesto and the unification of China under Taiwan’s government.

July 20, 2026
Hong Kong Palace Museum partners with Uzbek cultural centre for future projects
Business

Hong Kong Palace Museum partners with Uzbek cultural centre for future projects

Signing ceremony also marks first reciprocal visit by Central Asian cultural institution since city leader led delegation to region in June The signing ceremony on Monday also marked the first official reciprocal visit by a Central Asian cultural institution since Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu led a delegation to the region last month. Dr Louis Ng Chi-wa, director of the Palace Museum and a member of the delegation, said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) would pave the way for joint exhibitions, academic research and professional training and development. “During my trip to Uzbekistan, I had the privilege of meeting [the centre’s director] to discuss potential collaborative opportunities. I am delighted to see those initial conversations translate so quickly into this present here in Hong Kong today,” he said. “This swift follow-up [in just a month] is a powerful testament to how eagerly the people of both Uzbekistan and Hong Kong wish to work together to promote cultural exchange and dialogue.” Dr Firdavs Abdukhalikov, director of the Islamic Civilisation Centre, said through an interpreter that the goal of the MOU was to establish ties with the museum.

July 20, 2026
Industry insider: AI glasses’ ‘iPhone moment’ still 3-5 years away
Business

Industry insider: AI glasses’ ‘iPhone moment’ still 3-5 years away

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. The "iPhone moment" for AI glasses has not yet arrived, and the industry still needs three to five years to overcome key bottlenecks in hardware, chips, displays and ecosystem, said Rokid Co-Founder Cai Guoxiang during the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference.

July 20, 2026
When China’s economy met World Cup 2026
Business

When China’s economy met World Cup 2026

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. Spain's team celebrates on the podium at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, after defeating Argentina 1-0 to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, July 19, 2026. /VCG Editor's note: Ankit Prasad is a biz commentator. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN. The greatest show on Earth concluded in dramatic fashion on Sunday in New Jersey with Spain emerging world champions against Argentina, but several time zones ahead, the watch party in China went on all night. In what has been the biggest World Cup by many metrics, most notably in terms of structure with its 48 teams, and with FIFA projecting tournament revenues in excess of $9 billion, one of the most astounding stats was to be found on the CMG live stream that this author was hooked on to for a majority of the 104 matches. At the climax of the FIFA World Cup Final, the concurrent viewers counter read an incredible 90 million, with the comments-box moving so fast it was impossible to read. And that was just one of the many streams on offer, for a match that kicked off at 3 a.m.

July 20, 2026
This robot hand gets ‘real’
Business

This robot hand gets ‘real’

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. A new robotic hand from 1X Technologies, a Norwegian humanoid robot company, claims to have approached human-level dexterity, with fully actuated fingers, palm and thumb. It can assemble LEGO, change light bulbs and pour tea with a level of fluidity that is almost human.

July 20, 2026
China’s H1 industrial output up 5.4% as innovation accelerates
Business

China’s H1 industrial output up 5.4% as innovation accelerates

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. A construction worker welds pipeline supports under high temperatures at the construction site in Zhangye, Gansu Province, China, July 8, 2026. /VCG China's industrial sector maintained stable growth and continued to be a key driver of the economy in the first half of 2026, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said at a press conference on Monday. The value-added output of major industrial enterprises increased by 5.4% year on year, with 32 of the country's 41 major industrial sectors reporting growth, Wang Weiming, the chief engineer of the ministry, said. He noted that corporate profitability improved while strong global demand for products related to artificial intelligence and green development helped boost exports of integrated circuits, electronic components and wind turbines. According to Wang, growth was also supported by major industrial provinces and advanced manufacturing sectors, including electronics, automobiles and electrical machinery.

July 20, 2026