Price war fears grip China’s EV market after woeful July sales figures

Self-driving taxis made by Xpeng roll off a production line in China. Photo: Xpeng

The bearish sentiment surrounding China’s electric vehicle (EV) sector has intensified after three premium carmakers reported weak sales for July, further heightening concerns that the market is heading for another brutal price war .

EV makers Xpeng, Nio and Li Auto all reported month-on-month sales declines last month, as demand for intelligent cars weakened amid an economic slowdown in mainland China.

Xpeng delivered 38,027 vehicles to customers in July

China’s military goal is to stand neck and neck with the US: ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo

Prominent commentator shares insights on the PLA’s 2027 goal, competition with the US, the Taiwan issue and the peacetime dilemma

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Alcott Wei in Beijing and Amber Wang in Beijing

Zhou Bo is a retired senior colonel in the People’s Liberation Army , a senior fellow at Tsinghua University ’s Centre for International Security and Strategy, and the author of the book Should the World Fear China
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Legco-executive dialogue must deliver more than novelty for Hong Kong

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and Legco President Starry Lee are seen after a dialogue session between the chief executive and lawmakers on July 28. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Alice Wu is a political consultant and a former associate director of the Asia Pacific Media Network at UCLA.

Exploring new channels for connection is important for enhancing communication. That seems to be one of the major themes of the first “ new style Legco dialogue ” with Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, held last week after lawmakers returned from their study trip to Beijing.
Legislative Council members were clearly eager to share ideas with Lee, beginning
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Jailed ex-leader Maduro welcomes ‘any path to dialogue’ in Venezuela ahead of US talks

Maduro, who is imprisoned in New York, made the remarks ahead of the meeting between Venezuela’s interim government and opposition leaders

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Venezuela’s ousted president Nicolas Maduro in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad in New York on January 5. Photo: Starmax / Newscom via Zuma Press / TNS

Venezuela’s imprisoned former leader Nicolas Maduro on Sunday welcomed “any path to dialogue”, ahead of a US-backed meeting in the coming week between representatives of the Latin American country’s interim government and opposition leaders.

“We welcome any path to dialogue that helps consolidate


UK PM Burnham signals support for written constitution

Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signalled his support for a written constitution for the UK, which unlike most countries, does not have one authoritative document.

Since entering office just two weeks ago, the former mayor of Greater Manchester has made devolution of power to regional authorities a focus of his administration.

“In the end, I think it does start to point towards a new constitutional settlement,” Burnham said of his devolution plans.

Calling for a “new clear set of principles about how this country should


Brazil’s President Lula, 80, says ‘in great shape’ as he launches bid for a fourth term

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80, said on Sunday he was “in great shape” as he launched his candidacy for October elections, with pressure from US President Donald Trump’s administration looming over the campaign.

Lula, a leftist titan of Latin American politics who is loved and despised in near-equal measure in Brazil, highlighted what he called his stamina and good health as he addressed a convention of his Worker’s Party (PT) in Sao Paulo attended by around 3,00


Greek police arrest suspect over British woman’s body found in suitcase

Greek police on Sunday said they had arrested a suspect in their investigation into the death of a British woman whose body was found in a suitcase in Athens last month.

The police in a statement said they had arrested a 26-year-old man, identified in media reports as an Afghan national, adding that he had “confessed his actions”.

“Officers of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime have solved the homicide of a 38-year-old UK national, whose body was found inside a suitcase


Death toll from migrant rush into Spain’s Ceuta rises to 72

The death toll from Thursday’s mass rush into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco reached at least 72 on Sunday as five more bodies were found along Ceuta’s coast, officials said.

More than 50,000 people crossed ‌into Ceuta by land and sea in an unprecedented surge that began on Thursday at one of the European Union’s only two land borders with Africa, prompting alarm across the bloc.

More than 48,000 returned to Morocco within


At least 14 dead in suicide bomb attack at anti-militant rally in Pakistan

Police officers stand guard as others check the site following a suicide bombing in Kabal, Swat Valley in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday. Photo: AP

A suicide bomber targeted protesters at an anti-militant rally in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least 14 people, including police officers, and wounding more than two dozen others, officials said.

The attack happened in Kabal, a town in Swat Valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where demonstrators had gathered near a police station, chanting anti-militant slogans and demanding peace, district police chief Omar Khan said.

Bilal Faizi, a


Greece firefighting helicopters collide as battle to contain wildfires continues

A search and rescue operation for crew members was launched near a village 34 miles from Athens, the capital city

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A firefighting helicopter drops water over a smoke-filled forest during a wildfire northwest of Athens, Greece, on Sunday. Photo: AP

Two helicopters collided and crashed while fighting a fire west of Athens, the Greek broadcaster ERT reported on Sunday.

One aircraft went crashing to the ground, footage showed.

The four crew members were recovered after the collision

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