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'Are you dead?' Chinese app for singles goes viral
The app "Are You Dead" which targets lone-living people in China has become a viral hit. Its popularity and comments on social media have been widespread, leading the company to introduce a subscription charge and change the name of its product for a wider audience. Sileme is the Chinese name for "Are You Dead?" The app is called "Are you dead?" in English. It was created to be a "lightweight safety tool" for those who live alone, whether they are students, officers, or anyone else. App requires a single emergency contact and will send automatic notifications to the user if they have not checked into the app in a period of?consecutive?days. The Global Times reported that China could have as many as 200 million single-person households. Sileme announced on Tuesday, via its official Weibo account, that it will soon launch a new version of its global brand name Demumu. The app is called Demumu and is number two on Apple's chart of paid apps. It was at the top earlier this week. "Thanks for all the support from netizens. "We were initially a small unknown team, cofounded and operated by three born after 1994," said Sileme. The company announced on Sunday it will launch a payment scheme of eight yuan ($1.15) to cover rising costs. Demumu, an app available on Apple's App Store, already charged HK$8 for the download. Sileme's name was suggested by some social media users, such as Weibo. Others suggested "Are You Alive", "Are You Online" or "Are?You There." One user said that it was helpful for safety reasons. It will help us singles feel more comfortable in our daily lives. Reporting by Farah Masters; editing by Michael Perry.
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China's rare earth exports to 2025 are at their highest level since 2014, despite restrictions
China's rare-earth?exports reached their highest level in at least 2014 even though Beijing started?restricting?shipments of various medium to heavy elements starting April. Data from the General Administration of Customs revealed that the world's largest producer shipped out a total of 62.585 metric tons of this group of 17 components used in consumer electronics, automobiles, and defence equipments, with an increase of 12.9% annually. In April, China added magnets and seven heavy and medium rare earth elements to its export control list as a response to hefty U.S. duties. This led?to an abrupt drop in magnet exports in April & May. The shipments have gradually recovered since June, thanks to the agreements that were reached between China, the United States and Europe. Outbound shipments in December fell by 20% compared to the previous month, falling to 4,392 tonnes, as the overseas purchasing appetite declined following the build-up of stocks before the Christmas break. However, the December volume was 32% higher than the 3,326 tonnes in 2024. An analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media said that many overseas buyers had booked more 'volumes' in November to prepare for the holiday last month. Exports in November increased by 26.5% compared to October. Reporting by Amy Lv & Lewis Jackson, Editing by Himani & Shri Navaratnam
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Copper reaches a record high, as concerns over supply outweigh dollar strength
The copper price rose to a record high on Wednesday as supply concerns overshadowed a stronger dollar. Meanwhile, tin prices also reached a record high due to speculative purchases amid a growing geopolitical unrest. After hitting a record high of 105,650 Yuan per metric tonne earlier in the morning, the most-traded contract for copper on the Shanghai Futures Exchange ended the morning session 1.68% higher, at 104970 yuan. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 1.55% to $13,367.5 a ton at?0340 GMT. This is a slight retreat from a record high of $13,400 per ton. Copper's resiliency in price is attributed to disruptions at the mines, concerns about deficits for this year and a?flow of copper into the U.S. before?potential tariffs which are reducing supply elsewhere. On Tuesday, U.S. president Donald Trump urged Iranians protesters to continue their protests and said that help was on its way. Analysts say that this has fueled concerns about geopolitical risk, which is why some investors are rushing to commodities like copper and tin with solid fundamentals. A stronger dollar has capped the price increases. It makes goods priced in greenbacks more expensive for buyers who use other currencies. The tin price in both the Shanghai and London stock exchanges has reached record levels. SHFE tin soared up to 8%, hitting the upper limit of 413 170 yuan. LME tin rose more than 5% at $52,495. SHFE aluminium increased by 1.12%. Nickel advanced by 1.47%. Lead rose 0.2%. Zinc increased 1.05%. Aluminium, nickel, and lead all rose in price on the LME. Zinc also rose by 1.22%.
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China's coal imports in December hit a record high despite a 10% drop on an annual basis
Customs data revealed that China's coal imports in December rose to a "record monthly high" due to winter stockpiling and rising domestic prices. According to the General Administration of Customs, imports in December reached a monthly record of 58.59?metric tons. This is a sharp rebound from'supply constraints caused by major exporters Indonesia Australia and Russia in November. Buyers stock up on coal in anticipation of the coldest months, when heating demand drives consumption higher. A government index also showed that domestic coal prices rose to nearly a year high by the end of November. This would have led buyers to seek out cheaper imported coal. The full-year imports of '2025 remained below the record high of 2024 because of lower shipments throughout the year. China imported a total of 490,27 million metric tonnes in 2025. This is down 10% on the record set in 2024.
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China's steel imports and exports are at record levels
China's steel imports reached a monthly record high in December. This was largely due to the front-loading of shipments, which was prompted by Beijing's announcement that export licenses would be required for shipments starting 2026. Data from the General Administration of Customs in the Philippines showed that the world's largest steel producer exported 11.3 million tons of'metal' used in construction and manufacturing during the month of December, which was the highest amount ever for a month. Beijing plans to implement a license system to regulate steel exports in 2026, after robust shipments sparked a protectionist backlash around the world. Analysts said that some exporters have rushed to increase shipments in anticipation of the new export license requirement. China's property market woes persist despite surprisingly high steel exports. According to a state-backed?research?agency, China's steel?demand is expected to decline by 1% in this?year following a 5.4% annual drop in 2025. Steel exports in the entire year increased by 7.5% compared to the previous year, reaching a record high of 119.02 millions tons. This is despite the fact that more countries are imposing trade barriers against Chinese steel because they claim it has hurt domestic manufacturing. IRON ORE IMPORTS MARCH HIGH TO RECORD HIGH Imports of iron?ore in the largest consumer country reached a record last year, as mills were encouraged to book more cargoes by low inventories and better steel margins. Analysts said that robust exports of steel were also driving a resilient demand for this key ingredient in steelmaking. Imports rose by 8.2% in December from the previous month to 119.65 millions tons. This is the highest monthly import volume ever. In 2025, total imports will reach a new record of 1.26 billion tonnes, an increase of 1.8% over 2024. According to Bai Xin of Horizon Insights, the analyst, global iron ore production is expected to?grow 2.5% by 2026. Shipments to China will increase between 36 and 38 million tonnes, putting pressure on prices in 2018. Reporting by Amy Lv, Lewis Jackson and Jacqueline Wong.
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Japan regulator to suspend Chubu Electric Nuclear Power Plant Review pending Report
The nuclear watchdog in Japan said that it will order Chubu Electric Power on Wednesday to submit a report detailing?falsified data? and pause the review of its utility's application?to restart?its only atomic power plant. The Nuclear Regulation Authority in Japan (NRA) warned that it would take a harsh action against Chubu Electric after discovering the utility had manipulated data used for the reviews of its No. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan had?previously?warned against a severe response towards Chubu Electric, including scrapping the review altogether after it was revealed that data used in the reviews of reactors No. Hamaoka, which is located in Shizuoka Prefecture along the Pacific Coast of Japan, has 4 reactors. The NRA decided to conduct an 'on-site inspection to determine the truth behind the irregularities at its Wednesday'regular meeting. The NRA gave the utility until the 31st of March to provide findings about the misconduct. It also said that it would pause its review process due to the compromised 'credibility' of the documents. Chubu Electric began reviewing?the units more than a decade ago. Some experts expected a possible restart by 2030. In its latest business plan, the company predicted that a restart would be imminent. It estimated that it could save about 260 billion Japanese yen (1.64 billion dollars) in annual power procurement costs. Utility plans to decommission No.1 & No.2 units at Hamakao, but has not yet applied for the restart of Hamakao's 5th reactor. The NRA decision comes at a time when Tokyo Electric Power is preparing to start up its first nuclear plant this month since a tsunami destroyed Fukushima Daiichi in '2011. This was the worst nuclear catastrophe since the Chornobyl Crisis in Russia in 1986 and shaken the public's faith in atomic energy. The Fukushima nuclear meltdown forced the shutdown of all 54 reactors in Japan. Since then, 14 reactors have been restarted. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi backed nuclear restarts in order to increase energy security and reduce the cost of fossil fuels imported into Japan, which accounts for 60% to 70% or its electricity generation.
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EU scientists claim that 2025 was the third warmest year ever recorded.
EU scientists?on Wednesday? said that the planet has experienced its third-warmest record year in 2025 and that average temperatures have exceeded 1,5 degrees Celsius? of global warming for three years. This is the longest period recorded since records began. According to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts of the European Union (ECMWF), the data shows that 2025 is only 0.01 C cooler than 2023. The UK Met Office confirmed that its own data placed 2025 as the third warmest year in the records dating back to 1850. The World Meteorological Organization is expected to release its temperature data later on Wednesday. The hottest recorded year was 2024. Extreme Weather Events ECMWF stated that the planet just experienced its first three-year span in which the average global temperatures were 1.5 C higher than the pre-industrial era. Scientists expect that global warming will have severe, if not irreversible impacts if it exceeds this limit. "1.5 C isn't a cliff-edge. We know, however, that every fraction matters, especially for the worsening of extreme weather events," said Samantha Burgess. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, governments pledged to work to limit global warming to 1.5 C?. This is measured by a decade-long average temperature in comparison to the pre-industrial period. ECMWF stated that if they fail to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, this level may be reached before 2030 – a decade sooner than was predicted in 2015 when the Paris Accord was signed. Carlo Buontempo is the director of EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. "The decision we have to make is how best to manage the inevitable overshoot, and its effects on society and natural systems." POLITICAL PUSHBACK ECMWF reported that the long-term global warming is currently about 1.4 C higher than the pre-industrial era. In 2024, the short-term temperature of the planet was 1.5 C. Even if it is only temporary, exceeding the long-term limit of?1.5 C would have more severe and widespread effects, such as hotter, longer heatwaves and more powerful storms and flooding. Climate change will worsen specific weather events, such as Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean, and monsoon rainfall in Pakistan, which has killed over 1,000 people in floods. Climate science faces increased political opposition despite these worsening effects. Donald Trump, the U.S. president who called climate change a "greatest con job", withdrew last week from dozens of U.N. organizations including the scientific Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Scientists have long agreed that climate change is real and largely caused by humans. It is also getting worse. The main cause of climate change is the greenhouse gas emissions that are produced by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. These gases trap heat in our atmosphere.
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REFILE-Asian stock prices inch higher as fragile yen sparks intervention concerns
Asian stocks rose Wednesday, boosted by Japanese shares. Investors?prepared for a quick election in Japan, which could lead to fiscal stimulus. Worries about central bank independence, and 'benign U.S. data on inflation, whipsawed currencies. Gold prices reached a new record high as geopolitical tensions erupted across the globe. Oil prices also rose after U.S. president Donald Trump encouraged Iranians to continue protesting and said that help was on its way. Iran accused Trump, in turn, of inciting violence and encouraging political instability. Early Asian hours saw the Japanese yen at its lowest level since July 20,24, at 159.415 to the dollar. The threat of market intervention was resurfacing. Local media reported Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi considering holding a snap election for the lower house on February 8th. The weak yen, coupled with the prospect of additional stimulus, sent the Nikkei index up by more than 1% to a new record. This pushed Japanese government bond prices lower. Investors are worried about Japan's fiscal health and this "Takaichi" trade has been accelerated in recent weeks. Masahiko?Loo, senior fixed income strategist at State Street Investment Management said that the market movements reflected expectations for fiscal easing. However, they may have been overstated due to political constraints, as Takaichi’s coalition will need opposition support in the upper house of parliament to pass legislation. Loo stated that "any sharp and decisive move beyond 161 (for the yen) level could trigger a renewed intervention to reduce excessive volatility." In that scenario, the expectation of a Bank of Japan interest rate hike could?shift to April and serve as an inflection for currency dynamics. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index was up by 0.2%, hovering just below the record high reached on Tuesday. Overnight, U.S. stocks ended lower. Financial shares were the main culprit, as comments by JPMorgan executives fueled concerns about Trump's proposal to cap credit card interest rates. Chinese stocks were up 0.7% early in the day, but still a little below Tuesday's 10-year-high. European stock futures increased by 0.1%, signaling a muted opening. COOLING INFLATION The data released on Tuesday indicated that the U.S. inflation rate was moderate last month. This suggests the import tariffs are not being passed through to the prices, which could mean more rate cuts this year. However, the Fed is expected to "stand pat" this month. At least two rate reductions this year are being priced in by traders. However, the move is not expected to happen until May when Fed Chair Jerome Powell ends his term. Matt Simpson, senior market analyst for StoneX, says that U.S. inflation has not slowed 'enough' to cause imminent rate cuts. Simpson stated that the US dollar could enjoy a little more of a bid before the tide turns to bearish. The dollar index which measures the performance of the greenback against a basket including the yen, the euro and other currencies, has risen to 99.243, after gaining 0.2% the previous session. Investors were worried about Fed independence in the Trump administration after the U.S. Department of Justice had threatened to indict Fed Chairman Powell over a building renovation. Powell rebuked him for this and on Tuesday, global central bank officials issued a statement of support. Steve Lawrence, chief executive officer of Balfour Capital Group said that markets seemed to perceive this incident as more political than an actual threat. Lawrence stated that Powell's description of the threat of an indictment is intimidation, which reinforces this interpretation. It signals institutional defence and not escalation. From a market standpoint, this indicates that existing guardrails surrounding the Fed are still considered intact. Gold rose by 0.6%, to $4,613.93 an ounce, and silver soared over 2% to reach a new record. (Reporting from Ankur Banerjee, Singapore; Editing and proofreading by Thomas Derpinghaus.)
Oil prices pause gains as Venezuela shipments resume but Iran concerns loom
The market is apprehensive about the possibility of Iranian supply disruptions after deadly unrest in this major Middle Eastern producer.
Brent futures traded 9 cents lower or 0.14% at $65.38 per barrel at 0207 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude was down 12 Cents, or 0.2%, at $61.03 per barrel.
Brent futures ended 2.5% higher Tuesday, while WTI rose 2.8%. Prices for both contracts have risen 9.2% in the last four trading sessions due to the?increasing protests against the fourth largest OPEC producer. U.S. president Donald Trump on Monday urged Iranians to continue protesting, and that help would soon be on its way. He did not specify what kind of aid he meant.
Analysts at Citi raised their forecast for Brent oil over the next 3 months to $70 per barrel.
Citi analysts note that the protests are not yet spread to the main Iranian oil producing regions, which limits the actual effect on supply.
They said that the current risks were skewed towards political and logistical tensions, rather than outages. This would keep the impact on Iranian crude exports and supply contained. Venezuela, an OPEX founding member, is reversing the oil production cuts that were made as a result of the U.S. embargo. Crude exports are also?resuming', according to three sources.
Two supertankers left Venezuelan waters Monday, each carrying 1.8 million barrels of crude oil. This could be the first shipment of a 50 million-barrel supply deal between Caracas & Washington in order to restart exports in the wake the capture by the U.S. of Venezuelan president Nicola Maduro.
Even with geopolitical concerns, the fundamentals of the oil market suggest that supply and demand are much more flexible.
The U.S. Inventory data released late Tuesday confirmed this.
According to sources, according the American Petroleum Institute, crude stocks in the U.S. - the world's largest oil consumer - rose by?5.23million barrels during the week ending January 9.
Sources also stated that API data revealed?gasoline inventory rose by 8.23 millions barrels while distillate inventory rose by 4.34million barrels compared to a week ago.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration is scheduled to release its stockpile data later on Wednesday. On Tuesday, a poll indicated that U.S. crude stockpiles would have decreased last week while gasoline and distillate stocks were likely to rise. (Reporting and editing by Christian Schmollinger in Tokyo, with Katya Golubkova)
(source: Reuters)