Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day

Biden warns China’s a ticking time bomb. Alibaba returns to growth. Fresh signs of easing US inflation emerge. Here’s what you need to know today.

US President Joe Biden expressed concern that a slew of economic and demographic problems have turned China into a “ticking time bomb” that threatens the rest of the world. Biden told a political fundraiser that the nation was “in trouble” due to slowing growth, its elderly population and high unemployment. The president said: “That’s not good, because when bad folks have problems, they do bad things.” His comments came a day after the US issued a long-awaited — but pared back — order curbing US investments in the country. Now the UK is considering whether to follow that lead.