44 m. ago Chernobyl safety shield damaged, UN confirms. Ukraine blames Russian drones

A protective shield at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in war-torn Ukraine, built to contain radioactive material from the 1986 disaster, can no longer perform its main safety function due to drone damage, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Friday, a strike Ukraine has attributed to Russia. The International Atomic Energy Agency said an inspection last week of the steel confinement structure completed in 2019 found the drone impact in February, three years into Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, had...

Events

89 m. ago Lifeline or trash? Taiwan safety guide sparks fierce debate amid Beijing threat

Taiwan’s updated crisis and war survival guide has ignited fierce political debate, hailed by officials as a lifeline amid Beijing’s mounting military pressure but blasted by critics as costly propaganda prompting fear rather than readiness. Mass distribution of In Case of Crisis: Taiwan’s National Public Safety Guide – quickly dubbed the “little orange book” – began late last month, targeting 9.83 million households. The 29-page comic-style publication explains how to stockpile food and water,...

Events

7 h. ago A community unites to revive China’s largest freshwater lake

A community unites to revive China’s largest freshwater lake  Conservation International

Politics

8 h. ago China’s VP has ‘constructive’ call with Trump officials Bessent and Greer

Beijing and Washington held a call on Friday to discuss bilateral trade and economic ties, as a variety of practical issues – from soybean orders to computer chips – remain problematic despite the trade truce in October. Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng’s video call with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was part of a bilateral negotiation mechanism started this year to address issues between the world’s two largest economies. The two sides had...

Politics

9 h. ago TWA marks 30th anniversary of historic ‘Silent Protest’ in Beijing by exile Tibetan women

TWA marks 30th anniversary of historic ‘Silent Protest’ in Beijing by exile Tibetan women  Phayul

Events

9 h. ago EU hits Musk’s X with US$140 million fine, risking Trump’s ire

The European Union hit Elon Musk’s X with a €120 million (US$140 million) fine on Friday for breaking its digital rules, in a move that risks a fresh clash with US President Donald Trump’s administration. The high-profile probe into the social media platform was seen as a test of the EU’s resolve to police Big Tech. US Vice-President J.D. Vance fired a warning against “attacking” US firms through “censorship” before the penalty was even made public. Imposing the first fine under its powerful...

Events

11 h. ago Dutch minister admits he was blindsided by China in Nexperia chip crisis

Export controls may have been the economic weapon of choice in 2025, but the Dutch minister at the centre of the Nexperia crisis has admitted he was blindsided by Beijing when it blocked the company’s chips from leaving China. His concession raises fresh questions over how much planning went into the decision to reach for a Cold War-era law to intervene in the Chinese-owned, Dutch-headquartered chipmaker in September, a move that triggered a supply chain shock in the global automotive...

Politics

11 h. ago China offers France a new pair of pandas (what is Beijing's panda diplomacy)

China offers France a new pair of pandas (what is Beijing's panda diplomacy)  Vox News Albania

Politics

11 h. ago Three Chinese snowboarders sail into final at FIS Big Air World Cup in Beijing

Three Chinese snowboarders sail into final at FIS Big Air World Cup in Beijing  Xinhua

Politics

11 h. ago Taiwan, Japan raise alarm over China’s maritime deployment; Beijing says operations fully compliant with law

Taiwan, Japan raise alarm over China’s maritime deployment; Beijing says operations fully compliant with law  Firstpost

Events

12 h. ago State of China’s Economy and the Road Ahead in the 15th Five

State of China’s Economy and the Road Ahead in the 15th Five-Year Plan (Beijing, In-person Only)  The US-China Business Council

Politics

12 h. ago Beijing Capital International Airport Co Clarifies EGM Book Closure Period

Beijing Capital International Airport Co Clarifies EGM Book Closure Period  TipRanks

Society

13 h. ago Beijing Geekplus Technology Announces EGM to Vote on Key Resolutions

Beijing Geekplus Technology Announces EGM to Vote on Key Resolutions  TipRanks

Politics

13 h. ago Major Chinese airlines extend full refund offers for Japan flights by 3 months

Major Chinese airlines have extended their offer of full refunds for flights to Japan for another three months, as the heated diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo shows no signs of easing. On Friday, Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – the country’s largest state-owned carriers – along with several others, including Hainan Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Spring Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, issued statements allowing free ticket refunds or itinerary changes for...

Politics

13 h. ago Beijing court launches a groundbreaking initiative by appointing 21 retired judges as mediators

Beijing court launches a groundbreaking initiative by appointing 21 retired judges as mediators  China Daily

Events

14 h. ago Xi Jinping hosts Macron on rare trip with a global leader outside Beijing

Xi Jinping hosts Macron on rare trip with a global leader outside Beijing  France 24

Politics

14 h. ago China breaks ground on 30 MW power plant in Inner Mongolia using a 100% hydrogen turbine

China breaks ground on 30 MW power plant in Inner Mongolia using a 100% hydrogen turbine  Energies Media

Politics

15 h. ago France poised to get two giant pandas in 2027 after Macron’s visit to China

France is poised to get a pair of pandas in 2027 as part of a new decade-long loan agreement finalised following President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day visit to China. On Thursday, the China Wildlife Conservation Association announced it had agreed with France’s Beauval Zoo to extend their international cooperation on giant panda conservation with the aim of boosting Sino-French exchanges. According to the group’s statement, the two giant pandas are expected to arrive at the zoo in Saint-Aignan...

Politics

15 h. ago France poised to get 2 giant pandas in 2027 after Macron’s visit to China

France is poised to get a pair of pandas in 2027 as part of a new decade-long loan agreement finalised following President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day visit to China. On Thursday, the China Wildlife Conservation Association announced it had agreed with France’s Beauval Zoo to extend their international cooperation on giant panda conservation with the aim of boosting Sino-French exchanges. According to the group’s statement, the two giant pandas are expected to arrive at the zoo in Saint-Aignan...

Politics

15 h. ago Beijing to update Olympic Center, focuses on urban renewal, tech

Beijing to update Olympic Center, focuses on urban renewal, tech  China Daily

Politics