<p>The death toll from a highway collapse in southern China's Guangdong province has risen to 48, local officials said Thursday, as adverse conditions complicated rescue efforts.</p>

<p>Over 20 vehicles careened into the nearly 18-metre-long (60-foot) gash in the tarmac and plummeted down the steep slope below.</p>

<p>Guangdong, a densely populated industrial powerhouse, has been hit by a string of disasters attributed to extreme weather events in recent weeks.</p>

<p>The storms have been much heavier than expected this time of year and have been linked to climate change.</p>

<p>China is the biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change but has pledged to reduce emissions to net zero by 2060.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-police-enter-columbia-building-barricaded-by-students-as-protests-716835">NYPD removes pro-Palestinian protesters from Columbia University, arrests made</a></p>

<p>Fire engines, their paint a stark red, surrounded the scene. People in high-vis vests huddled near a cordon just metres from the gaping maw where the road had collapsed. Earlier footage,&nbsp;apparently shot before dawn, showed flames licking skyward from the depths of the pit.</p>

<p>"You can't go any further," a man is heard saying in one video, adding parts of the road had given way.</p>

<p>Authorities have dispatched around 500 people to the site to help with the rescue operation, reported CCTV.</p>

<p>People from various departments including public security, emergency response, firefighting and mining rescue were deployed to the site.</p>

<p>Local authorities said in a notice that part of the S12 highway was closed in both directions and ordered drivers to take detours.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Heavy rains and extreme weather events pose a serious threat to China's vast highway network. This infrastructure, vital to the country's densely populated industrial provinces, traverses challenging environments and endures harsh climates.&nbsp;</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-floridas-6-week-abortion-ban-goes-into-effect-draws-criticism-from-doctors-716924">Florida's 6-week abortion ban goes into effect, draws criticism from doctors</a></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Recent incidents, like the fatal tornado in Guangzhou, highlight the dangers. Negligent safety controls further contribute to the problem of road accidents, a common occurrence in China.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal">In March, 14 people were killed and 37 others injured after a bus crashed inside an expressway tunnel in northern Shanxi province. Sixteen people died in a vehicle pile-up in central Hunan province in February last year, a month after 19 perished in an accident in eastern Jiangxi province.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The death toll from a highway collapse in southern China's Guangdong province has risen to 48, local officials said Thursday, as adverse conditions complicated rescue efforts.

The death toll from a highway collapse in southern China's Guangdong province has risen to 48, local officials said Thursday, as adverse conditions complicated rescue efforts. Over 20 vehicles careened into the nearly 18-metre-long (60-foot) gash in the tarmac and plummeted down the steep slope below. Guangdong, a densely populated industrial powerhouse, has been hit by a string of disasters attributed to extreme weather events in recent weeks. The storms have been much heavier than expected this time of year and have been linked to climate change. China is the biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change but has pledged to reduce emissions to net zero by 2060. Also read: NYPD removes pro-Palestinian protesters from Columbia University, arrests made Fire engines, their paint a stark red, surrounded the scene. People in high-vis vests huddled near a cordon just metres from the gaping maw where the road had collapsed. Earlier footage, apparently shot before dawn, showed flames licking skyward from the depths of the pit. "You can't go any further," a man is heard saying in one video, adding parts of the road had given way. Authorities have dispatched around 500 people to the site to help with the rescue operation, reported CCTV. People from various departments including public security, emergency response, firefighting and mining rescue were deployed to the site. Local authorities said in a notice that part of the S12 highway was closed in both directions and ordered drivers to take detours. Heavy rains and extreme weather events pose a serious threat to China's vast highway network. This infrastructure, vital to the country's densely populated industrial provinces, traverses challenging environments and endures harsh climates. Also read: Florida's 6-week abortion ban goes into effect, draws criticism from doctors Recent incidents, like the fatal tornado in Guangzhou, highlight the dangers. Negligent safety controls further contribute to the problem of road accidents, a common occurrence in China. In March, 14 people were killed and 37 others injured after a bus crashed inside an expressway tunnel in northern Shanxi province. Sixteen people died in a vehicle pile-up in central Hunan province in February last year, a month after 19 perished in an accident in eastern Jiangxi province. (With inputs from agencies)

48 dead after highway road collapses in south China's Guangdong, rescue operations on

<p>China on&nbsp;Thursday (Apr 25) launched a manned spaceship into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.&nbsp;The Long March-2F carrier rocket blasted off the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft with three Chinese astronauts on board.</p>

<p>The space mission is&nbsp;China’s&nbsp;first&nbsp;manned&nbsp;mission this year and 32nd manned flight so far.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The flight&nbsp;is scheduled&nbsp;to reach the Tiangong space station 6.5 hours after&nbsp;launch.</p>

<p>Watch video:&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚀 China Launches Manned Shenzhou-18 Mission to Tiangong Space Station <a href="https://t.co/SEoDk4J1BQ">pic.twitter.com/SEoDk4J1BQ</a></p>
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<p>Earlier in the day, a send-off ceremony&nbsp;was held&nbsp;for the crew members before the launch. The astronauts will stay at the China Space Station for six months and return to the Dongfeng landing site in north&nbsp;China's&nbsp;Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in October this year.</p>

<h2><strong>Who are the three astronauts?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The three Chinese astronauts are Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, all&nbsp;of them&nbsp;born in the 1980s.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Blinken’s Visit to China: US Secy of State Antony Blinken holds meeting with top Shanghai official</strong></p>

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<p>The three persons will carry out six&nbsp;cargo&nbsp;outbound deliveries via the&nbsp;station's&nbsp;cargo airlock module and implement two to three extravehicular activities (EVAs).</p>

<h2><strong>The mission</strong></h2>

<p>The astronauts will&nbsp;“install space debris protection reinforcements for extravehicular piping, cables and critical equipment and carry out extravehicular inspections, as appropriate, to further safeguard the safety of the China Space Station,”&nbsp;announced the China Manned Space Agency.</p>

<p>"During the Shenzhou-18 mission, experimental equipment and related samples will be taken to space, and the&nbsp;country's&nbsp;first in-orbit aquatic ecological research project will be implemented. Using zebrafish and hornwort to establish a self-cycling aquatic ecosystem in orbit, the project aims to make a breakthrough in the cultivation of vertebrates in space,"&nbsp;Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSA, said on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjC37L12d2FAxXMRmwGHZACBxcQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blinken-calls-for-us-china-to-manage-differences-responsibly-714711" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/blinken-calls-for-us-china-to-manage-differences-responsibly-714711&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjC37L12d2FAxXMRmwGHZACBxcQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE">Blinken calls for US, China to manage differences `responsibly`</a></strong></p>

<p>"The&nbsp;world's&nbsp;first in-orbit stem cell study on the&nbsp;plant's&nbsp;stem tips will be made to reveal the mechanism of plant evolutionary adaptation to gravity and provide theoretical support for space cropping,"&nbsp;Lin added.</p>

<p>China began constructing its Tiangong space station in 2021, completing the T-shaped facility in late 2022. Since then, the space station has been hosting crews of three astronauts for&nbsp;periods of&nbsp;six months.</p>


China on Thursday (Apr 25) launched a manned spaceship into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The Long March-2F carrier rocket blasted off the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft with three Chinese astronauts on board.

China on Thursday (Apr 25) launched a manned spaceship into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The Long March-2F carrier rocket blasted off the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft with three Chinese astronauts on board. The space mission is China’s first manned mission this year and 32nd manned flight so far. The flight is scheduled to reach the Tiangong space station 6.5 hours after launch. Watch video: 🚀 China Launches Manned Shenzhou-18 Mission to Tiangong Space Station pic.twitter.com/SEoDk4J1BQ — RT_India (@RT_India_news) April 25, 2024 × Earlier in the day, a send-off ceremony was held for the crew members before the launch. The astronauts will stay at the China Space Station for six months and return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in October this year. Who are the three astronauts? The three Chinese astronauts are Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, all of them born in the 1980s. Watch: Blinken’s Visit to China: US Secy of State Antony Blinken holds meeting with top Shanghai official × The three persons will carry out six cargo outbound deliveries via the station's cargo airlock module and implement two to three extravehicular activities (EVAs). The mission The astronauts will “install space debris protection reinforcements for extravehicular piping, cables and critical equipment and carry out extravehicular inspections, as appropriate, to further safeguard the safety of the China Space Station,” announced the China Manned Space Agency. "During the Shenzhou-18 mission, experimental equipment and related samples will be taken to space, and the country's first in-orbit aquatic ecological research project will be implemented. Using zebrafish and hornwort to establish a self-cycling aquatic ecosystem in orbit, the project aims to make a breakthrough in the cultivation of vertebrates in space," Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSA, said on Wednesday. Also read: Blinken calls for US, China to manage differences `responsibly` "The world's first in-orbit stem cell study on the plant's stem tips will be made to reveal the mechanism of plant evolutionary adaptation to gravity and provide theoretical support for space cropping," Lin added. China began constructing its Tiangong space station in 2021, completing the T-shaped facility in late 2022. Since then, the space station has been hosting crews of three astronauts for periods of six months.

Watch: China launches manned spaceship to Tiangong space station for six months

<p>A new research reveals that the ground beneath millions in China's major cities is subsiding due to human activities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This sinking land is worsening the risk of flooding and sea level rise in the country's coastal regions. The study, published on Thursday (April 18) in the journal Science, indicates that nearly half of China's urban areas, which house 29 per cent&nbsp;of the population, are sinking at a rate exceeding 3 millimetres (approximately 0.12 inches) per year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This phenomenon affects around 270 million people residing on sinking land.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, 67 million people are living on land that is subsiding faster than 10 millimetres (0.4 inches) each year.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vetoes-palestinian-request-for-full-statehood-at-united-nations-712748">US vetoes Palestinian request for full statehood at United Nations</a></p>

<p>China’s extensive groundwater withdrawal is one of the main factors for subsidence, researchers said. Cities have been drawing water from underground aquifers faster than it can be refilled, a situation intensified by climate change-fueled drought. Excessive pumping out of water lowers the water table and causes the overlying land to sink.</p>

<p>The land in China is also sinking due to the growing weight of the cities themselves. Soil can compact&nbsp;naturally from the weight of sediments building up over time and from heavy buildings pressing down on the ground, causing the land to steadily sink.</p>

<p>Land subsidence is a global threat, not just a regional one. Coastal cities around the world face this challenge, including metropolises like New York in the US. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The Netherlands battles with vast swathes of land sinking below sea level, affecting a quarter of its entire territory. Mexico City holds a grim record, subsiding at an alarming rate of up to 50 centimetres a year – almost 20 inches. The consequences are terrible, especially in coastal regions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-dubai-sky-turns-green-internet-calls-it-indication-of-impending-storm-712727">WATCH: Dubai sky turns green, internet calls it 'indication of impending storm'</a></p>

<p>Sinking land coupled with rising sea levels creates a double whammy, exposing more people, property, and land to devastating floods.</p>

<p><br />
The study says roughly a quarter of China’s coasts will be lower than sea level because of subsidence and projected sea level rise, leading the area to colossal damage and putting lives at risk.</p>

<p>According to the study, Tianjin, Shanghai and areas around Guangzhou are significantly exposed to both issues.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A new research reveals that the ground beneath millions in China's major cities is subsiding due to human activities. This sinking land is worsening the risk of flooding and sea level rise in the country's coastal regions.

A new research reveals that the ground beneath millions in China's major cities is subsiding due to human activities. This sinking land is worsening the risk of flooding and sea level rise in the country's coastal regions. The study, published on Thursday (April 18) in the journal Science, indicates that nearly half of China's urban areas, which house 29 per cent of the population, are sinking at a rate exceeding 3 millimetres (approximately 0.12 inches) per year. This phenomenon affects around 270 million people residing on sinking land. Meanwhile, 67 million people are living on land that is subsiding faster than 10 millimetres (0.4 inches) each year. Also read: US vetoes Palestinian request for full statehood at United Nations China’s extensive groundwater withdrawal is one of the main factors for subsidence, researchers said. Cities have been drawing water from underground aquifers faster than it can be refilled, a situation intensified by climate change-fueled drought. Excessive pumping out of water lowers the water table and causes the overlying land to sink. The land in China is also sinking due to the growing weight of the cities themselves. Soil can compact naturally from the weight of sediments building up over time and from heavy buildings pressing down on the ground, causing the land to steadily sink. Land subsidence is a global threat, not just a regional one. Coastal cities around the world face this challenge, including metropolises like New York in the US. The Netherlands battles with vast swathes of land sinking below sea level, affecting a quarter of its entire territory. Mexico City holds a grim record, subsiding at an alarming rate of up to 50 centimetres a year – almost 20 inches. The consequences are terrible, especially in coastal regions. Also read: WATCH: Dubai sky turns green, internet calls it 'indication of impending storm' Sinking land coupled with rising sea levels creates a double whammy, exposing more people, property, and land to devastating floods. The study says roughly a quarter of China’s coasts will be lower than sea level because of subsidence and projected sea level rise, leading the area to colossal damage and putting lives at risk. According to the study, Tianjin, Shanghai and areas around Guangzhou are significantly exposed to both issues. (With inputs from agencies)

Millions at risk: Major Chinese cities sinking under their own weight, finds study

<p>China is gearing up to crack down on fraudulent academic research ecosystem in the country following reports of thousands of works being retracted by Chinese experts over the last years. According to reports, some 14,000 papers were withdrawn in 2023 alone for poor-quality or half-baked research, with three-quarters of them involving a Chinese co-author.</p>

<p>Despite the government’s efforts, it might be hard to fix this problem in Chinese academia because it’s ‘so pervasive.’</p>

<p>The Chinese Ministry of Education last month gave deadlines to universities for submitting a full list of academic articles that journals have retracted over the past three years, allowing it to assess the extent of the problem and decide on future courses of action.</p>

<h2><strong>The core problem</strong></h2>

<p>In China, it’s not uncommon to pay for research to be done by ghostwriters and agencies that provide a ‘one-stop’ service, from writing research papers to getting them published in low-key journals.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj1nIKqm-6EAxWvumMGHX4rCckQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-sends-research-ship-to-allegedly-spy-on-indias-agni-5-missile-launch-reports-699230" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-sends-research-ship-to-allegedly-spy-on-indias-agni-5-missile-launch-reports-699230&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj1nIKqm-6EAxWvumMGHX4rCckQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">China sends research ship to allegedly spy on India`s Agni-5 missile launch: Reports</a></strong></p>

<p>“If you have no problem financially, you can let others do your research for you. Whether it is publishing a paper or finding a journal, they have such a one-stop service,” Sun Fugui, a former graduate student at Ludong University in Shandong Province, was quoted as saying by VOA Chinese.</p>

<p>“And it's not just students, even teachers use these ghostwriters,” he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Quality always takes a back seat</strong></h2>

<p>Quality is hardly taken into consideration while publishing such scientific papers. “The purpose of these journals is not to publish good papers or to let others see their great academic achievements,” Sun said, adding, “Their purpose is to meet students’ and teachers’ need to publish papers."</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | China prepares for Naval war against India, America</strong></p>

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<p>Experts also believe that political intervention in academia also leads to the production of low-quality articles and papers. “The transparency of information, freedom of academic exchanges, and access to the Chinese research, all are heavily controlled by the state in China,” said Yun Sun, a senior fellow specialising in China at a think tank, the Stimson Center.</p>

<p>Some say value judgments in the universities are made ultimately by political authorities, which often lead to flawed publications. Adding to that, plagiarism is also a major problem, which has exacerbated over the last year due to the increased use of Artificial Intelligence-powered bots.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


China is gearing up to crack down on fraudulent academic research ecosystem in the country following reports of thousands of works being retracted by Chinese experts over the last years.

China is gearing up to crack down on fraudulent academic research ecosystem in the country following reports of thousands of works being retracted by Chinese experts over the last years. According to reports, some 14,000 papers were withdrawn in 2023 alone for poor-quality or half-baked research, with three-quarters of them involving a Chinese co-author. Despite the government’s efforts, it might be hard to fix this problem in Chinese academia because it’s ‘so pervasive.’ The Chinese Ministry of Education last month gave deadlines to universities for submitting a full list of academic articles that journals have retracted over the past three years, allowing it to assess the extent of the problem and decide on future courses of action. The core problem In China, it’s not uncommon to pay for research to be done by ghostwriters and agencies that provide a ‘one-stop’ service, from writing research papers to getting them published in low-key journals. Also read: China sends research ship to allegedly spy on India`s Agni-5 missile launch: Reports “If you have no problem financially, you can let others do your research for you. Whether it is publishing a paper or finding a journal, they have such a one-stop service,” Sun Fugui, a former graduate student at Ludong University in Shandong Province, was quoted as saying by VOA Chinese. “And it's not just students, even teachers use these ghostwriters,” he added. Quality always takes a back seat Quality is hardly taken into consideration while publishing such scientific papers. “The purpose of these journals is not to publish good papers or to let others see their great academic achievements,” Sun said, adding, “Their purpose is to meet students’ and teachers’ need to publish papers." Watch: Gravitas | China prepares for Naval war against India, America × Experts also believe that political intervention in academia also leads to the production of low-quality articles and papers. “The transparency of information, freedom of academic exchanges, and access to the Chinese research, all are heavily controlled by the state in China,” said Yun Sun, a senior fellow specialising in China at a think tank, the Stimson Center. Some say value judgments in the universities are made ultimately by political authorities, which often lead to flawed publications. Adding to that, plagiarism is also a major problem, which has exacerbated over the last year due to the increased use of Artificial Intelligence-powered bots. (With inputs from agencies)

China takes on the uphill task of cracking down on ‘pervasive’ academic fraud

<p>China is considering offering legal protection to employees forced to stay online even after work hours, reported Hong-Kong-based news outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP). This comes after Lyu Guoquan, head of the general office of China’s trade union federation, recommended the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) last week that guidelines and a legal framework be made for “working overtime online”. According to Lyu, the proposal was accepted by several government agencies and political advisory bodies.</p>

<h2><strong>China’s ‘Supreme Court’ on board</strong></h2>

<p>The issue was reportedly raised by the president of the Supreme People’s Court on Friday (Mar 8), who talked about rewarding employees for the “invisible overtime” in his work report to the National People’s Congress, China’s rubberstamp parliament.</p>

<p>Chief Justice Zhang Jun said a person was considered to be working overtime if they “contributed substantive labour” to tasks that “evidently consume time” – a definition that included staying online. “The standards guarantee that online [overtime] work is rewarded and offline rest is protected,” he said.</p>

<h2><strong>Chinese judiciary on overtime cases</strong></h2>

<p>In recent years, Chinese courts have addressed numerous cases concerning online overtime payments, with one particular case highlighted by the Supreme Court as exemplary for other judicial bodies to follow.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;China-Taiwan Tensions: China's push for Taiwan reunification, PLA spokesperson makes strong remarks</strong></p>

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<p>This case involved a director of a short video team, named Li, who sued their employer for unpaid overtime after being terminated in 2020. Initially, a lower court ruled that the time Li spent on WeChat for work-related communication during off-duty hours should be considered while calculating overtime compensation. However, the Supreme Court later found that quantifying such scattered time was challenging.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjPx4a2oeuEAxXTi2MGHYKECIEQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinping-urges-chinese-military-to-prepare-for-conflicts-at-sea-protect-maritime-rights-697782" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinping-urges-chinese-military-to-prepare-for-conflicts-at-sea-protect-maritime-rights-697782&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjPx4a2oeuEAxXTi2MGHYKECIEQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">Xi Jinping urges Chinese military to prepare for conflicts at sea, protect maritime rights</a></strong></p>

<p>Lou Yu, director of the Social Law Institute at China University of Political Science and Law, expressed the likelihood of regulations being established to govern online overtime labour.</p>

<p>“This is a very prominent labour and employment issue at present, and [the proposal] was recognised by different sectors,” he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


China is considering offering legal protection to employees forced to stay online even after work hours, reported Hong-Kong-based news outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP).

China is considering offering legal protection to employees forced to stay online even after work hours, reported Hong-Kong-based news outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP). This comes after Lyu Guoquan, head of the general office of China’s trade union federation, recommended the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) last week that guidelines and a legal framework be made for “working overtime online”. According to Lyu, the proposal was accepted by several government agencies and political advisory bodies. China’s ‘Supreme Court’ on board The issue was reportedly raised by the president of the Supreme People’s Court on Friday (Mar 8), who talked about rewarding employees for the “invisible overtime” in his work report to the National People’s Congress, China’s rubberstamp parliament. Chief Justice Zhang Jun said a person was considered to be working overtime if they “contributed substantive labour” to tasks that “evidently consume time” – a definition that included staying online. “The standards guarantee that online [overtime] work is rewarded and offline rest is protected,” he said. Chinese judiciary on overtime cases In recent years, Chinese courts have addressed numerous cases concerning online overtime payments, with one particular case highlighted by the Supreme Court as exemplary for other judicial bodies to follow. Watch: China-Taiwan Tensions: China's push for Taiwan reunification, PLA spokesperson makes strong remarks × This case involved a director of a short video team, named Li, who sued their employer for unpaid overtime after being terminated in 2020. Initially, a lower court ruled that the time Li spent on WeChat for work-related communication during off-duty hours should be considered while calculating overtime compensation. However, the Supreme Court later found that quantifying such scattered time was challenging. Also read: Xi Jinping urges Chinese military to prepare for conflicts at sea, protect maritime rights Lou Yu, director of the Social Law Institute at China University of Political Science and Law, expressed the likelihood of regulations being established to govern online overtime labour. “This is a very prominent labour and employment issue at present, and [the proposal] was recognised by different sectors,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

China to offer legal protection to employees for ‘invisible overtime’

Qin Gang, the former foreign minister of China, who was missing from public view since June last year, has resigned from the national legislature. Qin was dismissed as foreign minister in July 2023. Watch in for more details!

China: Qin Gang not seen in public since June last year, now resigns as Chinese lawmaker

A Hong Kong court has ordered China's debt-laden property giant Evergrande to liquidate. How did Evergrande become the face of China's real estate crisis? Will its downfall impact China's economy? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Will Evergrande's fall impact China's economy?

China's so-called research vessel that was headed to Maldives was stopped by the Indonesian coast guard on Sunday. The Indonesian coast guard stopped China's "Xiang Yang Hong 03" ship after it turned off its transponder three times, raising red flags. Here's what happened next.

Gravitas: Chinese spy ship headed to Maldives turned off transporder thrice, stopped by Indonesia

A revolutionary battery that could power cellphones for 50 years without needing to be charged is allegedly developed by a Chinese business. According to an Independent story, Beijing-based Betavolt claimed that its nuclear battery is the first in the world to realize the miniaturization of atomic energy, packing 63 radioactive isotopes into a module no bigger than a coin.

China develops radioactive battery that lasts for 50 years

As part of initiatives to eradicate corruption in China's armed forces, a senior commander of the People's Liberation Army has demanded stricter rules and improved supervision of influential figures.

China’s military graft-busters told to scrutinise the powerful officials

Chinese President Xi Jinping has committed to intensify the fight against corruption in important industries like infrastructure, energy, and finance, according to state media. Breaking with established political conventions, Xi took office in 2022 and immediately began his second decade as China's top leader. Since then, he has fought a valiant battle against corruption.

Gravitas: China's Xi Jinping vows intensified crackdown on corruption

Football is trending in China and behind it are some worrying revelations - a documentary with confessions by football officials, aired on Chinese television. The documentary exposes scandals in the game.

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<p>A little Chinese boy left millions in shock on the internet after he gifted gold bars worth $15,000 or INR 12 lakh to a girl in his nursery school class. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that the four-year-old boy gifted the gold bars as an “engagement gift.”</p>

<p>The incident unfolded in Guang'an, Sichuan province, southwestern China, on December 22. When the excited girl showed the extraordinary gift to her parents, they were left shocked and confused. The girl’s parents not only asked her to return the gold bars to the boy the next day but also contacted the boy’s family and informed them about the happenings.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Taiwan accuses China of psychological warfare</strong></p>

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<p>It turned out that the boy’s parents had stashed the gold bars for his future bride. “The boy's parents said they had told their son that the gold bars were intended for his future wife, but they didn't expect him to secretly take them out and give them to our daughter,'' the girl's mother was quoted as saying by the SCMP.</p>

<p>She also warned other parents to beware of similar acts by their children.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the amusing incident triggered a wave of reactions and laughter on Chinese social media. One user said, ''This little boy has guts, just casually giving away 200 grams of gold like that.'' Another commented, ''My mother-in-law just gave me a bracelet, and my son asked if he could give it to a classmate because he thought it looked nice. I suppose I should be ‘grateful' he thought to ask me first.''</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-imposes-sanctions-on-five-us-military-manufacturers-in-retaliation-for-arms-sales-to-taiwan-677304"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;China imposes sanctions on five US military manufacturers in retaliation over arms sales to Taiwan</strong></a></p>

<p>A third said, ''In the first year, my daughter's classmate, a boy, gave her 200 yuan in cash. I promptly returned the money to the boy's parents that same evening.''</p>

<p>Earlier in May 2023, a similar episode took place in China when a young boy gifted his mother’s gold bangle to a girl in his kindergarten. Later, the boy’s mother was informed about the incident by his teacher, who asked her to “watch out” for her jewellery.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A little Chinese boy left millions in shock on the internet after he gifted gold bars worth $15,000 or INR 12 lakh to a girl in his nursery school class. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that the four-year-old boy gifted the gold bars as an “engagement gift.

A little Chinese boy left millions in shock on the internet after he gifted gold bars worth $15,000 or INR 12 lakh to a girl in his nursery school class. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that the four-year-old boy gifted the gold bars as an “engagement gift.” The incident unfolded in Guang'an, Sichuan province, southwestern China, on December 22. When the excited girl showed the extraordinary gift to her parents, they were left shocked and confused. The girl’s parents not only asked her to return the gold bars to the boy the next day but also contacted the boy’s family and informed them about the happenings. Watch: Taiwan accuses China of psychological warfare × It turned out that the boy’s parents had stashed the gold bars for his future bride. “The boy's parents said they had told their son that the gold bars were intended for his future wife, but they didn't expect him to secretly take them out and give them to our daughter,'' the girl's mother was quoted as saying by the SCMP. She also warned other parents to beware of similar acts by their children. Meanwhile, the amusing incident triggered a wave of reactions and laughter on Chinese social media. One user said, ''This little boy has guts, just casually giving away 200 grams of gold like that.'' Another commented, ''My mother-in-law just gave me a bracelet, and my son asked if he could give it to a classmate because he thought it looked nice. I suppose I should be ‘grateful' he thought to ask me first.'' Also read: China imposes sanctions on five US military manufacturers in retaliation over arms sales to Taiwan A third said, ''In the first year, my daughter's classmate, a boy, gave her 200 yuan in cash. I promptly returned the money to the boy's parents that same evening.'' Earlier in May 2023, a similar episode took place in China when a young boy gifted his mother’s gold bangle to a girl in his kindergarten. Later, the boy’s mother was informed about the incident by his teacher, who asked her to “watch out” for her jewellery. (With inputs from agencies)

Little China boy gifts gold bars worth $15k to girl as ‘engagement’ gift

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<p>People from a village in southwest China damaged a set of 1,400-year-old Buddha statues by painting them with bright colours. They did it to "redeem a wish to the god," the officials said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Chinese experts, the Shifeihe Buddha statues date back to the late Northern Wei era (386-534 AD) during the Northern and Southern dynasties. These statues are crucial artefacts with academic value in Buddhist culture and art research.&nbsp;Moreover, they are the only statues in Sichuan carved on the surface of natural stone.</p>

<p>The Najiang County Research Center for the Protection of Cultural Property released a statement saying a villager asked his mother to hire a painter to paint the statues in bright colours to thank the gods for fulfilling their dreams.</p>

<p>After the incident, the local authorities increased security measures to avoid more damage to the artefacts.</p>

<p>Discovered in 2021, the statues were not registered in the heritage protection list, an employee from the local cultural relic protection bureau told China's state-run broadcaster CCTV. He said the villagers who damaged the statues were in their 70s and 80s and "could hardly be punished but only educated."</p>

<p>The employees also mentioned that the remote location of the statues made it harder for the authorities to protect them despite installing surveillance cameras. However, the villagers have painted the statues with acrylics, and it should be possible to restore them, the employee said, citing experts who examined the scene.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is not the first time such an incident has happened in China. In August 2018, some people smeared oil paint on Buddha statues at Fengmen Temple in Sichuan. Later, they were repaired with cement, Global Times reported. The Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics discovered 13 Buddha statues with pigment stains, most of which were made in the 1980s and 1990s.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Chen Peijun from the National Cultural Heritage Administration, China has over 760,000 immovable cultural relics as of October, including the Great Wall. However, only around 5,000 of these are major historical and cultural sites that are protected at the national level. This was shared by Peijun during a news conference.</p>

<p>In another incident, a&nbsp;pair of construction workers operating an excavator severely damaged a section of the Great Wall in northern China this year while attempting to take a shortcut.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Such incidents have sparked a debate on Chinese social media about how to protect cultural relics in remote villages.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


People from a village in southwest China damaged a set of 1,400-year-old Buddha statues by painting them with bright colours. They did it to "redeem a wish to the god," the officials said.

People from a village in southwest China damaged a set of 1,400-year-old Buddha statues by painting them with bright colours. They did it to "redeem a wish to the god," the officials said. According to Chinese experts, the Shifeihe Buddha statues date back to the late Northern Wei era (386-534 AD) during the Northern and Southern dynasties. These statues are crucial artefacts with academic value in Buddhist culture and art research. Moreover, they are the only statues in Sichuan carved on the surface of natural stone. The Najiang County Research Center for the Protection of Cultural Property released a statement saying a villager asked his mother to hire a painter to paint the statues in bright colours to thank the gods for fulfilling their dreams. After the incident, the local authorities increased security measures to avoid more damage to the artefacts. Discovered in 2021, the statues were not registered in the heritage protection list, an employee from the local cultural relic protection bureau told China's state-run broadcaster CCTV. He said the villagers who damaged the statues were in their 70s and 80s and "could hardly be punished but only educated." The employees also mentioned that the remote location of the statues made it harder for the authorities to protect them despite installing surveillance cameras. However, the villagers have painted the statues with acrylics, and it should be possible to restore them, the employee said, citing experts who examined the scene. It is not the first time such an incident has happened in China. In August 2018, some people smeared oil paint on Buddha statues at Fengmen Temple in Sichuan. Later, they were repaired with cement, Global Times reported. The Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics discovered 13 Buddha statues with pigment stains, most of which were made in the 1980s and 1990s. According to Chen Peijun from the National Cultural Heritage Administration, China has over 760,000 immovable cultural relics as of October, including the Great Wall. However, only around 5,000 of these are major historical and cultural sites that are protected at the national level. This was shared by Peijun during a news conference. In another incident, a pair of construction workers operating an excavator severely damaged a section of the Great Wall in northern China this year while attempting to take a shortcut. Such incidents have sparked a debate on Chinese social media about how to protect cultural relics in remote villages. (With inputs from agencies)

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