An armed attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo has left several of the Chinese nationals dead and missing. The Chinese government has issued statement raising concerns for the armed attack on a mining site.

China says several nationals killed & missing in DR Congo, demands to hunt down killers | WION

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping met Wednesday for the second time in two months. Markus Garlauskas, director of the Atlantic Council's Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, joins to discuss.

SCO Summit: China, Russia hold bilateral meet on SCO sidelines; Putin, Xi hail stable ties

SCO Summit: China, Russia hail expanding SCO membership, China to get Presidency after seven years

Let's shift our focus to China's petrochemical sector, where the decade-long race to build its industrial giants have transformed the landscape, but now it threatens to overflow, which is sparking new global concerns.

China's plastic export dominance

Rising water levels in the Yangtze River following intense rains in southern China have prompted eastern regions downstream to prepare for possible flooding. Small business owners along the streets of Pingjiang County in the Chinese province of Hunan province woke up to devastating losses after the area was pounded by heavy rainfall and floods...

China floods: 340,000 affected and several businesses hit

Shanghai Cooperation Organization or the SCO Summit is being held in Astana, Kazakhstan. China's President Xi Jinping will attend the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of state from the 3rd of July until the 6th of July.

SCO Summit 2024: What's on agenda of 2024 SCO Summit?

Wavering consumer demand in China is spilling to the plates. Beef prices in the country are at a five-year low amid a slowing economy. This comes as the government pushes farmers to raise production and open the door for more imports.

According to Bloomberg, the wholesale prices have dropped 18 per cent from last year's peak to around $8.53 a kilogram. The industry is urging local authorities to provide subsidies to boost the market.&nbsp;

Food security is a major concern for the government, which is facing a multi-faceted economic slowdown. A spiralling property crisis, falling domestic demand and trade tensions with the US and the EU have halted China's economic juggernaut.

Economic pressures have pushed the Chinese government to speed up stimulus. In agriculture, the government is supporting a variety of sectors from livestock to grains. China faces the tricky challenge of stabilising production and helping farmers as imports rise.&nbsp;

China's 'beef' diplomacy

Bloomberg data shows that China's beef imports advanced 23 per cent in the first five months of 2024. This is reportedly to boost relations with countries including Spain and Brazil by giving them more market access to luxury products. Beef is a relatively luxurious eating option in China. It costs almost thrice as much as pork and is the usual choice of meat.&nbsp;

China's beef market has been growing in output and consumption. In 2023, China produced 7.5 million tonnes of beef and increased imports to match the growing demand (11 million tonnes). Now, the demand is easing, expected to be just 0.4 per cent in 2024.

Demand woes in China go beyond beef. The second-largest economy in the world is facing a demand slump post-COVID. Major food retailers have reported a drop in sales as frozen stockpiles flood&nbsp;godowns. This production glut is across industries, with major nations currently probing the influx of 'cheap Chinese goods'. Indonesia is reportedly planning tariffs to protect its textile industry from Chinese imports.&nbsp;

Wavering consumer demand in China is spilling to the plates. Beef prices in the country are at a five-year low amid a slowing economy. This comes as the government pushes farmers to raise production and open the door for more imports.

Wavering consumer demand in China is spilling to the plates. Beef prices in the country are at a five-year low amid a slowing economy. This comes as the government pushes farmers to raise production and open the door for more imports. According to Bloomberg, the wholesale prices have dropped 18 per cent from last year's peak to around $8.53 a kilogram. The industry is urging local authorities to provide subsidies to boost the market. Food security is a major concern for the government, which is facing a multi-faceted economic slowdown. A spiralling property crisis, falling domestic demand and trade tensions with the US and the EU have halted China's economic juggernaut. Economic pressures have pushed the Chinese government to speed up stimulus. In agriculture, the government is supporting a variety of sectors from livestock to grains. China faces the tricky challenge of stabilising production and helping farmers as imports rise. China's 'beef' diplomacy Bloomberg data shows that China's beef imports advanced 23 per cent in the first five months of 2024. This is reportedly to boost relations with countries including Spain and Brazil by giving them more market access to luxury products. Beef is a relatively luxurious eating option in China. It costs almost thrice as much as pork and is the usual choice of meat. China's beef market has been growing in output and consumption. In 2023, China produced 7.5 million tonnes of beef and increased imports to match the growing demand (11 million tonnes). Now, the demand is easing, expected to be just 0.4 per cent in 2024. Demand woes in China go beyond beef. The second-largest economy in the world is facing a demand slump post-COVID. Major food retailers have reported a drop in sales as frozen stockpiles flood godowns. This production glut is across industries, with major nations currently probing the influx of 'cheap Chinese goods'. Indonesia is reportedly planning tariffs to protect its textile industry from Chinese imports.

Beef prices plunge in China as demand wavers

New satellite photos have revealed that China has been rehearsing assault on American F-35 and F-22 fighter jets.

Gravitas: China rehearses hitting US fighter jet bases, new satellite images show

SCO Summit 2024: Two-day SCO Summit starts today

Chinese scientists have developed a robot with a lab-grown human brain. Are human-like robots going to take over the world? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Chinese scientists develop robot with lab-grown human brain

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met Wednesday for the second time in as many months as they visited Kazakhstan for SCO summit. Watch in for more details!

SCO Summit Day 1: Putin Xi meet on sidelines of SCO summit

SCO Summit 2024: What's on the agenda?

Services activity in China expanded at the slowest rate in eight months in June while business confidence plunged to a four-year low, a private sector survey showed on Wednesday. The Caixin/S&amp;P Global services purchasing managers' index(PMI) came in at 51.2 versus 54.0 in May and was the lowest since October 2023. But the PMI still remained in expansionary territory for the 18th month in a row and stayed above the 50-mark that separates expansion from contraction.

The survey, which focuses mostly on private and export-oriented firms, corresponded to the broader official PMI released on Sunday, which showed services sector activity at a five-month low. The world's second-largest economy has lacked steady growth recently, calling for more policy support in order to realise an ambitious growth target of around 5%.

The new orders sub-index slipped to 52.1 in June from &nbsp;55.4 the previous month, while overseas demand also lost a bit of ground despite May's strong exports. Business confidence slid to its lowest since March 2020, as concerns about the global economy and rising competition took a toll. Service providers slashed jobs in June after boosting them in May.

The slowdown in the rate of inflation at both the input and selling prices, however, offered some relief to enterprises, which have been under pressure from higher raw materials, labour and transportation costs. The Caixin/S&amp;P's composite PMI, which covers both services and manufacturing sectors, dipped to 52.8 from 54.1.

Attention has shifted to a leadership conclave in mid-July, known as the third plenum, which is rumoured to unveil far-reaching reforms. According to policy advisers, two of the most important agendas to be discussed at that meeting will include measures to shift part of the income of central authorities down to local governments, thereby reducing the reliance on land sales.

"Fiscal and tax reforms should focus on creating more optimistic expectations among market participants," said Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group.

The slowdown of China's services sector in June points to additional needs for more economic stimulus if the economy is to stay on target. However, there is some hope from continuous easing of inflation and expansionary trend. In this regard, the role played by the upcoming third plenum in July assumes great significance in shaping the future economic landscape. Grappling with these headwinds, China's economic prospects will depend on policy actions that shore up confidence in the markets.

Services activity in China expanded at the slowest rate in eight months in June while business confidence plunged to a four-year low, a private sector survey showed on Wednesday.

Services activity in China expanded at the slowest rate in eight months in June while business confidence plunged to a four-year low, a private sector survey showed on Wednesday. The Caixin/S&P Global services purchasing managers' index(PMI) came in at 51.2 versus 54.0 in May and was the lowest since October 2023. But the PMI still remained in expansionary territory for the 18th month in a row and stayed above the 50-mark that separates expansion from contraction. The survey, which focuses mostly on private and export-oriented firms, corresponded to the broader official PMI released on Sunday, which showed services sector activity at a five-month low. The world's second-largest economy has lacked steady growth recently, calling for more policy support in order to realise an ambitious growth target of around 5%. The new orders sub-index slipped to 52.1 in June from 55.4 the previous month, while overseas demand also lost a bit of ground despite May's strong exports. Business confidence slid to its lowest since March 2020, as concerns about the global economy and rising competition took a toll. Service providers slashed jobs in June after boosting them in May. The slowdown in the rate of inflation at both the input and selling prices, however, offered some relief to enterprises, which have been under pressure from higher raw materials, labour and transportation costs. The Caixin/S&P's composite PMI, which covers both services and manufacturing sectors, dipped to 52.8 from 54.1. Attention has shifted to a leadership conclave in mid-July, known as the third plenum, which is rumoured to unveil far-reaching reforms. According to policy advisers, two of the most important agendas to be discussed at that meeting will include measures to shift part of the income of central authorities down to local governments, thereby reducing the reliance on land sales. "Fiscal and tax reforms should focus on creating more optimistic expectations among market participants," said Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group. The slowdown of China's services sector in June points to additional needs for more economic stimulus if the economy is to stay on target. However, there is some hope from continuous easing of inflation and expansionary trend. In this regard, the role played by the upcoming third plenum in July assumes great significance in shaping the future economic landscape. Grappling with these headwinds, China's economic prospects will depend on policy actions that shore up confidence in the markets.

Navigating China's economic crossroads: challenges and opportunities ahead

Hours after China seized a Taiwanese fishing boat carrying five people, the self-ruled island nation called upon Beijing to release the fishing vessel that was reportedly held by the Chinese side near Taiwanese outlying islands on Tuesday (July 2). The seized vessel row coincided with a Taiwanese claim that a&nbsp;Chinese military drone hovered near an airport on a remote island.

The Chinese coast guard has increased patrols around Taiwan's Kinmen islands alongside rampant violation of Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).&nbsp;

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The Kinmen islands are administered by Taipei but are located just five kilometres (three miles) from the Chinese mainland.

Taiwan's coast guard said it received a report at 08:14 pm (1214 GMT) on Tuesday from the owner of a fishing boat that two Chinese coast guard vessels had intercepted it around 23.7 nautical miles (44 kilometres) from Kinmen's Liaoluo port.

It dispatched two patrol vessels "to try to rescue" the fishing boat, along with a third for assistance, but one was "blocked by" Chinese coast guard ships, Taiwan's coast guard said in a statement late Tuesday.

Also watch |&nbsp;US-China war over Taiwan? Xi Jinping demands 'modern system for military governance' | Details

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"To avoid escalating the conflict, we have decided to stop the chase," the coast guard said, adding the fishing boat was taken to China's Weitou port.

<h2>Taiwan's boat seized: About people onboard the boat</h2>

According to Taiwan's coast guard officials, there were two Taiwanese and three Indonesians on&nbsp;the boat.

A Chinese coast guard spokesman said a Taiwanese fishing boat suspected of illegal fishing off the coast of Quanzhou was inspected and detained on Tuesday.

"The fishing vessel has violated the regulation of the seasonal fishing ban, and illegally trawled... within the prohibited fishing area," a Chinese coast guard spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Chinese coast guard had warned and expelled "relevant" Taiwanese vessels that "attempted to interfere with" its law enforcement operation at the time, he added.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's deputy coast guard chief Hsieh Ching-chin said the boat was seized within China's territorial waters, in an area where Beijing has declared a seasonal fishing ban between May 1 to August 15.

"We hope that the Chinese side will tell us as soon as possible the reason of the inspection," he said.

"We will actively request the Chinese side to release the boat and its crew as soon as possible through various channels".

China claims self-ruled democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and under its top leader Xi Jinping, it has not renounced the use of force to bring the island under control.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hours after China seized a Taiwanese fishing boat carrying five people, the self-ruled island nation called upon Beijing to release the fishing vessel that was reportedly held by the Chinese side near Taiwanese outlying islands on Tuesday (July 2).

Hours after China seized a Taiwanese fishing boat carrying five people, the self-ruled island nation called upon Beijing to release the fishing vessel that was reportedly held by the Chinese side near Taiwanese outlying islands on Tuesday (July 2). The seized vessel row coincided with a Taiwanese claim that a Chinese military drone hovered near an airport on a remote island. The Chinese coast guard has increased patrols around Taiwan's Kinmen islands alongside rampant violation of Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). Also read | Taiwan's extended conscription and 'loss of face' for Xi Jinping The Kinmen islands are administered by Taipei but are located just five kilometres (three miles) from the Chinese mainland. Taiwan's coast guard said it received a report at 08:14 pm (1214 GMT) on Tuesday from the owner of a fishing boat that two Chinese coast guard vessels had intercepted it around 23.7 nautical miles (44 kilometres) from Kinmen's Liaoluo port. It dispatched two patrol vessels "to try to rescue" the fishing boat, along with a third for assistance, but one was "blocked by" Chinese coast guard ships, Taiwan's coast guard said in a statement late Tuesday. Also watch | US-China war over Taiwan? Xi Jinping demands 'modern system for military governance' | Details × "To avoid escalating the conflict, we have decided to stop the chase," the coast guard said, adding the fishing boat was taken to China's Weitou port. Taiwan's boat seized: About people onboard the boat According to Taiwan's coast guard officials, there were two Taiwanese and three Indonesians on the boat. A Chinese coast guard spokesman said a Taiwanese fishing boat suspected of illegal fishing off the coast of Quanzhou was inspected and detained on Tuesday. "The fishing vessel has violated the regulation of the seasonal fishing ban, and illegally trawled... within the prohibited fishing area," a Chinese coast guard spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday. The Chinese coast guard had warned and expelled "relevant" Taiwanese vessels that "attempted to interfere with" its law enforcement operation at the time, he added. Meanwhile, Taiwan's deputy coast guard chief Hsieh Ching-chin said the boat was seized within China's territorial waters, in an area where Beijing has declared a seasonal fishing ban between May 1 to August 15. "We hope that the Chinese side will tell us as soon as possible the reason of the inspection," he said. "We will actively request the Chinese side to release the boat and its crew as soon as possible through various channels". China claims self-ruled democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and under its top leader Xi Jinping, it has not renounced the use of force to bring the island under control. (With inputs from agencies)

China seizes Taiwanese fishing boat with five, including three Indonesians, onboard

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More than 340,000 people have been evacuated in eastern and central China, as rainstorms lashed swathes of the country and caused the Yangtze and other rivers to swell. China has been enduring extreme weather conditions in recent months, from torrential rainfall to searing heat waves...

China: Flood havoc in cities in southern China

In a notable shift in educational and immigration policy, the United States is actively seeking to increase the number of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) students from India while limiting access for Chinese students to certain technological programs.

US willing to intake more STEM students from India than China

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell announces a shift in focus towards recruiting more STEM students from India rather than China due to security concerns and efforts to protect sensitive technology. Discover how India is seen as a key U.S. security partner, and strengthening educational ties with Indian students is expected to bolster the U.S.'s position in global technology sectors.

Gravitas: Friction between US & China reflects in US universities

China is facing extreme weather. Floods and drought struck nation at the same time. Heavy rains have soaked vast areas of the country over the past week.

China faces dual catastrophe; struck by floods and drought at the same time

Shanghai Cooperation Organization or the SCO Summit is being held in Astana Kazakhstan. China's President Xi Jinping will attend the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of state from the 3rd of July until the 6th of July.

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China to get SCO Presidency after seven years, President Xi Jinping arrives in Astana

The government of cash-strapped Vanuatu will soon settle into a suite of new buildings funded by China, a move likely to reignite concerns about Beijing's reach in the South Pacific nation.

At an official handover ceremony conducted in front of a towering China Aid billboard, Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai announced the opening of the nation's sweeping new presidential palace.

The project also included the construction of a new finance ministry and renovations to Vanuatu's foreign affairs department, China's embassy said in a statement released Tuesday.

Australia's Lowy Institute think tank estimated China had spent upwards of $21 million on construction, a significant sum for an aid project in the developing nation of less than 300,000 people.

China's embassy said the project had gifted Vanuatu "another landmark building", while symbolising a new "milestone" in their increasingly warm relationship.

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A Chinese delegation handed Salwai an oversized novelty golden key -- also emblazoned with "China Aid" -- kicking off a festive opening ceremony replete with Chinese dragon dancers and the brewing of the ceremonial kava drink.

Local media reported that hundreds of public servants would work, rent free, inside the new buildings.

China is "committed to developing friendly cooperation with Pacific island countries", including Vanuatu, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.

Vanuatu is heavily indebted to China: about 40 per cent of its external debt is owed to China's Exim bank, according to the Lowy Institute.

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China has funded a swathe of major infrastructure upgrades across the archipelago, part of an intensifying scramble for influence pitting Beijing against Western rivals.

Beijing's ambassador to Vanuatu, Li Minggang, has said that China is ready and willing to "step up pragmatic cooperation in this field".

But there are fears that Vanuatu and other Pacific states such as Tonga and Solomon Islands are increasingly vulnerable to what critics have described as China's "debt-trap diplomacy".

The government of cash-strapped Vanuatu will soon settle into a suite of new buildings funded by China, a move likely to reignite concerns about Beijing's reach in the South Pacific nation.

The government of cash-strapped Vanuatu will soon settle into a suite of new buildings funded by China, a move likely to reignite concerns about Beijing's reach in the South Pacific nation. At an official handover ceremony conducted in front of a towering China Aid billboard, Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai announced the opening of the nation's sweeping new presidential palace. The project also included the construction of a new finance ministry and renovations to Vanuatu's foreign affairs department, China's embassy said in a statement released Tuesday. Australia's Lowy Institute think tank estimated China had spent upwards of $21 million on construction, a significant sum for an aid project in the developing nation of less than 300,000 people. China's embassy said the project had gifted Vanuatu "another landmark building", while symbolising a new "milestone" in their increasingly warm relationship. Also read: After therapist dies, patient realises they had been talking to an impostor all this while A Chinese delegation handed Salwai an oversized novelty golden key -- also emblazoned with "China Aid" -- kicking off a festive opening ceremony replete with Chinese dragon dancers and the brewing of the ceremonial kava drink. Local media reported that hundreds of public servants would work, rent free, inside the new buildings. China is "committed to developing friendly cooperation with Pacific island countries", including Vanuatu, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing. Vanuatu is heavily indebted to China: about 40 per cent of its external debt is owed to China's Exim bank, according to the Lowy Institute. Watch | Pakistani court sentences Christian man to death over blasphemy allegations × China has funded a swathe of major infrastructure upgrades across the archipelago, part of an intensifying scramble for influence pitting Beijing against Western rivals. Beijing's ambassador to Vanuatu, Li Minggang, has said that China is ready and willing to "step up pragmatic cooperation in this field". But there are fears that Vanuatu and other Pacific states such as Tonga and Solomon Islands are increasingly vulnerable to what critics have described as China's "debt-trap diplomacy".

China builds new presidential palace in Pacific's Vanuatu

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Continuous rainfall has triggered huge floods in China's eastern Hanui province, submerging villages and displacing residents...

China’s longest river, the Yangtze, bursts its banks

Chinese academics have called for more studies of the country’s claims to the disputed South China Sea. Watch to know more.

Chinese scholars urged to ‘shape narratives’ to defend South China Sea claim

In a horrifying incident, a Chinese rocket Tianlong-3 broke free from its restraints and flew uncontrollably during a ground-based test firing. After reaching a few thousand feet, the rocket engines shut down and then the massive rocket hurtled towards the ground, causing a huge fireball and explosion on impact. This mishap took place on Sunday in the Chinese Henan province.

Gravitas: China space rocket blows up, causes massive fireball

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