A Taiwanese court has sentenced three former officials from the Military Intelligence Bureau to at least 10 months in prison, on Friday (Sep 6)&nbsp;after they were found guilty of creating a spy ring and passing secret intelligence to China following&nbsp;their retirement.&nbsp;

The suspect Chang Chao-jan has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, while former Major General Yueh Chih-chung and retired colonel Chou Tien-tzu were sentenced to 10 months and 14 months respectively.&nbsp;

However, their cases can still be appealed.&nbsp;

The other retired colonel implicated in the spy case, Wang Ta-wang was found not guilty and acquitted due to a lack of evidence, the Taipei Court stated.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-pays-taiwan-influencers-to-shoot-videos-in-xinjiang-to-diminish-its-negative-narratives-756187">Also read:&nbsp;China pays Taiwan influencers to shoot videos in Xinjiang, help refute negative narratives</a>

The four former military officers were indicted by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for alleged violations of the National Intelligence Service Law and the National Security Act.&nbsp;

The former&nbsp;officers were charged with leaking information about Taiwan's intelligence sources, organisations, and personnel, and developing a spy ring on behalf of China.&nbsp;

<h2>Officers lured into spying, offering cash rewards and free trips</h2>

According to the prosecutors, Chang, Yueh, and Chou were recruited by Chinese intelligence, offering business incentives, cash rewards, and free trips, after their retirement.&nbsp;

The indictment stated that Chang was recruited when he travelled to China to help a former colleague arrested by the Chinese authorities in 1999. Later, he instructed the arrangement of trips for other retired military intelligence officers to visit China. These people would be either asked or "forced" to provide sensitive information.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: China prepares for military solution to Taiwan in 2027

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Yueh was recruited by Chang in 2012 when he wanted to visit relatives in China but was worried about being arrested by the Chinese authorities because of his former work, the prosecutor said.&nbsp;

Chang assured Yueh that he could return to Taiwan safely if he gave intelligence information to a Chinese intelligence officer, which he agreed to do.&nbsp;

However, Chou began working for the Chinese authorities after becoming involved in a real estate dispute in China's Hainan Province that year.&nbsp;

Moreover, Wang was also suspected of having been recruited through Chang, and shared information about his colleagues during a trip to China, according to prosecutors.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A Taiwanese court has sentenced three former officials from the Military Intelligence Bureau to at least 10 months in prison, on Friday (Sep 6) after they were found guilty of creating a spy ring and passing secret intelligence to China following their retirement.

A Taiwanese court has sentenced three former officials from the Military Intelligence Bureau to at least 10 months in prison, on Friday (Sep 6) after they were found guilty of creating a spy ring and passing secret intelligence to China following their retirement. The suspect Chang Chao-jan has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, while former Major General Yueh Chih-chung and retired colonel Chou Tien-tzu were sentenced to 10 months and 14 months respectively. However, their cases can still be appealed. The other retired colonel implicated in the spy case, Wang Ta-wang was found not guilty and acquitted due to a lack of evidence, the Taipei Court stated. Also read: China pays Taiwan influencers to shoot videos in Xinjiang, help refute negative narratives The four former military officers were indicted by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for alleged violations of the National Intelligence Service Law and the National Security Act. The former officers were charged with leaking information about Taiwan's intelligence sources, organisations, and personnel, and developing a spy ring on behalf of China. Officers lured into spying, offering cash rewards and free trips According to the prosecutors, Chang, Yueh, and Chou were recruited by Chinese intelligence, offering business incentives, cash rewards, and free trips, after their retirement. The indictment stated that Chang was recruited when he travelled to China to help a former colleague arrested by the Chinese authorities in 1999. Later, he instructed the arrangement of trips for other retired military intelligence officers to visit China. These people would be either asked or "forced" to provide sensitive information. Watch | Gravitas: China prepares for military solution to Taiwan in 2027 × Yueh was recruited by Chang in 2012 when he wanted to visit relatives in China but was worried about being arrested by the Chinese authorities because of his former work, the prosecutor said. Chang assured Yueh that he could return to Taiwan safely if he gave intelligence information to a Chinese intelligence officer, which he agreed to do. However, Chou began working for the Chinese authorities after becoming involved in a real estate dispute in China's Hainan Province that year. Moreover, Wang was also suspected of having been recruited through Chang, and shared information about his colleagues during a trip to China, according to prosecutors. (With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan: Former military officers sentenced to prison over spying for China

China has announced that it is ending the practice of allowing children to be adopted overseas, bringing uncertainty to families currently going through the process. A spokeswoman said that the rule change was in line with the spirit of international agreements.

China halts foreign adoption of children after three decades

A man in China reportedly fell victim to the work culture of the country, after he died due to organ failure.&nbsp;South China Morning Post&nbsp;(SCMP) reported that the 30-year-old man worked for 104 days, with only one day off.&nbsp;

Guangzhou Daily reported that a court has ruled that the company is 20 per cent responsible for the man passing away. The man has been identified as A’bao, and the court found that he died from multiple organ failure caused by a pneumococcal infection.&nbsp;

The infection mostly affects those with a weakened immune system.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the company has contended that he died from pre-existing health issues because he didn't reach out for medical attention on time.&nbsp;

A’bao had been working for the company as a painter since February last year on contract. It was set to expire in January this year, but he was moved to another project in the Zhejiang province.

He worked every day for 104 days from February to May and took only one rest day on April 6. On May 25, he felt ill and took a day off, spending the rest of the day at his dormitory.

Three days later, A’bao’s condition rapidly deteriorated. He was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with a lung infection and respiratory failure. He couldn't recover and died on June 1.

After conducting initial investigations, social security officials said that since the time between his falling sick and death was more than 48 hours, it does not fall into the category of a work-related injury.

His family sued the company, asking for compensation, and alleging employer negligence.&nbsp;

The company fought back, saying that A’bao’s workload was manageable and the overtime was voluntary. Meanwhile, the court said that working for 104 consecutive days was a clear violation of Chinese Labour Law. As per the law, no employee should work for more than 8 hours per day and an average of 44 hours per week.

It added that the breach of labour regulations played a major role in his immune system becoming weak and eventual death. The family has been awarded a total of 400,000 yuan (US$56,000) in compensation, including 10,000 yuan for emotional distress.

A man in China reportedly fell victim to the work culture of the country, after he died due to organ failure. South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the 30-year-old man worked for 104 days, with only one day off.

A man in China reportedly fell victim to the work culture of the country, after he died due to organ failure. South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the 30-year-old man worked for 104 days, with only one day off. Guangzhou Daily reported that a court has ruled that the company is 20 per cent responsible for the man passing away. The man has been identified as A’bao, and the court found that he died from multiple organ failure caused by a pneumococcal infection. The infection mostly affects those with a weakened immune system. Meanwhile, the company has contended that he died from pre-existing health issues because he didn't reach out for medical attention on time. A’bao had been working for the company as a painter since February last year on contract. It was set to expire in January this year, but he was moved to another project in the Zhejiang province. He worked every day for 104 days from February to May and took only one rest day on April 6. On May 25, he felt ill and took a day off, spending the rest of the day at his dormitory. Three days later, A’bao’s condition rapidly deteriorated. He was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with a lung infection and respiratory failure. He couldn't recover and died on June 1. After conducting initial investigations, social security officials said that since the time between his falling sick and death was more than 48 hours, it does not fall into the category of a work-related injury. His family sued the company, asking for compensation, and alleging employer negligence. The company fought back, saying that A’bao’s workload was manageable and the overtime was voluntary. Meanwhile, the court said that working for 104 consecutive days was a clear violation of Chinese Labour Law. As per the law, no employee should work for more than 8 hours per day and an average of 44 hours per week. It added that the breach of labour regulations played a major role in his immune system becoming weak and eventual death. The family has been awarded a total of 400,000 yuan (US$56,000) in compensation, including 10,000 yuan for emotional distress.

China: Man dies of organ failure after working for 104 days, company ordered to pay compensation

China's secret spaceplane has landed in the Gobi desert after spending 268 days in orbit during its third flight. Reports suggest that the mission was aimed at further developing the vehicle as it raised its altitude to 372 miles (600 kilometres) above Earth. The reusable spaceplane reportedly also released several objects in orbit.

Local media reported that the spaceplane, named Shenlong, touched down early Friday (Sep 6)&nbsp;morning in Beijing at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert.&nbsp;

The spaceplane flew over the dried-up lake bed in the southeastern portion of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region known as Lop Nur, astrophysicist and space tracker Jonathan McDowell wrote on X.

With the space plane, China has been testing the technology to conduct experiments in space. The third mission also aimed to test the plane's reusable technology, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.&nbsp;

While Beijing has never released any details about its spaceplane, an astrophotographer in Austria clicked some pictures of it in orbit in August. The pictures, although blurry, showed some extraordinary details about the plane. It is supposedly around 30 feet (10 metres) in length and has solar panels stuck to the tail-end of the spacecraft.

The third mission started on December 14, 2023, when it launched on board a Long March 2F carrier rocket. Soon after, it deployed six mystery objects into orbit and they seemed to be emitting various signals. In May, it released an object which has never been identified.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chinas-secret-spaceplane-ejects-mysterious-object-into-earths-orbit-us-hunts-it-down-726732">China’s secret spaceplane ejects mysterious object into Earth’s orbit</a>

Its inaugural mission happened in 2021, and it was in orbit for only two days. The second time it was in orbit was August 2022 when it spent 276 days in space.

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The United States also has a similar spaceplane, the Boeing X-37. It is being developed by the Space Force. It has already undertaken many more missions, and in December 2023 it went to space for its seventh mission which is still ongoing. It also holds the record for the longest-duration mission, spending 908 days in space on its sixth flight.

China's secret spaceplane has landed in the Gobi desert after spending 268 days in orbit during its third flight. Reports suggest that the mission was aimed at further developing the vehicle as it raised its altitude to 372 miles (600 kilometres) above Earth.

China's secret spaceplane has landed in the Gobi desert after spending 268 days in orbit during its third flight. Reports suggest that the mission was aimed at further developing the vehicle as it raised its altitude to 372 miles (600 kilometres) above Earth. The reusable spaceplane reportedly also released several objects in orbit. Local media reported that the spaceplane, named Shenlong, touched down early Friday (Sep 6) morning in Beijing at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. The spaceplane flew over the dried-up lake bed in the southeastern portion of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region known as Lop Nur, astrophysicist and space tracker Jonathan McDowell wrote on X. With the space plane, China has been testing the technology to conduct experiments in space. The third mission also aimed to test the plane's reusable technology, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. While Beijing has never released any details about its spaceplane, an astrophotographer in Austria clicked some pictures of it in orbit in August. The pictures, although blurry, showed some extraordinary details about the plane. It is supposedly around 30 feet (10 metres) in length and has solar panels stuck to the tail-end of the spacecraft. The third mission started on December 14, 2023, when it launched on board a Long March 2F carrier rocket. Soon after, it deployed six mystery objects into orbit and they seemed to be emitting various signals. In May, it released an object which has never been identified. Also Read: China’s secret spaceplane ejects mysterious object into Earth’s orbit Its inaugural mission happened in 2021, and it was in orbit for only two days. The second time it was in orbit was August 2022 when it spent 276 days in space. × The United States also has a similar spaceplane, the Boeing X-37. It is being developed by the Space Force. It has already undertaken many more missions, and in December 2023 it went to space for its seventh mission which is still ongoing. It also holds the record for the longest-duration mission, spending 908 days in space on its sixth flight.

China's secret spaceplane is back after 268 days and placing secret objects in orbit

A man in China reportedly fell victim to the work culture of the country, after he died due to organ failure. SCMP reported that the 30-year-old man worked for 104 days, with only one day off.&nbsp;

Guangzhou Daily reported that a court has ruled that the company is 20 per cent responsible for the man passing away. The man has been identified as A’bao, and the court found that he died from multiple organ failure caused by a pneumococcal infection.&nbsp;

The infection mostly affects those with a weakened immune system.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the company has contended that he died from pre-existing health issues because he didn't reach out for medical attention on time.&nbsp;

A’bao had been working for the company as a painter since February last year on contract. It was set to expire in January this year, but he was moved to another project in the Zhejiang province.

He worked every day for 104 days from February to May and took only one rest day on April 6. On May 25, he felt ill and took a day off, spending the rest of the day at his dormitory.

Three days later, A’bao’s condition rapidly deteriorated. He was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with a lung infection and respiratory failure. He couldn't recover and died on June 1.

<h2>Investigations</h2>

After conducting initial investigations, social security officials said that since the time between his falling sick and death was more than 48 hours, it does not fall into the category of a work-related injury.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/pandemic-scare-as-125-viruses-are-found-lurking-in-chinas-fur-farms-756422">Pandemic scare! 125 viruses found lurking in China's fur farms; several new and high risk</a>

His family sued the company, asking for compensation, and alleging employer negligence.&nbsp;

The company fought back, saying that A’bao’s workload was manageable and the overtime was voluntary. Meanwhile, the court said that working for 104 consecutive days was a clear violation of Chinese Labour Law. As per the law, no employee should work for more than 8 hours per day and an average of 44 hours per week.

It added that the breach of labour regulations played a major role in his immune system becoming weak and eventual death. The family has been awarded a total of 400,000 yuan (US$56,000) in compensation, including 10,000 yuan for emotional distress.

A man in China reportedly fell victim to the work culture of the country, after he died due to organ failure. SCMP reported that the 30-year-old man worked for 104 days, with only one day off.

A man in China reportedly fell victim to the work culture of the country, after he died due to organ failure. SCMP reported that the 30-year-old man worked for 104 days, with only one day off. Guangzhou Daily reported that a court has ruled that the company is 20 per cent responsible for the man passing away. The man has been identified as A’bao, and the court found that he died from multiple organ failure caused by a pneumococcal infection. The infection mostly affects those with a weakened immune system. Meanwhile, the company has contended that he died from pre-existing health issues because he didn't reach out for medical attention on time. A’bao had been working for the company as a painter since February last year on contract. It was set to expire in January this year, but he was moved to another project in the Zhejiang province. He worked every day for 104 days from February to May and took only one rest day on April 6. On May 25, he felt ill and took a day off, spending the rest of the day at his dormitory. Three days later, A’bao’s condition rapidly deteriorated. He was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with a lung infection and respiratory failure. He couldn't recover and died on June 1. Investigations After conducting initial investigations, social security officials said that since the time between his falling sick and death was more than 48 hours, it does not fall into the category of a work-related injury. Also Read: Pandemic scare! 125 viruses found lurking in China's fur farms; several new and high risk His family sued the company, asking for compensation, and alleging employer negligence. The company fought back, saying that A’bao’s workload was manageable and the overtime was voluntary. Meanwhile, the court said that working for 104 consecutive days was a clear violation of Chinese Labour Law. As per the law, no employee should work for more than 8 hours per day and an average of 44 hours per week. It added that the breach of labour regulations played a major role in his immune system becoming weak and eventual death. The family has been awarded a total of 400,000 yuan (US$56,000) in compensation, including 10,000 yuan for emotional distress.

China: Man dies of organ failure after working for 104 days

China is moving ahead with sending a mission to Mars two years earlier than its initial plans. It announced that it is ready to launch Tianwen-3 mission to Mars in 2028. Liu Jizhong, chief designer of China’s Mars mission, said on Thursday that the team is also on track to bring back samples from the red planet.&nbsp;

The announcement was made at the Second International Conference on Deep Space Exploration in Huangshan, Anhui province. Liu stated that they would bring back around 600 grams of Martian soil. Moving the mission up by two years indicates that China is confident of successfully launching the Mars mission. Earlier, it was to send the spacecraft by 2030, but now it will fly away in 2028.&nbsp;

Since the mission will now launch in 2028 instead of 2030, its return with the samples is also likely to move ahead to 2031. This is as per what Tianwen-1 mission lead Sun Zezhou said at the Nanjing University in 2022.

Experts say that if China successfully carries out the exercise, it will become the leader in space exploration. Liu added that searching for signs of life would be the mission's top scientific goal.&nbsp;

Explaining how the mission will work, Liu told the attendees that two Long March 5 rockets would be used to send Tianwen-3 lander-ascender combination and the orbiter-return module combination to Mars.

The technologies being used for the Mars mission include those that were previously a part of the Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6 moon sample return missions and the Tianwen-1 Mars landing mission, he said.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/another-kuiper-belt-mystery-zone-spotted-at-the-edge-of-our-solar-system-756401">Another Kuiper Belt? Mystery zone spotted at the edge of our solar system</a>

Liu also told state news agency Xinhua about the methods that will be implemented to collect the samples once the spacecraft lands on Mars. These would include multi-point surface scooping, fixed-point deep drilling and rover-based sampling,&nbsp;

<h2>What's happening with NASA's Mars Sample Return mission</h2>

The US is still struggling with its plans to send its sample mission to Mars. It has been in jeopardy ever since it was revealed that the return mission would cost up to $11 billion. The timeline was also stretched until 2040. The Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission was supposed to collect samples collected by NASA’s Perseverance rover.

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&nbsp;

The space agency has reached out to seven aerospace companies and asked them to come up with ideas to speed up the mission, as well as reduce its costs. NASA wants to bring back the samples in the 2030s.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, India has also announced plans to reach Mars and plans to land a rover and a helicopter. As part of Mangalyaan-2, a supersonic parachute and a sky crane will lower the rover onto the Martian surface.

China is moving ahead with sending a mission to Mars two years earlier than its initial plans. It announced that it is ready to launch Tianwen-3 mission to Mars in 2028.

China is moving ahead with sending a mission to Mars two years earlier than its initial plans. It announced that it is ready to launch Tianwen-3 mission to Mars in 2028. Liu Jizhong, chief designer of China’s Mars mission, said on Thursday that the team is also on track to bring back samples from the red planet. The announcement was made at the Second International Conference on Deep Space Exploration in Huangshan, Anhui province. Liu stated that they would bring back around 600 grams of Martian soil. Moving the mission up by two years indicates that China is confident of successfully launching the Mars mission. Earlier, it was to send the spacecraft by 2030, but now it will fly away in 2028. Since the mission will now launch in 2028 instead of 2030, its return with the samples is also likely to move ahead to 2031. This is as per what Tianwen-1 mission lead Sun Zezhou said at the Nanjing University in 2022. Experts say that if China successfully carries out the exercise, it will become the leader in space exploration. Liu added that searching for signs of life would be the mission's top scientific goal. Explaining how the mission will work, Liu told the attendees that two Long March 5 rockets would be used to send Tianwen-3 lander-ascender combination and the orbiter-return module combination to Mars. The technologies being used for the Mars mission include those that were previously a part of the Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6 moon sample return missions and the Tianwen-1 Mars landing mission, he said. Also Read: Another Kuiper Belt? Mystery zone spotted at the edge of our solar system Liu also told state news agency Xinhua about the methods that will be implemented to collect the samples once the spacecraft lands on Mars. These would include multi-point surface scooping, fixed-point deep drilling and rover-based sampling, What's happening with NASA's Mars Sample Return mission The US is still struggling with its plans to send its sample mission to Mars. It has been in jeopardy ever since it was revealed that the return mission would cost up to $11 billion. The timeline was also stretched until 2040. The Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission was supposed to collect samples collected by NASA’s Perseverance rover. × The space agency has reached out to seven aerospace companies and asked them to come up with ideas to speed up the mission, as well as reduce its costs. NASA wants to bring back the samples in the 2030s. Meanwhile, India has also announced plans to reach Mars and plans to land a rover and a helicopter. As part of Mangalyaan-2, a supersonic parachute and a sky crane will lower the rover onto the Martian surface.

China Mars Mission ready for 2028 launch, will bring back 600 grams of Martian soil

#Gravitas | For a long time, we have been asking when the next pandemic will come, where it will come from, and if it will be from China again. Will yet another global health crisis emerge from China, the birthplace of the COVID pandemic? A new study is raising alarm bells about the danger of viruses in fur farms across China. They have found a dangerous new bat coronavirus, as well as dozens of new "high-risk" viruses in animals - viruses that can cross over to humans.

Next Covid From China: Killer Virus Found in Chinese Fur Farms

China is facing a turbulent period. JPMorgan has recently downgraded its outlook for Chinese stocks, citing heightened volatility, growth headwinds, and tepid policy support. This marks a significant shift for JPMorgan, which had previously been bullish on China's prospects.

Emerging markets shift focus away from China

China’s president IX Jinping has pledged over $50 billion in Africa summit, including $30 billion in credit and $20 billion in new investments. The focus will be on infrastructure and clean energy projects, with expanded market access but no renewal of a $300 billion purchasing promise.

China-Africa Summit:  Xi Jinping pledges $50 bn to Africa summit

#Gravitas Typhoon Yagi, Asia’s most powerful storm this year, made a landfall in Southern China on Friday, triggering massive evacuations, shutting down schools and businesses, and severely disrupting travel. The storm has raised significant concerns over the risks of landslides and flooding in several regions across the region and is expected to hit Vietnam on Saturday.

Typhoon Yagi: Super Typhoon Yagi Makes Landfall in China

Former Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adeeb has expressed concerns over loans from China, & the current debt worries of the country. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said, 'Lot of debt taken from China. High interest loans from commercial banks of China talks with China, but not announced, will they delay, write it off". The Maldives is currently navigating through significant economic challenges, particularly with regards to its debt situation. The country has experienced a significant downgrade in its credit rating by Fitch Ratings, moving from 'CCC+' to 'CC' as of August 29, 2024. He lauded India, pointing to the Delhi's role in support Sri Lanka during economic crisis. He explained, 'India has always helped us. For Sri Lanka, it was India who helped"

Former Maldives VP Ahmed Adeeb takes on China over Maldives' economic crisis

Ukraine's ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky has been slammed on Chinese social media for visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, with some&nbsp;netizens calling it an 'insult' to the Chinese people.&nbsp;

The envoy visited the shrine, on Tuesday (Sep 3)&nbsp;which coincided with commemorations in China of the 79th anniversary of the end of what Beijing calls the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War.&nbsp;

The shrine commemorates Japan's war dead, including 14 'Class-A' war criminals. In the past, Beijing&nbsp;has been seen protesting against official visits to the shrine and performing associated rituals there.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-broadcaster-nhk-apologises-for-staffer-claiming-senkaku-islands-as-chinese-territory-751978">Also read:&nbsp;Japanese broadcaster NHK apologises for staffer claiming Senkaku Islands as ‘Chinese territory’</a>

Chinese social media&nbsp;was flooded with criticism after the Ukrainian embassy in Japan posted pictures of the envoy's visit on X.&nbsp; However, they deleted the post later.&nbsp;

The post stated&nbsp;that Korsunsky performed a ritual hand washing before visiting the shrine, where he left a handwritten message.&nbsp;

<h2>Visit to shrine 'disrespectful'&nbsp;to China</h2>

Niutanqin, a WeChat account affiliated with state news agency Xinhua, on Thursday said that Korsunsky’s visit was “disrespectful” to China.&nbsp;

The hashtag “Ukrainian ambassador to Japan worshipped ghosts” was also trending.

Watch |&nbsp;South Korea, China condemn Kishida's ritual offering to war-linked Yasukuni Shrine

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Meanwhile, some of the commenters said that the envoy's visit to the shrine on World Anti-Fascist Memorial Day was like adding salt to injury.&nbsp;

One of the commenters said, “The Ukrainian ambassador to Japan has insulted China. I no longer support [Ukraine] … I hope China provides more aid to Russia to defeat Ukraine."&nbsp;

China's foreign ministry has not yet commented on the envoy's visit.&nbsp;

Highlighting the Russia-Ukraine war, China has been in a neutral position and posed itself as a peace broker in the conflict.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, China, along with Brazil presented a 12-point peace plan, calling for negotiations to end the war.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine's ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky has been slammed on Chinese social media for visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, with some netizens calling it an 'insult' to the Chinese people.

Ukraine's ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky has been slammed on Chinese social media for visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, with some netizens calling it an 'insult' to the Chinese people. The envoy visited the shrine, on Tuesday (Sep 3) which coincided with commemorations in China of the 79th anniversary of the end of what Beijing calls the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War. The shrine commemorates Japan's war dead, including 14 'Class-A' war criminals. In the past, Beijing has been seen protesting against official visits to the shrine and performing associated rituals there. Also read: Japanese broadcaster NHK apologises for staffer claiming Senkaku Islands as ‘Chinese territory’ Chinese social media was flooded with criticism after the Ukrainian embassy in Japan posted pictures of the envoy's visit on X. However, they deleted the post later. The post stated that Korsunsky performed a ritual hand washing before visiting the shrine, where he left a handwritten message. Visit to shrine 'disrespectful' to China Niutanqin, a WeChat account affiliated with state news agency Xinhua, on Thursday said that Korsunsky’s visit was “disrespectful” to China. The hashtag “Ukrainian ambassador to Japan worshipped ghosts” was also trending. Watch | South Korea, China condemn Kishida's ritual offering to war-linked Yasukuni Shrine × Meanwhile, some of the commenters said that the envoy's visit to the shrine on World Anti-Fascist Memorial Day was like adding salt to injury. One of the commenters said, “The Ukrainian ambassador to Japan has insulted China. I no longer support [Ukraine] … I hope China provides more aid to Russia to defeat Ukraine." China's foreign ministry has not yet commented on the envoy's visit. Highlighting the Russia-Ukraine war, China has been in a neutral position and posed itself as a peace broker in the conflict. Earlier this year, China, along with Brazil presented a 12-point peace plan, calling for negotiations to end the war. (With inputs from agencies)

'Disrespectful': Chinese citizens fume after Ukrainian envoy visits Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo

Yagi makes landfall in China’s popular holiday destination Hainan where more than 400,000 were forced to evacuate. Watch in for more details!

Typhoon Yagi: Asia's strongest storm in 2024 slams China

Asia's strongest storm this year, Super Typhoon&nbsp;Yagi, made landfall along the coast of China's Hainan province on Friday, bringing gales and heavy rain which shut schools for a second day and cancelled flights in the South China Sea region.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 234 km per hour (145 mph) near its centre,&nbsp;Yagi&nbsp;registers as the world's second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024 so far, after the Category 5 Atlantic hurricane Beryl, and the most severe in the Pacific basin this year.

After more than doubling in strength since killing 16 people in the northern Philippines earlier this week,&nbsp;Yagi&nbsp;slammed into the city of Wenchang on Hainan island.

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The typhoon had shut schools, businesses and transport links in Hong Kong, Macau, Hainan and Guandong as well as airports in Vietnam, which it is predicted to hit, along with Laos, over the weekend.

Vietnam's Civil Aviation Authority said four airports in the north, including Hanoi's Noi Bai International, would be closed on Saturday due to the storm.

In the financial hub of Hong Kong, the stock exchange was shuttered while schools remained closed on Friday as a precautionary measure.

Hong Kong's airport authority said operations had largely returned to normal after 50 flights were cancelled on Thursday, and the city of over seven&nbsp;million people also lowered its typhoon warning by a notch after midday, with winds expected to weaken gradually as&nbsp;Yagi&nbsp;moves away, allowing businesses to reopen.

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The world's longest sea crossing, the main bridge linking Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai in Guangdong, also reopened on Friday afternoon after being shut since Thursday.

However, intense rainbands associated with&nbsp;Yagi&nbsp;will still bring heavy squally showers to the territory.

<h2>Rare landfall</h2>

Yagi&nbsp;is the most severe storm to land in Hainan since 2014, when Typhoon Rammasun slammed into the island province as a Category Five tropical cyclone. Rammasun killed 88 people in Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan and caused economic losses of more than 44 billion yuan ($6.25 billion).

"I'm worried about this typhoon. It could destroy months of hard work," said Qizhao, a banana farmer at the village of Gaozhou in Guangdong, adding that villagers were reinforcing their trees with poles to protect them from the wind.

Formed over the warm seas east of the Philippines and following a similar path to Rammasun,&nbsp;Yagi&nbsp;arrived in China as a Category Four typhoon, ushering in winds strong enough to overturn vehicles, uproot trees and severely damage roads, bridges and buildings.

In Hainan's capital Haikou, streets were deserted as people stayed indoors, photographs on social media showed.

Its landfall in Hainan is rare, as most typhoons landing on the duty-free island are classified as weak. From 1949 to 2023, 106 typhoons landed in Hainan but only nine were classified as super typhoons.

Typhoons are becoming stronger, fuelled by warmer oceans, amid climate change, scientists say. Last week, Typhoon Shanshan slammed into southwestern Japan, the strongest storm to hit the country in decades.

Yagi, which strengthened into a super typhoon on Wednesday night, is named after the Japanese word for goat and the constellation of Capricornus, a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Asia's strongest storm this year, Super Typhoon Yagi, made landfall along the coast of China's Hainan province on Friday, bringing gales and heavy rain which shut schools for a second day and cancelled flights in the South China Sea region.

Asia's strongest storm this year, Super Typhoon Yagi, made landfall along the coast of China's Hainan province on Friday, bringing gales and heavy rain which shut schools for a second day and cancelled flights in the South China Sea region. Packing maximum sustained winds of 234 km per hour (145 mph) near its centre, Yagi registers as the world's second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024 so far, after the Category 5 Atlantic hurricane Beryl, and the most severe in the Pacific basin this year. After more than doubling in strength since killing 16 people in the northern Philippines earlier this week, Yagi slammed into the city of Wenchang on Hainan island. Also read: China`s new guidelines give teachers right to `discipline` students The typhoon had shut schools, businesses and transport links in Hong Kong, Macau, Hainan and Guandong as well as airports in Vietnam, which it is predicted to hit, along with Laos, over the weekend. Vietnam's Civil Aviation Authority said four airports in the north, including Hanoi's Noi Bai International, would be closed on Saturday due to the storm. In the financial hub of Hong Kong, the stock exchange was shuttered while schools remained closed on Friday as a precautionary measure. Hong Kong's airport authority said operations had largely returned to normal after 50 flights were cancelled on Thursday, and the city of over seven million people also lowered its typhoon warning by a notch after midday, with winds expected to weaken gradually as Yagi moves away, allowing businesses to reopen. Watch: China-Africa Summit: Xi Jinping pledges $50 bn to Africa summit × The world's longest sea crossing, the main bridge linking Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai in Guangdong, also reopened on Friday afternoon after being shut since Thursday. However, intense rainbands associated with Yagi will still bring heavy squally showers to the territory. Rare landfall Yagi is the most severe storm to land in Hainan since 2014, when Typhoon Rammasun slammed into the island province as a Category Five tropical cyclone. Rammasun killed 88 people in Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan and caused economic losses of more than 44 billion yuan ($6.25 billion). "I'm worried about this typhoon. It could destroy months of hard work," said Qizhao, a banana farmer at the village of Gaozhou in Guangdong, adding that villagers were reinforcing their trees with poles to protect them from the wind. Formed over the warm seas east of the Philippines and following a similar path to Rammasun, Yagi arrived in China as a Category Four typhoon, ushering in winds strong enough to overturn vehicles, uproot trees and severely damage roads, bridges and buildings. In Hainan's capital Haikou, streets were deserted as people stayed indoors, photographs on social media showed. Its landfall in Hainan is rare, as most typhoons landing on the duty-free island are classified as weak. From 1949 to 2023, 106 typhoons landed in Hainan but only nine were classified as super typhoons. Typhoons are becoming stronger, fuelled by warmer oceans, amid climate change, scientists say. Last week, Typhoon Shanshan slammed into southwestern Japan, the strongest storm to hit the country in decades. Yagi, which strengthened into a super typhoon on Wednesday night, is named after the Japanese word for goat and the constellation of Capricornus, a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Typhoon Yagi makes landfall in China's Hainan after killing 16 in Philippines

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China's fur-farmed animals are hosting a range of viruses, and some of them also show a high risk of crossing over to humans, new research has revealed. The study published in the journal Nature states that there are dozens of viruses on these farms, including 36 previously unknown ones.

These viruses are circulating among animals such as minks, rabbits, foxes and raccoon dogs.

"For viruses, these are good conditions, as having multiple opportunities to infect many individuals in various host species can help a virus to evolve and jump to a new species. Following adaptation, one of those new species the virus jumps into might be humans," study co-author John Pettersson of Uppsala University, Sweden, told Newsweek.

Researchers took lung and intestine samples from 461 animals that died across China between 2021 and 2024 and conducted a genetic analysis. 412 of these animals were from fur farms.

They discovered a whopping 125 viruses in these samples. Of these, 36 were novel and 39 presented a "high risk" of jumping between species, including humans.&nbsp;Thirteen of the high-risk viruses are entirely new.

The discovered viruses included several types of bird flu found in guinea pigs, minks and muskrats. The researchers also came across seven types of coronaviruses. However, none of them were closely related to SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.

<h2>Viruses that jump from animals to humans</h2>

They also found paramyxoviruses linked to causing measles and mumps in humans. This family of viruses can easily cross from species to species.

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Pettersson said that the reason why some viruses can easily make the jump from one species to another is not fully clear. It depends on various factors, such as evolutionary rate, host-virus evolution and more, he told Newsweek.

"We need more studies to have a better understanding of virus-host jumps," he said.

Another startling discovery was the presence of &nbsp;11 zoonotic viruses, ones that have already been seen in humans. These included hepatitis E and Japanese encephalitis.

Raccoon dogs carry the maximum number of potentially high-risk viruses at 10. They are native to East Asia and look like small foxes.

Notably, previous research has warned against the risks of fur farming, as it is linked to viral cross-species transmission.&nbsp;

China's fur-farmed animals are hosting a range of viruses, and some of them also show a high risk of crossing over to humans, new research has revealed. The study published in the journal Nature states that there are dozens of viruses on these farms, including 36 previously unknown ones.

China's fur-farmed animals are hosting a range of viruses, and some of them also show a high risk of crossing over to humans, new research has revealed. The study published in the journal Nature states that there are dozens of viruses on these farms, including 36 previously unknown ones. These viruses are circulating among animals such as minks, rabbits, foxes and raccoon dogs. "For viruses, these are good conditions, as having multiple opportunities to infect many individuals in various host species can help a virus to evolve and jump to a new species. Following adaptation, one of those new species the virus jumps into might be humans," study co-author John Pettersson of Uppsala University, Sweden, told Newsweek. Researchers took lung and intestine samples from 461 animals that died across China between 2021 and 2024 and conducted a genetic analysis. 412 of these animals were from fur farms. They discovered a whopping 125 viruses in these samples. Of these, 36 were novel and 39 presented a "high risk" of jumping between species, including humans. Thirteen of the high-risk viruses are entirely new. The discovered viruses included several types of bird flu found in guinea pigs, minks and muskrats. The researchers also came across seven types of coronaviruses. However, none of them were closely related to SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Viruses that jump from animals to humans They also found paramyxoviruses linked to causing measles and mumps in humans. This family of viruses can easily cross from species to species. Also Read: California is seeing the return of a wild animal after 100 years. 'We’ve been invaded' Pettersson said that the reason why some viruses can easily make the jump from one species to another is not fully clear. It depends on various factors, such as evolutionary rate, host-virus evolution and more, he told Newsweek. "We need more studies to have a better understanding of virus-host jumps," he said. Another startling discovery was the presence of 11 zoonotic viruses, ones that have already been seen in humans. These included hepatitis E and Japanese encephalitis. Raccoon dogs carry the maximum number of potentially high-risk viruses at 10. They are native to East Asia and look like small foxes. Notably, previous research has warned against the risks of fur farming, as it is linked to viral cross-species transmission.

Pandemic scare! 125 viruses found lurking in China's fur farms; several new and high risk

#Gravitas | A top New York official, who worked as an aide to Governor Kathy Hochul, has been charged with secretly acting as an agent of the Chinese government in exchange for millions of dollars in compensation and gifts, including salted duck. Linda Sun and her husband Chris Hu have plead not guilty to criminal charges before U.S. Magistrate.

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Leaders from all over Africa have descended onto Beijing to attend the first in-person iteration of the Forum of China Africa cooperation in six years. Watch in for more details!

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Giant Panda He Hua was recently filmed enjoying her alone time at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The playful footage, shared by the iPanda channel, showcases He Hua rolling around her habitat, interacting with a bamboo hammock and a hanging toy.

Viral video shows Giant Panda enjoying alone-time at China's Chengdu Research base

Southern Chinese provinces and cities braced for the arrival of super typhoon&nbsp;Yagi, shutting schools and postponing flights ahead of its expected landfall along Hainan's subtropical coast in what could be the most powerful storm to hit China in years.

Yagi&nbsp;is the Japanese word for goat and for the constellation of Capricornus, a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish. It has more than doubled its strength since devastating northern Philippines earlier this week.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 209 kph (130 mph) near its eye,&nbsp;Yagi&nbsp;registers as the world's second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024 so far, after the Category 5 Atlantic hurricane Beryl.

Typhoons are becoming stronger, fuelled by warmer oceans, amid climate change, scientists say. Last week, Typhoon Shanshan slammed into southwestern Japan, the strongest storm to hit the country in decades.

Yagi&nbsp;strengthened into a super typhoon on Wednesday night and was around 500 km (300 miles) southeast of the city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province on Thursday afternoon. Authorities had raised the typhoon alert to the highest level.

It is expected to move at a speed of 10-15 kmh (6-9 mph) bringing torrential rains to the southern coastal areas of Guangdong and Hainan island.&nbsp;Yagi&nbsp;is due to further strengthen and make landfall along the coast from Qionghai in Hainan to Dianbai, Guangdong from the afternoon to the night of September 6.

Trains and boats suspended operations in Hainan on Thursday morning, while many schools across southern China, including in the financial hub of Hong Kong and gambling hub Macau were shut.

Hong Kong said it would issue its third-highest typhoon signal, 8, on Thursday at 6:40 pm, which will shut many businesses and reduce transport in the special administrative region.

The city's weather observatory said intense rain bands would affect the territory later on Thursday with heavy showers to continue on Friday. Several flights due to leave and arrive from Hong Kong's international airport on Friday have been cancelled.

If signal 8 remains in place on Friday morning, the city's stock exchange will close.

<h2>Guangdong, Hainan</h2>

Guangdong province upgraded its emergency response level to the highest for strong wind, while the nearby gambling hub of Macau said it would raise its typhoon signal, like Hong Kong, between 8:00 pm-11:00 pm on Thursday.

The main bridge linking Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai in Guangdong will be closed on Thursday evening as authorities shut the world's longest sea crossing until further notice.

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All inbound and outbound flights from Hainan's Haikou airport would be suspended from Thursday at 8:00 pm until Friday midnight, local authorities said, as they closed beaches and coastal tourist attractions.

Super typhoon&nbsp;Yagi's projected landfall in Hainan is rare, as most typhoons landing on the duty free island are classified as weak. From 1949 to 2023, 106 typhoons landed in Hainan but only 9 were classified as super typhoons.

At least 13 people were killed in the Philippines earlier this week due to&nbsp;Yagi.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Southern Chinese provinces and cities braced for the arrival of super typhoon Yagi, shutting schools and postponing flights ahead of its expected landfall along Hainan's subtropical coast in what could be the most powerful storm to hit China in years.

Southern Chinese provinces and cities braced for the arrival of super typhoon Yagi, shutting schools and postponing flights ahead of its expected landfall along Hainan's subtropical coast in what could be the most powerful storm to hit China in years. Yagi is the Japanese word for goat and for the constellation of Capricornus, a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish. It has more than doubled its strength since devastating northern Philippines earlier this week. Packing maximum sustained winds of 209 kph (130 mph) near its eye, Yagi registers as the world's second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024 so far, after the Category 5 Atlantic hurricane Beryl. Typhoons are becoming stronger, fuelled by warmer oceans, amid climate change, scientists say. Last week, Typhoon Shanshan slammed into southwestern Japan, the strongest storm to hit the country in decades. Yagi strengthened into a super typhoon on Wednesday night and was around 500 km (300 miles) southeast of the city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province on Thursday afternoon. Authorities had raised the typhoon alert to the highest level. It is expected to move at a speed of 10-15 kmh (6-9 mph) bringing torrential rains to the southern coastal areas of Guangdong and Hainan island. Yagi is due to further strengthen and make landfall along the coast from Qionghai in Hainan to Dianbai, Guangdong from the afternoon to the night of September 6. Trains and boats suspended operations in Hainan on Thursday morning, while many schools across southern China, including in the financial hub of Hong Kong and gambling hub Macau were shut. Hong Kong said it would issue its third-highest typhoon signal, 8, on Thursday at 6:40 pm, which will shut many businesses and reduce transport in the special administrative region. The city's weather observatory said intense rain bands would affect the territory later on Thursday with heavy showers to continue on Friday. Several flights due to leave and arrive from Hong Kong's international airport on Friday have been cancelled. If signal 8 remains in place on Friday morning, the city's stock exchange will close. Guangdong, Hainan Guangdong province upgraded its emergency response level to the highest for strong wind, while the nearby gambling hub of Macau said it would raise its typhoon signal, like Hong Kong, between 8:00 pm-11:00 pm on Thursday. The main bridge linking Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai in Guangdong will be closed on Thursday evening as authorities shut the world's longest sea crossing until further notice. Also read: China`s new guidelines give teachers right to `discipline` students All inbound and outbound flights from Hainan's Haikou airport would be suspended from Thursday at 8:00 pm until Friday midnight, local authorities said, as they closed beaches and coastal tourist attractions. Super typhoon Yagi's projected landfall in Hainan is rare, as most typhoons landing on the duty free island are classified as weak. From 1949 to 2023, 106 typhoons landed in Hainan but only 9 were classified as super typhoons. At least 13 people were killed in the Philippines earlier this week due to Yagi. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Chinese cities suspends flights, schools as typhoon Yagi edges closer

Chinese police have detained five current and former employees of AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical giant, in a probe for possible breaches in data privacy and for importing unlicensed medications.&nbsp;

AstraZeneca is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company.

The police detained these individuals earlier this summer and targeted Chinese citizens who marketed cancer drugs for the oncology division of AstraZeneca, Bloomberg reported.&nbsp;

The Chinese police are probing whether the pharmaceutical company's employees were involved in importing a drug, meant to treat liver cancer, which had not been approved for distribution across mainland China.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazeneca-withdraws-its-covid-vaccine-citing-commercial-reasons-719140">Also read:&nbsp;AstraZeneca withdraws its Covid vaccine citing commercial reasons</a>

The police in the Shenzhen region are leading the investigation and are assessing the way the company gathered patient data, and whether that may have broken China's privacy laws.&nbsp;

"We are aware a small number of our employees in China are under investigation and we have no further information to share at this point," AstraZeneca said in a statement.&nbsp;

"We have no further information to share at this point," the statement added.

Watch |&nbsp;AstraZeneca withdraws Covid-19 vaccines | Brazil floods leave 150,000 homeless

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China, is a key market for AstraZeneca, which is the developer of a Covid vaccine widely administered globally during the pandemic.&nbsp;

The pharmaceutical company has about 16,000 employees in China, which makes up about 13 per cent of the company's revenues.&nbsp;

Earlier, the firm targeted Chinese biotech firms for acquisitions and discussed strategies for growth in the country.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese police have detained five current and former employees of AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical giant, in a probe for possible breaches in data privacy and for importing unlicensed medications.

Chinese police have detained five current and former employees of AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical giant, in a probe for possible breaches in data privacy and for importing unlicensed medications. AstraZeneca is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. The police detained these individuals earlier this summer and targeted Chinese citizens who marketed cancer drugs for the oncology division of AstraZeneca, Bloomberg reported. The Chinese police are probing whether the pharmaceutical company's employees were involved in importing a drug, meant to treat liver cancer, which had not been approved for distribution across mainland China. Also read: AstraZeneca withdraws its Covid vaccine citing commercial reasons The police in the Shenzhen region are leading the investigation and are assessing the way the company gathered patient data, and whether that may have broken China's privacy laws. "We are aware a small number of our employees in China are under investigation and we have no further information to share at this point," AstraZeneca said in a statement. "We have no further information to share at this point," the statement added. Watch | AstraZeneca withdraws Covid-19 vaccines | Brazil floods leave 150,000 homeless × China, is a key market for AstraZeneca, which is the developer of a Covid vaccine widely administered globally during the pandemic. The pharmaceutical company has about 16,000 employees in China, which makes up about 13 per cent of the company's revenues. Earlier, the firm targeted Chinese biotech firms for acquisitions and discussed strategies for growth in the country. (With inputs from agencies)

China detains five AstraZeneca staff for breaching 'data privacy', importing unlicensed drugs

In a noticeable report released by Bain &amp; Company, a U.S.-based consulting firm, it has been revealed that Chinese enterprises venturing into international markets for growth possess a substantial advantage compared to the initial wave of Asian firms that pursued globalization. This advantage stems from the vast ethnic Chinese diaspora, a fact that has been largely overlooked until now.<o:p></o:p>

The study, which primarily analysed data from 2023 concerning 150 publicly traded consumer goods companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region, provides a fascinating insight into the future of global commerce. David Zehner, a senior partner at Bain, shared with CNBC that the overseas ethnic Chinese community is substantial in numerous markets, presenting a unique opportunity for Chinese firms to cater to these populations.<o:p></o:p>

As domestic growth begins to decelerate, these companies are observing successful strategies implemented by their Japanese and South Korean counterparts and are eager to replicate that success. Zehner highlighted that many Chinese companies are initiating their global ventures by concentrating on the Asian market before branching out to Europe and North America.<o:p></o:p>

According to United Nations estimates, approximately 60 million ethnic Chinese reside outside of mainland China. In the United States, the Chinese population, although a minority, reached around 5.2 million by 2023, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, in Singapore, where the total population is 5.92 million, ethnic Chinese individuals comprised 74 per cent of the population as of June 2023.<o:p></o:p>

Zehner emphasized that a number of Chinese firms possess an ambitious global outlook, leveraging the entrepreneurial spirit and rapid innovation they have cultivated domestically to establish new footholds abroad. He believes that while South Korean and Japanese companies may contemplate similar strategies, Chinese firms have a distinct advantage in many respects.<o:p></o:p>

Bain's analysis revealed that, relative to their South Korean and Japanese counterparts, Chinese consumer businesses have not yet tapped into overseas markets for revenue to the same extent. The research focused on four sectors: consumer electronics, consumer health, apparel, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), which are typically sold quickly and at lower prices.<o:p></o:p>

Among Japanese companies in the FMCG sector, all 16 generated at least 10 per cent of their revenue from international markets, with five achieving over half of their sales from abroad. In the case of the four South Korean companies in the same segment, their overseas revenue ranged from 10 per cent to 50 per cent. Conversely, within Greater China, 16 companies were part of the FMCG sector; however, five concentrated solely on the domestic market. For nine of these companies up to 10 per cent of their revenue international sales, while only two managed to achieve between 10 and 50 per cent in comparison with peers.<o:p></o:p>

Zehner remains optimistic, suggesting that Chinese companies are beginning to gain momentum. He foresees numerous opportunities for these firms to establish product categories in various regions where they are still underdeveloped. He also pointed out the increasing impact of Asian culture and brands in many Western markets.<o:p></o:p>

Recent developments justifying the moves to expand overseas are say, Chinese retailer Miniso on August 31 opened its largest store to date in Jakarta, Indonesia, and claimed record first-day sales of 1.18 million yuan ($166,000). The company, which sells household and daily use consumer products, said it opened its 200th store in the U.S. on August 24.<o:p></o:p>

Despite the promising prospects, the journey to success is fraught with challenges. After five years attempting to enter the Singapore market through a local partnership, the Chinese tea brand Chagee opted this summer to overhaul its approach by directly owning its stores. Other Chinese brands are utilizing Singapore as a cultural testing ground to better connect with Western consumers.<o:p></o:p>

Zehner remarked that success will favor companies that can learn and adapt swiftly, rather than assuming that strategies that work domestically will translate seamlessly to international markets. He advised a long-term perspective on international growth, cautioning against a 'get-rich-quick' mentality and emphasizing that companies should not expect immediate returns on their marketing investments from the outset.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

In a noticeable report released by Bain & Company, a U.S.-based consulting firm, it has been revealed that Chinese enterprises venturing into international markets for growth possess a substantial advantage compared to the initial wave of Asian firms that pursued globalization.

In a noticeable report released by Bain & Company, a U.S.-based consulting firm, it has been revealed that Chinese enterprises venturing into international markets for growth possess a substantial advantage compared to the initial wave of Asian firms that pursued globalization. This advantage stems from the vast ethnic Chinese diaspora, a fact that has been largely overlooked until now. The study, which primarily analysed data from 2023 concerning 150 publicly traded consumer goods companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region, provides a fascinating insight into the future of global commerce. David Zehner, a senior partner at Bain, shared with CNBC that the overseas ethnic Chinese community is substantial in numerous markets, presenting a unique opportunity for Chinese firms to cater to these populations. As domestic growth begins to decelerate, these companies are observing successful strategies implemented by their Japanese and South Korean counterparts and are eager to replicate that success. Zehner highlighted that many Chinese companies are initiating their global ventures by concentrating on the Asian market before branching out to Europe and North America. According to United Nations estimates, approximately 60 million ethnic Chinese reside outside of mainland China. In the United States, the Chinese population, although a minority, reached around 5.2 million by 2023, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, in Singapore, where the total population is 5.92 million, ethnic Chinese individuals comprised 74 per cent of the population as of June 2023. Zehner emphasized that a number of Chinese firms possess an ambitious global outlook, leveraging the entrepreneurial spirit and rapid innovation they have cultivated domestically to establish new footholds abroad. He believes that while South Korean and Japanese companies may contemplate similar strategies, Chinese firms have a distinct advantage in many respects. Bain's analysis revealed that, relative to their South Korean and Japanese counterparts, Chinese consumer businesses have not yet tapped into overseas markets for revenue to the same extent. The research focused on four sectors: consumer electronics, consumer health, apparel, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), which are typically sold quickly and at lower prices. Among Japanese companies in the FMCG sector, all 16 generated at least 10 per cent of their revenue from international markets, with five achieving over half of their sales from abroad. In the case of the four South Korean companies in the same segment, their overseas revenue ranged from 10 per cent to 50 per cent. Conversely, within Greater China, 16 companies were part of the FMCG sector; however, five concentrated solely on the domestic market. For nine of these companies up to 10 per cent of their revenue international sales, while only two managed to achieve between 10 and 50 per cent in comparison with peers. Zehner remains optimistic, suggesting that Chinese companies are beginning to gain momentum. He foresees numerous opportunities for these firms to establish product categories in various regions where they are still underdeveloped. He also pointed out the increasing impact of Asian culture and brands in many Western markets. Recent developments justifying the moves to expand overseas are say, Chinese retailer Miniso on August 31 opened its largest store to date in Jakarta, Indonesia, and claimed record first-day sales of 1.18 million yuan ($166,000). The company, which sells household and daily use consumer products, said it opened its 200th store in the U.S. on August 24. Despite the promising prospects, the journey to success is fraught with challenges. After five years attempting to enter the Singapore market through a local partnership, the Chinese tea brand Chagee opted this summer to overhaul its approach by directly owning its stores. Other Chinese brands are utilizing Singapore as a cultural testing ground to better connect with Western consumers. Zehner remarked that success will favor companies that can learn and adapt swiftly, rather than assuming that strategies that work domestically will translate seamlessly to international markets. He advised a long-term perspective on international growth, cautioning against a 'get-rich-quick' mentality and emphasizing that companies should not expect immediate returns on their marketing investments from the outset.

Chinese firms poised to dominate global markets with ethnic Chinese diaspora advantage

Chinese students have been warned by China's top spy agency to be more careful with access to sensitive data. The agency advised students to stay away from foreign entities that might appear as "handsome men and beautiful women" who could fake their feelings and potentially lure them into spying, thereby compromising national security.

China warns against entrapment by foreign spies

China has reportedly recruited Taiwanese YouTubers to travel and shoot videos in Xinjiang to deal with the negative portrayal&nbsp;of Chinese people in&nbsp;Taiwan.&nbsp;

China has been making moves against Taiwan, as it considers&nbsp;the self-ruled island&nbsp;as part of its own territory.&nbsp;

Earlier in June, Taiwanese YouTuber Potter King highlighted that Beijing&nbsp;has invited influencers to travel and film videos in Xinjiang, Radio Free Asia reported.&nbsp;

King further said that YouTubers with tens of thousands of subscribers were targeted for recruitment. They were recorded saying positive things about China, including, "The people in Xinjiang are friendly" and "It is safe to come here".&nbsp;

<h2>Second group of YouTubers set to travel</h2>

Moreover, a second group of&nbsp;celebrities are reportedly scheduled to travel to China's Xinjiang to laud its local environment and public security.

Taiwan's Cabinet Deputy Spokesperson Hsieh Tzu-han said on Thursday (September 5) that information was being gathered about China's activities.&nbsp;

She added that Taiwanese people should be aware of the risks involved in travelling to China, as their actions may not only have personal repercussions but also affect Taiwan's reputation.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/foreign-minister-calls-on-un-to-include-taiwan-in-global-body-to-ensure-peace-in-indo-pacific-755852">Also read:&nbsp;Foreign minister calls on UN to include Taiwan in global body to ensure peace in Indo-Pacific</a>

However, one of the Taiwanese YouTubers, Ariel, who has been making travel videos and has 1.1 million subscribers, denied being invited by China. She said her trip was planned six months ago as a casual vacation with friends, and that she did not earn money off the videos she posted.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, people on the social media app 'Threads', slammed the influencers, saying that China's hospitality for these celebrities was an attempt to manipulate facts about its repression of minority groups in Xinjiang.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Pacific Island forum split between support to China and Taiwan

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Taiwan Professors Association President Chen Li-fi stressed that China's way of spreading such messages through influencers' endorsements is their new way of publicity.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

China has reportedly recruited Taiwanese YouTubers to travel and shoot videos in Xinjiang to deal with the negative portrayal of Chinese people in Taiwan. China has been making moves against Taiwan, as it considers the self-ruled island as part of its own territory.

China has reportedly recruited Taiwanese YouTubers to travel and shoot videos in Xinjiang to deal with the negative portrayal of Chinese people in Taiwan. China has been making moves against Taiwan, as it considers the self-ruled island as part of its own territory. Earlier in June, Taiwanese YouTuber Potter King highlighted that Beijing has invited influencers to travel and film videos in Xinjiang, Radio Free Asia reported. King further said that YouTubers with tens of thousands of subscribers were targeted for recruitment. They were recorded saying positive things about China, including, "The people in Xinjiang are friendly" and "It is safe to come here". Second group of YouTubers set to travel Moreover, a second group of celebrities are reportedly scheduled to travel to China's Xinjiang to laud its local environment and public security. Taiwan's Cabinet Deputy Spokesperson Hsieh Tzu-han said on Thursday (September 5) that information was being gathered about China's activities. She added that Taiwanese people should be aware of the risks involved in travelling to China, as their actions may not only have personal repercussions but also affect Taiwan's reputation. Also read: Foreign minister calls on UN to include Taiwan in global body to ensure peace in Indo-Pacific However, one of the Taiwanese YouTubers, Ariel, who has been making travel videos and has 1.1 million subscribers, denied being invited by China. She said her trip was planned six months ago as a casual vacation with friends, and that she did not earn money off the videos she posted. Meanwhile, people on the social media app 'Threads', slammed the influencers, saying that China's hospitality for these celebrities was an attempt to manipulate facts about its repression of minority groups in Xinjiang. Watch | Pacific Island forum split between support to China and Taiwan × Taiwan Professors Association President Chen Li-fi stressed that China's way of spreading such messages through influencers' endorsements is their new way of publicity. (With inputs from agencies)

China pays Taiwan influencers to shoot videos in Xinjiang, help refute negative narratives

The top spy agency of China has warned the students, who have access to sensitive data, to remain careful of “handsome men and beautiful women” who may fake their feelings and get them involved in spying for foreign entities while compromising national security.

The Ministry of State Security of China on Wednesday (September 4) launched&nbsp;its public WeChat social media account, on&nbsp;which it warned the students, who it believes are likely to get manipulated in various ways and give some kind of sensitive information.

The ministry said that the state security departments have discovered evidence of personnel from intelligence organisations and those who are part of foreign espionage targeting young students, wooing them and getting access to sensitive data.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-xi-expands-his-debt-trap-net-with-latest-package-for-africa-756005">China's Xi expands his 'debt trap' net with latest package for Africa</a>

“They take advantage of the characteristics of young students’ strong curiosity and willingness to try new things,” said a statement.

<h2>China's crackdown on spying threats</h2>

Chinese authorities have cracked down on things which appeared as threats to its national security and issued several warnings to its citizens. They have also made public the cases of spying that were uncovered by the government.

The agency has stated that those working for foreign intelligence agencies have been targeting those college students specifically who have access to classified and sensitive scientific research data.

These people have been approaching the students disguised as university scholars, employees of scientific research institutions and consulting companies, stated the agency.

These people have lured young students “with high-paying part-time opportunities in the name of market research, academic exchanges,” it further stated.

Watch:&nbsp;US clarifies on 'expulsion' of China's envoy

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The agency said that once the student expresses their interest, the foreign intelligence agencies provide them with so-called free training and guidance through video conferencing, telephone or social media.

The agency said that these agents are also approaching in the “disguise of handsome guys and beautiful women who are intimate and considerate, dragging young students into the trap of love with false feelings.”

“They show care in daily life, offering help and solving problems, earning the students’ trust,” warned the agency. “Some even pretend to be affectionate ‘handsome guys’ or ‘beautiful women,’ trapping young students in false romantic relationships," it added.

At last, the recruiters begin “manipulating the students into engaging in more covert illegal activities,” such as photographing sensitive military areas, read the post.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The top spy agency of China has warned the students, who have access to sensitive data, to remain careful of “handsome men and beautiful women” who may fake their feelings and get them involved in spying for foreign entities while compromising national security.

The top spy agency of China has warned the students, who have access to sensitive data, to remain careful of “handsome men and beautiful women” who may fake their feelings and get them involved in spying for foreign entities while compromising national security. The Ministry of State Security of China on Wednesday (September 4) launched its public WeChat social media account, on which it warned the students, who it believes are likely to get manipulated in various ways and give some kind of sensitive information. The ministry said that the state security departments have discovered evidence of personnel from intelligence organisations and those who are part of foreign espionage targeting young students, wooing them and getting access to sensitive data. Also Read: China's Xi expands his 'debt trap' net with latest package for Africa “They take advantage of the characteristics of young students’ strong curiosity and willingness to try new things,” said a statement. China's crackdown on spying threats Chinese authorities have cracked down on things which appeared as threats to its national security and issued several warnings to its citizens. They have also made public the cases of spying that were uncovered by the government. The agency has stated that those working for foreign intelligence agencies have been targeting those college students specifically who have access to classified and sensitive scientific research data. These people have been approaching the students disguised as university scholars, employees of scientific research institutions and consulting companies, stated the agency. These people have lured young students “with high-paying part-time opportunities in the name of market research, academic exchanges,” it further stated. Watch: US clarifies on 'expulsion' of China's envoy The agency said that once the student expresses their interest, the foreign intelligence agencies provide them with so-called free training and guidance through video conferencing, telephone or social media. The agency said that these agents are also approaching in the “disguise of handsome guys and beautiful women who are intimate and considerate, dragging young students into the trap of love with false feelings.” “They show care in daily life, offering help and solving problems, earning the students’ trust,” warned the agency. “Some even pretend to be affectionate ‘handsome guys’ or ‘beautiful women,’ trapping young students in false romantic relationships," it added. At last, the recruiters begin “manipulating the students into engaging in more covert illegal activities,” such as photographing sensitive military areas, read the post. (With inputs from agencies)

China warns students, says ‘beautiful women, handsome guys’ can lure them into spying

China issued a set of guidelines to make the teaching profession "one of the most respected and admirable occupations in China" by 2035. The guidelines, released earlier this week by the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee and the State Council, China’s cabinet, focus on protecting their rights and supporting them to “actively discipline students".

The new rules also rule in zero tolerance for teachers who commit malpractice and related violations. There is provision for strict enforcement of discipline as well as legal consequences for offenders.

According to official Chinese figures, there are 18.9 million teachers in the country, which top leader Xi Jinping-led system China describes as the “largest-scale teaching system in the world”.

The Chinese education system has been slammed for purportedly disciplining students with measures such as after-class detention and being required to stand during class.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-xi-expands-his-debt-trap-net-with-latest-package-for-africa-756005">China's Xi expands his 'debt trap' net with latest package for Africa</a>

Cindy Wang, who teaches at a junior school in Hubei province, central China, told the South China Morning Post, teachers were concerned that if anything happened, they would be portrayed in a bad light.

“It’s quite difficult to find the appropriate level of punishment. If it’s too light, it won’t work, if it’s heavy, it might hurt the students physically or mentally,” she told the South China Morning Post.

"It doesn’t matter whether the teacher had good reasons to discipline the student, as long as others complained about them, there’s a problem," Xiong Bingqi, director of the Beijing-based 21st Century Education Research Institute, wrote in an article published by The Beijing News.

Also watch |&nbsp;China: About 40% foreign teachers may leave jobs amid strict regulations

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Under this approach, "teachers will only turn a blind eye when students break rules," Xiong said.

"Often, our superiors come to the school for open classes and other inspections, so we have to prepare a lot of documents, which even takes up our time [for] teaching and grading," Wang said.

"Once the officials leave, all these materials go into the trash can."

(With inputs from agencies)

China issued a set of guidelines to make the teaching profession "one of the most respected and admirable occupations in China" by 2035. The guidelines, released earlier this week by the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee and the State Council, China’s cabinet, focus on protecting their rights and supporting them to “actively discipline students".

China issued a set of guidelines to make the teaching profession "one of the most respected and admirable occupations in China" by 2035. The guidelines, released earlier this week by the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee and the State Council, China’s cabinet, focus on protecting their rights and supporting them to “actively discipline students". The new rules also rule in zero tolerance for teachers who commit malpractice and related violations. There is provision for strict enforcement of discipline as well as legal consequences for offenders. According to official Chinese figures, there are 18.9 million teachers in the country, which top leader Xi Jinping-led system China describes as the “largest-scale teaching system in the world”. The Chinese education system has been slammed for purportedly disciplining students with measures such as after-class detention and being required to stand during class. Also read | China's Xi expands his 'debt trap' net with latest package for Africa Cindy Wang, who teaches at a junior school in Hubei province, central China, told the South China Morning Post, teachers were concerned that if anything happened, they would be portrayed in a bad light. “It’s quite difficult to find the appropriate level of punishment. If it’s too light, it won’t work, if it’s heavy, it might hurt the students physically or mentally,” she told the South China Morning Post. "It doesn’t matter whether the teacher had good reasons to discipline the student, as long as others complained about them, there’s a problem," Xiong Bingqi, director of the Beijing-based 21st Century Education Research Institute, wrote in an article published by The Beijing News. Also watch | China: About 40% foreign teachers may leave jobs amid strict regulations × Under this approach, "teachers will only turn a blind eye when students break rules," Xiong said. "Often, our superiors come to the school for open classes and other inspections, so we have to prepare a lot of documents, which even takes up our time [for] teaching and grading," Wang said. "Once the officials leave, all these materials go into the trash can." (With inputs from agencies)

China's new guidelines give teachers right to 'discipline' students

A woman in China&nbsp;says that her son developed vitiligo after his teacher slapped him in the classroom for not doing his homework. It is an autoimmune condition in which the skin loses pigment in patches.&nbsp;

The woman, surnamed Huang, noticed that her son, Liu's face had swollen up badly. So she took the 11-year-old to the hospital. The boy told his mother that a teacher had slapped him in front of the whole class.

Detailing the incident, the boy said the teacher wanted to punish him for not doing his homework. So he was brought to the front of the class where the teacher slapped the right side of his face three times and the left once.

His face started to lose colour three months later. What exactly causes vitiligo is not clear, but experts say that environmental stress factors can contribute to its beginning.

A police investigation was initiated into the matter and the school says they are waiting for its results, as well as a forensic injury assessment to determine what action should be taken against the teacher. Chinese media outlet Benliu News quoted a staff member as saying that the boy had been diagnosed with vitiligo.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the mother is waiting for either the school or the teacher to reimburse the medical expenses incurred to treat her son. She says she has not been able to get in touch with either the teacher or the school regarding the same.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/drunk-passenger-tries-to-enter-cockpit-mid-air-says-i-will-take-the-controls-756078">Drunk passenger tries to enter cockpit mid-air, says 'I will take the controls'</a>

Notably, China’s law bans teachers from inflicting corporal punishments on the students. Social media users were enraged to know that a child was hit at school.&nbsp;

This is not the first incident of a student being hit in China. In 2023, a nine-year-old girl underwent an operation for a cracked skull bone after a teacher hit her with a triangular ruler.&nbsp;

<h2>Vitiligo causes&nbsp;social anxiety</h2>

People suffering from vitiligo often face social discrimination as some people believe that the condition can be transmitted through physical contact. Social anxiety is a major fallout leading people to withdraw&nbsp;from day-to-day situations.&nbsp;

A woman in China says that her son developed vitiligo after his teacher slapped him in the classroom for not doing his homework. It is an autoimmune condition in which the skin loses pigment in patches.

A woman in China says that her son developed vitiligo after his teacher slapped him in the classroom for not doing his homework. It is an autoimmune condition in which the skin loses pigment in patches. The woman, surnamed Huang, noticed that her son, Liu's face had swollen up badly. So she took the 11-year-old to the hospital. The boy told his mother that a teacher had slapped him in front of the whole class. Detailing the incident, the boy said the teacher wanted to punish him for not doing his homework. So he was brought to the front of the class where the teacher slapped the right side of his face three times and the left once. His face started to lose colour three months later. What exactly causes vitiligo is not clear, but experts say that environmental stress factors can contribute to its beginning. A police investigation was initiated into the matter and the school says they are waiting for its results, as well as a forensic injury assessment to determine what action should be taken against the teacher. Chinese media outlet Benliu News quoted a staff member as saying that the boy had been diagnosed with vitiligo. Meanwhile, the mother is waiting for either the school or the teacher to reimburse the medical expenses incurred to treat her son. She says she has not been able to get in touch with either the teacher or the school regarding the same. Also Read: Drunk passenger tries to enter cockpit mid-air, says 'I will take the controls' Notably, China’s law bans teachers from inflicting corporal punishments on the students. Social media users were enraged to know that a child was hit at school. This is not the first incident of a student being hit in China. In 2023, a nine-year-old girl underwent an operation for a cracked skull bone after a teacher hit her with a triangular ruler. Vitiligo causes social anxiety People suffering from vitiligo often face social discrimination as some people believe that the condition can be transmitted through physical contact. Social anxiety is a major fallout leading people to withdraw from day-to-day situations.

China: Mother claims her son lost skin colour after being slapped in school

The US state department has denied that China's Consul General in New York has been removed from his position now the statement comes hours after New York's Governor Kathy hook declared that she asked for his expulsion in the aftermath of an AIDS arrest for secretly acting as a Chinese agent.

US clarifies on 'expulsion' of China's envoy

A major development has emerged in the financial sector. China merchant fund management, one of china's top fund management firms is demanding that senior executives return pay exceeding a new salary cap set by the government.

China's 'common prosperity' drives reform

Chinese top leader Xi Jinping on Thursday (Sept 5) helmed over the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit (FOCAC) to show Beijing's plans to expand ties with the continent amid debt-trap accusations.&nbsp;

Billed as Beijing’s biggest diplomatic event in years, the representatives of more than 50 African countries are attending the triannual forum.

<h2>China's Africa outreach: Top takeaways from Xi Jinping's speech</h2>

On Global South: Xi Jinping pledged to help the Global South by deploying more financial resources for Africa's purported modernisation. The 10-point proposal reflects that despite Beijing's debt trap policies, China’s influence goes beyond the traditional scope of trade and infrastructure.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Decoded: China's debt-trap diplomacy

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On Trade: Beijing announced that it will open its markets to 33 least developed countries (LDCs) in Africa. This, China claimed, will ensure that these countries enjoy zero tariffs on all Chinese products.

Finance and Investment: Over the next three years, China claimed that it is willing to provide funding of 360 billion yuan ($50.6 billion) to support its 10-point initiative, including 210 billion yuan in loans and 80 billion yuan in aid. This means, that if China provides a $10 loan to a country in Africa, of this, nearly $6 will be in loan, on which the level of interest rate needs to be clarified at the time of filing this report.&nbsp;

On Governance: China claimed that it will help train African officials to improve governance. Beijing proposed to build 25 African research centres and invite 1,000 African officials and politicians to China to learn about modern governance.

Technology, green industry and health: China also proposed 30 interconnectivity projects and 1,000 "small and beautiful projects" in Africa under its Belt and Road Initiative.

Beijing will build 20 digitalisation projects to help the continent "embrace the new technology revolution". China claimed that it would also cooperate with African countries in laboratories and satellite remote sensing.

(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese top leader Xi Jinping on Thursday (Sept 5) helmed over the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit (FOCAC) to show Beijing's plans to expand ties with the continent amid debt-trap accusations.

Chinese top leader Xi Jinping on Thursday (Sept 5) helmed over the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit (FOCAC) to show Beijing's plans to expand ties with the continent amid debt-trap accusations. Billed as Beijing’s biggest diplomatic event in years, the representatives of more than 50 African countries are attending the triannual forum. China's Africa outreach: Top takeaways from Xi Jinping's speech On Global South: Xi Jinping pledged to help the Global South by deploying more financial resources for Africa's purported modernisation. The 10-point proposal reflects that despite Beijing's debt trap policies, China’s influence goes beyond the traditional scope of trade and infrastructure. Also watch | Decoded: China's debt-trap diplomacy × On Trade: Beijing announced that it will open its markets to 33 least developed countries (LDCs) in Africa. This, China claimed, will ensure that these countries enjoy zero tariffs on all Chinese products. Finance and Investment: Over the next three years, China claimed that it is willing to provide funding of 360 billion yuan ($50.6 billion) to support its 10-point initiative, including 210 billion yuan in loans and 80 billion yuan in aid. This means, that if China provides a $10 loan to a country in Africa, of this, nearly $6 will be in loan, on which the level of interest rate needs to be clarified at the time of filing this report. On Governance: China claimed that it will help train African officials to improve governance. Beijing proposed to build 25 African research centres and invite 1,000 African officials and politicians to China to learn about modern governance. Technology, green industry and health: China also proposed 30 interconnectivity projects and 1,000 "small and beautiful projects" in Africa under its Belt and Road Initiative. Beijing will build 20 digitalisation projects to help the continent "embrace the new technology revolution". China claimed that it would also cooperate with African countries in laboratories and satellite remote sensing. (With inputs from agencies)

China's Xi expands his 'debt trap' net with latest package for Africa

The US has expelled China's consul general in New York, a&nbsp;day after&nbsp;Governor Kathy Hochul's former aide was charged with acting as a foreign agent, according to a CNN report.

Hochul informed that the consul general had been expelled after she made a request.&nbsp;

“I have conveyed my desire to have the counsel general from the People’s Republic of China and the New York mission expelled, and I’ve been informed that the counsel general is no longer in the New York mission,” said Hochul during a press conference.&nbsp;

The decision to expel the envoy comes after Linda Sun&nbsp;and her husband,&nbsp;Christopher Hu, were indicted on Tuesday (Sep 2) of being Chinese agents. Sun held a series of positions within the New York State government from 2012 to 2023 - including deputy chief of staff to Hochul for a year, beginning in September 2021.

According to court documents, Sun furthered Chinese interests during her tenure in the state government. She blocked&nbsp;representatives of the Taiwanese government from meeting with officials and attempted to arrange for a New York state official to visit China.&nbsp;

"Acting at the request of PRC government officials and the [Communist Party of China] representative, Sun engaged in numerous political activities in the interests of the PRC and the CCP," the indictment noted.&nbsp;

Federal prosecutors added that Sun and Hu used the money received from Chinese overlords to buy multi-million dollar mansions on Long Island and Honolulu, as well as a Ferrari Roma sports car.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Chinese government representatives also facilitated millions of dollars in transactions for Hu, who had business activities in China.&nbsp;

Sun has been charged with&nbsp;violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy. Both Sun and her husband have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-york-governor-former-aide-linda-sun-charged-with-espionage-755864">Watch |&nbsp;New York 'governor' former aide Linda Sun charged with espionage</a>

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&nbsp;

<h2>Hochul's office issues clarification</h2>

Hochul's office released a statement after Sun's indictment stating that her employment was terminated in 2023.&nbsp;

“We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process,” said&nbsp;Hochul’s press secretary Avi Small.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-governor-hochuls-ex-aide-indicted-for-being-chinese-foreign-agent-755634">Also read |&nbsp;New York Governor Hochul’s ex-aide indicted for being Chinese agent former aide Linda Sun charged with espionage</a>

Even after her employment was terminated, Sun attended public and professional Asian community events purporting to represent the Department of Labor while claiming to be the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Labor.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The US has expelled China's consul general in New York, a day after Governor Kathy Hochul's former aide was charged with acting as a foreign agent, according to a CNN report.

The US has expelled China's consul general in New York, a day after Governor Kathy Hochul's former aide was charged with acting as a foreign agent, according to a CNN report. Hochul informed that the consul general had been expelled after she made a request. “I have conveyed my desire to have the counsel general from the People’s Republic of China and the New York mission expelled, and I’ve been informed that the counsel general is no longer in the New York mission,” said Hochul during a press conference. The decision to expel the envoy comes after Linda Sun and her husband, Christopher Hu, were indicted on Tuesday (Sep 2) of being Chinese agents. Sun held a series of positions within the New York State government from 2012 to 2023 - including deputy chief of staff to Hochul for a year, beginning in September 2021. According to court documents, Sun furthered Chinese interests during her tenure in the state government. She blocked representatives of the Taiwanese government from meeting with officials and attempted to arrange for a New York state official to visit China. "Acting at the request of PRC government officials and the [Communist Party of China] representative, Sun engaged in numerous political activities in the interests of the PRC and the CCP," the indictment noted. Federal prosecutors added that Sun and Hu used the money received from Chinese overlords to buy multi-million dollar mansions on Long Island and Honolulu, as well as a Ferrari Roma sports car. The Chinese government representatives also facilitated millions of dollars in transactions for Hu, who had business activities in China. Sun has been charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy. Both Sun and her husband have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Watch | New York 'governor' former aide Linda Sun charged with espionage × Hochul's office issues clarification Hochul's office released a statement after Sun's indictment stating that her employment was terminated in 2023. “We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process,” said Hochul’s press secretary Avi Small. Also read | New York Governor Hochul’s ex-aide indicted for being Chinese agent former aide Linda Sun charged with espionage Even after her employment was terminated, Sun attended public and professional Asian community events purporting to represent the Department of Labor while claiming to be the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Labor. (With inputs from agencies)

China's consul general in New York expelled after governor Hochul's ex-aide indicted for being foreign agent

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