China

A raft of reforms to overhaul Hong Kong’s building maintenance sector has been hailed as a bold first step in tackling bid-rigging and other deep-rooted problems, but observers said its success would depend on the determination and persistence to implement them to restore public trust. They said the reforms signalled a departure from the government’s […]

A Hong Kong judge who has overseen high-profile national security trials, including the collusion case of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, has been promoted to the Court of Appeal. A Judiciary statement on Thursday said the chief executive had accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission to appoint Court of First […]

In September, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled the city’s first five-year plan along with his policy address, highlighting Hong Kong’s strategic role in promoting the greater use of the yuan outside mainland China as a key priority. In the last of a four-part series on the internationalisation of the yuan, Lam Ka-sing examines Hong Kong’s […]

(261029) -- DOHA, Oct. 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Visitors view ceramic artifacts at the exhibition "Boats Floating Afar: The Maritime Trade of Ancient Chinese Ceramics" at the National Museum of Qatar in Doha, Qatar, Oct. 29, 2026. (Photo by Nikku/Xinhua)

RAS AL KHAIMAH, 29th October, 2026 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, received today at his palace in Saqr bin Mohammed City participants in the 2026 Chinese Language and Cultural Exchange programmes, held in Shanghai and Guangzhou in the People's Republic of China. The programmes […]

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China is expanding and diversifying its launch infrastructure to meet the growing demand from the commercial space industry, with its offshore launch platforms, commercial spaceports and dedicated launch pads opening up new avenues for private rocket makers to send spacecraft into orbit.A typical example is a commercial rocket […]

(261029) -- BEIJING, Oct. 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2026. (Xinhua/Tian Yu)

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its fifth plenary session from Monday to Thursday in Beijing, adopting a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presided over the meeting. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the […]

(261029) -- QUETTA, Oct. 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This file photo shows medical supplies donated by China at a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan. TO GO WITH "Asia-Pacific Community: From anxiety to calm: Chinese support transforms maternal, child healthcare in western Pakistan" (Xinhua)

Hong Kong’s leader has apologised for last year’s deadly Tai Po fire, vowing extensive civil service and legislative reforms and an overhaul of government departments as his housing chief Winnie Ho Wing-yin resigned to offer political accountability. A grim-faced Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and seven other top officials bowed their heads in apology […]

Moscow [Russia], October 29 (ANI): Russia's Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation has firmly rejected reports that claimed that its subsidiary had engaged in illegal procurement practices to receive carbon-fibre precursor materials for drone manufacturing, asserting that all of its operations strictly adhere to regulatory standards."Rosatom and its […]

Taipei [Taiwan], October 29 (ANI): Indiana State Treasurer Daniel Elliott on Tuesday rejected what he described as attempts by China to influence the conduct of state officials after Beijing criticised his attendance at a Double Ten National Day reception hosted by Taiwan's representative office in Chicago, according to a report by Taipei Times.As cited by […]

New Delhi [India], October 29 (ANI): Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India's decision not to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2019 saved the country's manufacturing sector from what he described as a "death knell".Addressing the ISID-IDRA Fourth National Conference, Goyal said India's […]

(261029) -- NINGBO, Oct. 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Miranda Eleanor Ulrey of the United States competes during the women's 53kg clean and jerk event at the 2026 IWF World Championships in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 29, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)

(Photo credit: Jerod Ringwald)Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia joined the LIV Golf exodus on Thursday, confirming he plans to return to the DP World Tour.The 46-year-old Spaniard had served as the captain of the Fireballs GC team since leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in 2022.'Next season, I'll be playing on the DP World Tour,' Garcia posted on social […]

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China is introducing AI-powered tools in community health centers to speed up the digital transformation of grassroots healthcare, improve primary care, expand equitable access and enhance public well-being.Artificial intelligence (AI) assistants that support voice-based consultations, automated medical records, medication-risk […]

GUANGZHOU, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 140th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is showcasing smart, green and service-oriented products, with high-tech, customized and low-carbon debuts drawing global buyers and highlighting new opportunities for Chinese manufacturing.Logistics robots, drink-making robots and […]

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its fifth plenary session from Monday to Thursday in Beijing, adopting a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presided over the meeting. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the […]

New Delhi [India], October 29 (ANI): India's trade surplus with the US could nearly halve from its 2025 level by 2031, while bilateral trade may reach USD 500 billion, if exports grow 10 per cent annually and imports rise 16 per cent, according to a report by Ernst & Young (EY).The report highlighted that India's trade imbalances remain concentrated […]

Munich [Germany] October 29 (ANI): The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has urged German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to raise concerns over alleged human rights violations against Uyghurs during his state visit to China from October 27 to 31, including state-imposed forced labour, transnational repression and China's newly enacted Law on Promoting […]

Hong Kong’s leader has said the housing minister’s resignation was his “comprehensive political decision” in establishing accountability for the city’s deadliest fire in decades, with a three-member team to also investigate up to 50 civil servants. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Thursday that he had decided to stay on to spearhead […]

YEREVAN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China has made significant contributions to advancing negotiations at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), from pre-conference dialogue in Kunming to the ongoing global review of collective progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework […]

Hong Kong’s security chief has vowed to implement tougher enforcement against unauthorised shutdowns of fire safety systems and a structural overhaul of the Fire Services Department (FSD) after it was criticised for relying on a “passive, paper-driven” audit regime. The independent committee that investigated the Wang Fuk Court fire said in its report […]

The lack of a sense of crisis and an overreliance on an “honour system” prevented the buildings, labour and fire safety authorities from acting on fire safety risks at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, a judge-led panel that investigated Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades has found. But among the four government bodies singled out in the independent […]

(261029) -- HONG KONG, Oct. 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee (4th R) and other HKSAR government officials apologize for the deadly blaze at the residential complex Wang Fuk Court during a press conference in Hong Kong, south China, Oct. 29, 2026. China's HKSAR government on Thursday […]

(261029) -- BEIJING, Oct. 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivers an important address at the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, capital of China. The 20th CPC Central Committee held its fifth plenary session in Beijing from Oct. 26 to Oct. 29, […]

No government department took effective ownership of fire safety risks ahead of the deadly Tai Po fire in Hong Kong, allowing complaints made by residents to fall into a vacuum, according to an independent committee. At the release of the 1,154-page full report on Thursday, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said he would lead a steering committee to review […]

Hong Kong’s housing chief has resigned to take political responsibility for the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court, offering condolences to the families of the victims and expressing hope that those who perished may rest in peace. Winnie Ho Wing-yin said on Thursday that she submitted her resignation to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu the previous day, […]

Hong Kong will establish a dedicated body to oversee building renovations as part of a wide-ranging overhaul that includes restructuring the Buildings Department and tightening regulation of contractors. The move was revealed on Thursday as Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his ministers offered a formal apology over the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court in […]

Commissioned in the 1980s as Africa's first geothermal power station, Olkaria I faced growing challenges in maintaining its generating capacity and efficiency as its equipment aged over more than four decades of operation. Following a rehabilitation project undertaken by SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Power Construction […]

Hong Kong’s disgraced Independent Checking Unit (ICU) will be disbanded as part of reforms in the wake of the city’s deadliest fire in decades, after a judge-led inquiry identified it as the government arm with the greatest responsibility for the Wang Fuk Court inferno. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Thursday that the Housing Bureau would […]

The Hong Kong government is set to criminalise bid-rigging in building maintenance projects under laws covering triad and corruption offences and allow authorities to take criminal or civil action against such conduct, following the release of an independent committee’s report on the fatal Tai Po blaze. The regulatory overhaul on bid-rigging was announced […]

(261029) -- SANMENXIA, Oct. 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A visitor views a photo work at an exhibition during the 16th China Photography Festival in Sanmenxia City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 29, 2026. The 16th China Photography Festival kicked off here on Thursday, featuring exhibitions covering a variety of themes, including documentary and art. […]

Hong Kong police launched an investigation into the disappearance of jewellery worth nearly HK$40 million (US$5.1 million) from a woman’s home in the upscale Southern district neighbourhood of Chung Hom Kok. The woman, 56, called police at about 1pm on Thursday, two days after returning to her four-storey, stand-alone block at Bauhinia Garden on Chung Hom […]

Hong Kong authorities have scrapped a controversial plan to install decorative lights along a scenic trail on The Peak to increase the city’s nighttime tourism appeal following a public outcry, promising to restore the natural landscape as soon as possible. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and Tourism Board concluded there was no urgent need to roll […]

New Delhi [India], October 29 (ANI): The India-US free trade agreement would not compromise the sensitive interests of Indian farmers or any other stakeholders and would place India at a "very strong comparative advantage" once its details are made public, said Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.Addressing the ISID-IDRA Fourth National […]

New Delhi [India], October 29 (ANI): India is set to gain significant manufacturing opportunities from a global artificial intelligence (AI) investment cycle of USD 3 trillion, with six key sectors expected to drive growth as the country reduces import dependence and strengthens domestic production capabilities, according to a report by Avendus Capital.The […]

(261029) -- MALE, Oct. 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu addresses the China-Maldives Investment Cooperation Forum in Male, Maldives, Oct. 28, 2026. The forum opened here on Wednesday, aiming to strengthen industrial alignment between Chinese and Maldivian enterprises, expand investment cooperation in emerging sectors, and inject new […]

Sanrio's Chinese local subsidiary terminates VIVANT collaboration following criticism in China and Japan.The company's tie-up with the Japanese TV drama accused of demonizing China, stands in stark contrast to its anti-war legacy. Japanese historian Masahiro Yamazaki questioned why the company would partner with a drama that "glorifies violence and incites […]

A combination of a lit cigarette and an “abundant fuel” of combustible materials caused Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, according to a long-awaited report which found the blaze would not have killed so many people, or happened at all, without “human fault”. Eleven months after the deadly fire tore through Wang Fuk Court, killing 168 and […]

Later opening times are unlikely to boost wine sales by the bottle, exhibitors returning to Hong Kong’s annual Wine and Dine Festival have said, with new overseas participants believing that the city serves as an indicator for broader trends in Asian markets. The festival returned to the Central Harbourfront on Thursday with over 340 booths, an increase […]

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its fifth plenary session from Monday to Thursday in Beijing, adopting a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presided over the meeting. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the […]

TIANJIN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Thai intern gently slid a fine silver needle into an acupoint on a hemiplegic patient's leg. She lifted, thrust and twirled it -- and the motionless leg twitched.Salocha Techawanwanitchakorn, an intern at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in north China, had just felt what […]

URUMQI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- In a downtown reading room in Urumqi, capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, children sit in a circle around Steven Dahlke, a 45-year-old German teacher.He holds up a picture book and imitates the sounds of its animal characters. Beside him, his wife Gulayim Akim offers gentle prompts. The room is […]

(261029) -- WUHAN, Oct. 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A train of the Wuhan Metro Line 12 arrives at a station in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 29, 2026. China's longest subway loop line, the Wuhan Metro Line 12, started full line operation on Thursday. The 59.9-km line has 37 stations and stretches across seven administrative districts of the city. By […]