Two men have been arrested in Hong Kong for the possession of picture books which authorities say are “seditious”. They are believed to be the first arrested for merely owning the books – after the publishers were jailed last year. Authorities interpreted the books – about sheep trying to hold back wolves from their village – as referring to Hong Kongers and China’s government. The arrests are another deterioration of Hong Konger’s rights, critics say. Human Rights Watch described the arrests as “shameful”, and said the territory was using its colonial-era sedition law to clamp down on dissent. Hong Kong … Continue reading Two men arrested for possessing ‘seditious’ children’s books in Hongkong

Jiang Yanyong, a former military surgeon who blew the whistle on the Chinese authorities’ cover-up of the 2003 Sars epidemic has died aged 91. He died of pneumonia on Saturday in Beijing, family friends and Chinese-language media in Hong Kong reported. Dr Jiang was praised for saving lives after writing a letter in the early stage of the Sars crisis which revealed officials were playing down the threat. But he endured house arrest at one point for his unwavering outspokenness. The senior doctor had been working in a Beijing hospital in April 2003, when he was alarmed to hear the … Continue reading The Chinese doctor who exposed China’s Sars cover-up dies

At least two people have died and more than 50 are missing after a mine collapsed in northern China. President Xi Jinping has ordered a search and rescue mission following the collapse at around 17:13 local time on Wednesday. Six injured individuals have been rescued from the site so far. More than 200 rescue workers are at the scene, according to state news agency Xinhua. The mine is located in Alxa League, in Inner Mongolia region. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the collapse occurred in a shaft operated by Xinjing Coal Mining Company. Mines in Inner Mongolia are some of … Continue reading Search and rescue mission launched after coal mine collapses in China

Some 47 people are on trial for flouting Hong Kong’s controversial national security law, in the largest case of its kind. They include some of the city’s most prominent pro-democracy figures, such as activists Joshua Wong and Benny Tai. Accused of “subversion” for holding an unofficial primary election, most of them have been detained for the past two years on national security grounds. Critics say the national security law is used as a tool to crush dissent. But Chinese and Hong Kong authorities maintain it is needed to curb unrest. On Monday long queues of supporters were seen outside the … Continue reading Largest national security trial begins in Hongkong

Couples in China’s Sichuan province will be allowed to have as many children as they want, as the country continues to try and get a grip on its declining population. Last year, the population in China fell for the first time in 60 years. For decades, the country had a one-child policy – increased nationally for married couples to three in 2021. As part of the policy change in Sichuan, unmarried individuals will also now be able to raise children. Previously there was a ban on single women registering a birth. In 2016, China scrapped its controversial one-child policy, which was … Continue reading Couples in Chinese province of Sichuan allowed to have unlimited children

Macau gambling kingpin Alvin Chau has been sentenced to 18 years in jail for more than 100 charges including organised crime and illegal gaming. The 48-year-old was found guilty in a case that centred on illegal bets exceeding HK$823.7bn ($105bn). Chau, a high-profile and colourful figure in the local casino industry, had denied the charges. Chau was the chairman and founder of Suncity Group. It was Macau’s biggest operator of junkets, or organised trips for wealthy gamblers to casinos. It arranged for high rollers from mainland China to travel to Macau and gamble in the city’s casinos, and offered loans … Continue reading Macau gambling kingpin Alvin Chau jailed for 18 years

Chinese police have arrested a man who drove a car into pedestrians in Guangzhou, killing five people and injuring 13 others. The incident has sparked widespread public outrage, with many accusing the man of deliberately targeting people. Videos posted online show the driver getting out of the car and throwing banknotes into the air, shortly after the crash. Police have detained the 22-year-old man and launched an investigation. The crash took place on Wednesday during the evening rush hour at a busy junction in the southern city of 19 million. There have been similar recent incidents. In February 2022, a … Continue reading Five dead after man drives into crowd in Chinese city of Guangzhou

China has bid its farewell to former leader Jiang Zemin in a state memorial service in Beijing. Jiang, who took power after the 1989 crackdown of the Tiananmen Square protests, will be remembered for leading the country through a decade of burgeoning economic growth and prosperity. He oversaw notable events like China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, and the handover of Hong Kong from the British to the Chinese. The Chinese Communist Party said he died last Wednesday from leukaemia and multiple organ failures. He was 96. President Xi Jinping delivered the eulogy in a near hour-long ceremony in … Continue reading In Pictures: China says goodbye to former leader Jiang Zemin

Three Chinese astronauts have returned to Earth after completing a six-month mission aboard China’s space station. They left for space on 5 June to oversee the final construction stage of the Tiangong space station, which was completed in November. The crew touched down on board the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft on Sunday in China’s autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. China’s space agency declared the mission a “complete success”. Commander Chen Dong and teammates Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe said they were feeling well after landing, in audio aired by state broadcaster CCTV. Staff at the landing site carried the crew out of … Continue reading Chinese astronauts return to Earth after six-month mission

Jiang Zemin, China’s former president, died on Wednesday at the age of 96, Chinese state media reported. Jiang died from leukemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai, the official Xinhua news agency said. This is a developing Story…… Continue reading China’s former president Jiang Zemin dies aged 96

Three Chinese astronauts have taken off for the Tiangong space station to make its first in-orbit crew handover. It will be the second permanently inhabited space outpost, after the Nasa-led International Space Station from which China was excluded in 2011. The fresh crew will live on the station for six months, taking over from three colleagues who arrived in June. There will be a week-long handover period, in part to trial the station’s ability to house six astronauts. The new crew lifted off on Tuesday in the Shenzhou-15 spacecraft or “Divine Vessel” from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the … Continue reading China sends new crew to Tiangong space station

One of China’s biggest stars, actor Li Yifeng, has been arrested on suspicion of repeatedly soliciting prostitutes. State media said Li, 35, had recently been detained and charged by police in Beijing and had confessed his guilt. The actor, who played Communist leader Mao Zedong in a 2021 film, has been dropped as brand ambassador by leading firms including fashion house Prada. He’s the latest star to be prosecuted in China after officials criticised the influence they have over young people. Li Yifeng, also known as Evan Li, is a household name and hugely popular in China, with 60 million … Continue reading China arrests Li Yifeng who played Mao for soliciting prostitutes