Authorities in eastern China confirmed that an explosion at a fireworks store in Jiangsu province’s Donghai County killed eight people and injured two others on Sunday afternoon. Cause of the Explosion Local officials reported that the blast was triggered by the “improper discharge” of fireworks by villagers around 2:30 pm.…
Cotonou, Benin – Tensions are mounting in the Arctic after several European countries deployed small troop contingents to Greenland, following repeated remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about wanting to annex the island. The icy, resource-rich territory, strategically located between North America and Europe, is increasingly viewed as a geopolitical…
Hong Kong – Pro-democracy activist and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, the longest punishment handed down so far under the China-imposed national security law that has reshaped Hong Kong’s political and media landscape. Lai, 78, was convicted in December 2025 of conspiring…
Panda lovers in Tokyo gathered on Sunday for an emotional farewell to Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao, the hugely popular twin pandas at Ueno Zoological Gardens, who are set to return to China this week. Their departure will leave Japan without pandas for the first time in half a century.…
Two hugely popular pandas at a Japanese zoo will depart on January 27 to join their sister in China, the Tokyo government and media said, leaving Japan panda-less for the first time in half a century. Loaned out as part of China’s “panda diplomacy” programme, the distinctive black-and-white animals have…
China and Lesotho have agreed to deepen cooperation across key sectors following an official visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, reaffirming strong bilateral relations and a shared commitment to development. The two nations praised the achievements under the China–Africa cooperation framework, which has significantly supported Lesotho’s modernization efforts in…
Chinese and Iranian warships have docked near South Africa’s primary naval base ahead of a multinational maritime exercise scheduled to run from January 9 to 16, an event that could further complicate Pretoria’s relations with the United States. The drills, dubbed “Will for Peace,” are being hosted by South Africa…
The African Union has reaffirmed its adherence to the “One China” policy, rejecting any recognition of Taiwan’s independence, during a visit by China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, to the bloc’s headquarters in Addis Ababa on Thursday. Wang’s visit comes at a sensitive moment for the region, following Israel’s decision to…
Residents of Greenland have expressed growing unease over renewed U.S. interest in the Arctic island, highlighting concerns that geopolitical ambitions could overshadow the rights and identity of its people. Local lawmakers have emphasized that Greenland should not be treated as a commodity. Nivi Rosing stated, “I think that we’re not…
An influential Protestant congregation in China has reported the arrest of several senior leaders, amid what Christian groups describe as an intensifying crackdown on underground churches operating outside state control. Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC), based in Chengdu, said nine members were detained on Tuesday after police raided their homes…