A fire killed at least 21 people at a hospital in Beijing on Tuesday and forced dozens of people to evacuate, Chinese state media reported. As clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky, people trapped in the multistory building…
Horror after Chinese trapeze artist falls to her death during display
A Chinese acrobat has died after falling to her death during a performance on Saturday. The woman, surnamed Sun, fell during a flying-trapeze performance in the city of Suzhou in central Anhui province. Footage shared online shows the gymnast falling…
Iran to receive Saudi king after years of estrangement
Iran’s leaders have invited their regional rival Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdelaziz for an official visit. The move, which is part of a rapprochement between the two countries, was announced by Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani in Tehran…
Brazil’s Lula arrives in China for state visit
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived late Wednesday in China for an official visit aimed at boosting the deep ties between the Asian giant and Latin America’s biggest economy. The veteran leftist, who is to meet his counterpart…
US and Philippines begin largest-ever drills after China exercises
The US and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills a day after China concluded large-scale exercises around Taiwan. Over three days, China’s military rehearsed blockades of Taiwan in response to the island’s leader meeting the US House…
Chinese military rehearses encirclement of Taiwan
China’s military is rehearsing the encirclement of Taiwan during three days of military drills. Beijing – which views Taiwan as a breakaway province of China – called the operation a “stern warning” to the island’s government. The exercises began hours…
US national security documents with Ukraine, China secrets turn up in ‘‘nightmare’’ leak
Classified documents that seem to detail US national security secrets related to Ukraine, the Middle East and China have emerged online in what one intelligence official called a “nightmare” sequence of events. The latest leak, revealed by the New York…
Iran, Saudi Arabia take a step closer to repairing ties
Saudi Arabia and Iran’s foreign ministers have met in Beijing for the first formal gathering since China brokered a deal to restore relations between the top regional powers last month. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and…
Macron counting on Xi to ‘‘bring Russia to senses’’
French leader Emmanuel Macron has urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to help stop Russia’s war in Ukraine. “I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses, and bring everyone back to the negotiating table,” he…
TikTok banned from Australian government devices amid security concerns
The Australian government has banned social media video app TikTok from politicians and public servants’ work devices after getting advice from intelligence and security agencies. In a statement, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said exceptions would only be granted on a case…