37+ min ago (171+ words) CHONGQING -- A freight train bound for Budapest, Hungary, departed from Southwest China's Chongqing municipality on Sunday, marking the launch of a new fixed-schedule China-Europe freight train service, also known as China Railway Express. The new route is Chongqing's second fixed-schedule China-Europe freight train service -- following a route linking this municipality with Duisburg, Germany. Compared with traditional freight trains, fixed-schedule trains follow set timetables and routes -- significantly improving efficiency and reliability. According to China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd., the Chongqing-Budapest route will reduce travel time by around 30 percent. Data released by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. earlier this week showed that China-Europe freight trains had made a cumulative 120,000 trips and transported goods worth more than $490 billion. As a flagship project and a landmark brand of the Belt and Road Initiative, the China Railway Express has established a comprehensive logistics…...

13+ hour, 29+ min ago (199+ words) China's factory activity improved slightly in November, but was still below the 50-point mark that separates contraction from expansion, official data showed on Sunday. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that China's official purchasing managers index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector stood at 49.2 in November, up from 49 in October. Huo Lihui, an NBS statistician, said improvement was supported by recovery in both supply and demand, with a noticeable upturn in gauges for production and new orders. The sub-index for production was 50 in November versus 49.7 in October, while the gauge for new orders came in at 49.2 in November, up from 48.8 in October, the NBS reported. Notably, the PMI for high-tech manufacturing came in at 50.1 in November, remaining in expansion territory for the tenth consecutive month. China's non-manufacturing PMI, which includes subindexes for service sector activity and construction, came in…...

1+ day, 1+ hour ago (69+ words) A memorial service was held by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)on Saturday morning, which included a period of silence and the flying of flags at half-mast for the 128 victims of the deadly fire in Tai Po" Wang Fuk Court. The service marked the beginning of a three-day, citywide period of mourning. Hong Kong mourns victims of devastating Tai Po fire...

1+ day, 2+ hour ago (235+ words) MANILA -- Three Philippine carriers cancelled at least 82 flights on Saturday after Airbus issued a global technical advisory requiring A320 and A321 aircraft to undergo an urgent software upgrade, Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said. At a news conference, Lopez said the Philippines immediately grounded affected aircraft operated by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia upon receiving Airbus' notice at around 1 a.m. local time. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said 93 planes have been affected as of noon Saturday, including the delay of six international and five domestic flights. "The decision to ground the planes was a precautionary measure," Lopez said, adding that once the software update is completed, CAAP can clear the aircraft for deployment. Lopez said several aircraft had already completed the update as of noon Saturday, and authorities expect all affected units to finish the upgrade by Sunday. Airbus…...

1+ day, 13+ hour ago (69+ words) A memorial service was held by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)on Saturday morning, which included a period of silence and the flying of flags at half-mast for the 128 victims of the deadly fire in Tai Po" Wang Fuk Court. The service marked the beginning of a three-day, citywide period of mourning. Hong Kong mourns victims of devastating Tai Po fire...

1+ day, 17+ hour ago (366+ words) RAMALLAH -- Palestinian and Chinese officials gathered on Wednesday to mark the completion of two China-funded infrastructure projects in the West Bank city of Ramallah. At a ceremony in the city, Zeng Jixin, head of the Chinese office in Palestine, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa jointly unveiled plaques for the newly completed China-Palestine Friendship Square and the extension of Beijing Road. Speaking at the event, Zeng said that the China-Palestine Friendship Square and Beijing Road represent a significant measure in implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two nations, as well as a vivid example of leveraging Chinese modernization to bolster Palestine's development. Stretching over 11 km, Beijing Road will become a road of convenience for people's livelihoods, a road of friendship connecting hearts, and a road leading to the future, Zeng said. During his speech, Mustafa spoke highly…...

1+ day, 22+ hour ago (166+ words) WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday his intention to permanently pause immigration from what he described as "Third World countries." In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that "immigration policy has eroded" national progress, and he would "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the US system to fully recover." He also threatened to take measures to reverse immigration decisions made under President Joe Biden, and to "remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States." In his post, Trump also announced plans to end all federal benefits and subsidies to "noncitizens," calling for the denaturalization of migrants who, in his view, "undermine domestic tranquility." He emphasized a hardline stance, stating he would deport foreign nationals who are deemed "public charges," "security risks," or otherwise "incompatible with…...

2+ day, 8+ hour ago (226+ words) BEIJING -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Friday to review a report on the 20th CPC Central Committee's disciplinary inspection missions focusing on the country's provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting. The meeting noted that the fifth and sixth rounds of inspections under the 20th CPC Central Committee had completed full coverage of provincial-level regions. While provincial-level authorities have made new progress in their work, the inspections also identified various problems that must be taken seriously and addressed with firm resolve, the meeting said. It is imperative to rigorously implement rectification measures and to strengthen routine oversight, the meeting pointed out, adding that rectifications should be integrated with both studying and implementing the guiding principles of…...

2+ day, 11+ hour ago (75+ words) WASHINGTON -- Two US National Guard members were shot near the White House on Wednesday with their condition being unknown, and a suspect has been in custody, according to the local police department. 2 US National Guard members shot near White House, condition unknown WASHINGTON -- Two US National Guard members were shot near the White House on Wednesday with their condition being unknown, and a suspect has been in custody, according to the local police department....

2+ day, 16+ hour ago (65+ words) The Shanghai sports industry generated an output of 316.9 billion yuan ($44.8 billion), with an added value exceeding 100 billion yuan, accounting for 1.9 percent of the city's GDP in 2024, according to data released at the 2025 Shanghai Sports Show, a three-day event that kicked off on Thursday at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. Shanghai Sports Show showcases booming industry...