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Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi erupts, forcing village evacuations

LEMBATA, Indonesia: Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted dramatically on June 18, generating substantial ash and smoke plumes. The eruption resulted in the evacuation of nearby villages and the cancellation of numerous flights, including those to the popular resort island of Bali.

The series of eruptions, which began on the evening of June 17 and continued into the next day, propelled ash to altitudes of

New Zealand PM Luxon in China to boost trade and tourism

BEIJING/WELLINGTON: New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon commenced his visit to China on June 17, seeking to strengthen trade relations and attract tourists and students while also addressing sensitive topics related to security and defense in discussions with key leaders.

This marks Luxon's first trip to China since taking office in November 2023. He began in Shanghai before traveling to Beijing, wher

China limits civil servant dining groups to curb alcohol abuse

BEIJING, China: Chinese civil servants are now facing stricter rules on dining together, with some local authorities limiting group meals to no more than three people.

The move comes after several officials died from excessive alcohol consumption at official banquets, sparking public concern and disciplinary action. These new restrictions are part of President Xi Jinping's ongoing austerity and anti-corruption c

Typhoon Wutip hits Hainan in China after suddenly changing course

BEIJING, China: A typhoon altered its course and struck Hainan Island, southern China, late on the night of June 13. Typhoon Wutip made landfall in Basuo township, hitting the city of Dongfang in Hainan province as a severe tropical storm, according to the Hainan Meteorological Service. The typhoon boasted maximum sustained winds of 30 meters (98 feet) per second.

This marks only the second instance in 70 years

Meta bets on Scale AI CEO Wang in $14B play for AI leadership

MENLO PARK, California: Meta Platforms has made a bold move to accelerate its artificial intelligence ambitions—by investing US$14.3 billion in Scale AI and bringing aboard its 28-year-old founder and CEO, Alexandr Wang.

The deal, which gives Meta a 49 percent stake in the data-labeling startup, values Scale at $29 billion and marks one of Meta's most significant bets ye

Oil surges over 7% after Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites

HOUSTON, Texas: Crude oil surged to multi-month highs this week, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East after Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian targets. The spike raised fresh concerns about the security of global oil supplies and the possibility of disruptions in one of the world's most critical energy corridors.

Brent crude futures jumped US$4.94, or 7.12 perce

Taiwan adopts Ukraine's sea drone tactics to counter China threat

WUSHI, Taiwan: Inspired by how Ukraine has used sea drones effectively against Russia in the Black Sea, Taiwan is learning how to use them as a cheap but powerful way to stop a possible invasion by China.

Off the coast of Wushi, a small fishing port on Taiwan's Pacific side, a local company is testing sea drones—small, uncrewed boats packed with explosives. These drones

Apple sends 97% of India iPhone exports to US amid tariff risk

NEW DELHI, India: Amid mounting U.S.-China trade tensions, Apple has sharply increased iPhone shipments from India to the United States, shifting its supply chain to sidestep heavy tariffs on Chinese-made goods.

Between March and May, nearly 97 percent of iPhones exported by Foxconn from India were sent to the U.S.—a dramatic jump from the 2024 average of just over 50 percent, according to customs data rev

Huawei can make 200,000 AI chips in 2025, US says

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. government estimates that Huawei will only be able to manufacture up to 200,000 advanced AI chips next year—well below the company's needs. However, officials warn that despite this limitation, China is rapidly narrowing the technology gap with the United States.

Jeffrey Kessler, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, told lawmakers on Thursday that most or all of

Oil hits 7-week high on U.S.-China deal and easing inflation

LONDON, UK: Crude prices surged this week as investors welcomed fresh signs of progress in U.S.-China relations, lifting hopes of reduced trade tensions between the world's top two economies and biggest oil consumers.

Brent crude futures climbed US$1.15, or 1.7 percent, to $68.02 a barrel by 1249 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose $1.31, or 2 percent, to $66.29, reac

RUSSIA-ST. PETERSBURG-CHINA-DING XUEXIANG-GAZPROM CEO-MEETING

(250620) -- ST. PETERSBURG, June 20, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

RUSSIA-ST. PETERSBURG-CHINA-DING XUEXIANG-RUSSIAN DEPUTY PM-MEETING

(250620) -- ST. PETERSBURG, June 20, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Mission Olympic Cell approves monthly pocket allowance of 25000 for Indian Senior men's, women's hockey teams

New Delhi [India], June 20 (ANI): The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has, for the first time, approved a monthly pocket allowance of 25,000 for the Indian Senior men's and women's hockey teams at their 156th meeting on Thursday, according to a release from MYAS.

Hockey India will submit the players' lists to the Sports Authority of India (SAI). A total of 80 players from both teams will be given a monthly pocket all

"8D magic city" unveils panda-themed monorail train in SW China

CHONGQING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China's renowned "8D magic city," Chongqing, has unveiled a new tourist attraction in the form of the country's first panda-themed straddle-type monorail train.

Its innovative design highlights the city's intricate vertical urban landscape, showcasing how this mountain megacity in southwest China can transform urban rail transit into cultural experiences.

Chongqing, uniquely p

How innovation-driven development fuels economic growth in eastern coastal provinces

by Xinhua writers Wu Qiong, Tang Shining

BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- As China accelerates its high-quality development drive, innovation has emerged as the cornerstone of economic transformation. Eastern coastal powerhouse provinces like Zhejiang and Jiangsu are at the forefront of this shift, harnessing cutting-edge technologies to empower industrial upgrades and green transformation.

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