Latest Beijing News

Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger dies in avalanche, aged 26

Dec. 24, 2024 17:04 PM EST

Sophie Hediger, a member of Switzerland's snowboard cross team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, has died following an avalanche at a mountain resort, the country's skiing federation said on Tuesday. The incident occurred on Monday at the Arosa resort in Switzerland. ...

As TikTok bill steams forward, online influencers put on their lobbying hats to visit Washington

Dec. 23, 2024 17:53 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. The platform is once again bringing influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a fast-moving bill that would force TikTok's Beijing-based parent company to sell...

Pandas An An and Ke Ke celebrate their 1st Christmas in Hong Kong

Dec. 23, 2024 03:01 AM EST

HONG KONG (AP) — A pair of five-year-old pandas, named An An and Ke Ke, celebrated their first Christmas early in a Hong Kong park Monday, munching on special treats and looking cute for the cameras. An An, the male panda, was presented with an ice slab that had “Merry...

Chinese national charged with acting as Beijing's agent in local California election

Dec. 20, 2024 10:18 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Chinese national was arrested Thursday on charges of acting as an illegal agent for Beijing when serving as the campaign manager for an unnamed politician elected to a city council in Southern California two years ago. The arrest of Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64,...

Malaysia agrees to resume 'no find, no fee' hunt for flight MH370, 10 years after plane disappeared

Dec. 20, 2024 06:28 AM EST

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's government has agreed in principle to accept a second “no find, no fee” proposal from a U.S. company to renew the hunt for flight MH370, which is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean more than 10 years ago, Transport Minister Anthony...

China's Xi swears in new leader of casino hub Macao, telling the city to diversify economy

Dec. 20, 2024 06:26 AM EST

MACAO (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the casino hub of Macao to diversify its economy as he swore in the former Portuguese colony's new government on Friday at an event marking the 25th anniversary of its handover to China. New Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai — Macao’s...

Macao's casino boom brings wealth but at a cost, 25 years since China's takeover

Dec. 18, 2024 23:20 PM EST

MACAO (AP) — When Portugal returned its colony Macao to China in 1999, coffee shop owner Daniel Chao was a first grader living in a different world. Since then his sleepy hometown has transformed into a bustling gaming hub lined with glittering casinos. Its once quiet streets are...

China has expanded its nuclear force and strengthened ties to Russia, the Pentagon says

Dec. 18, 2024 17:40 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — China is expanding its nuclear force, has increased military pressure against Taiwan and has strengthened its ties with Russia over the past year, according to a Pentagon report Wednesday that details actions accelerating key areas of conflict with the United States. ...

Xi visits casino hub Macao to mark 25 years of its return to Chinese rule

Dec. 18, 2024 06:25 AM EST

MACAO (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday began a three-day visit to Macao to mark the 25th anniversary of the casino city’s return to Chinese rule. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were welcomed at the airport by a lavish ceremony with lion and dragon dances. Xi told...

China retail sales slow as consumers hold back, while home prices fall

Dec. 16, 2024 03:06 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese retail sales slowed in November and housing prices fell, the government said Monday, with demand still lackluster despite a flurry of stimulus measures over the past few months. The report came just a few days after top leaders ended an annual planning...