xinhua news agency

A collapse at an illegal mining operation in China's Yunnan province on Sunday resulted in at least five fatalities and one injury. Six individuals were trapped, with all recovered and taken to the hospital. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, which follows a deadly coal mine explosion in Shanxi province.

In a pivotal gathering in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif solidified their partnership with a promise of enduring support. Xi praised Pakistan's proactive engagement in fostering peace within the Middle East, showcasing their robust 'unbreakable traditional friendship' as a vital asset in navigating shifting regional landscapes.

During President Xi Jinping's inaugural visit to North Korea in seven years, he strongly emphasized China's steadfast allegiance to its ally, showcasing Beijing's intention to reaffirm its regional power dynamics. Even as North Korea strengthens its bonds with Russia and clings to its stance on nuclear discussions, China remains focused on maintaining a stable border and counteracting perceived US encroachments.

China has handed down death sentences with a two-year reprieve to former defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu for corruption. This significant development is part of President Xi Jinping's extensive anti-graft campaign targeting the military and political elite. Both officials were found guilty of graft-related offenses, with Li Shangfu also accused of seeking improper benefits in personnel appointments.

A Chinese court has delivered a landmark ruling. Companies cannot dismiss employees to replace them with AI. This decision protects worker rights amid rapid AI adoption. A tech company unlawfully fired a supervisor whose tasks were taken over by AI. The court found AI replacement is not a major change justifying contract termination.

No injuries or major damage have been reported following the temblor that struck the Xinjiang region at 7:49 a.m., according to the official xinhua news agency.

According to Mongolian emergency management authorities, eight people have lost their lives, and one individual is missing due to blizzards that have been sweeping through central Mongolia since last Friday, as reported by China's official xinhua news agency on Monday. Rescuers have been searching for 46 people after blizzards hit multiple Mongolian provinces, Xinhua said, adding 37 of those missing have been found. Blizzards are expected to continue in the coming week in most parts of Mongolia.

China’s state press agency has unveiled a virtual newsreader designed to deliver headlines 24 hours a day. ‘Xinhua’s “artificial intelligence news anchor” is a lifelike digitised reporter which can read out text by mimicking the image and voice of a real human presenter.

German carmaker Audi has said it plans to invest around 18 billion euros ($20.4 billion) for electrification and hybridization during the next five years.

India has decided to expel three senior Chinese journalists employed with China’s official xinhua news agency following “concerns” flagged by the intelligence agencies. The three were suspected of impersonating other people and visiting restricted facilities under assumed names.

Beijing has imposed stringent new drone regulations, banning sales, leases, and imports without public security approval. This move, part of a national effort to control airspace, makes China a challenging place for drone operation. Existing owners must register by April 30. These rules aim to pave the way for China's "low-altitude economy" while impacting major players like DJI.

China is working on an agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to settle trade in yuan, the xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.