China

BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China owned 2,750 natural reserves across the country at the end of September 2019, data from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) showed.

China's natural reserves cover a total area of 1.47 million square kilometers, accounting for 15 percent of the country's land territory, according to a statement on the administration's website.

Beijing, Nov 15, IRNA -- Iranian Vice President for Scientific and Technological Affairs Sourena Sattari on Thursday described China as one of the forerunners in the field modern technologies, saying that Chinese universities are the best places for Iranian students to continue their studies in technological courses.

Addressing a gathering of scientific community of the Iranians residing in China late on Thursday, he added that China has an eastern attitude towards modern and startup technologies, as its thoughts are totally different from those of others.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong sank into recession for the first time in a decade in the third quarter, government data confirmed on Friday, weighed down by increasingly violent anti-government protests and the escalating U.S.-China trade war.

The economy shrank by 3.2% in July-September from the previous quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis, revised government data showed, in line with a preliminary reading.

Gross domestic product (GDP) contracted for the second consecutive quarter, meeting the technical definition of a recession.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s embassy in the United Kingdom strongly condemned and expressed strong indignation on Friday at the attack on a Hong Kong government official in London.

Protesters had an altercation with Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng, who suffered “serious bodily harm”, according to a statement from the Hong Kong government, but no further details were given.

HONG KONG (AP) — Protesters who have barricaded themselves in a Hong Kong university partially cleared a road they were blocking and demanded that the government commit to holding local elections on Nov. 24.

One lane of the Tolo Highway was cleared in both directions Friday morning, but the road remained closed after workers sent to clean up shattered glass and other remaining debris were threatened by protesters with bows and arrow and hard objects, authorities said.

BEIJING, Nov 14 (APP): Yuantong Airlines has started a regular cargo service between Karachi and China’s Xinjiang Kashgar as the first cargo plane loaded with 9.25 tons of goods including chilled aquatic products such as squid, octopus, and shrimp, arrived at Kashgar Airport.

This is the first international regular cargo route to Pakistan opened by Kashgar Airport and the sixth international full cargo flight route launched by Xinjiang Airport Group in 2019.

The airline will operate a Boeing B757-200F, a full cargo aircraft once a week on the route.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Under a November full moon, hundreds of young people dressed in black set about turning several of Hong Kong’s top universities into fortresses, well stocked with improvised weapons.

At City University, protesters used ping pong tables, potted plants, furniture, sports equipment, and bamboo to form a network of barricades to block roads and fortify the entrances to the student residence complex.

BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent China-smearing remarks were just another display of the hubris and bias of some Washington politicians when it comes to the differences between the two countries.

In an Oct. 30 speech at the Hudson Institute in New York and on multiple other occasions, Pompeo repeatedly hyped up the so-called "China challenge." He defamed China's political system and policies, bombarded China on human rights, and attempted to drive a wedge between the Chinese government and the Chinese people.

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong residents endured a fourth day of traffic snarls and mass transit disruptions Thursday as protesters closed some main roads and rail networks while police skirmished with militant students at major universities.

Police said protesters shot several arrows at them near Hong Kong Polytechnic University. None of the officers were injured, and six arrows were seized at the scene, police said.

Life in this city of 7.5 million has been strained as thousands of commuters have been unable to get to work or endured lengthy commutes.

BEIJING, Nov 13 (APP): The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is giving serious thoughts to establish a regional bank to synchronize digital payment gateways using local currencies in an effort to boost e-commerce within the Eurasian bloc while also reducing its dependence on external platforms, such as Maste-rcard and Visa.