Chinese embassy refutes Indian media report on 'Taiwan Independence'

The Chinese Embassy in India has expressed its opposition to an article published in Indian media that openly advocates the so-called "Taiwan independence."

A spokesperson says that China firmly opposes any separatist activities.

The embassy is urging the Indian side to adhere to the One-China principle and not to provide platforms for separatist forces, nor to send wrong messages to the public.

Hainan Expo to turn exhibitors into investors: governor

Hainan governor Feng Fei says the ongoing China International Consumer Products Expo in the island province will help turn exhibitors into investors.

The governor also says they will invite world-leading enterprises to Hainan to explore the investment environment and discuss cooperation.

Russia to cooperate with China on production of Sputnik V vaccine

The Russian Direct Investment Fund has signed deals with three Chinese companies to produce over 260 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19.

The doses are expected to be sufficient to fully vaccinate over 130 million people worldwide.

RDIF says China is one of Russia's key partners in helping to increase production capacities.

Uruguayan FA rolls out Chinese COVID-19 vaccine

Players of Uruguay's top football teams have begun receiving COVID-19 vaccines donated by China's Sinovac.

More than 1,000 shots were administered to players, coaches and officials at a stadium in Montevideo.

South America's football confederation began distributing the Sinovac vaccines to its 10 member associations last week after a shipment arrived in Uruguay.

The doses will be used to inoculate participants of next month's Copa America and the region's elite club competitions.

WHO endorses China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, giving boost to global jab rollout

The World Health Organization has given its authorization for emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Sinopharm.

It is the sixth jab to receive WHO validation for safety, efficacy and quality, opening the possibility that Sinopharm's offering could be included in the UN-backed COVAX programme.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expects it will boost global vaccine rollout.

"This expands the list of vaccines that COVAX can buy and gives countries confidence to expedite their own regulatory approval and to import and administer a vaccine."

The inactivated vaccine is produced by a subsidiary of Sinopharm in Beijing.

44 pct. people polled view U.S. as threat to democracy

A survey conducted in 53 countries has found that 44 percent of the 53,000 respondents consider the United States a "threat to democracy."

The survey, conducted by Latana in partnership with the Alliance of Democracies, which was founded by former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, also showed that concerns over U.S. influence on other democracies has increased since last year. It went up by 20 percent in Germany alone.

Cinema hotels gain popularity in China

Cinema-themed hotels are becoming increasingly popular in China with a market share of about 4.3 percent.

They are a new type of accommodation service that provides customers with mid to high-end audiovisual experience comparable to cinemas.

Industry insiders say the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reshuffle in the hospitality industry and prompted greater demand for privacy and safety, which spurred the customers' interest in cinema hotels.

NASA spacecraft to depart asteroid for long 2.5-year journey home

A NASA spacecraft packed with samples is set to depart an asteroid on Monday and begin its two-and-a-half-year journey back home.

"Now that it's science goals are complete, the time has come for a Osiris-Rex to fire its engines, and bid farewell to asteroid Bennu."

Osiris-Rex began its journey to Bennu in September 2016.

The spacecraft descended onto the asteroid last October, momentarily touching the surface to collect a handful of cosmic rubble for return to Earth.

The samples are due to parachute into the Utah desert in September 2023.

The solar-orbiting Bennu is rich in carbon and believed to hold the preserved building blocks of the solar system.