President Xi extends condolences to Putin over plane crash

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message of condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the recent crash of a passenger plane.

All passengers and crew members were killed after a Russian An-26 plane crashed in Kamchatka Territory in the Far East on Tuesday.

U.S. urged to stop undermining “one country, two systems” principle

Chinese authorities have voiced opposition to a decision by the U.S. to extend the so-called "national emergency designation" and related sanctions imposed on Hong Kong.

The Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the special administrative region described the move as yet another episode in Washington's repeated meddling in China's internal affairs.

Japan declares 4th state of emergency for Tokyo

The Japanese government has announced a decision to put the capital Tokyo under a state of emergency.

It comes amid a recent surge in COVID-19 infections in the city.

It is the fourth state of emergency to be declared in the capital over COVID.

The measure, which came into force on Monday and ends on August 22, will span the entire duration of the Summer Olympics.

Twenty-two vaccines approved for clinical trials in China

Health officials say 22 COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for clinical trials in China.

The National Medical Products Administration says four COVID-19 vaccines have been granted conditional marketing approval so far, and another three have been granted emergency use authorization within the country.

Cargo ship that blocked Suez Canal leaves

The cargo ship that blocked the Suez Canal for several days in March is finally leaving Egypt.

The country's authorities have released the Ever Given after reaching agreement on compensation for the six-day blockage.

Financial institutions cut fees to reduce corporate burden

China's financial institutions have continued to cut fees for enterprises.

This move is part of the government's push to help ease financial burden for them and to boost the real economy following the pandemic.

PBOC to expand testing of digital yuan

China's central bank has confirmed that the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games will be the next platform for the digital currency trial.

Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China Fan Yifei says 10 million people are now participating in the e-yuan pilot program in the country.