10 big things about China you should not miss (Nov. 23 - Nov. 29)
1.Hong Kong fire death toll rises to 128, with more bodies to be found
A major fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, has left 128 people dead, including a firefighter, as of Friday afternoon. The Fire Services Department said it has treated a total of 76 injured people, among them 11 firefighters. Flames in all blocks have been brought under control in Wang Fuk Court, according to media reports.
Three construction company executives were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter on Thursday and two directors of an engineering consultancy company were arrested on Friday.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has ordered inspections of all public housing estates undergoing major renovations.
2.China urges Japan to retract erroneous remarks without delay: FM
China once again urged the Japanese side to take seriously what it has heard from China, reflect on and correct its wrongdoing, retract the erroneous remarks without delay, and take practical steps to honor its commitments to China, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning at a regular press conference on Wednesday.
Mao made the remarks in response to the written response released by the Japanese government on Tuesday, which claimed that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in the Japanese Cabinet "do not change the consistent position of the Japanese government," and also stated that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are of great significance to Japan's security guarantee and the overall stability of the international community.
3.China releases white paper on arms control
China unveiled a white paper on Thursday detailing its approach to arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation, reaffirming its commitment to global peace and stability and urging stronger international cooperation amid rising security challenges.
The white paper, titled "China's Arms Control, Disarmament and Nonproliferation in the New Era", was released by the State Council Information Office. It provides a comprehensive overview of China's policies and practices on arms control, as well as its positions on security governance in emerging fields such as outer space, cyberspace and artificial intelligence.
4.Shenzhou-22 spaceship docks with space station combination
China's Shenzhou-22 spacecraft successfully completed an autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking with the space station on Tuesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
After entering orbit and completing system configuration, Shenzhou-22 docked with the front port of the space station's core module Tianhe at 3:50 p.m. Beijing Time. The spacecraft will later serve as the return vehicle for the Shenzhou-21 crew.
5.11 dead, 2 injured as test train collides with workers in SW China's Kunming
Eleven people were killed and two others injured in the early hours of Thursday, after a test train collided with maintenance workers on the track in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, local railway authorities said.
The accident happened at the Luoyangzhen station in Kunming, according to the China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd.
The railway station has resumed operations, with medical treatment for the injured and other follow-up measures ongoing, and an investigation into the accident's cause underway.
6.China plans satellite launch to search for 'Earth 2.0'
China will launch a series of scientific satellite missions during its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), focusing on major frontiers such as the origins of the universe, space weather, and life, the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said.
Officials told a press briefing Monday that key missions would include the Hongmeng Program, Kuafu-2 satellite, an exoplanet survey project searching for Earth-like worlds, and an upgraded X-ray timing and polarization observatory.
7.Chinese citizen rescued in Cambodia: embassy
A Chinese national reported missing in Cambodia has been rescued successfully, according to the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia on Wednesday.
In a statement posted online, the embassy confirmed that Chinese national Li Yiheng had arrived at the embassy and that arrangements for his return to China were underway.
8.China plans to cultivate three trillion-yuan consumer sectors by 2027: officials
China's latest action plan to promote consumption aims to increase the resilience of the second largest consumption market in the world, an official from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) stated on Thursday.
The action plan, unveiled by MIIT and other five departments on Wednesday, maps out key measures to better align the supply and demand for consumer goods and further stimulate consumption.
9.Giant pandas Huan Huan and Yuan Zi return to China
Giant panda Huan Huan and her partner Yuan Zi returned to China on Wednesday from France's Beauval Zoo, while their twin cubs Huan Lili and Yuan Dudu will stay in France until January 2027, according to the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens.
The panda couple, who were sent to France in 2012 for international cooperation on giant panda conservation, landed in Chengdu, Sichuan Province at 7:17 a.m., accompanied by expert keepers from both sides, the association said on its official WeChat account.
10. Constructionof 27th Harbin Ice and Snow World begins
The 27th Harbin Ice-Snow World has started construction on Monday. The park will use 200,000 cubic meters of stored ice that has been preserved for nearly ten months.
The Harbin Ice-Snow World this year will expand its park area to 1.2 million square meters, the largest in its history. The enlarged space will host more ice-and-snow installations and entertainment facilities, aiming to deliver an enhanced visitor experience.
