Stories from Beijing · China

China's imports from Africa have increased by 5,000 percent on an annual basis. Last year, Africa's trade deficit with China grew by 65 percent to approximately 102 billion dollars.

Four Chinese government departments have issued directives to accelerate the high-quality development of technology insurance.

Fossil fuel generation declined in both China and India during 2025. Both nations met all increased electricity demand through clean power sources in 2025. This follows a 20-year period where coal generation increased significantly in both countries to meet rising demand.

Technology sector ETFs, specifically science and technology innovation ETFs, experienced pullbacks exceeding 8% to 10% in early March.

China's national-level AI application Doubao reported usage metrics as of March. The platform's daily token usage has exceeded 120 trillion.

Large-scale precipitation is expected to affect the eastern part of the northwestern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, North China, the Yellow River, and Huai River regions through May 3.

Concerns have been raised regarding secondary charges in photography services, such as makeup and retouching fees. Concerns are being raised about consumer wallet security and data protection, with reports of smart lock fingerprint recognition failures and the potential for backup IC cards to be copied. While some manufacturers set higher thresholds for security, this can affect user experience, leading to the provision of IC cards as backup keys, which are vulnerable to duplication. The concept of 'seamless reception' in purchasing experiences, while sounding positive, may mask underlying issues if driven by new technology without proper consumer understanding. These cards can reportedly be copied, potentially compromising home security. Some locks have higher security thresholds, which may affect user experience.

A Chinese company, identified as Shijin, is accused of using images from fashion designer Marcel Ruhm without consent. The company allegedly used these visuals to modify the appearance of lace Bando products on its website.

China has introduced new regulations for civilian unmanned aerial vehicle systems to improve flight monitoring. This development follows a strategic decision to address domestic resource constraints, specifically a high reliance on coal and a shortage of natural gas. The country faces challenges due to low-grade iron ore and a resource profile characterized by abundant coal but limited natural gas. This development is intended to reduce reliance on foreign iron ore imports. The project involves specialized valves, pipelines, and control code developed domestically to manage water levels and production challenges. China's Ministry of Emergency Management announced that the Office of the State Council Commission on Public Security has issued arrangements for production safety during the May Day holiday.

A customer in China reported potential fraud regarding AI-enhanced photo editing services. The shop advertised a package for 199 yuan including 30 negatives and edited photos, but the consumer alleges the 'editing' was merely basic beauty filters.