Chinese officials look to limit social media and screen time in China

Washington — While some youth in China admit to spending an excessive amount of time on the internet, many are skeptical about new government proposals aimed at regulating the time young Chinese spend online and on social media sites.

In conversations at Chinas annual political meetings that wrapped up in Beijing this week, retired international basketball star Yao Ming, called for some limits on intern...

Exclusive: Second Iranian ship suspected of carrying missile ingredient leaves China

WASHINGTON — A second Iranian ship that Western news reports have named as part of a scheme to import a missile propellant ingredient from China is heading to Iran with a major cargo load, an exclusive VOA analysis has found. Ship-tracking websites show the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Jairan departed China on Monday, a month later than the expected departure cited by one of the news reports.

The Jairan wa...

Millions celebrate Hindu Holi festival, approach of spring

Hindus across India and other South Asian countries, dressed mostly in white, smeared or sprayed friends and relatives with brightly colored powder Friday as millions celebrated the return of spring during Holi, the festival of colors.

Friday is a nationwide holiday in India, so people can participate in the raucous, joyfully messy celebration, which usually lands on the last full moon of the lunar month he...

Military says death toll in Pakistan's train hijacking rises to 31

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan officials confirmed Friday that 31 people, including 23 security personnel, lost their lives in Tuesdays train hijacking by armed militants in the countrys restive Balochistan province.

In a news briefing, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said 18 off-duty military and paramilitary Frontier Corps personnel, three railway staff and five civilian passengers were among those kill...

Author says ban on her book reflects Taliban's repression of women

WASHINGTON — When Naveeda Khoshbo published her book of political analysis in 2019, she received widespread praise and recognition.

For many, it was the first time that they were reading a book written by a young woman, she said.

So, when she received a text message from a friend and fellow journalist in November 2024, telling her the Taliban had banned her book, she was shocked.

Khoshbo, 3...

VOA Uzbek: Human rights group urges Uzbekistan to uphold reforms

Uzbekistan has made significant progress in eliminating widespread state-imposed forced labor, according to the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights. The group is urging the Uzbek government to implement its promised reforms and create an enabling environment for freedom of association and civil society, which play a key role in monitoring and reporting violations and abuses.

Click here for the full story in Uzbe...

Russian foreign minister exaggerates Russia-China relations, ignores nuances

Relations between Russia and China are indeed closer than at any point since the 1950s, but they are shaped more by pragmatism, economic necessity and shared opposition to Western influence than by deep trust or historical affinity.

VOA Mandarin: China revises PLA regulations prioritizing war readiness

Three revised regulations that dictate everything from the Chinese militarys broad mandate to soldiers day-to-day life are slated to take effect on April 1. The revisions have placed an emphasis on the PLAs combat readiness and wartime conduct, the latter of which appears 49 times. Analysts say the revised regulations show the priority of the PLAs future reform and its challenges.

Click here for the full s...

The story of Chinese Americans who call Texas home

The state of Texas has the third-largest Asian American population in the United States, according to the U.S. census, and Chinese people, some whose families arrived more than 150 years ago, make up the largest group.

Chinese Americans trace back for generations in the Lone Star State. Their story may not be as well known as that of their counterparts in California or New York City, but it is just as inte...

Taiwan president warns of China's 'infiltration' effort

TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Thursday that China has deepened its influence campaigns and infiltration against the democratic island, pledging measures to tackle Beijings efforts to absorb Taiwan.

Taiwan has accused China of stepping up military drills, trade sanctions and influence campaigns against the island in recent years to force the island to accept Chinese sovereignty cl...

China accuses New Zealand's top spy of spreading 'false information'

BEIJING — Chinas embassy in New Zealand on Thursday accused Wellingtons top spy of lying after the intelligence chief warned of security risks posed by Beijings growing influence in the Pacific.

In a speech in Wellington last week, New Zealands Security Intelligence Service Director-General Andrew Hampton said the focus of Pacific nations on economic and transnational crime issues had opened the door for...

Japan eyes boosting rice exports eightfold by 2030

TOKYO — Japan wants to boost its rice exports almost eightfold by 2030, a ministry official said Thursday, despite currently suffering a domestic shortage of the grain.

The countrys rice consumption has more than halved over the past 60 years as diets have expanded to include more bread, noodles and other energy sources.

The new target is part of a long-term national policy to boost overseas shipm...

China misleads on involvement in Panama Canal

Chinas Foreign Ministry says China is committed to Panama Canal neutrality and has never interfered in its operation. VOAs Leonid Martynyuk explains why this is misleading.

Foreign bloggers help China spread propaganda, analysis finds

Foreign bloggers who praise China rapidly gain popularity and millions of followers on Chinese social media platforms. VOA examined the facts and spoke with experts to shed light on the governments efforts behind the phenomenon.

It is a long-standing tradition of the Chinese Communist Party to use foreigners to voice its propaganda for added credibility, said Mareike Ohlberg, a senior fellow at the German M...

Afghanistan denies link to train attack in Pakistan

The Afghan Taliban have rejected Pakistans allegation that Tuesdays deadly hostage-taking of a train was planned and directed from Afghan soil.

Afghanistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Pakistans assertions baseless, in a statement Thursday.

We categorically reject baseless allegations by Pakistani army spokesperson linking attack on a passenger train in Balochistan province with Afghanistan, f...