Iris photography has emerged as a popular trend among youngsters, with many netizens and vendors posting related photos online, according to a report from China Youth Daily on Wednesday. However, experts cautioned that the new trend should be approached with care from both a legal and health perspective.

The process of capturing iris photographs is similar to eye exams conducted in hospitals. Individuals rest their chins on a tray while strong lights on either side illuminate their pupils. A camera positioned directly in front then takes a close-up shot of the iris, producing a unique image of the person's iris.

However, there are also concerns about the safety. "The iris, like a fingerprint, contains unique personal information through its texture," said Xu Ming, a professor at the college of cybersecurity at Hangzhou Dianzi University. 

Also, it is recommended to avoid strong light as much as possible and not to stare at light sources while taking photos, said Yu Pingping, director of the ophthalmology department at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is at its most dangerous moment, and the more difficult the situation becomes, the more it is needed for Global South countries, such as China and Brazil, to play a greater role, a Chinese scholar said at the Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," which is held in Beijing on Saturday. 

Explaining why it is at the most dangerous moment, Wu Dahui, a professor of international relations and expert on China-Russia ties at Tsinghua University, said that Putin signed a decree in November ratifying the updated nuclear doctrine, sending a signal to the world: one more step forward could lead to the use of nuclear weapons, not just against Ukraine, but against US military and all NATO bases. 

Wu gave an example of a massive attack launched by Russian forces on Friday, one missile came within just 9 kilometers of the Polish border. As 87 percent of Western weapons are continuously flowing into Ukraine through three entry-ports in Poland, is there a possibility that Russia might one day use ballistic missiles to directly destroy these entry-ports? Wu believes that this possibility does exist.

On the other hand, there are significant differences between the US and Russia regarding how the Russia-Ukraine conflict would end. Wu noted that, based on the current situation, there is little possibility of a peace treaty being reached between Russia and Ukraine by the first half of 2025, or even by the end of 2025.

Wu said security is the absence of threats objectively and the absence of fear subjectively; and that peace is a process of reconciliation achieved through dialogue. Only in this way can there be lasting peace. 

China is not a party to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and can only do its best within its capacity. China has proposed the "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis" and has reached consensus with Brazil on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. The Chinese value harmony and have always advocated for peace and dialogue. The more difficult the situation, the more needed it is for Global South countries, including China and Brazil, to play a greater role, said Wu. 

The renewal of the Agreement Between the United States and China on Cooperation in Science and Technology will advance technological progress in both nations, drive socio-economic development, enhance collaboration on global challenges, and improve the well-being of people worldwide, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Monday.

China and the US on December 13 signed a protocol to amend and extend the Agreement Between the United States and China on Cooperation in Science and Technology. They have agreed to extend the Agreement for additional five years, effective from August 27, 2024, Lin said. 

Lin noted that China-US scientific and technological cooperation is fundamentally rooted in mutual benefit and shared success. The China-US Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement is one of the first intergovernmental agreements signed after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, providing strong support for scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation. 

The renewal of the Agreement reflects the consensus achieved during recent meetings between the leaders of the two countries, aligning with mutual interests and global expectations, Lin said. It will not only promote technological progress and socio-economic development in both countries but also enhance cooperation in addressing global challenges and improve the well-being of people around the world. 

Lin also expressed hope that the US side can work together with China in the same direction, earnestly implement the agreements and arrangements, and ensure that the outcomes of China-US scientific and technological cooperation truly benefit both countries and the world.

Six people have been detained for suspected criminal involvement in the partial collapse of an ice rink in Baicheng, Northeast China's Jilin Province, the provincial authorities announced on Friday, revealing the investigation result of the collapse.

The collapse on November 18 was caused by substandard construction quality, the Jilin authorities revealed. Apart from the six, other persons responsible remain under investigation, China Central Television reported on Saturday.

The investigation was announced during a provincial production safety meeting chaired by Jilin provincial governor Hu Yuting, Jilin Daily reported. At the meeting, Hu stressed that relevant authorities should address major safety risks while learning from incidents of the same kind elsewhere, and turning lessons into preventive measures.

Hu also urged the need to strengthen accountability for incidents and dig out the roots of the problem. Meanwhile, regular professional inspections should be in place and focus on key issues.

Special attention should be placed on high-risk areas such as commercial venues, large buildings, crowded places, and self-built commercial properties. A comprehensive safety review should be conducted across the province to identify design flaws, construction quality issues, and potential hazards, the governor said.

Further, responsibilities must be clarified to prevent accidents due to negligence, the Jilin Daily report noted.

As the year-end and early-year is a time period of high incident occurrences, Hu said the local government must maintain vigilance, enhance risk assessment, and protect against major accidents.

Part of the roof of an ice rink in Baicheng of Jilin collapsed in the early morning of November 18, with no injuries or casualties reported, according to CCTV. Local officials had said that preliminary findings suggest the accident was caused by deformation of the rooftop steel structure, potentially due to construction quality issues.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to build a strong, modernized information support force, and to realize the leapfrog development of the Chinese military's network information system.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks when inspecting the information support force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday.

The PLA information support force is a strategic service branch established amid China's efforts to adjust and reform the structure of its military services and arms. Xi presented a flag to the force at its establishment ceremony in April.

During Wednesday's inspection, Xi said that the network information system is playing an increasingly prominent role in modern warfare, and that all relevant personnel should be fully aware that enhancing the system is extremely important.

He called on the force to accelerate its efforts to build the network information system and strengthen its capabilities in serving and supporting the military's combat readiness and capabilities.

Stressing the need for solid work in the development of the network information system, Xi said that the information services guarantee should be enhanced and great importance should be attached to the protection of network information security.

He also called for efforts to facilitate innovation in the command modes and the transformation of combat methods.

Xi demanded the information support force adhere to the fundamental principle of the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces. He called for efforts to improve conduct, enforce discipline and combat corruption, stressing that the force must be entirely loyal, pure and reliable.

He urged the Party committee of the information support force to shoulder its responsibility in developing the force, and to build a team of highly competent professionals.

Xi requested coordinated efforts from the CMC, as well as other relevant authorities and units, to promote the development of the information support force.

Senior military officials Zhang Youxia, He Weidong, Liu Zhenli and Zhang Shengmin attended the event.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto in Beijing on Tuesday, discussing issues including deepening bilateral cooperation and developing a healthy and stable China-EU relationship.

Both sides highlighted the historic significance of the elevation of bilateral ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era in May when Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Hungary.

Noting that Hungary was the first European country to sign a cooperation document on the Belt and Road Initiative with China, Wang said the practical bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful results, which fully demonstrates that as long as there is mutual respect, trust, and support, economic cooperation between the two sides will enjoy broad prospects.

Wang expressed the hope that the new European Union institutions will adhere to the orientation and cooperative tone of the China-EU partnership, view China's development objectively, pursue a positive and pragmatic policy toward China, and promote the sustained, healthy, and stable development of China-EU relations.

Szijjarto said that Hungary looks forward to expanding and deepening cooperation in various fields with China, facilitating personnel exchanges, and enhancing friendship between the two peoples.

Noting that both Hungary and China support peace and advocate an international system based on mutual respect, Szijjarto said Hungary is committed to promoting the positive and healthy development of EU-China relations and is willing to work with China to promote world peace and stability.

China Satellite Navigation Office (CSNO) on Thursday released major plans for the next stage of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), featuring cutting-edge technologies and enhanced services. The plan includes the launch of three pilot test satellites around 2027 and the completion of the system by 2035.

The BDS Development Plan for 2035 was announced on Thursday at a symposium in Beijing to mark the 30th anniversary of the BeiDou project. More than 100 participants attended the event, including representatives from national authorities, as well as key personnel from the project's engineering leadership and design teams.

The new plan outlines the future of China's satellite navigation network. "Building on the stable operation of the BDS-3, China aims to establish a next-generation BDS that is more advanced, robust, and user-focused," the Global Times learned from the event. 

The timeline specifies that breakthroughs in key technologies are expected by 2025. By 2027, three pilot satellites will be launched to test new technologies, and by 2029, the deployment of the system's network satellites will begin. The full completion of the next-generation BDS is expected by 2035, according to the plan.

The new system will feature characteristics like accuracy, flexibility, intelligence, and adaptability, offering global users real-time, high-precision, and highly reliable navigation, positioning, and timing services across Earth and near-Earth spaces, with accuracy ranging from meter-level to decimeter-level.

The system will cater to a variety of user terminals spanning from Earth's surface to deep space, and seamlessly integrate with other non-satellite-based navigation and timing technologies. 

The CSNO noted that the next-generation BDS will optimize the constellation architecture, forming a hybrid configuration of high-, medium- and low-orbit to enhance the accuracy of time-space benchmarks and the system's autonomous operation capabilities.

An integrated and efficient ground system will also be established to ensure resource flexibility, data sharing, and continuous operations, according to the office.      

"Currently, we have initiated a series of research projects focusing on key technologies, particularly emerging technologies such as low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites," Xie Jun, a deputy chief designer of the BDS project and researcher at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

He explained that the BDS has innovatively adopted a combination of medium Earth orbit (MEO) and high Earth orbit (HEO) satellites. In the next-generation system, LEO satellites will be integrated into the constellation, with the current MEO and HEO configuration of BDS serving as the core. 

The LEO satellites can offer faster positioning speeds and better accuracy from the 10-meter to the 1-meter level, or even decimeter- and centimeter-level precision. "At that point, users will clearly notice that even in environments with interference or obstructions, the BDS will maintain high reliability, with excellent accuracy in positioning and timing," Xie noted.

As a core global supplier recognized by the United Nations, China has continued to expand its international "circle of friends" by signing BDS cooperation agreements with countries such as Russia, Pakistan, Belarus and Arab nations, the Global Times learned at the event. 

BDS products are now exported to more than 140 countries and regions, and the system has been integrated into the standards of 13 international organizations, including those for civil aviation, maritime, and mobile communications. This makes it a striking example of China's efforts to promote the construction of a global community of shared future.

As one of the four major global satellite navigation service providers, China's BDS stands out for its extensive range of services. "Most other satellite navigation systems primarily focus on positioning, navigation, and timing. In addition to providing high-precision timing services, BDS offers satellite-based augmentation and its unique feature - short message communication services. In regional services, our large-capacity short message communication can now transmit messages containing up to 1,000 Chinese characters," Xie told the Global Times.

He added that BDS currently ranks among the top satellite navigation systems in terms of positioning accuracy. Regular evaluations by global monitoring stations show that BDS' navigation precision is among the best. "In terms of safety and reliability, the BDS system is comparable to the US GPS. Overall, I believe that BDS' comprehensive performance is leading the field," Xie concluded. 

Currently, BDS applications are rapidly expanding across key sectors of China's national economy, with coverage rates surpassing 90 percent in areas such as transportation, energy, natural resources and emergency response, said Xiang Libin, a deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission and academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, at the third International Summit on BDS Applications late October. 

Industry insiders hailed the vast potential of BDS application as being "limited only by human imagination," while anticipating its future integration with other advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The motion fabricated by a handful of British MPs deliberately distorts United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, tramples on international law, and blatantly challenges the post-war international order and universally recognized norms of international relations, and China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this motion, the spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in the UK said in a statement on Friday after some backbenchers of the UK House of Commons concocted a non-legally binding Taiwan-related motion on Thursday.

The spokesperson noted that Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times. This is a basic fact recognized by the world. In 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority, deciding to restore all the rights of the People's Republic of China at the UN, to recognize the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the UN, and to expel forthwith the representatives of the Taiwan region from the UN and all the organizations related to it. 

Once and for all, the resolution resolved the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN. It made clear that there is no such thing as "two Chinas," or "one China, one Taiwan." As an inalienable part of China's territory, Taiwan does not have any ground, reason, or right to join the UN, or any other international organization whose membership is confined to sovereign states. On this matter of principle, there is no gray zone or room for ambiguity, the spokesperson stated.

The spokesperson further pointed out that in the 1972 joint communiqué between China and the UK on the exchange of ambassadors, the UK government clearly recognized?the Chinese government's position that Taiwan is a province of China, and decided to revoke its official representative office in Taiwan with immediate effect, and recognized the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China.

He emphasized that the motion cooked up by a handful of anti-China MPs cannot alter the basic fact and the international consensus that Taiwan is part of China, and cannot stop the overriding trend of history that China must and will realize reunification. What these MPs are trying to do is to make trouble and seek attention for themselves. The motion they concocted is nonsense.

"We urge these politicians to cease their clumsy political farce and stop challenging the one-China principle, which is a fundamental norm of international relations. The UK government must honor the clear commitment it made in the 1972 joint communiqué and put an end to the provocative actions of anti-China politicians," the spokesperson said.

Leaders from multiple countries are scheduled to visit China on Monday, including Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Cambodian People's Party (CPP) President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. 

At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli will pay an official visit to China from December 2 to 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

According to The Rising Nepal, a Nepalese government-owned daily newspaper, prior to the visit, senior leaders of the ruling parties - CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress and the two-party mechanism are intensively engaging in discussions on various agendas, including discussions on the Belt and Road Initiative. 

The Prime Minister instructed delegates to play an active role to deepen bilateral relations. "Our visit to China will be successful. We will strive our best to make it remarkable," Oli said, adding that will be on "strengthening the friendly relations persisting between the two countries."

According to the newspaper, Oli will make an address at Peking University as well as at the Nepal-China Business Forum.       

The India Express reported that after assuming the post of prime minister for the fourth time in July this year, Oli has chosen to visit China for his maiden foreign visit, breaking the tradition of visiting India as the first destination.

It can be said that Oli's choice to visit China first rather than India is "not unexpected, but rather a reflection of the increasing policy choices of South Asian countries," Lin Minwang, a deputy director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Sunday. For example, after coming to power, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu also chose to visit China first instead of India, and other South Asian countries are actively developing relations with China. "This reflects changes in Nepal's domestic politics and its policy toward China," Lin said.

Meanwhile, Cambodian People's Party (CPP) President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen will pay an official goodwill visit to China from December 2 to 4.

This will be Hun Sen's first visit to China as President of the Senate and since he stepped down as Cambodia's prime minister in July 2023.

"As Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year comes closer, the first visit to China by [Hun Sen], as President of the Senate, will add a new momentum in strengthening the ironclad friendship, promoting cooperation and partnerships. This visit will enhance cooperation and new partnerships, uplifting Cambodia-China relations and people-to-people connection," according to a press release by the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is also scheduled to visit China from December 2 to 3 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.

During the visit, Wang and Baerbock will co-chair the seventh round of the China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security, the ministry said in a notice. 

Chinese experts believe issues on Baerbock's agenda are likely to include electric vehicles and related manufacturing issues. 

"With the uncertainties in the US, countries like Germany are trying to find a balance between China and the US," said Wang Yiwei, a professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing. "By rekindling cooperation during her visit, Baerbock aims to solidify Germany's traditional trade advantages and counteract the US' potential economic bullying," Wang told the Global Times on Sunday.

In multilateral international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization, Germany needs support and collaboration from China to address new global challenges in health and trade, Wang said. The visit to China is a way to "lay the groundwork" in advance, aiming to gain China's support for future multilateral agendas and jointly promote innovations in global governance, he noted.