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Children’s toys sold on major Chinese e-commerce platforms contain toxic substances at levels far exceeding safety standards, South Korea says
SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) - Several children’s toys sold on major Chinese e-commerce platforms contain toxic substances at levels far exceeding safety standards, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Thursday.City officials said they tested 25 toys purchased from global platforms including Temu...
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/33584781
Children’s toys sold on major Chinese e-commerce platforms contain toxic substances at levels far exceeding safety standards, South Korea says
The Seoul Metropolitan Government officials said they tested 25 toys purchased from global platforms including Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. Four products failed to meet domestic safety regulations, with one “keyring doll” found to contain phthalate plasticizer (DEHP) at concentrations up to 278 times the permitted limit in its face, hands, and feet.
DEHP, or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a potential human carcinogen. It is also known to disrupt endocrine function and has been linked to reproductive harm.
Other items flagged in the inspection included modeling clay that contained CMIT (**chlorome
The body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who spent more than a year in Russian captivity, was returned to Ukraine showing signs of torture, with several internal organs removed before the handover, according to a report by the independent outlet Important Stories (IStories), citing a so...
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/33586621
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“Numerous signs of torture and ill-treatment were found on the victim’s body, including abrasions and hemorrhages on various parts of the body, a broken rib, neck injuries, and possible electric shock marks on the feet. However, due to the condition of the body, experts have not yet been able to establish the cause of death." Yuriy Belousov, the head of the War Crimes Unit at the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, described the results of the forensic medical examination to us.
The body was missing some organs: the eyeballs, the brain, part of the larynx, and the hyoid bone was broken, said a source close to the investigation into Viktoriia Roshchyna’s death. It was launched by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine in March 2025.
A forensic expert, who requested anonymity, sug
China Cries Foul At Philippines, But Its Own Cruise Ship Provokes Taiwan
In the contested waters of the Indo-Pacific, China frequently denounces the maritime activities of neighbouring countries as provocative violations of sovereignty. On April 20, 2025, Beijing accused a Philippine Navy frigate, BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36), of illegally intruding into Scarborough Sho...
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/33482202
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While condemning routine operations by regional states, China itself routinely engages in more alarming maritime provocations. On April 19, 2025, Taiwan was on high alert after the Gulangyu, a cruise vessel operated by Chinese entities but registered in Bermuda, came dangerously close—just two nautical miles—to Taiwan’s Hengchun Peninsula. Notably, the vessel, capable of carrying approximately 1,800 passengers—a force equivalent to a military battalion—broadcasted provocative messages on social media platforms reading, “Taiwan is China.”
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China’s strategy of aggressive maritime coercion wrapped in diplomatic accusations against others risks undermining regional stability. The hypocrisy inherent in Beijing’s tactics—highlight
At the U.N., China is deploying a growing army of puppet organizations to monitor and intimidate human rights activists
Beijing-backed “GONGOs” have transformed the Palais des Nations into a hostile environment for critics of President Xi Jinping.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/33478681
Nations Office at Geneva were meant to embody the 20th-century ideal of a postwar world — when countries might seek to avert conflict through diplomacy. During the thousands of meetings held at the Palais des Nations each year, delegates press openly and passionately for their convictions. And yet for 15 human rights activists in March 2024, the U.N. complex held risks.
Fearing retribution from the Chinese government against their families in mainland China and Hong Kong, several of the activists were no longer willing to set foot inside the diplomatic site. Instead, they gathered for a secret meeting on the top floor of a nondescript office building nearby. They were there to discuss human rights abuses in China and Hong Kong with the U.N. high commissioner for hum
Number of jailed writers increases worldwide for sixth consecutive year as authoritarian regimes increasingly seek to expunge “inconvenient” truth
The number of writers jailed reached a new high, with at least 375 behind bars in 40 countries during 2024, compared to 339 in 2023.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/33305222
The number of writers jailed reached a new high in a wider range of countries, with at least 375 behind bars in 40 countries during 2024, compared to 339 in 2023, according to the international writers' association PEN. China, already the world’s top jailer of writers, registered another significant increase.
- The number of writers jailed reached a new high in a wider range of countries, with at least 375 behind bars in 40 countries during 2024, compared to 339 in 2023, says PEN, the Worldwide Association of Writers NGO, in its Freedom-To-Write Index.
- China, already the world’s top jailer of writers, registered another significant increase of 11 cases, to 118 writers behind bars. The majority were jailed under the pretense of “national security” charges, oftentim
China’s trade diversion could swamp other Emerging Markets as the flood of imports from China was already impacting economies before Trump 2.0
The flood of imports from China was already impacting economies before Trump 2.0
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/33309810
[Analysis by Nomura, a financial services group.]
- Some USD560 bn of China’s annual exports may need to find new markets, which can be disruptive to economies
- 45 countries that experienced large increases in their shares of imports from China are generally the ones that experienced the sharpest slowdowns in manufacturing growth and where evidence of disinflation was strongest
- This year, with a US-China trade war raging, the results illuminate just how exposed economies are to the flood of China imports turning into a deluge
With the US-China trade war in full force, many emerging economies, particularly those in Asia, are exposed to the flood of inexpensive Chinese imports turning into a deluge.
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Statistics suggest that Chi
Chinese military officers have been present behind Russian lines with Beijing’s approval
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/32772873
Here is the original Reuters report.
More than one hundred Chinese citizens fighting for the Russian military against Ukraine are mercenaries who do not appear to have a direct link to China's government, [according to reports].
But Chinese military officers have, with Beijing's approval, been touring close to Russia's frontlines to draw lessons and tactics from the war. The officers "are absolutely there under approval," [a former Western intelligence official] said.
China has for years provided Moscow with material support to help aid its war against Ukraine, primarily in the shipment of dual-use products – componen
Time for the rest of the West to club together: Cutting dependency on both Washington and Beijing will take time and be costly, but the West could regret it if they do not
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/32657170
The rest of the West can no longer rely on the United States. The European Union, Japan, Britain, Canada and others need to reduce their dependency on Washington while not becoming reliant on China. That means weaning themselves off the dollar, boosting cooperation in trade and defence, and reaching out to emerging economies such as India.
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The more ambitious the rest of the West is in boosting cooperation among itself and with emerging economies, the lower the risk that it will have to depend on China. Australia has already turned down an offer from the People's Republic to join forces against the United States. Japan, South Korea, India and many ASEAN countries also feel threatened by Beijing. Europe is exposed indirectly because the People’s Republic is the main backer of Russia, which has invaded Ukraine.
Beijing will also be looking for new markets for its products now that the U.S. has put 145%
Over 160 Chinese nationals fight for Russia in Ukraine and "Beijing knows about this," Zelensky says
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/32430092
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"There are 155 Chinese citizens who are fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine," President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed this information to journalists on April 9.
"We are collecting information, we believe that there are many more."
"For these 155 there is passport data, where they are from, their Chinese documents, age, etc," Zelensky added.
According to Zelensky, Chinese soldiers had been serving with Russia's 70th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, the 255th Rifle Division, and others.
A day before, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the capture of two Chinese citizens fighting for Russia in eastern Donetsk Oblast. The group of six Chinese nationals clashed with Ukrainian forces, and two are now being held by the
Rights group calls on China to free imprisoned Taiwan publisher
The Chinese authorities should urgently quash the conviction and free the Taiwanese publisher Li Yanhe (李延賀), known by his pen name Fu Cha (富察).
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/32317880
The Chinese authorities should urgently quash the conviction and free the Taiwan publisher Li Yanhe (李延賀), known by his pen name Fu Cha (富察), Human Rights Watch said today. Fu Cha, who has been detained in China since 2023, was secretly sentenced in February 2025 to three years in prison on charges of “inciting secession.” The government has provided little information about his trial or his condition in detention.
Fu Cha, 54, is editor-in-chief of the Taiwanese firm Gūsa Publishing, which has published translated works on global affairs, politics, and history, including some critical of the Chinese government.
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“The Chinese authorities have imprisoned Fu Cha for daring to publish books on China that they don’t like,” said Maya Wang, associate China director at Human Rights Watch. “The groundless case against Fu Cha is an apparent attempt to muffle freedom of expression outside its borders and intimidate Tai
China Isn’t Scared Of Biden’s Big Bad EV Tariffs
Good morning! It’s Wednesday, May 15, 2024, and this is The Morning Shift, your daily roundup of the top automotive headlines from around the world, in one place. Here are the important stories you need to know.
The riots come in response to the French parliament giving French residents there more voting rights.
The BBC reported seeing drone footage in Kharkiv that showed Russian troops walking unchallenged into Ukrainian territory.
Slovak PM Robert Fico in ‘life-threatening condition’ after being shot
Fico was fighting for his life and was flown to hospital by helicopter after assassination attempt.
