China Launches Investigation into Google Amid US Trade Tensions

Authorities in China have dismantled an illegal surrogacy operation in Hunan province, where speech-impaired and disabled women were exploited as surrogate mothers. The investigation, led by anti-trafficking activist Shangguan Zhengyi, resulted in the rescue of nine women, including a 41-year-old surrogate from Shaanxi province who claimed to have received approximately 40,000 USD for an embryo transfer. A raid on a three-story residential building in Changsha revealed a fully equipped facility with an operating room and medical beds, obscured from public view by covered windows. According to the South China Morning Post, police discovered surgical tools and equipment used for embryo transfer and egg retrieval. Eighteen individuals, including medical staff, have been arrested as part of the crackdown on the racket. Local health officials assured that the facility has been sealed, and the case will be dealt with strictly under the law. This development follows previous incidents that highlighted the dark reality of illegal surrogacy practices in China.

At least five people have died, and several others are reported missing following intense flash floods in southern China's Guangdong and Guangxi provinces over the weekend. The National Meteorological Centre has issued severe weather warnings for heavy rainfall, mountain flooding, and geological disasters, particularly affecting the regions of Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi, and Guangdong, according to the official Xinhua news agency. A yellow alert, signifying a high risk of mountain flooding, was issued for parts of Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi, indicating the severity of the situation. The four-tier weather warning system used in China designates red as the most severe alert, followed by orange, yellow, and blue. In addition, state broadcaster CCTV reported that heavy rainfall is expected to continue from Monday to Tuesday, notably in the far western region of Xinjiang along the Tianshan Mountains. The increase in rainfall is attributed to the continuing effects of climate change and extreme weather events, highlighted by China's record-setting warm temperatures in 2024.

Chinese scientists have reportedly developed hypersonic missiles capable of reaching any location on Earth within 30 minutes, according to a study published in the academic journal Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica. These advanced missiles, equipped with a re-entry glide vehicle, can travel at speeds of up to Mach 20, or approximately 13,000 kilometers per hour. This technological leap is expected to have significant implications for global defense dynamics, as hypersonic weapons are designed to evade traditional detection systems. The design of these weapons allows for rapid and unpredictable directional changes, which poses challenges for existing air defense methods. Major powers, including the United States and the United Kingdom, are investing heavily in hypersonic technology, with various developmental programs and tests underway. India is also advancing its capabilities, having tested its own hypersonic missile systems, such as the BrahMos-2, which aims to maintain strategic parity with China. As countries worldwide race to develop hypersonic missiles, the potential shift in military power balances remains a pressing concern for global security analysts.