China urges U.S. to abandon excessive use of national security concept

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) — China has urged the United States to abandon its generalized and excessive use of the national security concept, and to collaborate with all parties in maintaining a rules-based multilateral trading system, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

At a regular press conference, He Yongqian, spokesperson for the ministry, made the remarks when asked to comment on the U.S. decision to raise tariffs on imported steel, aluminium and their derivative products from 25 percent to 50 percent.

He said that such U.S. moves not only harm others and itself, but also will severely disrupt the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

The United States should abandon the zero-sum mentality, address respective concerns through equal dialogue, and jointly maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, He said.

Source: Xinhua

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Beijing registers first high-temperature day of 2025

Beijing registers first high-temperature day of 2025

A resident uses an umbrella to block the sun during the first high-temperature day of the year in Beijing, June 5, 2025. The Beijing Meteorological Observatory issued an orange heat alert at 6 p.m. on June 4. (China News Service/Chen Fangting)

A resident uses an umbrella to block the sun during the first high-temperature day of the year in Beijing, June 5, 2025. The Beijing Meteorological Observatory issued an orange heat alert at 6 p.m. on June 4. (China News Service/Chen Fangting)

People take sun protection measures during the first high-temperature day of the year in Beijing, June 5, 2025. The Beijing Meteorological Observatory issued an orange heat alert at 6 p.m. on June 4. (China News Service/Chen Fangting)

People take sun protection measures during the first high-temperature day of the year in Beijing, June 5, 2025. The Beijing Meteorological Observatory issued an orange heat alert at 6 p.m. on June 4. (China News Service/Chen Fangting)

A citizen shops for watermelons to cool off during the first high-temperature day of the year in Beijing, June 5, 2025. The Beijing Meteorological Observatory issued an orange heat alert at 6 p.m. on June 4. (China News Service/Chen Fangting)

Source: Ecns.cn

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China’s economy on steady upward trajectory amid external challenges: official

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) — Building on a positive start in the first quarter of 2025, China’s economy is continuing to make steady progress, said Ding Lin, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission.

Speaking on the latest episode of China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency, Ding noted that despite a complex external environment, China’s economy has remained resilient. Notably, key indicators like industrial production, the service sector, domestic demand and exports have shown robust growth.

Ding emphasized China’s innovative dynamism, citing 10-percent growth in the high-tech manufacturing sector in April, nearly 4 percentage points higher than the country’s overall industrial growth rate.

Ding also highlighted the accelerated development of industries such as drones, new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence and humanoid robots.

“In general, as pro-growth measures are swiftly implemented, their effects will continue to emerge, further promoting the country’s high-quality economic development,” Ding added.

China’s GDP grew by 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025.

Source: Xinhua

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China’s economy on steady upward trajectory amid external challenges: official
Xinhua photos of the day

Xinhua photos of the day

A boy is pictured with a sheep at a sheep market before the upcoming Eid al-Adha on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, on June 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A rescuer moves relief supplies at Baicao Village of Eryuan County in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, June 5, 2025.

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck Eryuan County at 4:31 a.m. Thursday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The epicenter was monitored at 26.26 degrees north latitude and 100.03 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, said a report issued by the CENC.

The quake was strongly felt in Eryuan County, Dali City and Heqing County, waking some residents. Local authorities in Eryuan County have promptly initiated an emergency response, with townships assessing the impact. (Photo by Luo Xincai/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 4, 2025 shows tourists visiting the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River on the border between north China’s Shanxi Province and northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

Representatives vote on a draft resolution during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 4, 2025.

The United States on Wednesday vetoed a Security Council draft resolution that would have demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid. (Xinhua/Xie E)

A conference officer collects ballots during a UN General Assembly meeting to elect members of the UN Economic and Social Council at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 4, 2025.

Eighteen states, including China, were elected on Wednesday into the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the coordinating body for the economic and social work of UN agencies and funds, for a three-year term. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 4, 2025 shows a black-necked crane at Qinghai Longbao National Nature Reserve, Yushu City of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai Province.

With lush water and pastures, Qinghai Longbao National Nature Reserve is a key station and breeding ground for migratory birds.

According to monitoring data of May this year, 37 species of birds including bar-headed geese and black necked cranes inhabited here. (Photo by Du Xiaowei/Xinhua)

Dong Yuhan (C) and Wu Mengjie (R) of China celebrate after winning the pool 3 match between China and Belgium at the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, June 4, 2025.

Host China kicked off its Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Beijing leg in style with a straight-set victory over Belgium on Wednesday, winning 25-18, 27-25, 25-13 at the National Indoor Stadium. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 4, 2025 shows primary school students painting during an environmental protection-themed event in Xinghua City, east China’s Jiangsu Province.

Various events are held to raise people’s awareness of environmental protection in China ahead of World Environment Day, which falls on June 5. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)

Lee Jae-myung takes the oath of office in the National Assembly building in Seoul, South Korea, June 4, 2025.

Lee Jae-myung was sworn in as South Korea’s new president on Wednesday after formally beginning his single five-year term earlier in the day. (Xinhua)

Zheng Qinwen reacts during the women’s singles quarterfinal between Zheng Qinwen of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros, Paris, France, June 3, 2025.

China’s tennis sensation Zheng Qinwen lost to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 7-6 (3), 6-3 in the French Open women’s singles quarterfinals here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

A Palestinian woman mourns a victim killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on June 4, 2025.

At least 54,510 people have been killed and 124,901 wounded in Gaza during the Israeli military campaign, according to health authorities in the territory. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Source: Xinhua

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‘Free America’: Anti-Trump Administration Protests Planned Across U.S. on July 4

‘Free America’: Anti-Trump Administration Protests Planned Across U.S. on July 4

Banner Of President Donald Trump At U.S. Department of Agriculture

This July 4, some Americans are planning to retire their Independence Day barbecues and instead head to the streets in protest against President Donald Trump and his Administration.

The collective demonstrations will be the latest in a long line of protests that have taken place since Trump returned to the White House for a second term. On June 14, as Trump held a national military parade in Washington, D.C.,–the largest the capital city has seen in decades—people across the U.S. gathered for counter-action, attending “No Kings” protests to publicly “reject authoritarianism.” Ahead of the big day, Trump had warned that “people that want to protest will be met with big force,” saying participants are “people that hate our country.”

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Amid the “No Kings” activism, states across the U.S. also encountered immigration protests as people demonstrated against the Trump Administration’s ICE raids. The protests notably started in Los Angeles and garnered national and international attention, especially after Trump deployed the National Guard, and later the Marines, to quell the demonstrations, without the request of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The decision resulted in much criticism and a legal battle, with an appeals court ultimately ruling that Trump was allowed to keep control of the National Guard in L.A.

In April, people gathered across the U.S. and international cities such as London, Paris, and Stockholm to protest against the actions of Trump and his then-ally, former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) lead Elon Musk. (The former allies have since had a very public falling out.)

Now, a fresh round of protests are set to take place on July 4, America’s Independence Day. Here’s what we know about the planned action.

Women’s March organizes “Free America Weekend”

Women’s March, which coordinates protests across the U.S. against sexism and oppression, has published a list of over 140 events set to take place on July 4. The displays of protest range from rallies and marches to block parties. Women’s March has invited communities across the country to create even more events.

Per the organization, the Free America Weekend aims to highlight key issues being faced by people across the U.S., such as poverty, unlawful orders, and “the grip of hate and the politics of fear.”

“This July 4th, while the U.S. marks Independence Day, we’ll gather across the country—on porches, in town squares, backyards, and streets—to stand for real freedom and build a vision of a Free America, brick-by-brick,” reads a statement within Women March’s call for action.

“They want us scared, divided, and alone. They don’t want us to dream about freedom. But that’s exactly what we have to do,” said the organization.

“No Kings 2.0” demonstrations

After widespread “No Kings” protests took place throughout the U.S. on June 14, another round of demonstrations are set to take place on July 4.

“No Kings 2.0” events have been scheduled in Wisconsin, Louisiana and Wyoming, along with at least ten other locations across the U.S. While the “No Kings” protests in June were notably rallying against “authoritarianism,” the event page for Wisconsin’s July 4 rally in Green Bay says that the focus this time is on ICE raids and activity amid Trump’s nationwide immigration crackdown.

The protest event page encourages those attending to stand up for “community, justice [in] solidarity with our immigrant neighbors.” In June, ICE arrests conducted in Trump’s second term reportedly reached over 100,000.

Organizers of “No Kings 2.0” events in Louisiana and Wyoming have stressed non-violent demonstrations as a core principle of the gatherings.

What other protests are being held on July 4?

Locals are planning a demonstration outside Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Protesters are scheduled to gather near the estate on the evening of July 4, equipped with a large balloon depicting the President as a baby.

A similar balloon was hoisted above Trump’s Florida residence on Juneteenth in 2020, in protest against the treatment of Black Americans, in the weeks after the killing of George Floyd.

“We’re supposed to be celebrating America’s independence, and I felt a moral responsibility to stand up and declare our independence from Trump-ism,” Mark Offerman, a local activist, told Palm Beach Daily News.

Meanwhile, The People’s Union USA is encouraging Americans to stay at home on July 4, boycotting large corporations and avoiding parades and firework displays in a show of solidarity against wealth inequality and ICE raids.

Instead, The People’s Union USA, who organized the “Economic Blackout” in February, wants people to focus on supporting their communities and buying locally. Founder John Schwarz has called it the “most important boycott of the year.”

“Do not wave a flag for a country that no longer waves it for you,” Schwarz said in a video. “The 4th of July is supposed to be a celebration of freedom, but what freedom are we actually talking about?” 

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