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TikTok said on March 6 it was responding to Russia’s new “fake news” law when it suspended live-streaming and uploads of new content by Russian users. But Tracking Exposed said TikTok’s actions go “above and beyond what is required in response to the Russian ‘fake news’ law.” The Chinese app is leaving space for Kremlin-controlled information. “With these recent changes, TikTok runs the risk of effectively converting itself into a propaganda channel for the Kremlin,” Tracking Exposed said....

Addressing a virtual reception hosted Tuesday by the Chinese embassy in Washington to commemorate the 72nd National Day of the People’s Republic, ambassador Qin Gang hailed his country’s contributions to the world and vowed further international efforts in endeavors such as fostering trade ties, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and combating climate change. Qin, who assumed his position as China’s seniormost diplomat in the U.S. in July, then issued an appeal for the two nations to overcome their differences for the sake of themselves, their peoples and the international community....

In a statement issued Wednesday by the G7, which comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, foreign ministers cast China as a bully and accused the nation of committing several human rights violations. “We continue to be deeply concerned about human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and in Tibet, especially the targeting of Uyghurs, members of other ethnic and religious minority groups, and the existence of a large-scale network of ‘political re-education’ camps, and reports of forced labour systems and forced sterilization,” the statement said....

The Global Times, an English- and Chinese-language publication that functions as a de facto mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, said that reports of the debris being “out of control” or that it “may cause damage if it hits inhabited areas” are untrue. Instead, the paper contended, Chinese space analysts predict that any remains of the rocket are “very likely to fall in international waters and people needn’t worry.”...

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian hit out at the new measures during a daily briefing with reporters on Monday. On Friday, the U.S. announced it would only issue 90-day visas for Chinese reporters with no option of extension. The new rules come into force on Monday. Previously, visas were often open-ended and did not require extension, Reuters noted. Reporters would only have to apply to extend the visa if they moved to a different company or type of reporting....

The U.S. Navy’s Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group joined the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group on Tuesday for rare dual aircraft carrier exercises involving the massive Nimitz-class warships alongside accompanying vessels and aircraft. It was the first time two aircraft carriers trained together in the South China Sea since July, and the first time the two groups involved joined forces since June, when they conducted joint operations in the Philippine Sea....

“The Chinese embassy suggests and reminds Chinese citizens in the U.S. to closely watch the security situation, stay alert and take safety precautions, be cautious before going to public places,” China’s embassy in Washington said in Sunday statement, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s elite Quds Force, was killed in the U.S. strike as his vehicle drove from the Baghdad airport after he arrived in Iraq....

Kansas City goes in with a lot of injuries, missing three offensive starters (wide receiver Sammy Watkins, left tackle Eric Fisher, left guard Andrew Wylie) and two key defensive players (tackle Chris Jones, cornerback Kendall Fuller). Quarterback Patrick Mahomes keeps playing through an ankle injury. Mahomes unleashed some of his early magic on a Monday night game against Denver last season. The Chiefs will rely on him plenty again to help end their skid against a suddenly hot Broncos defense under coach Vic Fangio....

The Argentinian has scored 32 goals in all competitions this season, including a brace in the first leg of his side’s Champions League semi-final against Monaco. Jardim wants no fear from Monaco Chiellini, whose team lead the tie 2-0 ahead of Tuesday’s second leg in Turin, said Higuain deserved to be recognised among the world’s best. “He is a very complete player,” he told a news conference. “He stands amongst the best three number nines in the world....

In recent years, pesticides and flame retardants have overtaken lead and mercury as the chemicals responsible for the biggest loss of IQ among children, according to the paper published in the journal Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. The researchers believe this is due to regulations cracking down on the use of chemicals known to effect the parts of the body in charge of producing hormones, called endocrine disruptors. For instance, lead has been banned from gasoline, paint and drinking water systems in the U....

A tenured Ubisoft creative director, Patrick Plourde has made a name for himself by working on a number of beloved titles, such as Rainbow Six: Vegas, Far Cry 3, Child of Light, Watch Dogs 2, and a number of others. According to Plourde’s tweets, he is now ready to move on from Ubisoft, however, and may be looking to work on non-gaming projects as well. RELATED: Ubisoft Makes Game Free to Play for Limited Time...

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made his thoughts known last weekend at the 29th Assembly of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy. In his address, the top Russian diplomat criticized “the U.S.-invented Indo-Pacific strategies embodied in the foursome Quad—the United States, Japan, India and Australia—and the recent creation of the bloc [known as] AUKUS.” He said such coalitions disrupted a decades-long ecosystem of indigenous partnerships, especially that of the Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN)....

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, provided neither a timeline for its release nor details about who would appear on the potentially far-reaching blacklist. Chinese state media outlets, such as the hawkish Communist Party newspaper Global Times, have described the inclusion of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and her premier, Su Tseng-chang, as “very likely.” “China will not accept efforts by a few diehard Taiwan secessionists who have openly undermined our national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zhu said, adding that Chinese authorities would take “precise measures” to severely punish the individuals in accordance with the law....

China and Russia are growing closer as ties with the United States have deteriorated, raising questions about a potential military alliance between the two superpowers. Despite concerns on the part of America and its allies, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied the goal is to mount a joint effort against the United States. Asked Monday about a potential alliance against the U.S., Lavrov told Argumenty i Fakty (AIF), a Russian newspaper, that Russia and China are “satisfied” with the “current format of cooperation....

At a regular press briefing, ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijiang called U.S. government reports into the subject “fabrications,” despite widespread public reports to the contrary. Rights groups and media reports cited by the State Department say more than a million Uyghurs—Turkic Muslims living in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region—have been detained in “re-education camps,” where they are forced to learn Han Chinese culture and taught Communist Party doctrine. Recent reports have also documented a policy of “forced labor” in the autonomous region....

Hu Xijin, Global Times editor-in-chief, called for more expansion of China’s military in order to counter Washington’s strategy of containment and force a change in attitude among key U.S. partners. Wednesday’s editorial came a day after Tokyo began hosting U.S., French and Australian troops for the first such joint military exercises on Japanese soil. The drills will last through next Monday, when their respective navies will train in the East China Sea....

But the Serb, fresh from his exploits at the US Open and the Laver Cup, chose rest and recovery in order to challenge for more glory in the end part of the season. Djokovic traditionally excels in this part of the season, and a hiatus of a few days would inject him with the vigour and the vitality he needs for the next two Masters 1000 events as well as the year-ending championships....

Now deleted footage that emerged on China’s main social media service, Weibo, showed dozens of people demonstrating inside a residential area in Xi’an’s Yanta district in Shaanxi province. The city of 13 million people was placed under a full lockdown on December 23, but the neighborhood in question had already been quarantined a week earlier. The indefinite lockdown was causing distress and affecting their livelihoods, the neighbors shouted. The protesters appeared to come to blows after police officers arrived to manage the crowd, with a number of residents apparently pinned to the ground....

Impressive performances by Guan Chenchen and Tang Xijing, aged 16 and 18, propelled China’s gold medal count to 32 and 68 medals overall, matching the United States. Biles, who had withdrawn from Team USA events last week, won bronze, tying the record for most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history with seven medals. Certain corners of microblogging website Weibo appeared to revel in Biles’ loss, but the sentiment seemed to highlight her formidable reputation as she dominated the world of gymnastics over the years....

There was speculation that the signals may represent evidence of alien life, though scientists involved have said it is more likely that the signals were just interference from Earth. In any case, the world’s largest filled-aperture radio telescope, with its 1,600 ft dish, has made a number of important discoveries before. Earlier this year astronomers announced that it had discovered a rare repeating radio signal coming from deep space, and they’re not quite sure what it is yet....