Nearly six million donkeys are slaughtered annually to supply the demand for ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine made from donkey skin collagen. This trade has led to a sharp decline in donkey populations globally, with severe social, economic, and environmental consequences, particularly affecting African communities that rely on donkeys for their livelihoods. In Brazil, the donkey population has plummeted by 94% from 1.37 million in 1996 to just over 78,000 by 2024. Experts warn that if this trend continues, the Brazilian donkey could face extinction by 2030. The demand for donkey skins to produce ejiao, which is believed to have anti-aging and libido-enhancing properties, has created a global trade network that strains domestic donkey populations in China and other countries. Animal protection groups and researchers have called attention to the urgent need for protective measures and moratoriums to prevent further decline and preserve donkey populations worldwide.

Almost six million donkeys were slaughtered worldwide last year to meet demand for ejiao, a collagen-based ingredient used in traditional Chinese medicine, according to a report released on Thursday by the UK-based charity The Donkey Sanctuary. The organisation estimates that the global trade now processes roughly 5.9 million skins annually and could require 6.8 million by 2027.

China’s domestic donkey herd has collapsed to about 1.5 million animals from 11 million in 1992, forcing suppliers to turn to Africa and Latin America. Research firm Qianzhan puts the value of the ejiao industry at roughly US$6.8 billion, a boom that has encouraged both licensed slaughterhouses and sprawling illegal networks.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to list all seven species of pangolins as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Pangolins, known as the world's most trafficked mammals, are targeted primarily for their scales, used in traditional Chinese medicine, and their meat. These unique mammals, characterized by their scaly skin and ability to roll into protective balls, face severe threats from illegal wildlife trade.

The proposed federal protections aim to tighten trade restrictions and highlight the urgent conservation needs of pangolins, which are described as being on the brink of extinction. This move represents a significant step by U.S. authorities to address the illegal trafficking and conservation challenges facing these unusual creatures.

China's marine economy surpassed 10 trillion yuan (approximately $1.4 trillion) in 2024 for the first time, representing 7.8% of the country's GDP, according to recent data. The sector demonstrated steady growth in the first quarter of 2025, with an output of 2.5 trillion yuan, marking a 5.7% year-on-year increase. This growth reflects the strong momentum and high-quality development of the marine economy, as indicated by the China Ocean Economic Development Index, which rose 2.3% year-on-year to 125.2 in 2024. Meanwhile, contributions from high value-added industries such as biomedicine remained stable, with gains in technology inputs offset by declines in capital inputs.

FBI Director Kash Patel has accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of deliberately orchestrating the fentanyl crisis in the United States as part of a long-term strategy to weaken the country. In an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience aired on June 6, 2025, Patel stated that the precursors needed to manufacture fentanyl originate from mainland China and are shipped to Mexico and other countries, where they are processed and trafficked into the U.S.

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During the 78th World Health Assembly, China emphasized its active role in negotiating a global pandemic agreement, advocating for multilateralism, unity, and international cooperation. However, concerns have been raised about China's disproportionate influence over the World Health Organization (WHO), which has become a prominent issue at the assembly. A Chinese delegation spokesperson criticized the United States for its withdrawal from the WHO and for attacking countries that increase their contributions to the organization. Meanwhile, the WHO's handling of shortcomings during the COVID-19 pandemic has faced criticism from health officials. Additionally, China is positioning itself as a leader in traditional medicine within the WHO framework.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has unveiled its third 10,000-ton-class hospital ship, the Auspicious Ark (吉祥方舟, hull number 868), a 920-type hospital ship. The vessel was recently showcased during a multi-element, full-process medical rescue drill conducted in the Yellow Sea involving medical personnel from the Navy's 971 Hospital. The exercise focused on rapid assessment, triage, and preoperative preparation for casualties, enhancing the ship's emergency medical response capabilities. The Auspicious Ark's hull design is an enlarged version of the second ship in the class, the Silk Road Ark, and it was constructed by Guangzhou Shipyard International, having been launched in early 2024.

The ship features advanced medical facilities, including eight operating rooms with different cleanroom standards (two at class 1,000 and six at class 10,000), CT scanners, biochemical analyzers, and PCR testing equipment, enabling treatment of complex cases such as blast and burn injuries. The PLAN currently operates a fleet of 11 medical vessels, including three 920-type hospital ships, two 919-type hospital ships, five Ankang-class medical rescue boats, and one 0891A training/defense mobilization ship equipped with a medical module system. This fleet represents one of the largest hospital ship forces in Asia and globally. The deployment of the Auspicious Ark is believed to be under the Northern Theater Command Navy. The ship's recent exercises and capabilities underscore China's expanding maritime medical support infrastructure.

Chinese exporters are reportedly undervaluing cargo shipments to the United States in an effort to evade the 145% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration as part of its ongoing trade war. This tactic, described as a form of tariff evasion, involves factories in China offering to pay customs duties on behalf of companies and then selling merchandise in the U.S. at prices below the tariff-inflated cost. The U.S.

Department of Commerce data shows that imports from China as a percentage of total U.S. imports have steadily declined from 21.6% in 2017 to 10.8% in the first quarter of 2025, with projections indicating a further steep drop in the second quarter. The imposition of these tariffs has disrupted supply chains, leading to a sharp reduction in the number of container ships arriving at U.S. ports from China, with vessels arriving half-full, particularly in Los Angeles. This decline in imports is expected to cause shortages of Chinese goods in the U.S. as early as this summer, impacting consumer prices and availability of products, including critical baby gear. The reduction in exports to the U.S. is also affecting China's manufacturing sector, contributing to higher youth unemployment and declining marriage and birth rates. The trade war and resulting tariffs have thus triggered a chain reaction affecting both economies and global supply chains.

China's finance ministry has stated that there is no longer any market acceptance for U.S. goods exported to China under the current tariff levels. Consequently, if the U.S. continues to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, China will disregard such measures. This statement reflects a significant shift in the trade dynamics between the two countries, emphasizing China's unwillingness to comply with further U.S. tariff actions amid ongoing trade tensions.

During the ongoing 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Xu Xiaolan, a member of the CPPCC, announced that China's industrial internet has achieved full coverage across 49 sectors of the national economy. This advancement has led to a core industry scale of 1.53 trillion yuan (approximately $211 billion), significantly enhancing the digitalization, networking, and intelligence of the manufacturing sector. Additionally, the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been promoted to 196 countries and regions, emphasizing its role in fostering international exchanges. The discussions at the CPPCC highlight the importance of digital transformation for enhancing China's global competitiveness in manufacturing and the potential of TCM in expanding healthcare access worldwide.

Nearly six million donkeys are slaughtered annually to supply the demand for ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine made from donkey skin collagen. This trade has led to a sharp decline in donkey populations globally, with severe social, economic, and environmental consequences, particularly affecting African communities that rely on donkeys for their livelihoods. In Brazil, the donkey population has plummeted by 94% from 1.37 million in 1996 to just over 78,000 by 2024. Experts warn that if this trend continues, the Brazilian donkey could face extinction by 2030. The demand for donkey skins to produce ejiao, which is believed to have anti-aging and libido-enhancing properties, has created a global trade network that strains domestic donkey populations in China and other countries. Animal protection groups and researchers have called attention to the urgent need for protective measures and moratoriums to prevent further decline and preserve donkey populations worldwide.

Almost six million donkeys were slaughtered worldwide last year to meet demand for ejiao, a collagen-based ingredient used in traditional Chinese medicine, according to a report released on Thursday by the UK-based charity The Donkey Sanctuary. The organisation estimates that the global trade now processes roughly 5.9 million skins annually and could require 6.8 million by 2027.

China’s domestic donkey herd has collapsed to about 1.5 million animals from 11 million in 1992, forcing suppliers to turn to Africa and Latin America. Research firm Qianzhan puts the value of the ejiao industry at roughly US$6.8 billion, a boom that has encouraged both licensed slaughterhouses and sprawling illegal networks.

Read more

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to list all seven species of pangolins as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Pangolins, known as the world's most trafficked mammals, are targeted primarily for their scales, used in traditional Chinese medicine, and their meat. These unique mammals, characterized by their scaly skin and ability to roll into protective balls, face severe threats from illegal wildlife trade.

The proposed federal protections aim to tighten trade restrictions and highlight the urgent conservation needs of pangolins, which are described as being on the brink of extinction. This move represents a significant step by U.S. authorities to address the illegal trafficking and conservation challenges facing these unusual creatures.

China's marine economy surpassed 10 trillion yuan (approximately $1.4 trillion) in 2024 for the first time, representing 7.8% of the country's GDP, according to recent data. The sector demonstrated steady growth in the first quarter of 2025, with an output of 2.5 trillion yuan, marking a 5.7% year-on-year increase. This growth reflects the strong momentum and high-quality development of the marine economy, as indicated by the China Ocean Economic Development Index, which rose 2.3% year-on-year to 125.2 in 2024. Meanwhile, contributions from high value-added industries such as biomedicine remained stable, with gains in technology inputs offset by declines in capital inputs.

FBI Director Kash Patel has accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of deliberately orchestrating the fentanyl crisis in the United States as part of a long-term strategy to weaken the country. In an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience aired on June 6, 2025, Patel stated that the precursors needed to manufacture fentanyl originate from mainland China and are shipped to Mexico and other countries, where they are processed and trafficked into the U.S.

Read more

During the 78th World Health Assembly, China emphasized its active role in negotiating a global pandemic agreement, advocating for multilateralism, unity, and international cooperation. However, concerns have been raised about China's disproportionate influence over the World Health Organization (WHO), which has become a prominent issue at the assembly. A Chinese delegation spokesperson criticized the United States for its withdrawal from the WHO and for attacking countries that increase their contributions to the organization. Meanwhile, the WHO's handling of shortcomings during the COVID-19 pandemic has faced criticism from health officials. Additionally, China is positioning itself as a leader in traditional medicine within the WHO framework.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has unveiled its third 10,000-ton-class hospital ship, the Auspicious Ark (吉祥方舟, hull number 868), a 920-type hospital ship. The vessel was recently showcased during a multi-element, full-process medical rescue drill conducted in the Yellow Sea involving medical personnel from the Navy's 971 Hospital. The exercise focused on rapid assessment, triage, and preoperative preparation for casualties, enhancing the ship's emergency medical response capabilities. The Auspicious Ark's hull design is an enlarged version of the second ship in the class, the Silk Road Ark, and it was constructed by Guangzhou Shipyard International, having been launched in early 2024.

The ship features advanced medical facilities, including eight operating rooms with different cleanroom standards (two at class 1,000 and six at class 10,000), CT scanners, biochemical analyzers, and PCR testing equipment, enabling treatment of complex cases such as blast and burn injuries. The PLAN currently operates a fleet of 11 medical vessels, including three 920-type hospital ships, two 919-type hospital ships, five Ankang-class medical rescue boats, and one 0891A training/defense mobilization ship equipped with a medical module system. This fleet represents one of the largest hospital ship forces in Asia and globally. The deployment of the Auspicious Ark is believed to be under the Northern Theater Command Navy. The ship's recent exercises and capabilities underscore China's expanding maritime medical support infrastructure.

Chinese exporters are reportedly undervaluing cargo shipments to the United States in an effort to evade the 145% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration as part of its ongoing trade war. This tactic, described as a form of tariff evasion, involves factories in China offering to pay customs duties on behalf of companies and then selling merchandise in the U.S. at prices below the tariff-inflated cost. The U.S.

Department of Commerce data shows that imports from China as a percentage of total U.S. imports have steadily declined from 21.6% in 2017 to 10.8% in the first quarter of 2025, with projections indicating a further steep drop in the second quarter. The imposition of these tariffs has disrupted supply chains, leading to a sharp reduction in the number of container ships arriving at U.S. ports from China, with vessels arriving half-full, particularly in Los Angeles. This decline in imports is expected to cause shortages of Chinese goods in the U.S. as early as this summer, impacting consumer prices and availability of products, including critical baby gear. The reduction in exports to the U.S. is also affecting China's manufacturing sector, contributing to higher youth unemployment and declining marriage and birth rates. The trade war and resulting tariffs have thus triggered a chain reaction affecting both economies and global supply chains.

China's finance ministry has stated that there is no longer any market acceptance for U.S. goods exported to China under the current tariff levels. Consequently, if the U.S. continues to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, China will disregard such measures. This statement reflects a significant shift in the trade dynamics between the two countries, emphasizing China's unwillingness to comply with further U.S. tariff actions amid ongoing trade tensions.

During the ongoing 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Xu Xiaolan, a member of the CPPCC, announced that China's industrial internet has achieved full coverage across 49 sectors of the national economy. This advancement has led to a core industry scale of 1.53 trillion yuan (approximately $211 billion), significantly enhancing the digitalization, networking, and intelligence of the manufacturing sector. Additionally, the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been promoted to 196 countries and regions, emphasizing its role in fostering international exchanges. The discussions at the CPPCC highlight the importance of digital transformation for enhancing China's global competitiveness in manufacturing and the potential of TCM in expanding healthcare access worldwide.