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DeepSeek, a Chinese AI service, has resumed availability in South Korean app stores following a two-month suspension due to data protection concerns.

South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) halted downloads in February after it was discovered that DeepSeek transferred user data without permission when the site first launched in January, according to Reuters.

DeepSeek is now available for download on platforms such as the Apple App Store and Google Play after being updated with its privacy policy. The company guarantees compliance with South Korean data privacy rules and allows customers to opt out of sharing personal information to entities in China and the United States.

The app's return follows DeepSeek's voluntary adjustments, which partially addressed the PIPC's recommendations, Reuters reported.

At a recent business forum in Beijing, global leaders anticipated a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but many were impressed by Vice Premier He Lifeng. As Xi’s chief economic lieutenant, He has become a central figure in Sino-American trade talks, Reuters reported.

He, who oversees China’s economy and financial sector, is seen as crucial in addressing ongoing trade tensions, particularly after the US imposed 145% tariffs under President Trump.

Once viewed as a rigid Communist Party official, He has gained recognition for his growing confidence and effectiveness in negotiations, holding over 60 meetings with foreign officials since March 2023, as stated by Reuters.

China has exempted several US goods from retaliatory tariffs despite the persistent tensions, but Beijing still demands that Washington stop its "extreme pressure" strategy.

China’s coastguard has seized Sandy Cay, a small sandbank in the Spratly Islands. CCTV showed officers raising the Chinese flag on the reef earlier in April, asserting control over the area, BBC reported.

In response, the Philippines, which also claims the reef, posted a similar photo of its police waving the flag and landed security guards on neighboring sandbanks. It's still unclear which sandbanks were involved.

China's "illegal presence" close to the sandbanks was denounced by the Philippine National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, which also reported seeing seven militia vessels and a coastguard ship, according to BBC.

While China has not established permanent occupancy of Sandy Cay, the incident adds to the region's extending tensions, which have resulted in frequent clashes. The White House expressed alarm over China's actions, as the dispute continues with rival claims from many countries.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, which murdered 26 civilians, but sources suggest Pakistan and China colluded to weaken the official statement.

Unlike the UNSC's 2019 Pulwama statement, which called for cooperation with the "Government of India," the most recent version just mentions "all relevant authorities." According to The Times of India, Pakistan, with China's support, pushed for the softer expression to avoid India taking the lead in the inquiry.

Pakistan, a non-permanent UNSC member, also issued a separate statement expressing “concern” but stopped short of condemning the attack. Islamabad is now demanding for a "independent" investigation, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed support for a neutral investigation.

The US initially proposed a stronger draft, but tough negotiations led to a diluted final version. The move has raised fresh concerns in New Delhi as it tries to manage its uneasy ties with Beijing, The Times of India reported.

Apple plans to assemble most iPhones sold in the US in India by the end of 2026, reducing its dependence on China amid ongoing trade tensions. The move would double its current Indian output, as stated by Reuters.

The company is in talks with manufacturers such as Foxconn and Tata Group to expand its operations. In March, Apple exported $2bn worth of iPhones from India to the United States, marking a record shipment.

India's push to become a global manufacturing hub, which includes recent tax cuts on mobile components, has contributed to Apple's expansion, Reuters reported.

Currently, India accounts for only 20% of worldwide iPhone production.

China has allowed scientists from six countries, including the United States, to study lunar samples collected during its Chang’e-5 mission in 2020, BBC claimed.

Two NASA-funded US institutions were granted access, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), which described the samples as a “shared treasure for all humanity.”

NASA is prohibited from collaborating with China without Congressional consent, as per a 2011 US law, preventing Chinese scientists from accessing US Moon materials.

John Logsdon, former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, stated that researching lunar rocks has no military relevance and is consistent with international scientific collaboration rules, according to BBC.

Experts say the move is driven by scientific interest rather than politics.

China’s top leadership has pledged support for firms and workers affected by steep US tariffs, state media reported following a Politburo meeting. Measures include financial aid, expanded unemployment insurance access, and job stabilization efforts, according to Xinhua.

The government also intends to ease monetary policy by reducing interest rates and reserve requirements on a timely basis. Other approaches include encouraging local demand, particularly in services, and integrating domestic and international trade.

Despite 5.4 percent GDP growth in Q1, the Politburo warned of rising external risks and urged worst-case scenario planning to ensure economic stability, Xinhua reported.

Meanwhile, US President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have adopted a more conciliatory tone, signaling a potential de-escalation in trade tensions.

China has urged the United States to lift its extensive tariffs on Chinese goods as a sign of President Trump's commitment to settling the current trade war, BBC reported.

A Chinese official confirmed that no trade conversations had taken place, contradicting allegations by the Trump administration to the contrary.

As stated by BBC, the trade war continues to escalate, with China recently returning US-made Boeing aircraft in response to American tariffs.However, President Trump signaled a potential shift in tone, indicating that the imposed tariffs could be significantly reduced, though not eliminated entirely.

South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission found DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, guilty of sending user data and AI prompt content without consent, Reuters reported.

During its first launch in January, the company allegedly transferred personal information to companies in China and the United States, including Beijing Volcano Engine Technology Co. Ltd., without user consent.

The commission uncovered DeepSeek also shared device, network, and app information, which violated local data protection standards. Although the company later stated that the transfers were designed to improve the user experience, it discontinued sharing prompt content on April 10, according to Reuters.

As a result, the agency issued an appropriate recommendation, directing DeepSeek to remove previously exported AI prompt data and provide a legal framework for future cross-border data transfers.

Ukrainian President Zelensky has claimed Chinese nationals are working at a Russian drone facility and suggested Moscow may have obtained Chinese drone technology without Beijing’s knowledge, according to Al Jazeera.

This follows his prior assertion that China is supplying Russia with weapons and gunpowder, which Beijing rejects. Ukraine's foreign ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador to express alarm over China's potential involvement in the fighting, Al Jazeera reported.

Zelensky also claimed that Russia is recruiting Chinese nationals to fight, with Kyiv investigating possible links to Chinese authorities.
China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership shortly prior to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The US Commerce Department will impose tariffs of up to 3,521 percent on solar panel imports from Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, citing unfair trade practices linked to Chinese subsidies and product dumping. The move follows a year-long investigation prompted by US solar manufacturers, Reuters reported.

The tariffs, varying by company and country, aim to support domestic production but may raise costs for businesses and consumers. A final decision is expected from the US International Trade Commission in June.

The announcement comes shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the region, where he criticized US trade actions, according to Reuters. 

China has responded with 125 percent tariffs on US goods and pledged to retaliate further.

Three Indian and two Chinese students have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and other immigration officials, accusing them of “unilaterally terminating the F-1 student status of hundreds, if not thousands, of international students."

According to the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) before the US District Court in New Hampshire, the “unilateral and unlawful termination” of F-1 status of the petitioners have put them out of lawful student status, The Hindustan Times reported.

The lawsuit alleged that the students are not only facing immigration detention and deportation, but also going through “severe financial and academic hardship.”

The students have alleged that they are not able to obtain their degrees and work in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme after graduation.

Step by mechanical step, dozens of humanoid robots took to the streets of Beijing early on Saturday, joining thousands of their flesh-and-blood counterparts in a world-first half marathon showcasing China's drive to lead the global race in cutting-edge technology, AFP reported.

The 21-kilometre (13-mile) event held in the Chinese capital's E-Town -- a state-backed high-tech manufacturing hub -- was billed as a groundbreaking effort to test the limits of bipedal robots in real-world conditions.

At the crack of the starter's gun, the robots began taking their first tentative steps as the Chinese pop song "I Believe" blared out from loudspeakers.

Curious human runners lined the roadside, phones in hand ready to photograph each machine as it began the race, according to AFP .

China on Monday warned countries against striking a broader economic deal with the United States at its expense, ratcheting up its rhetoric in a spiralling trade war between the world's two biggest economies, Reuters reported.

China respects all parties resolving economic and trade differences with the United States through consultation on an equal footing, but it will firmly oppose any party striking a deal at China's expense, its Commerce Ministry said.

Beijing "will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner" if any country sought such deals, a ministry spokesperson said, addressing a news report that the Trump administration was preparing to pressure other countries to limit trade with China in exchange for tariff exemptions from the United States, according to Reuters.

In response to the U.S. governments upcoming port fees for Chinese-built and operated vessels, set to take effect in mid-October, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized on Friday that such measures could be detrimental.

According to Global times, he stated that imposing fees and additional tariffs on cargo handling equipment would not only elevate global shipping costs but also disrupt supply chains and exacerbate inflation in the United States, ultimately harming American consumers and businesses without reviving the domestic shipbuilding industry.

Lin encouraged the United States to follow known facts and international rules, calling for an urgent halt to these activities. He also stated that China would take the appropriate precautions to preserve its lawful rights and interests in light of the situation.

The Trump administration is set to impose new port fees on Chinese ships in a bid to strengthen the US shipbuilding industry and counter China's market dominance.

Effective in 180 days, these regulations will charge Chinese ship owners based on cargo weight, container count, or vehicle capacity, BBC reported.

Bulk carriers will incur a fee of $50 per ton, increasing by $30 annually for three years. Container ships will face charges of $120 per container, while Chinese-built vessels will pay $18 per ton. Non-US built car carriers will be charged $150 per car, with a maximum of six charges per ship annually.

A second phase of the regulations will launch in three years, favoring US-built LNG ships and introducing stricter rules over a 22-year period, according to BBC.

Analysts warn that these measures, combined with recent tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, are already disrupting international trade, causing congestion in European ports and increasing costs for US consumers.