China: Satellite Launch Illuminates Xi’an Sky

This is the breathtaking moment that a mysterious streak lit up the night sky, leaving a bright, long-tailed trail visible to local residents. On June 6, 2025, in Xi’an, Shaanxi, local residents captured video footage of an unidentified flying object slanting upward from the left horizon, trailing a luminous plume across the night sky. The streak appeared almost ethereal, expanded briefly, and then faded, captivating onlookers below. According to a report by People’s Daily, the remarkable light display had been caused by China’s successful launch of the Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Internet “04 group” from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The video ended with the glowing tail dissipating into the dark sky, leaving only faint wisps as the rocket continued its journey into orbit.

Dragon Boat Festival Across China

Dragon Boat Festival Across China

Craftsman Li Qifa carves the dragon tail for a dragon boat in Zhenyuan ancient town in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 20, 2025. Zhenyuan boasts a 22-century-long tradition of dragon boat races, and the county is also well noted for the large sizes and intricate decorations of its dragon boats. The dragon boat racing in Zhenyuan was inscribed in the third batch of China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2011. Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. It is celebrated on May 31 this year. Photo by Ou Dongqu/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, East China's Shandong province, Jan 4, 2025.

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, East China's Shandong province, Jan 4, 2025.

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, East China's Shandong province, Jan 4, 2025.

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, East China's Shandong province, Jan 4, 2025.

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, East China's Shandong province, Jan 4, 2025.

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

Carbon Emissions From International Aviation Reduced

A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, East China's Shandong province, Jan 4, 2025.

Chinese Aviation Industry

Chinese Aviation Industry

YANTAI, CHINA - JANUARY 28, 2024 - A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, China, Jan 7, 2024.

Chinese Aviation Industry

Chinese Aviation Industry

YANTAI, CHINA - JANUARY 28, 2024 - A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, China, Jan 28, 2024.

Chinese Aviation Industry

Chinese Aviation Industry

YANTAI, CHINA - JANUARY 28, 2024 - A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, China, Jan 7, 2024.

Chinese Aviation Industry

Chinese Aviation Industry

YANTAI, CHINA - JANUARY 28, 2024 - A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, China, Jan 24, 2024.

Chinese Aviation Industry

Chinese Aviation Industry

YANTAI, CHINA - JANUARY 28, 2024 - A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, China, Jan 24, 2024.

Aviation Carbon Emissions

Aviation Carbon Emissions

YANTAI, CHINA - DECEMBER 4, 2023 - A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, China, December 4, 2023. The Third International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels, held from 20 to 24 November 2023, adopted the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Low-carbon Aviation Fuels and Other Clean Energy Sources for Aviation, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 5% by 2030.

Aviation Carbon Emissions

Aviation Carbon Emissions

YANTAI, CHINA - DECEMBER 4, 2023 - A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, China, December 4, 2023. The Third International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels, held from 20 to 24 November 2023, adopted the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Low-carbon Aviation Fuels and Other Clean Energy Sources for Aviation, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 5% by 2030.

Aviation Carbon Emissions

Aviation Carbon Emissions

YANTAI, CHINA - DECEMBER 4, 2023 - A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, China, December 4, 2023. The Third International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels, held from 20 to 24 November 2023, adopted the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Low-carbon Aviation Fuels and Other Clean Energy Sources for Aviation, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 5% by 2030.

Aviation Carbon Emissions

Aviation Carbon Emissions

YANTAI, CHINA - DECEMBER 4, 2023 - A civil airliner pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, China, December 4, 2023. The Third International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels, held from 20 to 24 November 2023, adopted the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Low-carbon Aviation Fuels and Other Clean Energy Sources for Aviation, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 5% by 2030.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

YANTAI, CHINA - APRIL 16, 2023 - A passenger plane pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, April 16, 2023. According to statistics, the global aviation industry accounts for 2%-3% of global CO2 emissions. The Aviation industry aims to achieve net zero CO2 emissions from aviation by 2050 through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels, or alternative fuels.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

YANTAI, CHINA - APRIL 16, 2023 - A passenger plane pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, April 16, 2023. According to statistics, the global aviation industry accounts for 2%-3% of global CO2 emissions. The Aviation industry aims to achieve net zero CO2 emissions from aviation by 2050 through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels, or alternative fuels.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

YANTAI, CHINA - APRIL 16, 2023 - A passenger plane pulls out a long tail in the sky in Yantai, Shandong province, April 16, 2023. According to statistics, the global aviation industry accounts for 2%-3% of global CO2 emissions. The Aviation industry aims to achieve net zero CO2 emissions from aviation by 2050 through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels, or alternative fuels.

View Of Comet Helps Solve Mystery Of Earth's Abundant Water

View Of Comet Helps Solve Mystery Of Earth's Abundant Water

Handout - This artist’s concept of Comet 238P/Read shows the main belt comet sublimating—its water ice vaporising as its orbit approaches the Sun. This is significant, as the sublimation is what distinguishes comets from asteroids, creating their distinctive tail and hazy halo, or coma. The James Webb Space Telescope’s detection of water vapor at Comet Read is a major benchmark in the study of main belt comets, and in the broader investigation of the origin of Earth’s abundant water. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has enabled another long-sought scientific breakthrough, this time for solar system scientists studying the origins of Earth's abundant water. Using Webb's NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) instrument, astronomers have confirmed gas – specifically water vapor – around a comet in the main asteroid belt for the first time, indicating that water ice from the primordial solar system can be preserved in that region. Comet Read is a main belt comet – an object that resides in the main asteroid belt

View Of Comet Helps Solve Mystery Of Earth's Abundant Water

View Of Comet Helps Solve Mystery Of Earth's Abundant Water

Handout - This image of Comet 238P/Read was captured by the NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope on September 8, 2022. It displays the hazy halo, called the coma, and tail that are characteristic of comets, as opposed to asteroids. The dusty coma and tail result from the vaporization of ices as the Sun warms the main body of the comet. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has enabled another long-sought scientific breakthrough, this time for solar system scientists studying the origins of Earth's abundant water. Using Webb's NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) instrument, astronomers have confirmed gas – specifically water vapor – around a comet in the main asteroid belt for the first time, indicating that water ice from the primordial solar system can be preserved in that region. Comet Read is a main belt comet – an object that resides in the main asteroid belt but which periodically displays a halo, or coma, and tail like a comet. Main belt comets themselves are a fair

Ring-tailed lemur

Ring-tailed lemur

Undated photo taken at Tokyo's Oshima Park Zoo shows a ring-tailed lemur, a cat-sized primate with a long black-and-white striped tail, perched on a rock.

Dragon boat race held near China's Three Gorges Dam

STORY: Dragon boat race held near China's Three Gorges Dam DATELINE: June 4, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:02 LOCATION: YICHANG, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): WANG TIANYU, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of the dragon boat race STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): WANG TIANYU, Xinhua correspondent "This is Xinhua correspondent Wang Tianyu reporting from Zigui County of Yichang City in central China's Hubei Province. Behind me, an annual dragon boat race has kicked off near the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. We can see that on the river, there are dozens of boats. The dragon boat is long and narrow, with its prow carved as a dragon's head and the stern like a tail." The race brought together more than 400 dragon boat enthusiasts who formed 16 teams, coming from six provinces, including Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Fujian, and Jiangxi. The team from Shunde City of south China's Guangdong Province won all the competitions including the 200-meter, 500-meter, and 3,000-meter race.

Steampunk Fashion

Steampunk Fashion

Steampunk event "STEAM GARDEN" visitor PARANOIA. Steampunk is a science-fiction 19th-century worldview in creation. Since then, it has been popular as fashion since around 2006, ,mainly in Europe and the United States. In Japan, steampunk fashion is still an undeveloped. It will expand steadily in the future in connection with Gothic & Lolita and Kawaii culture. September 29, 2012, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Steampunk Fashion

Steampunk Fashion

Steampunk event "STEAM GARDEN" visitor PARANOIA. Steampunk is a science-fiction 19th-century worldview in creation. Since then, it has been popular as fashion since around 2006, ,mainly in Europe and the United States. In Japan, steampunk fashion is still an undeveloped. It will expand steadily in the future in connection with Gothic & Lolita and Kawaii culture. September 29, 2012, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Steampunk Fashion

Steampunk Fashion

Steampunk event "STEAM GARDEN" visitor PARANOIA. Steampunk is a science-fiction 19th-century worldview in creation. Since then, it has been popular as fashion since around 2006, ,mainly in Europe and the United States. In Japan, steampunk fashion is still an undeveloped. It will expand steadily in the future in connection with Gothic & Lolita and Kawaii culture. September 29, 2012, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Steampunk Fashion

Steampunk Fashion

Steampunk event "STEAM GARDEN" visitor PARANOIA. Steampunk is a science-fiction 19th-century worldview in creation. Since then, it has been popular as fashion since around 2006, ,mainly in Europe and the United States. In Japan, steampunk fashion is still an undeveloped. It will expand steadily in the future in connection with Gothic & Lolita and Kawaii culture. September 29, 2012, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Steampunk Fashion

Steampunk Fashion

Steampunk event "STEAM GARDEN" visitor PARANOIA. Steampunk is a science-fiction 19th-century worldview in creation. Since then, it has been popular as fashion since around 2006, ,mainly in Europe and the United States. In Japan, steampunk fashion is still an undeveloped. It will expand steadily in the future in connection with Gothic & Lolita and Kawaii culture. September 29, 2012, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Cyber Fashion

Cyber Fashion

Cyber fashion vivi. Cyber fashion is a styling like futuristic and SF that uses materials such as metal, plastic, vinyl, and rubber. It also uses a lot of metallic colors such as silver, gold, fluorescent colors, and glossy neon colors. Cyber fashion, which adds elements of comics, anime, and game characters, is an original Japanese fashion. October 19, 2018 , Harajuku Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Cyber Fashion

Cyber Fashion

Cyber fashion vivi. Cyber fashion is a styling like futuristic and SF that uses materials such as metal, plastic, vinyl, and rubber. It also uses a lot of metallic colors such as silver, gold, fluorescent colors, and glossy neon colors. Cyber fashion, which adds elements of comics, anime, and game characters, is an original Japanese fashion. October 19, 2018 , Harajuku Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Cyber Fashion

Cyber Fashion

Cyber fashion vivi. Cyber fashion is a styling like futuristic and SF that uses materials such as metal, plastic, vinyl, and rubber. It also uses a lot of metallic colors such as silver, gold, fluorescent colors, and glossy neon colors. Cyber fashion, which adds elements of comics, anime, and game characters, is an original Japanese fashion. October 19, 2018 , Harajuku Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Cyber Fashion

Cyber Fashion

Cyber fashion vivi. Cyber fashion is a styling like futuristic and SF that uses materials such as metal, plastic, vinyl, and rubber. It also uses a lot of metallic colors such as silver, gold, fluorescent colors, and glossy neon colors. Cyber fashion, which adds elements of comics, anime, and game characters, is an original Japanese fashion. October 19, 2018 , Harajuku Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Cyber Fashion

Cyber Fashion

Cyber fashion vivi. Cyber fashion is a styling like futuristic and SF that uses materials such as metal, plastic, vinyl, and rubber. It also uses a lot of metallic colors such as silver, gold, fluorescent colors, and glossy neon colors. Cyber fashion, which adds elements of comics, anime, and game characters, is an original Japanese fashion. October 19, 2018 , Harajuku Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Japanese Yukata Style

Japanese Yukata Style

New style of Japanese summer traditional costume "Yukata" PARANOIA. Yukata can be said to be a summer tradition in Japan. In recent years, not only traditional ones, but also various types such as Geisha style, Gothic Lolita style, and for gals / gal men have become popular. Many people enjoy yukata with arranging hairstyles and accessories. August 29, 2015, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Japanese Yukata Style

Japanese Yukata Style

New style of Japanese summer traditional costume "Yukata" PARANOIA. Yukata can be said to be a summer tradition in Japan. In recent years, not only traditional ones, but also various types such as Geisha style, Gothic Lolita style, and for gals / gal men have become popular. Many people enjoy yukata with arranging hairstyles and accessories. August 29, 2015, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Japanese Yukata Style

Japanese Yukata Style

New style of Japanese summer traditional costume "Yukata" PARANOIA. Yukata can be said to be a summer tradition in Japan. In recent years, not only traditional ones, but also various types such as Geisha style, Gothic Lolita style, and for gals / gal men have become popular. Many people enjoy yukata with arranging hairstyles and accessories. August 29, 2015, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Japanese Yukata Style

Japanese Yukata Style

New style of Japanese summer traditional costume "Yukata" PARANOIA. Yukata can be said to be a summer tradition in Japan. In recent years, not only traditional ones, but also various types such as Geisha style, Gothic Lolita style, and for gals / gal men have become popular. Many people enjoy yukata with arranging hairstyles and accessories. August 29, 2015, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Japanese Yukata Style

Japanese Yukata Style

New style of Japanese summer traditional costume "Yukata" PARANOIA. Yukata can be said to be a summer tradition in Japan. In recent years, not only traditional ones, but also various types such as Geisha style, Gothic Lolita style, and for gals / gal men have become popular. Many people enjoy yukata with arranging hairstyles and accessories. August 29, 2015, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Japanese Yukata Style

Japanese Yukata Style

New style of Japanese summer traditional costume "Yukata" PARANOIA. Yukata can be said to be a summer tradition in Japan. In recent years, not only traditional ones, but also various types such as Geisha style, Gothic Lolita style, and for gals / gal men have become popular. Many people enjoy yukata with arranging hairstyles and accessories. August 29, 2015, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Japanese Yukata Style

Japanese Yukata Style

New style of Japanese summer traditional costume "Yukata" PARANOIA. Yukata can be said to be a summer tradition in Japan. In recent years, not only traditional ones, but also various types such as Geisha style, Gothic Lolita style, and for gals / gal men have become popular. Many people enjoy yukata with arranging hairstyles and accessories. August 29, 2015, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

Japanese Yukata Style

Japanese Yukata Style

New style of Japanese summer traditional costume "Yukata" PARANOIA. Yukata can be said to be a summer tradition in Japan. In recent years, not only traditional ones, but also various types such as Geisha style, Gothic Lolita style, and for gals / gal men have become popular. Many people enjoy yukata with arranging hairstyles and accessories. August 29, 2015, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.(Credit:style-arena.jp/Kyodo News Images)

WWF announces possible discovery of new carnivore species in Bor

WWF announces possible discovery of new carnivore species in Bor

GENEVA, Switzerland - A photo captured on a camera in the Indonesian part of Borneo, known as Kalimantan, shows what may be a new carnivore species. Conservationist group WWF International, in releasing the photo on Dec. 6, said that the animal is slightly larger than a cat. It said the mammal with small ears and large hind legs could be a new species of marten or civet cat, or an entirely new species. It has dark red fur and a long, bushy tail. (Kyodo)

Beached whale rescued in Ehime Pref.

Beached whale rescued in Ehime Pref.

MATSUYAMA, Japan - A seven-meter-long whale is seen beached in Onishi, Ehime Prefecture, on Jan 12. Town and local coast guard officials, and firefighters joined hands in rescuing the whale. A fire engine pumped sea water to keep the skin of the whale from drying, while rescuers attached a rope to its tail fin and towed the whale into the sea with a fishing boat. The whale was seen swimming toward the open sea later. Photo was provided by the Japan Coast Guard. (Kyodo)