China and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an agreement on Wednesday to enhance cooperation on nuclear safety and research, said the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA).
The agreement, titled "The Technical Cooperation National Program Framework," aims to deepen collaboration between the two sides in key areas of nuclear energy safety and development over the next five years.
Under the framework of the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Program, the two sides will focus on strengthening cooperation in nuclear safety and security, food and agriculture, nutrition and health, resources and the environment, energy and industry, nuclear fuel cycles, and fundamental nuclear research.
"We will not only learn from technical cooperation projects, but will also contribute to the IAEA and developing countries in the Global South through these channels," said Huang Ping, secretary of the CAEA, highlighting the mutual benefits of the collaboration.
In addition, China and the IAEA also signed a practical arrangement on educational and training cooperation in the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technology. The agreement will leverage China's nuclear universities and research institutes to advance global governance and talent exchange in the nuclear field, so as to provide more public goods and train more young talent to support sustainable development and improve the livelihoods in the Global South.
China, IAEA sign agreement to enhance cooperation on nuclear safety, research
U.S. stocks finished slightly higher on Monday, staging a late-session recovery as investors navigated a volatile landscape marked by a criminal probe into the Federal Reserve leadership.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 86.13 points, or 0.17 percent, to 49,590.2. The S&P 500 added 10.99 points, or 0.16 percent, to 6,977.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 62.56 points, or 0.26 percent, to 23,733.9. Despite the positive close, the market experienced significant intraday turbulence, with the Dow dropping nearly 500 points at its session lows.
Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in positive territory. Consumer staples and industrials led the gainers, rising 1.42 percent and 0.75 percent, respectively. Financials and energy were the primary laggards, declining 0.8 percent and 0.66 percent.
Market sentiment was initially shaken by an announcement on Sunday from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who confirmed that federal prosecutors are investigating him over the Fed's multi-billion-dollar project to renovate its headquarters. Powell characterized the probe as an attempt by the Trump administration to compromise the Fed's independence.
Further weighing on the financial sector was a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to cap credit card interest rates at 10 percent for one year, which triggered a sell-off in banking stocks amid concerns over restricted lending and reduced profitability. Capital One shares plummeted 6.42 percent, while Citigroup, JPMorgan and Bank of America also recorded losses.
In contrast, retail giant Walmart led the Dow's advance, climbing 3 percent following news of its upcoming inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index. The company also announced a strategic partnership with Google's Gemini AI to enhance the digital shopping experience.
Investors are awaiting Tuesday's release of the U.S. consumer price index for December 2025. Following last week's cooling labor market data, market participants increasingly expect the Fed to maintain interest rates at their current levels during the upcoming January meeting.
U.S. stocks close higher amid criminal probe into Fed chair Powell
