Russia, Ukraine continue their attacks against each other

Russia and Ukraine continued their attacks against each other on Monday.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Monday that its forces had gained control of a settlement in Kharkiv, destroying a significant amount of Ukrainian military equipment.

The Russian air defense systems intercepted six US-made HIMARS rockets, one Neptune long-range cruise missile, and 356 fixed-wing drones. Furthermore, Russian forces targeted energy infrastructure in 145 locations across Ukraine, along with Ukrainian fuel storage sites and areas prepared for the storage and launch of drones.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that there were 231 combat encounters along the front lines in the past day.

The Ukrainian Air Force, along with missile units and artillery, struck three concentration areas of Russian personnel, weapons, and military equipment.

Furthermore, the Ukrainian Air Force said that since 20:00 on Sunday, Russian forces had launched attacks on Ukraine using 116 attack drones. By 09:00 on Monday, Ukrainian air defense had successfully shot down or suppressed 83 of those drones.

Also on Monday, multiple rounds of shelling were heard at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) amid the longest off-site power loss of the plant, posing "growing risks" to its nuclear safety and security, according to a UN nuclear watchdog statement.

The shelling occurred in the afternoon, totaling about 15 rounds at near and middle distance from the site. The ZNPP informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that two rounds of shelling struck around 1.25 km from the site perimeter, the IAEA statement said.

No casualties have been reported and there was no immediate information of any damages. However, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the shelling further underlined the constant dangers facing the ZNPP.

The nuclear safety and security situation is clearly not improving. On the contrary, the risks are growing, Grossi said. The plant has now been without off-site power for almost two weeks, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators for the electricity it needs to cool its shutdown reactors and spent fuel. This is an extraordinarily challenging situation, Grossi said.

In the statement, Grossi called for maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities and said he will continue to engage with Russia and Ukraine to restore the plant's off-site power as soon as possible.

Russia, Ukraine continue their attacks against each other

A series of cross-Strait exchange activities have been held in north China's Shanxi Province, providing platforms for people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to explore shared history, culture, and business opportunities.

A ceremony worshiping Emperor Yandi, a legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation, was held in Gaoping, a county-level city in Shanxi on May 24.

The worship ceremony featured rituals including incense offering, the reading of eulogies, ritual bowing, and traditional Chinese instrument performances. The solemn event brought together people from both sides of the Strait, strengthening their shared sense of cultural belonging and deepening consensus around a common Chinese identity.

"Because (in Taiwan), we've known since childhood that we are descendants of Emperor Yandi and Emperor Huangdi, so attending this ceremony really meant a lot to me," said Hsieh Yu-Chan, a Taiwan resident.

"It truly gives me the feeling of being as the descendants of Yandi and Huangdi. I was deeply moved. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely come again next year," said another Taiwan resident.

Shanxi Province has a solid industrial base and a favorable business environment. The province has rolled out preferential policies for Taiwan residents, attracting more than 100 Taiwan-funded enterprises to invest and settle in.

On May 23, an event highlighting cross-Strait business exchanges was held in the province's Jincheng City, attracting nearly 150 Taiwan businesspeople and youths, enhancing mutual understanding and exploring business opportunities.

"(Shanxi's) cultural tourism, healthcare, and coal chemical industries, in particular, offer excellent opportunities for Taiwan businesses, while Taiwan businesses are also very strong in producing key components for AI computing power. The prospects [for cooperation] are very promising," said Lee Cheng-hung, president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland.

"The mainland's economy is actually very strong. I think the success rate of starting a business and investing here is at least twice as high as in Taiwan. So I encourage young people in Taiwan to come and visit more often," said Chang Han-hsuan, a businessman.

During the event, participants also visited local enterprises, a short video production base, and popular tourist attractions across Shanxi.

Cross-Strait cultural, business exchange activities held in Shanxi