China holds national event for Environment Day 2026

China on Friday held its National Event on the Environment Day 2026 in Guangzhou City, a metropolitan hub in the southern province of Guangdong.

The event, jointly organized by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, released the 2025 China Ecological Environment Status Bulletin, outlining the leapfrog improvement in China's ecological environment quality over the past decade.

For the first time, the bulletin includes the air, marine, and other ecological environment conditions in Hong Kong and Macao.

Under the theme "Comprehensive Green Transition and Jointly Build a Beautiful China", the event also recognized ten outstanding ecological and environmental volunteers for 2026 and launched a nationwide "Beautiful China" promotion week.

China celebrates Environment Day on June 5 every year, coinciding with the United Nations' World Environment Day.

China holds national event for Environment Day 2026

Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 185 prisoners of conflict on Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Moscow brought 185 Russian servicemen back from territory controlled by Ukraine, while handing 185 Ukrainian captives over to Kiev, it said.

It added that the returned Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus receiving psychological and medical care and will later be transferred to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on the same day the return of 185 soldiers as well as one civilian to Ukraine.

Russia, Ukraine swap 370 prisoners