Jennifer Pak

A fast-running robot may seem like a novelty, but some of the technology, like the system to keep robots cool, could transfer for industrial use.

Jennifer Pak, NPR News, Shanghai.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

China unveiled 10 incentives, including resuming direct flights and lifting tourist restrictions to Taiwan.

But it's unclear if some of the measures will be implemented.

Like Beijing says it will ease access for Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products, but only if Taiwan agrees it is part of one China and opposes Taiwanese independence.

Beijing doesn't engage with Taiwan's governing Democratic Progressive Party regarding its leaders as separatists.

A spokesperson for Taiwan's presidential office says if China were sincere, it would engage Taiwan's government directly.

Jennifer Pak, NPR News, Shanghai.

Zhang Xuefeng was known for giving frank and practical advice on college applications, which is big business in China.

Once he was criticized for advising against useless majors like journalism.

Many Chinese families trusted Zhang to guide their children because he too came from a humble background and worked his way up.

Fans say they're shocked he's died at the peak of his career.

Zhang's company says he died from sudden cardiac arrest.

He is survived by a daughter age 11 and a wife.

Jennifer Pak, NPR News, Shanghai.

Here's NPR's Jennifer Park.

The two ships, CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean, tried to exit the Persian Gulf but then made an abrupt U-turn near Iran.

It's unusual given that the two ships had Hong Kong flags and signaled they were Chinese-owned.

China is a strategic ally of Iran and has condemned the U.S.