A mystery craft has been spotted in China resembling a vehicle designed to avoid radar by flying just a few meters above the sea, suggesting Beijing may be experimenting with a Soviet-era model the US shelved last year.

China is clamping down on fertiliser exports to protect its domestic market, a number of industry sources said, putting an additional strain on global markets that ​were already grappling with shortages caused by the U.

Recent years have brought heightened concern in Western intelligence circles that China could invade the self-governing island of Taiwan as early as next year. But the United States now says an imminent attack is unlikely.