Force of nature: China’s top climate envoy Xie Zhenhua steps down after more than 15 years in environment diplomacy

A Tianjin native, Xie was trained as an engineering physicist at Tsinghua University in the 1970s and started his career in various government agencies responsible for environmental affairs. While he rose through the ranks, he earned a master’s degree in environmental law from Wuhan University in 1993. Xie was made the head of the State … Read more

Opinion | US-China thaw means Beijing can focus on development, not security

But how long will the reset last? As the systemic divisions underlying US-China relations remain unresolved, people have reason to wonder. For example, Biden stressed that both countries should manage their competition responsibly to prevent it from veering into conflict while Xi wondered aloud “are we adversaries or partners?”. Few would expect the diplomacy between … Read more

The House of Prime Rib’s best dining room is a converted wine cellar.

Founded in 1949, House of Prime Rib is a San Francisco institution that’s attracted sports legends and local political figures for decades. Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE Even though I’ve heard many stories about it, in person, the House of Prime Rib doesn’t feel like a restaurant — it feels like another world entirely.  Inside, the lux steakhouse is … Read more