{
  "id": 17337367,
  "title": "Mao vs Rao: Cell Press probe clears editor but Chinese biologist keeps up pressure",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/mao-vs-rao-cell-press-probe-clears-editor-but-chinese-biologist-keeps-17337367",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-31T04:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3372707/mao-vs-rao-cell-press-probe-clears-editor-chinese-biologist-keeps-pressure"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cell Press, a leading scientific publisher owned by Elsevier, has completed an investigation into allegations that Cancer Cell editor-in-chief Steve Mao sought bribes from Chinese scientists. The investigation found no evidence to support these claims. However, biologist Rao Yi, who accused Mao of engaging in bribery, remains critical of the journal's editor. Rao stated that if Mao does not resign or sue him for defamation, it would indicate a problem within the journal. The South China Morning Post attempted to contact Rao for more information but received no response.",
  "summary": "Prominent biologist Rao Yi is refusing to back down after Cell Press said it had found no evidence that top journal editor Steve Mao sought bribes from Chinese scientists. In a statement published on Thursday evening, Cell Press – one of the world’s leading scientific publishers, owned by Elsevier – said its investigation had “largely concluded” and “found no evidence to support the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}