East Asian state with 1.4+ billion people, ruling Communist Party.
Coco Gauff has reached the Beijing fourth round after stopping a rally to challenge flickering LED boards. She has faced racist abuse online following her controversial point, which the WTA says it is addressing. Sun Xinran is eliminated, while Gauff defends her actions and calls for respect in defeat.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has hosted Myanmar president Min Aung Hlaing in Putrajaya to press for further repatriations of roughly 215,000 Myanmar nationals in Malaysia. Malaysia has begun returning groups of Myanmar nationals — about 1,476 by ship and thousands more by air — while the UN and rights groups say returns cannot be verified as voluntary and returnees, including possible Rohingya, face grave risks.
Mistral AI has introduced ML4, its 1-trillion-parameter model nicknamed Le Chonk, aimed at cyberdefense, coding, and niche industrial tasks. It is in preview, with weights to be released soon. The launch comes amid a broader push for European tech sovereignty and a shift toward open-weight models that rival closed systems.
Maritime trackers have reported that Middle East crude exports have largely recovered to near pre‑war volumes in late September. Ship‑to‑ship transfers, US naval escorts and pipeline bypasses — led by Saudi Arabia's East‑West line and UAE links to Fujairah — have restored large flows, while refined products and Iranian exports remain constrained. Oil prices have stayed elevated.
The EU is considering safeguard measures on Chinese hybrid vehicles as a trade deficit surpasses $1 billion daily. Trade chief Sefcovic plans talks with China’s Wang Wentao to address the surge in imports and potential retaliation, while Germany and France press for stronger tools to defend European industries.
Labour leader Andy Burnham has publicly questioned Brexit’s benefits and is outlining options for Britain’s long-term relationship with the EU. The move opens the door to rejoining the bloc or pursuing closer ties, with a high-stakes summit looming. The party is weighing a range of paths as it seeks to address decades of economic harm attributed to Brexit.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has led Brazil's first-round presidential vote, finishing ahead of incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva but without an outright majority. With neither candidate reaching 50%, the race has moved to an October 25 run-off. Bolsonaro's far-right Liberal Party has won large congressional representation, while both campaigns are preparing for a tight second round.
Diesel prices have surged to new highs in the UK amid global supply disruptions linked to the Iran war and Russia-Ukraine conflict. The US is weighing export bans to ease domestic pain, while Europe and the UK face rising costs and tight supplies. Authorities warn prices will likely rise further as markets react.
Japan hosts a delayed, chaotic Asian Games with logistical issues shadowing standout performances. China leads in diving and tennis through young stars like Yu Zidi and Wang Xiyu; Japan and other nations show flashes of talent while organisers face criticism over accommodation and transport.
Iran's economy has deteriorated amid US-Israeli conflict, with currency volatility, rising prices, and medicine shortages. A seven-point plan is being discussed to mitigate impact, while imports and supply chains face disruption from air and sea blockades. Officials say the blockade has slashed energy exports and worsened living costs.
Nike has unveiled its Pace plan to cut costs and streamline operations, signaling further layoffs start in 2027 as it reorganizes into three geographies. The move follows disappointing Q1 results, with revenue down and profit slipping, while Nike seeks to bolster its Sportswear, Jordan Brand and Greater China segments. Details on extent of job cuts remain unclear.
Starbucks has opened two stores in Urumqi, Xinjiang, after selling a controlling stake in its China business to Boyu Capital. The move signals a strategic shift toward domestic growth, even as Western critics label Xinjiang-linked operations controversial. Boyu aims to scale to up to 20,000 stores in China, with Xinjiang as a first stop.
France 24, Arab News and Politico report Europe’s top leaders consider stronger trade defenses and new mechanisms to counter Beijing’s growing economic influence. Macron and Merz are pushing for a commission-led tool to respond quickly to trade frictions, with talk of targeted tariffs and reduced dependencies.
Federal prosecutors have charged Wanying Zhang, a 34-year-old California real estate agent, with acting as an unregistered agent of China after the FBI has alleged she surveilled a relative of Taiwan’s president in the United States in 2025 and sent photos, videos and licence-plate information to Chinese officials. She was arrested at LAX before a flight to China and has appeared in federal court in Los Angeles.
The electoral court has ruled neither Lula da Silva nor Flávio Bolsonaro has won outright in the first round. A runoff will take place on Oct. 25, 2026, with the next term beginning Jan. 5, 2027. Both campaigns are targeting moderate voters amid corruption concerns and a shifting regional alignment.
The European Union has hardened its stance toward Beijing to defend European industries amid a widening trade deficit and surging Chinese imports. EU officials are preparing a credible, fast-acting instrument to respond to Chinese trade measures within days, while Beijing warns against protectionism. Talks in Beijing aim to secure tangible results by October, with leaders seeking to balance pressure and economic risk.
Iran has executed two men linked to protests that began over economic hardships and escalated into nationwide demonstrations. The judiciary says they were convicted of involvement in the deaths of police officers during clashes in Isfahan, while authorities attribute the unrest to terrorists backed by foreign states. The executions follow a spate of hangings earlier this year as authorities confront the protests.
The United States has deepened Arctic security ties with Denmark and Greenland while preparing to advance energy and defense cooperation across Iceland, Greece, and Portugal. The trip accompanies scrutiny of ambassador conduct and a renewed focus on LNG exports to Europe.
The United States has offered assistance to Russia after a laboratory worker died in Irkutsk from a suspected plague case. Officials say the situation is under control, while health agencies monitor developments and await confirmation from Russian authorities.
Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio has warned that the world is facing a debt crisis as debt supply outpaces demand. He says governments and large tech firms are flooding markets with debt while buyers in China and Japan pull back. He predicts a crisis within the next two to three years, urges hedges like inflation-linked bonds, and marks diversification beyond the US.
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have merged into Skydance, uniting cinema, streaming and news assets under one umbrella. The deal reshapes streaming, production slate and debt obligations, with leadership pledging continuity for consumers while planning a broader reorganization and potential price changes. Executives forecast a unified streaming service over time, but exact timelines remain undisclosed.
A new Apple Studios biopic, Tenzing, centers on Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay and his Everest ascent in 1953. The project foregrounds Norgay’s life while climate-change impacts in the Himalayas are highlighted by his son, Jamling Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, who warns that glacial melt and floods threaten communities and mountaineering alike.