Chinese state-linked daily exploring international issues
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has met Russian president Vladimir Putin in Beijing this week and the two leaders have signed more than 40 cooperation agreements, extended a 2001 friendship treaty, and emphasised growing energy and trade links while calling for a halt to fighting in the Middle East. The visit has followed US president Donald Trump’s talks with Xi days earlier.
Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea for a two-day state visit, his first there in seven years, to bolster China-North Korea relations amid North Korea’s growing ties with Russia. The visit follows a long history of diplomacy and defence agreements, with analysts watching for negotiations on denuclearisation and regional balance against the US and Russia.
Xi Jinping has visited Pyongyang with Kim Jong Un, signaling a deepening China–DPRK relationship. Talks emphasize broader cooperation while avoiding denuclearisation discussions, raising questions about regional balance and North Korea’s nuclear status.
China has test‑launched a long‑range ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine into the South Pacific carrying a dummy warhead. Beijing has said the launch was routine and that relevant countries were notified; Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Pacific states have condemned the test as destabilising and said notice was insufficient.
A Suzhou court has ruled Molly Tea infringed Louis Vuitton’s four-petal monogram, ordering damages of 10.3 million yuan and legal costs. The decision, which centers on a jasmine-flower motif, has sparked online debate in China over intellectual property and cultural heritage. Molly Tea plans to appeal as rivals see broader implications for brand protection and cross-border IP fights.
A heavy monsoon has caused floods and landslides across Afghanistan, Bangladesh and neighboring regions. In Nuristan’s Parun, dozens are dead or missing and emergency teams are racing to locate survivors as more rain is forecast.
The government has nationalised British Steel, transferring control from Jingye on grounds of national security. The move aims to protect jobs, supply chains, and critical infrastructure, while China expresses concern about the decision and seeks compensation.
Delivery riders across China are being recognized in literature. Wang Jibing, 56, has won a major prize for Low Flight, a collection inspired by conversations with fellow couriers. The work highlights the pressures of China’s gig economy and marks a shift toward grassroots voices while the author continues to work as a delivery rider.