China remains the biggest jailer of writers worldwide, report finds Report finds Iran witnessed sharpest increase in arrest of writers last year The Independent UK · May 12
Kash Patel lobs false claims about top Democrat as they spar over allegations of FBI chief’s excessive drinking on the job – as it happened This live blog is now closed. The Guardian - US · May 12
Iran backs Xi Jinping’s 'four-point' Gulf security plan ahead of Trump’s China visit Iran has announced its support for Chinese President Xi Jinping's four-point plan for Gulf security and regional development. This initiative, emphasizing peaceful coexistence, respect for sovereignty, adherence to international law, and balancing security with economic cooperation, comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to China amid ongoing regional tensions. The Times of India · May 12
A weakened Trump to test China's appetite for deal-making A quagmire in Iran, sky-high oil prices and shrinking support at home: when US President Donald Trump belatedly travels to China this week, his position has weakened. Still, he is hoping for any deal. Nervous Europeans are watching. Euronews · May 12
US CEOs seek China business gains from Trump-Xi summit American business leaders are heading to China for a summit with President Xi Jinping. They aim to resolve ongoing business challenges and secure new opportunities. Companies like Mastercard, Visa, Tesla, and BlackRock are seeking regulatory approvals and market access. The visit is seen as a political opening to accelerate discussions… The Economic Times · May 12
Trump tears into enemies and grievances from Obama to ‘stolen’ election in late night Truth Social spree President Donald Trump posts more than 50 times, rehashing a host of long-running grievances and baseless conspiracy theories about his Democratic rivals The Independent UK · May 12
Tehran threatens to accelerate nuclear weapon programme after Trump rejects ‘garbage’ peace proposal response Iran has said the US demands to end the war are unacceptable, with diplomatic efforts reaching a deadlock The Independent UK · May 12
What Trump and Xi will discuss during China visit – and what could go wrong Analysts tell Shweta Sharma that Xi appears to have the upper hand on trade, Iran and Taiwan, but Trump still has plenty to gain from talks in Beijing The Independent UK · May 12
Trump heads to China to spread the gospel of American tech while emulating Xi Jinping on AI Tim Cook and Elon Musk, among other tech CEOS, will accompany the US president on a trip to China The Guardian - US · May 12
AI optimism keeping global markets resilient despite West Asia tensions: William Lee Global markets remain strong, prioritizing AI and technology over West Asian conflicts. Investors believe the war will be short, allowing focus on future tech growth. The US and Europe are seen benefiting from the AI revolution. A key focus is the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting, which could define US-China tech rivalry. The Economic Times · May 12
Xi-Trump summit may yield farm deal, but China has limited soybean appetite Market watchers anticipate a farm deal at the upcoming U.S.-China summit, potentially expanding Beijing's purchases of grains and meat. However, significant new soybean purchases beyond last October's agreement are unlikely due to weak demand and cheaper alternatives. The focus is on potential deals for corn, sorghum, milling wheat, beef, and… The Economic Times · May 12
Stung by Iran war, Trump heads to China in need of wins President Trump visits China with reduced trade goals. His earlier tariff strategy has not yielded expected results. The meetings will focus on limited trade agreements and managing future trade relations. China seeks assurances on Taiwan and trade policies. The outcome is expected to be a temporary truce favoring China. The Economic Times · May 12
Gold rises with US–China talks, MidEast conflict in focus Gold prices climbed as investors awaited crucial meetings between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, while also monitoring the fragile ceasefire negotiations with Iran. Market participants are also anticipating U.S. CPI data to gauge the Federal Reserve's future interest rate decisions. The Economic Times · May 12
Trump's China visit: US President eyes 'great things' for both countries — what's on agenda US President Trump expressed optimism for his upcoming visit to China and meeting with President Xi Jinping, anticipating positive outcomes for both nations. Accompanied by prominent business leaders, Trump aims to discuss trade, Iran, tariffs, and AI, seeking to strengthen US economic and national security interests. The Times of India · May 12
The Economic Times · May 12 U.S Stock Market on Tuesday: S&P 500, Dow Jones, Nasdaq for record trading? These factors will decide U.S. Stock market investors would hope that S&P 500, Dow Jones, Nasdaq will continue record run.
The Guardian - AU · May 12 Mass starvation looms if fertilisers can’t pass key waterway, UN warns – as it happened This blog is now closed
The Independent UK · May 12 Trump and Xi dialed down the trade war, but challenges lurk at their China summit President Donald Trump claims America is profiting from trade with China despite tensions over rare earth minerals, tariffs and emerging technologies like AI
The Guardian - UK · May 11 The big questions hanging over the Trump-Xi meeting in China Taiwan, tariffs and the strait of Hormuz are on the meeting’s agenda for Beijing – but will the US president be forced to ask for help in ending his war with Iran?
The Independent UK · May 11 Iran war quagmire threatens to leave Trump with little from China trip besides ballroom envy ANALYSIS: The president’s visit with Xi Jinping was meant to be a moment of triumph, writes Andrew Feinberg, but it will instead present an optics nightmare amid rising prices due to his unilateral military action
Latin Times · May 11 Who Is Going With Trump To China And What He Wants From Xi President Donald Trump is heading to China this week with a smaller-than-expected group of U.S. corporate executives, hoping to turn a tense summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping into a show of economic strength, trade progress, and diplomatic control at a moment when Beijing may have more leverage than Washington…
The Conversation · May 11 Trump-Xi summit will be no ‘Nixon in China’ moment – that they are talking is enough for now Meetings between Chinese and American leaders are not exactly routine, but few are historically groundbreaking.
The Economic Times · May 11 Elon Musk, Apple's Tim Cook to head to China with Trump: White House Top US executives, including Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook, will accompany US President Donald Trump on his visit to China this week, a White House official said Monday. According to a list shared by a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, Musk and Cook will be…
The Guardian - UK · May 11 Trump says ceasefire with Iran on ‘life support’ after rejecting peace proposals US president says he is considering restarting naval escorts in strait of Hormuz in attempt to end Iranian blockade
Axios · May 11 Iran, China and AI collide in Trump's legacy-defining week The coming days carry stakes measured in decades.
The Times of India · May 11 Trump to visit China on May 13: Trade, Taiwan and more — what’s on the table President Donald Trump is set to visit China from May 13-15 for talks with President Xi Jinping, focusing on easing trade tensions and discussing Iran. Broader issues like tariffs and Taiwan are also on the agenda. The visit aims to rebalance the relationship, prioritizing reciprocity and fairness for American economic…