Xi Jinping
General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party since 2012 (born 1953)
Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
- 18h ago
Winnie-the-Pooh turns 100 as the first book marks its centenary on 14 October
Alan Alexander Milne's bear first appeared in a book published on 14 October 1926, and broadcasters and newspapers across Europe marked the centenary on 14 October 2026 with features on his origins, his screen career and his afterlife as an internet meme.
- 18h ago
New Yalu River Bridge between China and North Korea set to open on 15 October
The New Yalu River Bridge, linking Dandong in China with Sinuiju in North Korea, is scheduled to open to traffic on Thursday, 15 October, more than a decade after it was first due to open in 2014.
- 2d ago
Visa gets Chinese approval to prepare a bank card clearing business, joining Mastercard and American Express
China's central bank has allowed Visa to start preparing a domestic bank card clearing institution in China. Visa has one year to finish preparations before it can apply to start operations.
- 5d ago
Lai says Taiwan will not give up freedom as it sets record NT$1.1 trillion defence budget
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said in his National Day speech on Saturday that the island cherishes peace but will not give up its freedom. The government has allocated a record NT$1.1 trillion for defence in 2027, more than 3% of GDP, as Taiwan faces growing military and political pressure from China.
- Oct 5
Sanae Takaichi calls China an important neighbour in policy speech to Japan's Diet
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to build stable ties with China while asserting national positions, and promised a year-end demographic strategy as Japan's domestic population fell below 120 million.
- Oct 2
Shivon Zilis announces abrupt split from Elon Musk after five-year relationship
Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis announced on X that Elon Musk abruptly ended their five-year relationship, stating she hopes they remain collaborative co-parents to their four children.
- Oct 2
Putin admits Ukrainian refinery strikes cost Russia 1% of GDP and disrupted fuel output
Speaking at the Valdai forum, Vladimir Putin confirmed that Ukrainian drone strikes reduced Russian GDP by 1% while rejecting any reciprocal halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.
- Oct 2
Taiwan receives first two US-built F-16V fighter jets from 66-plane order
Two F-16V fighter aircraft touched down at Taitung air base on Friday, marking the initial delivery from an $8 billion agreement for 66 jets approved in 2019.
- Oct 1
China halts October fuel exports as OPEC+ postpones capacity review to November
Chinese refiners have suspended refined fuel exports for October to protect domestic stockpiles, while OPEC+ postponed its capacity review to mid-November amid regional conflict.
- Oct 1
US intelligence assesses China unlikely to attempt Taiwan invasion before 2028
United States officials evaluate that military leadership purges and political considerations in Taipei make a Chinese invasion of Taiwan before 2028 improbable, despite previous 2027 readiness targets.
- Oct 1
EU and Canada to Unveil Wide-Ranging Strategic Partnership at October Montreal Summit
The European Union and Canada will announce an expansive bilateral agreement at a summit in Montreal on 29 October 2026, covering critical minerals, energy supplies, digital trade, and joint firefighting aircraft purchases.
- Sep 28
US and China agree on $60 billion tariff cuts and extend trade truce to January
Beijing published a 1,619-item tariff relief catalog excluding soybeans, while Washington listed 77 products and confirmed a trade truce extension through 10 January.
- Sep 28
Donald Trump denies ambassador claim of offering US arms sales to China's Xi Jinping
US President Donald Trump and the State Department have denied claims by Ambassador David Perdue that Washington offered military equipment to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
- Sep 26
US and China extend tariff truce to January 2027 and establish superintelligence dialogue
Following a three-day state visit in Washington, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to hold new talks on artificial intelligence, extend tariff exemptions, and schedule two summits before year-end.
- Sep 25
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet at White House to discuss tariffs, Taiwan and artificial intelligence
Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his two-day visit to Washington on Friday after a 90-minute Oval Office meeting and a tech-focused state dinner with US President Donald Trump.
- Sep 25
Donald Trump shows Xi Jinping autopen photo mocking Joe Biden during White House tour
During a state visit to Washington, Donald Trump presented Chinese President Xi Jinping with an autopen photo replacing Joe Biden's official White House portrait, drawing laughter from the visiting delegation.
- Sep 25
Bill Gates calls for federal AI regulation as Trump dismisses existential risks
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates warned that voluntary corporate safeguards are insufficient, urging Washington to enact federal oversight to prevent catastrophic misuse of advanced artificial intelligence.
- Sep 25
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping conclude Washington summit with gift exchanges and diplomatic truce
US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a three-day state visit in Washington, pairing symbolic gestures with discussions on Taiwan and trade stability.
- Sep 25
Donald Trump hosts Xi Jinping for Washington state visit ahead of planned summits in Shenzhen and Miami
US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a three-day state visit in Washington, featuring tech executive dinners and bilateral talks on trade, security, and technology.
- Sep 25
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping Meet at White House, Agreeing on AI Stance and Extending Trade Truce
US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday for bilateral talks, reviewing artificial intelligence oversight, extending a tariff truce to January 10, and discussing regional tensions.
