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Russia and China have criticized Japan’s plan to host US “Typhon” intermediate-range missiles during joint exercises next month, calling it a threat to regional stability, Al Jazeera reported.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned the deployment poses a direct strategic threat and said Moscow may take “appropriate military-technical measures” if Japan does not reconsider. The ministry also cited Japan’s accelerated militarization and close cooperation with the US.

China urged Japan to act prudently and respect regional trust, calling on Washington and Tokyo to prioritize peace and stability and avoid repeating historical mistakes.

According to Al Jazeera, the Typhon missiles, part of US efforts to strengthen antiship capabilities in Asia, will be stationed at the US Marine Air Station in Iwakuni, Honshu, ahead of the “Resolute Dragon” exercises from September 11–25.

US Senators Roger Wicker and Deb Fischer arrived in Taipei on Friday to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to Taiwan amid growing Chinese military pressure. Wicker, chair of the Armed Services Committee, said the visit highlights the long-standing security partnership and praised Taiwan’s determination to remain free, according to Reuters.

The senators will meet President Lai Ching-te later in the day, ahead of a US Senate debate on the $1trn defense bill that includes new provisions on Taiwan.

Beijing condemned the visit, reiterating its claim over the island as it prepares a major military parade attended by Russian and North Korean leaders, Reuters reported.

China has pledged to strengthen ties with Brazil to “resist unilateralism and bullying,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a call with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira. Wang described the bilateral relationship as “at its best in history” and emphasized cooperation through BRICS to protect developing countries’ interests, according to Al Jazeera.

The call comes as Brazil, under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, considers retaliatory measures against the United States following President Donald Trump’s 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian goods. China, now Brazil’s largest trading partner, has sought closer ties with Latin America amid rising US-Brazil tensions.

Pakistani drone strikes in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Khost provinces killed three civilians, including children, and wounded seven others, Afghan officials said.

The Taliban condemned the attacks as a breach of sovereignty and summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul to lodge a protest, according to Reuters.

Islamabad has yet to respond. The strikes come amid strained ties, despite recent pledges by Pakistan, Afghanistan and China to boost counter-terrorism cooperation.

The United States is reviewing the involvement of Chinese nationals in managing sensitive cloud services for the military, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday. The move follows a ProPublica investigation revealing that Microsoft employed contractors in China and other countries to maintain Defense Department cloud systems, Al Jazeera reported.

Hegseth said a formal letter of concern has been sent to Microsoft, and a third-party audit of its digital escort program is underway to check for potential security breaches. He also directed software providers to end any Chinese involvement in Defense Department systems, calling the measure “common sense” for protecting national security.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will attend a military parade in Beijing on 3 September, China’s foreign ministry confirmed. The event marks the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan and the end of World War Two. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected, along with other world leaders, BBC reported.

China plans to showcase its latest military capabilities, including new aircraft, tanks, and anti-drone systems, marking the first full display of its modernized force structure. The 70-minute parade will be overseen by President Xi Jinping from Tiananmen Square and is likely to attract close attention from global analysts.

Heavy rainfall across China has caused over 16bn yuan ($2.24bn) in road damage, affecting 23 provinces and regions, the transport ministry said.

Since the flood season began on July 1, authorities have allocated 540m yuan for emergency repairs. Floods, landslides, earthquakes, and droughts led to 52.2bn yuan in economic losses in July alone, Reuters reported.

Struggling with high debt, local governments face mounting pressure to fund public services, support businesses, and create jobs amid growing climate risks.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that China must supply more magnets or face tariffs of up to 200 percent, highlighting the strategic importance of rare earth elements. China controls about 90 percent of the global magnet market, essential for products like semiconductor chips used in smartphones, according to Al Jazeera.

The remarks follow China’s April restrictions on rare earth exports in retaliation for US tariff hikes, even as exports surged in July. Trump recently extended a 90-day deadline on tariffs, allowing more time for negotiations, and the US also announced a 10 percent stake in Intel, a major chipmaker dependent on these materials.

China has urged the United States to stop undermining its cooperation with Latin America, dismissing Washington’s accusations of resource exploitation in the region, according to Xinhua.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that US remarks reflect a “Cold War mentality” and run counter to reality. He stressed that China’s partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean are based on mutual respect, equality, and shared benefit, contributing to local economic and social development.

Guo emphasized that the region is “no one’s backyard” and countries there have the right to choose their own partners. He called on Washington to end its interference and instead support Latin America’s development, Xinhua reported.

Chinese customs screened over 600m travelers and 300m vehicles in the past five years, detecting 180,000 infectious disease cases and intercepting 5.25m potential carriers, officials said Monday.

Deputy Director General Zhao Zenglian highlighted a robust “closed-loop” system linking border checks to home follow-ups.

The measures, refined after China’s zero-COVID policy, aim to prevent imported illnesses while supporting tourism and foreign investment, Reuters reported.

China has become a top trading partner for 157 countries and regions worldwide, according to Sun Meijun, head of the General Administration of Customs of China.

In 2024, trade with Belt and Road Initiative countries reached 22trn yuan (around 3trn US dollars), making up over half of China’s total imports and exports. Trade with emerging markets in ASEAN, Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia has expanded at an annual rate of more than 10 percent since 2021, according to Xinhua.

Sun emphasized China’s commitment to international cooperation, citing 519 agreements signed since 2021 to promote mutual economic benefits.

Chinese copper wire manufacturer Wellascent will start production later this year at its Texas plant, producing 3,000 metric tons annually by 2028 for clients including automaker Stellantis. The facility shields US customers from a 50 percent tariff on imported copper wire, while refined copper remains exempt, Reuters reported.

Hazel Zhu, a Wellascent board member, said US factory has turned tariffs into a “golden opportunity,” with the plant expected to generate over half of the company’s overseas revenue within three years.

According to Reuters, Wellascent’s investment is a rare example of a Chinese firm benefiting from US trade measures. A temporary 145 percent equipment tariff earlier this year almost halted plans, but a trade truce allowed construction to continue. Experts say the case may guide other Chinese firms eyeing US investment.

India fears a planned Chinese mega-dam in Tibet could cut Brahmaputra River flows by up to 85 percent in the dry season, a government analysis shows. Beijing’s $170bn project, the world’s largest hydropower dam, could divert over a third of annual flows before the river enters India, Reuters reported.

In response, New Delhi is fast-tracking the proposed Upper Siang Multipurpose Dam in Arunachal Pradesh, which would be India’s biggest. Officials say it could offset water losses, stabilize supplies, and absorb potential surges from Chinese releases.

China insists its project will not harm downstream nations, but Indian officials view it as a strategic risk. The Brahmaputra supports more than 100m people across China, India, and Bangladesh, according to Reuters.

The UK government has extended the deadline to October 21 to decide on China’s plan to build Europe’s largest embassy near the Tower of London. Beijing has refused to fully explain why parts of its plans were blacked out, according to Al Jazeera.

The project, stalled for three years, faces opposition from local residents, Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners, and UK and US politicians, citing potential spying and security risks. The embassy would house 200 staff, include offices, a basement, and a tunnel to another building.

China called claims of secret facilities “despicable” and urged the UK to approve the plans. The government assumed control of the planning decision after local council concerns in 2022, Al Jazeera reported.

Chinese ambassador to India Xu Feihong has said that Beijing "firmly opposes" Washington's steep tariffs on Delhi and called for greater co-operation between India and China, BBC reported.

Xu likened the US to a "bully", saying that it had long benefitted from free trade but was now using tariffs as a "bargaining chip" to demand "exorbitant prices" from other nations.

"US has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India and even threatened for more. China firmly opposes it. Silence only emboldens the bully," Xu said on Thursday.

Earlier this month, Trump imposed a 25% penalty on India in addition to 25% tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia. The new rate will come into effect on 27 August, according to BBC.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the partnership between India and China is not against any third country.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Minister said that the China-India partnership will not affect any country.

His remarks come at a time when Nepal raised objections over the India-China agreement reached on Wednesday to reopen border trade through Lipulekh Pass and India and China are having a tariff war with the US.