China

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as the UN General Assembly concluded with mixed diplomatic outcomes. Russia and Germany re-established high-level talks, while China criticized Washington’s approach to the region.

Professor Biao Xiang, a 54-year-old anthropologist, has become an unlikely idol for anxious young Chinese people seeking guidance on navigating uncertainty in a rapidly changing country. He speaks at packed events in China and abroad about how young people's pursuit of approval from exams and jobs can damage their self-worth, and advises seeking meaning through connection with others. Living in Germany, he describes his role as addressing the "pain point of the times" in a society he believes is at a turning point.

Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington highlighted a US disadvantage in the Global South, as Beijing offered diplomatic cover without military entanglement while Washington pressed allies to choose sides in its rivalry with China. Gulf states and other Global South governments are increasingly hedging through Beijing for crisis diplomacy and energy stability, even as they rely on the US for security hardware. The summit reinforced a growing perception that smaller countries are expected to bear the costs of great-power rivalry while Washington and Beijing retain the freedom to negotiate with each other.

World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the China Open, saying his knee is not yet ready for competition as he continues recovering from the injury that also forced him to miss the US Open. The 25-year-old Italian has not played since winning Wimbledon in July and will be unable to defend the Beijing title he won last year. Novak Djokovic returns to the tournament after an 11-year absence as one of its headline attractions.