US strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island ahead of midterms as Trump says deal ‘could happen’

China's top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko in Beijing on Monday.

China’s ruling Communist Party has pledged to target “old nice persons” within its ranks as it steps up its anti-corruption drive ahead of a major leadership reshuffle next year. Rendered in Chinese as lao hao ren, the term refers to unprincipled, conflict-averse officials who turn a blind eye to misconduct to protect their own careers and social standing. A resolution adopted at the close of the party’s 20th Central Committee’s fifth plenum last week signalled a crackdown on this culture of...

China's top legislature began deliberating a draft law on combating cross-border corruption, which includes a provision on promoting the building of a fair and equitable global anti-corruption governance system.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said of Oman in Beijing on Monday.

Shanghai Disney Resort to open third themed hotel in December

A top OpenAI executive said on Monday that Washington needs to be “clear-eyed” and “aware” about sharing information with Beijing during coming talks on artificial intelligence (AI), while also warning about the threat posed by alleged Chinese distillation attacks. “Be very clear-eyed. Be very aware of what information you are able to expect in return for what you are sharing, and start to build a foundation,” said Caroline Zier, OpenAI’s deputy lead for national security, during a discussion at...

Americans go to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, in midterm elections that could reshape the final two years of Donald Trump’s second term as president. Control of both chambers of Congress is in play, along with 36 governorships. Polls suggest Democrats go into the vote with an advantage, but the outcome will hinge on a few dozen closely fought races. More than 100 million people are expected to vote if turnout matches the 2022 midterms. By October 12, a record US$3.8 billion had been spent on...

US President Donald Trump is likely to continue on a path of trying to stabilise ties with Beijing – even if the Democrats flip the House of Representatives, according to analysts. But they said if the Republicans lost control of the House in this week’s midterm elections, the framework of “strategic stability” agreed to by Washington and Beijing could be put to the test. One Chinese academic warned that other Republicans could pose the biggest risk to Sino-American ties in Trump’s final two...

US President Donald Trump ended the midterm campaign season on Monday by calling the Democratic Party’s candidates the “most extreme and dangerous” in American history, the day before voters decide which party controls Congress. Speaking at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, which reopened after a renovation by his administration, Trump called the elections “the most important midterm, I believe, in our lifetime”. “These are the most dangerous candidates ever put up,” he...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now solving maths puzzles that have long stumped humans, prompting mathematicians around the world, including in China, to ponder not only whether machines will replace them, but also what achievement and research in their field will mean in the future. In early October, OpenAI released manuscripts showing progress on 372 categories of mathematical problems, including many which have long defied solutions. This week, the American AI firm announced three further...

At the Youth Olympic Games, India's Khushbu Rajakbhai won a silver medal in judo, and Dhinidhi Desinghu claimed a bronze medal in swimming.

India defeated South Korea 8-0 to finish the Asian Champions Trophy round-robin stage unbeaten, topping the standings with 15 points.