Football
Mbappe dropped by two Chinese brands over remark about Mao
Dongpeng and Mengniu ended deals with Kylian Mbappe after a video in which he apparently joked about Mao Zedong; AFP could not verify the clip's authenticity.
China
China: 14 The Indus Compass stories. Latest: Mbappe dropped by two Chinese brands over remark about Mao. Key developments, background and analysis.
14 stories on China since 25 September 2026; the latest was published on 27 October 2026.
Key developments
- Mbappe dropped by two Chinese brands over remark about MaoChinese drinks company Dongpeng and dairy giant Mengniu ended all cooperation with Kylian Mbappe after a video circulated in which he apparently joked about Mao Zedong.
- Magnitude 7 earthquake in Tibet kills at least 16A magnitude 7 earthquake hit Nagqu in northern Tibet at 10:33pm local time on Thursday, killing at least 16 people.
- China bets on manufactured water and wants to sell it to the worldChina exported more than $2 billion of water filtering and purifying machinery in 2025, up 25% from 2020, UN Comtrade data show.
- Sindh CM assures Chinese investors of security at Shanghai conferenceAt a Shanghai investment conference, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said Sindh has a dedicated police unit for Chinese nationals and announced more than two dozen MoUs.
- Pakistan and Russia agree to deepen security ties, work on extradition treatyField Marshal Asim Munir met Russia's interior minister as both sides agreed to finalise an extradition treaty, as Pakistani and Chinese troops began a drill.
Asia
Magnitude 7 earthquake in Tibet kills at least 16
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Nagqu in northern Tibet late on Thursday, killing at least 16 people and injuring 32, Chinese state media reported.
Technology
China bets on manufactured water and wants to sell it to the world
China exported over $2bn of water purifying machinery in 2025, as shrinking supplies at home push it to build desalination and sell the technology abroad.
Trade
Sindh CM assures Chinese investors of security at Shanghai conference
At a Shanghai investment conference, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said Sindh has a dedicated police unit for Chinese nationals and announced more than two dozen MoUs.
Islamabad
Pakistan and Russia agree to deepen security ties, work on extradition treaty
Field Marshal Asim Munir met Russia's interior minister as both sides agreed to finalise an extradition treaty, as Pakistani and Chinese troops began a drill.
Sindh
Murad invites Chinese firm to lay 100km water pipeline for Karachi
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah asked China's HBSZ to lay a 100km-plus water pipeline for Karachi and reviewed new Sukkur Barrage gates being built in Wuhan.
Europe
Britain blames Iran's Guards for RAF Fairford plot, Tehran denies link
UK PM Andy Burnham said the RAF Fairford plot was likely directed by Iran's IRGC, which Tehran denies, as Trump said China and Russia were not helping Iran.
Hockey
Pakistan win hockey bronze, end 64-year volleyball medal wait
Pakistan came from 3-1 down to beat South Korea 5-3 for hockey bronze, while the volleyball team beat China for their first Asian Games medal since 1962.
World
Satellite images show China racing to complete military runway in South China Sea
New satellite imagery shows China accelerating construction of a full-scale runway on Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, with analysts
Middle East
US sanctions Iran arms suppliers, including agent in Beijing
The US sanctioned 10 people and firms accused of buying weapons for Iran's defence ministry, as Tehran said Trump was stuck in a quagmire.
Asia
India's theatre command overhaul exposes air force, army and navy capability gaps
India's rushed theatre command reform collides with an air force down to 29 squadrons against 42 sanctioned, plus army and navy shortfalls.
Technology
China says it 'respects' Trump's decision to rename AI as 'super intelligence'
Beijing responded diplomatically to the White House switch to 'super intelligence', as the two powers agreed a channel for AI incidents.
Americas
China sends two giant pandas to the US after Washington summit, reviving 'panda diplomacy'
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang left Chengdu on a chartered flight for Zoo Atlanta, where they will spend 10 years, a gesture of goodwill after a summit short on breakthroughs.