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Russian officials project mutual tourist flow between Russia and China will grow by 60% in 2026, reaching 4-4.5 million trips, with a further rise to 6 million by 2027. The growth is attributed to expanded air connectivity and the extension of a visa-free regime. Meanwhile, Russian officials say foreign tourist arrivals to Russia overall could rise by 20% to 7 million trips this year.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang for a two-day state visit, his first in nearly seven years, and was personally welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the airport. The visit underscores China's efforts to reinforce ties with its traditional ally amid growing intimacy with Russia, while the US and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea's complete denuclearization.
Benin's new president, Romuald Wadagni, is leveraging Chinese investment to overhaul the country's infrastructure. A key project is the transformation of Ouidah's historic slave port into a tourist complex, linking the past with modern development.
Chinese President Xi Jinping published an op-ed in North Korea's Rodong Sinmun calling for deeper strategic communication and unwavering bilateral ties ahead of his first state visit to Pyongyang in nearly seven years. Xi emphasized a multipolar world, inclusive economic globalization, and upholding the UN-centered international system.
President Donald Trump has said the United States will secure and destroy Iran's highly enriched uranium regardless of whether negotiations produce a deal, warning of military action if necessary. His comments, reported by TASS, come as Washington and Tehran discuss the future of Iranian nuclear stockpiles.
Argentina awards a 25-year, $10 billion contract to deepen the Paraná River to a Belgian-Argentine consortium with ties to China, sparking criticism from US-backed rivals and highlighting geopolitical tensions in Latin America.
China has conducted law enforcement patrols and a research survey in waters east of Taiwan following Japan and the Philippines' announcement of formal maritime boundary talks. Taiwan has responded by deploying coast guard vessels and condemning the actions as provocative, while Beijing defends the patrols as necessary to safeguard its sovereignty claims.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Han Seong-sook, the minister for SMEs and Startups, as the next prime minister. If confirmed by the National Assembly, she would become the first female prime minister of the Lee administration and the second in the country's history. Han, a former Naver CEO, is expected to lead an AI transformation, and a confirmation hearing is scheduled for next week.
South Korean protesters rallied for a ninth day over ballot shortages that disrupted local elections, demanding a new vote. The demonstrations have drawn thousands, with President Lee Jae Myung urging restraint and ordering an investigation into the incident.
South Korea's cosmetics exports reached $5.6 billion in the January-May period, making beauty products the country's top consumer export item for the first time. Driven by growing demand in the U.S. and Europe, the industry has also seen its trade surplus exceed $10 billion, with the government vowing to foster it as a new export engine.
Singapore's government has ordered three social media platforms to block access to 14 posts that authorities say targeted the Indian community and undermined the city-state's model of multiculturalism. The content, which reportedly originated from a China-based platform, has prompted analysts to warn that foreign actors are exploiting racial tensions in the country.
Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, declared the country's nuclear weapons status 'absolutely irreversible' and rejected international calls for denuclearization as an 'anachronistic dream,' responding to G7 statements and US-China summit discussions.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has made his third visit to Tehran in recent weeks, part of Islamabad's ongoing mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran. The visit comes amid heightened tensions, including recent military clashes and stalled negotiations, with Pakistan playing a central role as intermediary.
Six Australian filmmakers have embarked on ABC's Race Around The World, traveling to 10 countries over 100 days to produce short films. Each week, contestants have 10 days to find a story and create a film, judged by experts and the audience.
Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said India will account for about half of global oil demand growth over the next decade, with consumption projected to rise 44% by 2035. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, he also highlighted risks from Hormuz tensions to India's energy security.
Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin told the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that US oil companies have been the main beneficiaries of the Strait of Hormuz crisis, while warning of potential oil price spikes and food price surges. His comments covered Russian oil benefits to China and India, fertilizer price increases, and the impossibility of replacing lost Middle East oil volumes.
North Korea's state media reported that Kim Jong Un has ordered the construction of a 10,000-ton destroyer and the development of secret underwater weapons, days before Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit. The announcement follows a naval test supervised by Kim and his call for an exponential expansion of the country's atomic arsenal.
US stocks tumbled on Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting their biggest one-day losses in months, after a stronger-than-expected May jobs report raised fears that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates high or even hike them. Tech and chip stocks led the decline, while investors rotated into safer sectors. President Donald Trump reacted with confusion, saying stocks should rise on good jobs data.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's softer tone towards China at the Shangri-La Dialogue marks a departure from his previous stance, reflecting Donald Trump's influence. Coverage also notes thawing China-Canada relations and efforts at China-India rapprochement.
EU and Western Balkan leaders gathered in Montenegro for a summit focused on accelerating EU enlargement, with a new Franco-German initiative offering incentives for faster reforms. Host Montenegro is seen as the frontrunner among six candidate countries, while geopolitical tensions with Russia and China loom large.