Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Shanghai, a move seen as an attempt by Beijing to send a "clear signal of goodwill" towards Australia. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries, particularly over trade and defence issues. China has been exploiting Australia's frustrations with the Trump administration's "America First" agenda, while senior US Pentagon official Elbridge Colby is pressing Australia and Japan on their response to a potential war with China. Albanese has stated his intention to find common ground with Xi, but will also defend Australia's national interests on contentious issues such as China's naval presence in the region, foreign interference activities, and human rights abuses.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-15/anthony-albanese-to-meet-xi-jinping-and-li-qiang-in-beijing/105531664Former US Attorney Alex Acosta's comments about Jeffrey Epstein being an "intelligence asset" have sparked controversy, with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett denying the claim as "categorically and totally false". Attorney General Pam Bondi has also denied knowledge of Epstein's alleged intelligence ties, contradicting her earlier statement that a list of his clients was on her desk to review. The dispute arose after Bondi mentioned reviewing the list in response to a question about releasing Epstein's client information, leading to accusations from Trump supporters and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarifying the context as related to Epstein's crimes, not intelligence work.
https://nypost.com/2025/07/14/world-news/former-israeli-pm-naftali-bennett-denies-conspiracy-linking-epstein-to-mossad/Attorney General Pam Bondi has contradicted the Trump administration's previous claim that Jeffrey Epstein maintained a "client list" of well-known individuals connected to him, stating there is no such file related to Epstein's sex trafficking activities.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11287693/donald-trump-epstein-files-client-list-pam-bondi/Chinese experts have accused the US of strengthening defense ties between Japan and the Philippines, as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy to contain China's influence in the region. Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, claims that Japan is selling weapons and equipment to the Philippines to alleviate pressure from China over the disputed Senkaku Islands.
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/chinas-world-war-ii-warning-to-tokyo-beijing/China and India have expressed willingness to strengthen communication and coordination to maintain a multilateral trading system and stabilize global supply chains. The two nations aim to create an open and cooperative international environment, following a meeting between Chinese President Wang and Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar in Kazan. This exchange has provided important guidance for China-India relations, with cooperation in various fields moving towards normalization.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338362.shtmlChina is expanding its diplomatic influence as the US reduces its international presence under President Donald Trump's administration. The US has cut over 1,350 jobs at the State Department, part of a total reduction of nearly 3,000 employees, and billions of dollars in foreign aid, effectively shutting down the US Agency for International Development.
https://www.asiaone.com/world/china-steps-us-pulls-back-diplomacy-report-saysChina will exempt tariffs for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties and promote development through its vast domestic market, according to Lü. Professor Sun Chuanwang notes that China prioritizes honoring its commitment to sharing development opportunities globally. The World Bank predicts global trade growth will slow due to higher tariffs and policy uncertainty, forecasted to decelerate from 3.4% in 2024 to around 1.8% in 2025.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338336.shtmlChinese Foreign Minister Wang stated that China-Russia relations are the most stable and strategically valuable among major powers, with a focus on deepening comprehensive cooperation to address global challenges such as the war in Ukraine, tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Iran's nuclear program, and the conflict in Gaza.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/14/chinas-foreign-minister-praises-ties-with-russia-during-lavrov-visit-a89797German Defence Minister, no name mentioned, stated that German troops would be prepared to engage Russian soldiers if Moscow attacked a NATO member. US President Donald Trump announced plans to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine, with the European Union agreeing to reimburse the US for their cost. Germany has already provided three Patriot missiles to Ukraine, which have faced intense Russian attacks in recent weeks.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/986005-moscow-speaks-germany-is-becoming-dangerous-again