China

On a social media account that has gone viral in China, a researcher has exposed data fabrication in prestigious Chinese studies published in *Nature*. This problem is fuelled by an academic system that regards articles published in scientific journals as a rigid criterion for promotion.

The Norwegian centre-forward is all the rage on websites and social media. This success is also a boost to China’s image and has prompted Chinese companies to recruit him as a brand ambassador. The contrast between the national team’s absence and the prominent presence of Chinese companies in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

From one of China’s leading artificial intelligence companies comes a story that echoes the challenges to the dignity of work raised by Leo XIV in *Magnifica Humanitas*. In this case, the ‘handover’ was voluntary, but there is a growing trend towards zhengliu, the digital ‘distillation’ of employees’ skills. And there are young workers in the tech sector who are trying to protect themselves with tools that ‘hide’ parts of their work.

A strategic rail link in Golestan is among the targets of the latest US raids in Iran, threatening Tehran's ability to move goods, fuel, equipment, and strategic materials along its northern corridor. This could have possible "regional consequences" involving Russia and China, as well as increase the weight of sanctions.

In China's Shandong province, controversy surrounds fencing installed to stop "wild hiking" on the sacred mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The authorities claim it is a safety measure, but protesting residents and environmentalists argue that it distorts the spiritual significance and habitat of the place.

His release on 4 July follows talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, during which Jimmy Lai was also mentioned, although the latter’s situation remains unchanged. Meanwhile, the crackdown on house churches continues in China: eight other pastors remain in prison.

Today, Washington and Beijing clash over tariffs, Taiwan, and technology. Yet Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and other leading figures of the American Revolution also found inspiration in the thoughts of Confucius and the meritocratic system of the Chinese empire. This forgotten story speaks to a different beginning in relations between the two powers.

Under new rules, Beijing cracks down on regional branches of organisations, while limiting the use of titles for local officials because they fuel the proliferation of positions and corruption. In reality, this is another step to control organised civil society. Meanwhile, Xi promoted two senior generals after purging the military.

According to official licence statistics, as many as 30,000 are aged between 70 and 79. This reflects not only the ageing population but also the financial difficulties faced by those who lost their jobs during the Covid pandemic. And with pensions insufficient to cover their expenses, many make ends meet by working as taxi drivers.

On 26 June, a small, single-engine plane carrying only the pilot crashed into the CITIC Tower, the Chinese capital’s tallest skyscraper, injuring 13 people. But within hours, information on social media disappeared, something that usually happens with accidents of this kind in China, giving rises to speculation that is not likely to find an answer.

June in China is the month of the Gaokao (the university entrance exam) and the Zhongkao (the secondary school entrance exam), with the usual mobilisation of families anxious about their children’s future. But the structural limitations of China’s current economic system, with 320 million ‘flexible’ workers, are turning yesterday’s dreams into a mere struggle for survival.

Thanks to massive investments in solar, wind, and nuclear power, China has topped four billion kilowatts of installed capacity, 1.7 times that of the United States and the European Union combined. And it is working to have a system operational by 2030 that will allow millions of idled electric vehicles to return energy to the grid to meet peak demand.