Trump is travelling to Beijing; talks with Xi begin tomorrow

Today’s headlines: in Lebanon, where the war continues, UNESCO has sounded the alarm over children unable to attend school. Negotiations between Samsung and the unions have broken down, paving the way for a long strike starting on 21 May at the semiconductor factories. For the first time, a woman is at the helm of St Stephen’s College in New Delhi. A message from Kirill to Pope Leo one year on from his election.

CHINA-UNITED STATES

US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing tonight for his eagerly awaited three-day visit, during which he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping from tomorrow. The talks will cover crucial issues such as trade tensions between the US and China, Taiwan’s security, the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, as well as competition and cooperation on artificial intelligence. The US delegation also includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, despite him being officially subject to Chinese sanctions. When he was a senator, Rubio had harshly criticised Beijing over human rights, prompting China to sanction him twice. To get round the issue, the Chinese authorities adopted an unusual diplomatic solution: they altered the Chinese transliteration of his surname by using a different character for ‘Ru’, thereby allowing him to enter the country during the official visit.

LEBANON

Whilst crossfire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah caused further deaths in southern Lebanon last night, UNESCO has sounded the alarm over the impact on schools of this war front, which has been ongoing since 2 March despite promises of a ceasefire. Of the more than 1.2 million people forced to flee their homes, 500,000 are school-age children. Many can no longer access schools: 339 schools are located in war zones and hundreds of others have been converted into shelters for displaced people. Furthermore, around 100 schools are considered high-risk. Some schools have adopted distance learning, but experts warn that this solution disproportionately affects low-income families, exacerbating years of school disruptions that have persisted in Lebanon since 2019.

SOUTH KOREA

Negotiations between the management of Samsung Electronics and the trade unions to avert an 18-day strike, due to begin on 21 May and involving over 40,000 employees, mainly in the semiconductor sector, have broken down. The company fears losses of up to 1 trillion won a day and potential structural damage, including the loss of key clients such as Nvidia. Samsung has asked the court to block the strike. The unions are calling for greater transparency regarding bonuses, proposing that 15% of operating profits be allocated to performance-related bonuses, including through company shares if necessary.

PHILIPPINES

According to the latest survey by Social Weather Stations, the number of Filipino households experiencing involuntary hunger rose in the first quarter of 2026. The national rate rose to 23.2%, compared to 20.1% recorded in November 2025.

The survey, conducted between 24 and 31 March among 1,500 adults, defines involuntary hunger as the experience of ‘being hungry and having nothing to eat at least once in the last three months’. This is the highest level since March 2025, when the figure had reached 27.2%. Among the country’s regions, the highest rate was recorded in the Visayas (28%).

JAPAN

Some snacks sold in Japan are switching to black-and-white packaging due to the fallout from the war in Iran, which has disrupted the supply of an ingredient used in coloured inks. Calbee Inc., famous for its crisps and cereals, has clarified that the contents of the products remain unchanged. Calbee snacks are widely available in Japanese convenience stores and are also exported to the United States, China and Australia. According to the company, the choice of monochrome packaging is intended to ensure a stable supply of products despite supply chain difficulties.

INDIA

St Stephen’s College in New Delhi has appointed a woman as principal for the first time in its 145-year history. Professor Susan Elias, a lecturer in computer science, will lead the institution from 1 June. The decision has been welcomed by staff and alumni, many of whom commented that ‘it was about time’. Founded in 1881 by the Cambridge Mission to Delhi, the college has produced numerous distinguished figures, but has never had a woman at its helm. The announcement was made by the Anglican Bishop of Delhi, Paul Swarup.

KAZAKHSTAN-INDONESIA

Kazakhstan and Indonesia wish to increase trade and launch joint projects, as stated by Kazakh Prime Minister Olžas Bektenov and Indonesian Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto at a meeting held in Astana. The two countries aim to develop cooperation in the sectors of energy, agriculture, food processing, textiles, the digital economy and tourism. Discussions also covered the Islamic banking sector, an area Kazakhstan has been seeking to develop for several years.

RUSSIA

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has stated that he shares a common approach with Pope Leo XIV to the challenges of contemporary society. “The commonality of our approaches to the contemporary challenges of aggressive secularism instils hope that, with his participation, relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church will continue to develop towards a shared Christian witness,” reads the Patriarch’s message of congratulations to the Pope on the first anniversary of Prevost’s election.

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