Global Leaders Gather for SCO Summit, Showcase Unity

Alibaba's Hong Kong-listed shares surged 19% on Monday following the company's strong quarterly results, driven by a 26% annual growth in its cloud computing unit. The company's investment in new areas, including AI infrastructure and 'instant commerce,' has been well-received by investors. Alibaba's revenue for the June quarter was 247.65 billion Chinese yuan, a 2% year-on-year rise that missed analyst expectations, but its net income surged 78% annually, beating forecasts. The company's cloud growth has been accelerating, and its AI-related product revenue maintained triple-digit year-over-year growth for the eighth consecutive quarter. Alibaba is also developing a new AI chip, which contributed to the share price rally.

Asia-Pacific markets closed mixed on Monday as investors reacted to China's manufacturing data and developments in India-China relations. China's Caixin manufacturing PMI rose to 50.5 in August, beating expectations. Hong Kong and Chinese stocks rose, while Japanese, South Korean, and Australian markets fell. Investors also assessed the outcome of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting between Indian and Chinese leaders, where they agreed to strengthen cooperation and reject a 'Cold War mentality.' The US Court of Appeals ruled that most of former President Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs' were illegal, also affecting market sentiment.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to strengthen artificial intelligence cooperation and reject a "Cold War mentality" at the SCO summit in Tianjin. The meeting, attended by over 20 foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comes as China seeks to position itself as a global peacemaker amid ongoing trade tensions and conflicts. Xi announced China's investment of $84 billion in other SCO countries and pledged support for 10,000 students to join Beijing's vocational education program. The SCO leaders signed a "Tianjin Declaration" and approved a development plan for the organization through 2035. Xi also proposed a "Global Governance Initiative" without disclosing further details.

US President Donald Trump has refrained from imposing further sanctions on Russia despite its continued aggression towards Ukraine. Analysts attribute this to Trump's desire to be seen as a peace-broker and concerns about pushing Russia into China's orbit. The delay has disappointed Ukraine, which had hoped for more decisive action from the US. Meanwhile, China, Russia, and India have deepened their economic and political ties, potentially creating a new global power dynamic.

The article discusses how former US President Donald Trump is waging a war on 'woke AI', signing executive orders aimed at stopping AI models from being biased towards left-wing propaganda. The article highlights concerns that large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini may have hidden biases. Trump's concerns are not isolated, as many worry about the potential for AI models to be influenced by particular ideologies. The article explores the challenges of creating unbiased AI models and the implications of Trump's actions on the development of AI.

The article discusses the growing global arms race and highlights the emergence of new weapons dealers, particularly China, which is showcasing its latest military equipment to potential buyers and adversaries. The article mentions that China's military parade on September 3rd will feature its newest warfighting equipment, and notes that other countries, including those led by leaders like Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, and Vladimir Putin, are also involved in this ferocious global arms race.

The article discusses China's upcoming military parade on September 3rd, analyzing its significance and the context surrounding it. The parade, China's first in six years, is expected to be a grand display of military might, choreographed to inspire awe and respect. However, the article suggests that this display will mask underlying turbulence in China's high military command, following recent purges of top military commanders. The parade is also seen as reflecting the insecurities of China's leadership, much like Donald Trump's military parade in June. The article further contextualizes the parade within broader issues in China, including diplomatic disappearances and legal restrictions on travel for those not accused of crimes.

The article discusses how the post-1945 international order is crumbling, with leaders like Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin distorting historical facts to fuel their nationalist agendas. The article reflects on how The Economist reported on World War II week by week and how the commemoration of the war's end is being used as a platform for military might and nationalism. The article highlights the contrast between the original purpose of the post-war order and its current state, with rising tensions between major world powers.

The article 'The wrong way to end a war' draws historical parallels between China's strategy in the Korean War and Vladimir Putin's current approach to 'peacemaking'. It highlights Mao Zedong's strategy to inflict heavy casualties on American forces to deter imperialism, and suggests that Putin may be adopting a similar stance. The article warns against the dangers of such an approach and implies that it could lead to prolonged conflict and significant loss of life.

The article discusses the current state of globalisation and how it has been impacted by the policies of President Donald Trump. The author argues that globalisation was never a true meritocracy, and that Trump's aggressive trade policies have exposed the underlying flaws in the system. The article uses the metaphor of a schoolyard to describe the global economy, with Trump acting as a bully who is disrupting the existing order. The author questions whether the model pupils (countries that have played by the rules) can find a way to navigate this new environment.

The article discusses China's preparations for a massive military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, with foreign media invited to a practice session near Beijing. The event is seen as an opportunity for Chinese leader Xi Jinping to showcase China's military strength and global influence, particularly in the context of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin. The article also touches on other global news stories, including tensions in Indonesia, Ukraine's strikes on Russian bridges, and the ousting of Thailand's Prime Minister.

The article discusses how President Donald Trump's policies and actions are driving countries closer to China, particularly in the context of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. CNN's Ivan Watson examines the implications of Trump's approach on global geopolitics, as world leaders gather in China's Tianjin.

The article discusses how Chinese leader Xi Jinping is using the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, to showcase Beijing as a global leader. The SCO, a regional security grouping, has become a key platform for Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin to rebalance global power in their favor. The article highlights how the event sets the stage for Xi to promote China as a stable and powerful alternative global leader.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping showed a rare moment of emotion while greeting President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, China. The summit brought together heads of state and delegations from across Asia and the Middle East for a two-day meeting. The article focuses on the warm greeting between Xi and Putin, highlighting their interaction at the summit.

The article reports on a lighthearted moment at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, China, where leaders Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Narendra Modi were seen laughing and chatting together. The image suggests a friendly and cooperative atmosphere among the leaders of China, Russia, and India.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit opened in Tianjin, China, with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling for members to uphold international fairness and justice while pursuing economic and cultural cooperation. Xi urged the states to engage in multilateralism and advocate for inclusive economic globalisation and an equitable global governance system. The summit featured speeches from leaders of member states, including Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Key takeaways from the summit include Xi's emphasis on fairness and justice, and the need for cooperation among member states.

China hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, attended by world leaders including Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi. President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of strengthening security, economic, and cultural cooperation among SCO member states. The SCO, founded in 2001 as a Eurasian security bloc, has expanded to include 10 member states and now addresses issues beyond security, such as trade and economics, positioning itself as an Asian counterweight to the West. Leaders are expected to sign a declaration to enhance cooperation.

Hong Kong's retail sector continued its recovery for the third consecutive month in July, with sales rising 1.8% year on year to HK$29.7 billion. The government attributed this growth to proactive efforts in promoting tourism and mega-events, expressing optimism that local consumption sentiment will remain steady. Despite this positive trend, the total value of retail sales for the first seven months of the year still contracted by 2.6% compared to the same period in 2024.

Taiwan's leader William Lai has reshuffled the National Security Council (NSC) by appointing two young deputies, Lii Wen and Chao Yi-hsiang, to tackle growing threats from Beijing and navigate US President Donald Trump's transactional approach to policy. The move comes as Beijing prepares to showcase its expanding military power at the September 3 Victory Day parade. The changes also aim to reconnect with younger voters after the Lai administration faced two failed mass recall campaigns this summer, resulting in low approval ratings. Lai seeks to blend veteran experience with younger figures to strengthen the NSC and respond to fast-changing global conditions.

China is set to hold its largest military parade on September 3, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II. The parade will feature advanced uncrewed systems, including drones and robobeasts, showcasing the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) rapid advances in integrating autonomous technologies across air, land, and sea. Analysts believe the display will signal a shift towards AI-enabled, multi-domain operations. While new models might be revealed, they are likely to be shown in static displays for security reasons. The PLA has been rehearsing for the parade, and leaked photos of previously unseen systems have been circulating on social media.

The article discusses the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. The three leaders displayed solidarity and warmth towards each other, with Modi and Putin sharing a warm embrace and Modi pulling Putin and Xi closer during a conversation. The article suggests that this display of unity may be a message to the United States, with whom all three countries have various frictions. The meeting was seen as a projection of solidarity in front of the international media.