The Taliban chases Chinese cash, U.S. energy sanctions on Russia trickle down, China in the Arctic crosshairs, and much more.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping reiterated his position on the resolution of the war in Ukraine. It boils down to supporting peace by facilitating negotiations, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ukraine recently received a new Chinese ambassador, Ma Shengkun, and a new Ukrainian ambassador, Olexander Nechytaylo, has been appointed to China, although he has yet to receive agreement. Perhaps this development could bring some new dynamics to the Sino-Ukrainian relations.

Sen. Marco Rubio used his confirmation hearing Wednesday to warn a Senate panel that China might move against Taiwan before the decade is over and that a potential ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine must provide the Ukrainians with sufficient leverage to deter a repeat invasion in the future.

It will be harder for China to balance the needs of its faltering economy with its international relations priorities. But there may be opportunities with Trump the dealmaker.

The Treasury Department has announced sanctions in connection with a massive Chinese hack of American telecommunications companies and a breach of its own computer network.

Putin’s government considers inflation an existential threat. But Trump’s preoccupation with China may prevent the US exploiting Russian weakness.

Rachel Reeves is expected to raise support for Russia’s war in Ukraine and issues of human rights in Hong Kong during her trip to China.

Reliance on Russia’s military offerings has become increasingly prevalent in parts of Africa, amid an aggressive push by Moscow to lessen Western influence on the continent.

Challenges came in tandem with TikTok’s success. U.S. officials expressed concerns about the company’s roots and ownership, pointing to laws in China that require Chinese companies to hand over data requested by the government. Another concern became the proprietary algorithm that populates what users see on the app.