Press Freedom Clash: China expelled a New York Times reporter after an event featuring Taiwan President Lai, while Beijing also accused the U.S. of “political suppression” of Xinhua staff. South China Sea Tensions: The Philippines says it’s still verifying reports of a possible China structure at Scarborough Shoal, as Manila and Beijing trade accusations. AI Chips & U.S. Controls: Senators Warren and Kim urged Commerce chief Lutnick to testify after guidance closed a loophole that could let advanced Nvidia chips reach offshore Chinese subsidiaries. Humanoid Robotics IPO Wave: Nvidia is backing research platforms built around Unitree’s humanoids as Unitree clears STAR Market review for a major IPO. Rare Earth Pressure: Analysts say China’s rare-earth export “fix” hasn’t reached U.S. supply chains, with magnet exports still falling. Industrial Policy Backlash: An OECD report says Chinese firms received far more state support than rivals, helping market-share gains. Economy & Housing: China’s 2026-2030 urban renewal plan targets upgrades for old communities and migrant-child schooling protections. Energy Markets: BMO warns weaker Chinese solar capacity additions could limit demand spillovers for silver. Tech & Payments for Tourists: Tencent will let PayPal users pay in China via WeChat Pay QR merchant networks, aiming to ease cashless friction for visitors.