China

• The European Commission introduced a new trade policy that doesn't mention China by name but aims to protect EU trade from "destinations of concern that operate civil-military fusion strategies" - i.e., China. The proposed strategy would block exports of military technology that such "destinations of concern" could exploit.
• It was probably coincidental that Germany's domestic intelligence agency picked yesterday - while Chinese Premier Li Qiang was in Berlin for talks with Chancellor Scholz - to release a report warning of an escalation in spying, hacking, and disinformation attacks from China and Russia that "pose a serious threat" to Germany's security.
• Just a day after praising SecState Blinken for smoothing tensions with China during his trip there, Pres. Biden offended Beijing by likening Pres. Xi to "dictators" during a campaign event. China's Foreign Ministry called the comment "extremely absurd and irresponsible."

• Reports from the front lines show that Ukraine is advancing on Russian positions near Bakhmut using tanks it captured from Russia and refurbished for battle.
• Some accounts suggest Russia is continuing to gain ground in parts of Ukraine - even as it loses ground to Ukraine's counteroffensive in other parts.

• The Taliban carried out its second confirmed official execution since it returned to power in August 2021.
• The regime's official statement didn't mention how the man - who had been convicted of murdering five people - was executed: human rights advocates are curious because the Taliban has thus far ignored their calls to ban archaic forms of punishment like floggings and stonings.