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China has become a top trading partner for 157 countries and regions worldwide, according to Sun Meijun, head of the General Administration of Customs of China.

In 2024, trade with Belt and Road Initiative countries reached 22trn yuan (around 3trn US dollars), making up over half of China’s total imports and exports. Trade with emerging markets in ASEAN, Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia has expanded at an annual rate of more than 10 percent since 2021, according to Xinhua.

Sun emphasized China’s commitment to international cooperation, citing 519 agreements signed since 2021 to promote mutual economic benefits.

US forces have sped up their withdrawal from the Ayn al-Asad and Victoria military bases in Iraq, with some troops being redeployed to Erbil and a neighboring Arab country, local media reported Sunday. The drawdown, ordered by the US Embassy, is being carried out in phases, according to Xinhua.

The accelerated timeline aligns with last year’s US-Iraq agreement on a gradual coalition exit. Hussein Allawi, security advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, recently confirmed that the US-led coalition’s mission in Baghdad and at Ayn al-Asad is set to conclude in September. The coalition currently maintains around 2,500 troops in Iraq.

Chinese copper wire manufacturer Wellascent will start production later this year at its Texas plant, producing 3,000 metric tons annually by 2028 for clients including automaker Stellantis. The facility shields US customers from a 50 percent tariff on imported copper wire, while refined copper remains exempt, Reuters reported.

Hazel Zhu, a Wellascent board member, said US factory has turned tariffs into a “golden opportunity,” with the plant expected to generate over half of the company’s overseas revenue within three years.

According to Reuters, Wellascent’s investment is a rare example of a Chinese firm benefiting from US trade measures. A temporary 145 percent equipment tariff earlier this year almost halted plans, but a trade truce allowed construction to continue. Experts say the case may guide other Chinese firms eyeing US investment.

Netflix appears to have its first No. 1 box-office title in the streaming company’s 18-year history thanks to the sensation of “KPop Demon Hunters.”

Rival studios on Sunday estimated “KPop Demon Hunters” led all films over the weekend with $16-18 million in ticket sales. Distribution executives from three studios shared their estimates for the Netflix phenomenon on condition of anonymity because the streaming company has a policy of not reporting ticket sales, Associated Press reported.

Following a dominating few weeks as one of the most popular Netflix releases ever, the streamer put the film into 1,750 theaters for sing-along screenings Saturday and Sunday. Studios are able to accurately estimate ticket sales for all releases on Sunday morning, though the uncommon nature of the “KPop Demon Hunters” releases means a wider variance. Some estimates were as high as $20 million.