The unimportant news thread

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Woody Allen to publish his first novel.


https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jul/17/woody-allen-to-publish-his-first-novel

[drogulus]

    Holy whatever! The news is now getting into the news!

    Xi Jinping is losing his grip on China— and Trump can give him a push

Xi Jinping's once-total control of the Chinese military and the Chinese Communist Party is looking increasingly shaky — and President Donald Trump has a chance to help hasten the dictator's departure.

Last month I explained in these pages why Xi, China's "Chairman of Everything" since 2012, might soon be out of power.

Critics scoffed — but on July 2 Beijing announced that Xi, for the first time, would miss this year's BRICS Summit in Brazil.

Xi had long used the annual BRICS meeting as a domestic showpiece for his international leadership, with every Chinese press organ reporting on his summit speeches and activities in multiple front-page stories.

The blanket coverage strengthened Xi's perceived power at home, so the chance that he volunteered to miss this year's BRICS Summit is next to none.

     This is a crucial tell

Furthermore, Xi's wife Peng Liyuan has not been seen in public for more than two months, and Ma Xingrui, one of Xi's closest senior allies, was recently "assigned to another post," according to state media — that is, removed from his position as Xinjiang Party Secretary.

     Xi visited Moscow without his wife for the first time, clearly to keep him from staying and running up years of hotel bills.

A flagging economy, huge outflows of capital, unemployment rates in depression territory and completely unsustainable public and private debt levels are driving deep unrest and even public protests in various regions of China.

If a critical mass of CCP leaders believes their nation cannot afford any more upheaval, they may well be orchestrating a smooth exit for Xi to avoid a messy coup.

    Would Trump want Xi to fall? He usually likes to deal with his favored dictators. A more moderate China run by semi-tators would bewilder him even more than at present.
     

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Italian concert by Gergiev called off after outcry.



https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jul/21/russian-conductor-valery-gergiev-italian-concert-called-off-after-outcry-putin