Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,235

Luxury hotels in China, known for their high-end banquets and fancy dining, are now embracing street food to stay afloat. Take the five-star Zhongwu Hotel in Changzhou—ranked as one of the city’s top luxury spots—which recently started selling budget-friendly meal boxes, a move that’s raising eyebrows. It’s a sign that even the poshest places are adapting to shifting consumer tastes, where affordability and convenience are winning over extravagance.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about hotels selling cheaper food—it’s a reflection of broader economic and cultural shifts. Post-pandemic, even wealthy consumers are tightening their belts, and luxury brands are scrambling to stay relevant. If high-end hotels are ditching silver platters for street-style meals, it signals a bigger trend: the old rules of luxury are being rewritten.

A 26-year-old mother in China, Huang, sold both of her young sons—one of whom she allegedly conceived just to sell—for around $11,600. She used the money to tip live-streaming hosts and buy clothes, sparking widespread anger. Huang, who only finished primary school, worked odd jobs in Fujian province after moving from Guangxi.

Editor’s Note: This shocking case highlights the dark side of China’s booming live-streaming culture, where financial desperation and addiction to online validation collide. It also raises tough questions about child welfare, exploitation, and how poverty and lack of education can lead to extreme choices. The public outrage reflects broader concerns over how vulnerable people—and their children—can fall through the cracks.

The UK's new health secretary, Wes Streeting, is set to meet with the British Medical Association (BMA) next week in an attempt to prevent potential strikes by doctors. This comes amid ongoing tensions over pay and working conditions in the NHS.

Editor’s Note: With NHS staff shortages and burnout still major issues, another round of strikes could seriously disrupt patient care. This meeting signals the government’s urgency to find a solution—but whether it leads to real progress or just more deadlock remains to be seen. For the public, it’s a reminder that the NHS’s struggles are far from over.

The U.S. is pressing Japan to define its stance on supporting Taiwan in case of a conflict, according to a report. Ironically, this comes while America itself keeps its own Taiwan policy deliberately vague—leaving Japanese officials surprised and possibly scrambling to clarify their position.

Editor’s Note: Taiwan is a geopolitical flashpoint, and how major allies like Japan and the U.S. respond to a crisis there could reshape the region. The U.S. asking Japan for clarity while staying ambiguous itself adds a layer of diplomatic tension—it’s like asking someone to show their cards while keeping yours hidden. This could signal deeper coordination behind the scenes or just awkward political maneuvering. Either way, it’s a story worth watching.

China's Defense Ministry is accusing Japan of provoking a recent close encounter between their military aircraft, claiming Japanese spy planes engaged in "close-in reconnaissance and harassment." Beijing insists this behavior is what led to the tense aerial incident, though details about the exact nature of the encounter remain scarce.

Editor’s Note: This isn't just a war of words—it's another flare-up in long-standing tensions between two major Asian powers. Close military encounters like these always carry risks, and with China and Japan already at odds over territorial disputes and regional influence, even small incidents could escalate. It’s a reminder of how fragile stability can be in contested airspace.