The New York Times reports: "China stoutly defended on Thursday its right to publish in an American newspaper a supplement that President Trump attacked as interfering in the United States elections, saying the publication was lawful and commonplace. But some liberal Chinese analysts said the four-page supplement, paid for by China Daily, an English language newspaper that adheres closely to the dictates of the Communist Party, showed a lack of judgment, and left China exposed to the president's criticism. The supplement, which appeared on Sunday in The Des Moines Register, was designed to resemble news articles looking at the economic costs of Mr. Trump's trade war with China. Many farmers in Iowa are particularly dependent on global trade. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council, where China's foreign minister was also present, Mr. Trump said: 'Regrettably, we've found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election, coming up in November, against my administration.' He did not offer any evidence of such interference. In a tweet, he later described the supplement as propaganda made to look like news."

CNBC reports: "Key consumer tech products have so far mostly escaped the heat of the ongoing trade war. But if U.S. President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to impose tariffs on the full range of Chinese imports into his country, it could hit that sector hard, experts said. Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit, said that products such as mobile phones and smart watches and other wearable devices could be targeted in the next round, while ANZ Greater China Chief Economist Raymond Yeung pointed to mobile phones as well as other consumer goods. 'If the US Administration imposes a third tranche of tariff measures on a further USD267 billion of Chinese exports, this will significantly ramp up the economic shock waves to Chinese exporters,' Biswas told CNBC in an email. Apple said earlier this month that the tariffs could affect the Apple Watch and AirPods as well as adapters and chargers for a host of products. But according to the latest list of tariffs that kicked in this week, they have been spared so far."

NPR reports: "Days after signing a landmark agreement with the government of China on the appointment of bishops, Pope Francis has written a letter reassuring the Chinese Catholic community of his support. The agreement, which was announced on Saturday, had sparked confusion and criticism of Francis, that he was selling out to the Chinese government. Under the agreement the Vatican will recognize seven bishops appointed by the government, and lift a previous order excommunicating them from the church. The agreement was reached after many years of negotiation between the Vatican and China. The government has long insisted it must appoint bishops within the country, and refused to recognize papal authority to do so. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reported for our Newscast unit that 'the historic move could pave the way to formal diplomatic ties but it will also anger many Chinese Catholics.' Pope Francis 'hopes the deal 'will allow the wounds of the past to be overcome' and lead to full Chinese Catholic unity,' Poggioli reports."