China’s labor ministry has released draft rules that would set nationwide protections for workers in the fast-growing gig economy, reports Caixin. This includes minimum-pay safeguards, limits on algorithmic decision-making and stronger obligations for internet platforms.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security is seeking public comment on the 54-article draft, which would be China’s first ministerial regulation specifically governing the rights of workers in new forms of employment, such as food-delivery riders, couriers, ride-hailing drivers and truck drivers.

The draft sets out basic protections covering equal access to employment, pay, rewards and penalties, working hours and intensity, rest periods, workplace safety, severe-weather protections, vocational training, social insurance, personal-data protection and collective bargaining.

Chinese ​Leader Xi Jinping unveiled on Sunday initiatives in areas ranging from AI to trade to deepen cooperation among the “Greater ‌BRICS” emerging economies, reports Reuters. This comes as Beijing seeks to weld the grouping into a practical platform for Global South development.

Cooperation in areas from politics and security to economics and finance are the main focus areas of the grouping, with 2026 chair India and 2027 chair China seeking wider partnership to boost the organization’s ​global clout. The success of the “Greater BRICS Initiative” depends on laying a solid foundation for pragmatic cooperation, Xi told the leaders’ ​annual summit in New Delhi.

‘Greater BRICS’ nations should further co-operate, maintain ⁠the stability of industrial and supply chains and cultivate an integrated market, Xi told the summit’s closing session. China will take the ​lead in establishing a BRICS AI Open-Source Zone to promote cooperation on large language models, AI training and an open AI ecosystem, ​Xi added. He also proposed a BRICS Special Economic Zone partnership and said China would host a BRICS Service Trade Forum next year to boost trade and investment ties.

China has rejected US allegations of “aggressive, malicious” AI distillation as groundless, warning that it would retaliate if Washington used the claims as a pretext to contain the country’s rapidly advancing artificial intelligence sector, reports the South China Morning Post.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said that US allegations of Chinese AI companies copying American models “on an industrial scale” lacked factual and legal grounds, accusing Washington of using the allegations to assert technological dominance, monopolise computing power and suppress competition.

The response came after the US government on Tuesday accused six Chinese companies–including DeepSeek–of conducting “aggressive, malicious and targeted” distillation of advanced American models on an industrial scale, allegedly with the Chinese government’s awareness.

Lululemon shares dropped nearly 20% after the apparel maker reported declining second-quarter revenue and profit, reports Caixin. The drop was attributed to an abrupt sales reversal in China as well as persistent weakness across North America.

For the quarter ended in July, revenue fell 5% year-on-year on a constant-currency basis to $2.42 billion, while net income declined 11.3% to $329 million. Total comparable sales dropped 10%. On the Chinese mainland, revenue slid 2% and comparable sales fell 8%, marking a sharp retreat from the 23% revenue surge recorded in the first quarter.

Interim co-chief executive and chief financial officer Meghan Frank said the quarterly revenue shortfall stemmed primarily from the China market, where negative social-media sentiment hurt store traffic and lukewarm product launches slowed momentum. Chief commercial officer Andre Maestrini attributed the online backlash to a late-May yoga campaign at the Great Wall. The event sparked public scrutiny after brand ambassador Zhu Yilong played a ceremonial drum that critics and traditional musicians identified as a Japanese taiko drum rather than a Chinese instrument.

Chinese Leader Xi Jinping is preparing a large business delegation to accompany him on his visit to Washington, reports Reuters citing inside sources. The move comes despite US scepticism towards Chinese investment and Beijing’s strained ties with private enterprise.

Xi rarely travels abroad with corporate executives, many of whom fell out ‌of favour after Beijing’s regulatory crackdowns on the technology, education and property sectors that began in 2020. Reuters could not determine which executives would join the delegation.

The move is aimed in part at signalling China’s willingness to support investment and commercial ties with ​the US, while offering the White House some potential economic wins ahead of midterm elections, one of the sources familiar with discussions said.