In Riyadh, China talks, Africa listens.
Here Xi is meeting with head of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan
Kuwait knows the routine:
"China is a great country. Let me congratulate Chairman Xi on winning a new term...
Meanwhile, back in China, Li Keqiang is coming into his own as a spirited leader.
He's casual and friendly throughout, but Chinese factotums are in the habit of scribbling down the leader's words as they do with Xi.
Wang Yang runs a fairly casual meeting, and Han Zheng zooms it in.
Xi need only to look at CCTV to know what all potential rivals are doing in his absence.
Perhaps most formidable in ability, and unassuming in looks is Wang Qishan, who talks to global business leaders such as Richard Li, Pony Ma, Richard Schwarzman...
Tim Cook of Apple and Ho Ching of Temasak Trust.
Covid protocols relaxed. Numbers way down (no one's testing)
Chinese traditional medicine is touted as first choice for mild and asymptomatic cases.
CPI nudges up a bit, but not like this new rocket, successfully launched from a mobile platform at sea
China's homemade passenger jet unveiled
And it bombs away, as Russia zooms across the skies of Ukraine, all footage courtesy of Moscow.
Russia launches more missiles...
Ukraine fights back.
But it's really the Pentagon that is the source of all troubles, for it is adding oil to the flames in Ukraine and wrecking the world economy with sanctions.
Xi Jinping had no time for Jiang Zemin once he obtained power himself. His predecessor endured a kind of high-end house arrest under media blackout but now that he's dead, Xi's CCP is pulling out all the stops to show how much it cares.
The first 9 minutes of Xinwen Lianbo are thus dedicated to a man who couldn't get a second of his own air time during his long sequestered retirement, but now he's no longer a threat. The real threat is any unrest in the wake of his passing and CCP is putting a full stop to that.
CCTV documents in almost clinical detail the journey of a box of bones from a memorial room in Zhongnanhai to a chute on a boat off Shanghai, from the center of CCP power to the sea.
Xiaoliang, the artist who did this warm digital rendering of Peng Lifa based on a photograph, is reportedly himself in trouble. This now famous picture, posted on Oct 15, was his last post.
He is said to be in detention for "picking quarrels and making trouble"
Xiao Liang, an artist from Nanchang, was arrested.
Xiao Liang's Twitter account contains some beautiful digital renderings of famous people and interesting faces.
Xiao Liang's support for Ukraine, which conflicts with Beijing's policy, and his opposition to Russian invasion, which Beijing has yet to acknowledge, is plain to see.
-Motorcade with Saudi characteristics
-Audience within an audience
-Xi hemmed in by Saudi protocol
-Like a fish out of water
-Xi regains his mojo in meetings with Egypt, Palestine
The December 9 news opens with a Xi motorcade, but this one is a little different. Motorcycles accompany his car from the airport to Riyadh, after which the Saudi cavalry takes over.
The arrival of the foreign VIP is trumpeted.
Prime Minister MBS greets Xi
CCTV FOLLIES 12.08 King for a day
-Xi descends from the sky to alight in Saudi Arabia
-Full ceremonials and pomp fit for a king
-In Xi's absence, Li Keqiang is number one big boss
-Cai Qi also gets a whiff of glory
-Russia tells it like it is in Ukraine
In an opening reminiscent of "Triumph of the Will" the man of destiny gazes down upon the earth as his craft slowly descends towards its destination.
His jet is soon accompanied by other jets flying in tribute to his munificence, power and grace, letting loose streamers of smoke as the big jet lands in Riyadh.