It was a warm gesture on a chilly night when Vladimir Putin wrapped a shawl around the wife of Xi Jinping while the Chinese president chatted with Barack Obama.

A former top general in China has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party to face bribery charges, becoming the most senior figure ensnared in an anti-corruption crackdown.

Commentary in China’s state-run media urged people to react “rationally” to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, after days of protests by passengers’ relatives who say Malaysia has mishandled the investigation.