NEW DELHI, Dec 8 (Reuters) - India said on Monday it expects China to provide assurances that Indian nationals transiting through Chinese airports will not be "selectively targeted, arbitrarily detained,

China’s renminbi is lagging the currencies of key trading partners, making Chinese goods and services cheap and helping to drive exports.

Emmanuel Macron went to China this week bearing gifts of Hermès scarves and returned with promises of pandas, but the apparent bonhomie between the French president and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping could not hide a growing malaise in ties between their two nations.

Beijing may see friendly ties with France as a way into expanding its influence within the E.U., but is constrained in its ability to offer Paris major concessions.

The Japanese entertainment industry has become increasingly reliant on China in recent years. China is the world’s second-largest market for anime, with fantasy films like “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: Infinity Castle,” which was released last month, rising to the top of the Chinese box office.

As one of Beijing's earliest large residential communities, the Fangzhuang community in Fengtai District was among the city's neighborhoods most in need of renovation. As a result, it was chosen as a pilot zone for the first area-wide renewal.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul heads to China on Monday for his first visit as Berlin toughens its stance on Beijing over trade disputes and geopolitical conflicts, in line with European partners.

TOKYO, Dec 8 (Reuters) - A Chinese carrier strike group sailing close to Japan kept up intense air operations on Sunday as it sailed into the Pacific Ocean east of the Okinawa Islands, Japan's Self-Defense Forces said Monday.