China’s former premier, sidelined by Xi Jinping, dies

News Snapshot:

Chinese social media had an outpouring of grief and shock, with some government websites turning black-and-white in an official sign of mourning. The Weibo microblogging platform turned its “like” button into a “mourn” icon in the shape of a chrysanthemum flower. Mr Li was premier and head of China’s cabinet under Mr Xi for a decade until stepping down from all political positions in March. Laying a wreath in August last year at a statue of Deng Xiaoping – the leader who brought transformational reform to China’s economy – Li vowed: “Reform and opening up will not stop. The Yangtze...