Putin and Xi further their embrace to defy U.S.-led pressure President Xi Jinping of China and Russia’s Vladimir Putin doubled down on their alliance against the West this week during the Kremlin leader’s visit to Beijing. Read more on NPR

Youth detention facilities face increased scrutiny amid a wave of abuse lawsuits A new lawsuit alleges widespread sexual abuse of juveniles took place over decades at Illinois youth detention facilities. Similar lawsuits have been filed this year in other states. Read more on NPR

Saving a Language in Chile Ckunsa, an indigenous language in Chile, was declared dead 70 years ago. But groups in northern Chile are successfully reviving the language and teaching it to a new generation. Read more on NPR

Mercedes workers vote no to union, putting the brakes on UAW’s march South More than 5,000 Mercedes-Benz workers who build luxury SUVs in Alabama were eligible to vote on whether to join the UAW. Workers faced intense anti-union messaging from Mercedes in the run-up. Read more on NPR