After spending decades criticising China, a succession of leaders from Western countries have been lining up to engage with its leadership. In recent months, many of them have visited Beijing, seeking business opportunities. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is the latest to land in China. Merz says Beijing must not be overlooked when tackling the big … Read more
Caracas says it is opening up the sector to private players. It all started with a direct US attack on Venezuela earlier this month. Back then, US President Donald Trump made it clear that he was only interested in the country’s substantial oil reserves. On Thursday, the government in Caracas announced a massive overhaul of … Read more
This past week, Iranian protesters were labelled “terrorists” and “saboteurs” by the state. That rhetoric was accompanied by an internet blackout and a surge in violence, with the death toll still unclear. Simultaneously, tensions between the United States and Iran escalated, raising the stakes in what has become one of the most serious political upheavals … Read more
There are more signs that the United States is disengaging from the global order established after World War II. President Donald Trump has ordered his administration to pull out of more than 60 agencies, half of them part of the United Nations. Trump argues that being a member of these organisations is contrary to his … Read more
Beijing has carried out its biggest-ever military drills off the self-governed island. China has launched more rockets as it continues its huge live-fire exercises off Taiwan. The drills, which Beijing named “Justice Mission 2025”, are widely seen as a show of force as China seeks to assert its claim that Taiwan is part of its … Read more
UN warns 17 million people in Afghanistan face acute food insecurity. Devastated by decades of war and instability, Afghanistan is facing a multitude of crises. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, it’s been subjected to international sanctions. Now, once again, Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. The World Food Programme says it’s … Read more
The US has eased sanctions on Belarus after the close Russian ally freed more than 100 political prisoners. United States President Donald Trump has eased sanctions on Belarus after it freed more than 100 political prisoners. But stiff European sanctions remain in place against the close Russian ally. Why has the US deal been struck … Read more
Just over half of citizens across nine European countries believe there is a high risk of a conflict, French poll finds. Published On 4 Dec 20254 Dec 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share A majority of citizens in Germany, France, the Netherlands and several other European Union member states believe there … Read more
In China, 87 percent of people trust AI, compared with just 32 percent in the US, according to an Edelman poll. Published On 19 Nov 202519 Nov 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share China’s public is far more trusting of artificial intelligence than their peers in the United States and other … Read more
The secretary-general of the United Nations has described the latest wave of atrocities reportedly committed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan’s city of el-Fasher as “a nightmare of violence and a horrifying crisis”. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed, and many more displaced, after the paramilitary group took over the … Read more