For the European Union, the dominance of China in rare earth elements has evolved from an economic inconvenience into a strategic vulnerability. These metals—vital for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced defence systems—have placed Europe in a position of dependency that no longer aligns...

U.S. President Donald Trump is signalling a sharpened approach toward Vladimir Putin and Moscow as the two leaders prepare to meet, putting Russia explicitly “on notice” over its actions in Ukraine. The presidential rhetoric, backed by possible military levers and diplomatic timing, marks a...

Amid a bitter budget standoff, the Trump administration initiated sweeping job cuts across multiple federal departments—turning the government shutdown into a theater of political power and strategic pressure. The decision to lay off thousands of U.S. government workers offers a revealing window...

Washington has insisted that European nations impose steep secondary tariffs on China (and India) over their purchases of Russian oil—demanding Europe take the first step before the U.S. presses ahead. Behind this insistence lie a combination of geopolitical strategy, moral posturing, legal...

European leaders are moving closer to an unprecedented financial move: channeling proceeds from frozen Russian assets into a reparations loan for Ukraine. The initiative, spearheaded by the European Commission, reflects a deepening commitment to Kyiv’s defense while navigating the legal, political,...

Congressional disclosure of materials from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate has put a disputed 2003 “birthday book” squarely into the political spotlight. The book, turned over to the House Oversight Committee and made public in part this week, contains photographs, sketches and short notes compiled for...

Chinese President Xi Jinping used a high-profile summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to set out an expansive vision for a reshaped global order — one that leans on regional institutions, coordinated economic heft and state-driven finance to offer an alternative to a U.S.-centred system....

India and China’s agreement to resume direct flights and expand trade and investment marks a pragmatic thaw between two wary neighbours — a move shaped as much by regional border diplomacy as by a shifting global economic backdrop. After years of freeze-and-thaw relations following a deadly 2020...

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Wednesday, just two days before the expiration of a key deadline set by President Donald Trump. The deadline requires Russia to demonstrate credible steps toward peace in Ukraine or face a new wave of sweeping...

China’s use of exit bans against U.S. nationals has escalated from a sporadic legal remedy into a potent instrument of state leverage, ensnaring professionals, former officials and corporate executives alike. In recent weeks, at least two high‑profile American citizens—a federal patent examiner and...

China has moved decisively to enlarge its diplomatic footprint around the world as Washington’s engagement recedes. From Africa to Latin America, and across Asia and the Pacific, Beijing is deploying a mix of high‑level visits, infrastructure financing, special envoys and cultural outreach to...