Xi Jinping Hosts Macron in Chengdu, But Tangible Deals Remain Elusive
Chinese President Xi Jinping accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron on a sightseeing visit to Chengdu on Friday, marking a rare gesture of personal diplomacy....
Global Food Prices Slide in November as Supply Boosts Ease Costs, FAO Reports
Global food commodity prices fell for the third consecutive month in November, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The FAO...
Putin Visits India as Modi Signals Support for Ukraine Peace, Strengthens Trade Ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for his first visit to India in four years, meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra...
Taiwan and Japan Express Concern as China Launches Largest Naval Deployment Yet
Taiwan and Japan have raised alarms over China’s unprecedented maritime activity across East Asian waters, following reports that Beijing deployed over 100 naval and...
Australia Moves to Deepen Defence Ties with Japan Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles will travel to Japan on Saturday for talks with his counterpart Koizumi Shinjiro, with both sides eager to accelerate...
Japan’s Takaichi Walks Fiscal Tightrope as Markets Test Her Stimulus Agenda
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is caught in a tense showdown with financial markets as Japan’s long-term borrowing costs spike to their highest level since...
Nikkei Slides as Investors Brace for Key US Inflation Data; Asia Mostly Higher
Asian markets were mixed on Friday as Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.3%, reversing its weekly gains ahead of crucial U.S. inflation data that could...
Israel Boosts 2026 Defence Budget to $34 Billion Despite Gaza Ceasefire
Israel has set its 2026 defence budget at 112 billion shekels ($34.6 billion), significantly higher than earlier drafts. The decision comes as the cabinet...
Syria Eyes Economic Rebound as Sanctions Ease and Refugees Return
Syria is emerging from a 14-year civil war and attempting to re-enter the global financial system following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last...
AI Boom Ignites Innovation-and Alarms Over Jobs, Power Demand
Artificial intelligence has become the world’s fastest-moving technological shift since the internet era, drawing trillions in investment and driving corporate restructuring. At the Reuters...