China
The super El Nino is here
The planet’s seas are on their way to being as warm as bath water as the predicted super El Niño arrives. It is already clear that this year’s oceanic heating event will be the most powerful on record.
Serbia to launch Chinese-backed humanoid robot production in August
Belgrade is seeking to position itself as a regional hub for advanced technology.
Dollar's grip on global reserves slips to lowest level this century
The US dollar's share of global foreign exchange reserves has fallen to its lowest level this century, underlining a slow-moving long-term de-dollarisation by central banks to diversify away from the world's dominant reserve currency.
Super Typhoon Bavi’s visit to Taiwan more of a damp squib than a bringer of devastation
Most injuries were caused by people outside during the typhoon falling from scooters and bicycles on slippery roads as strong winds blew.
Typhoon Bavi reaches Taiwan as some businesses remain open despite shutdown orders
Despite forecasts that Bavi could become one of Taiwan's most significant typhoons in decades, it has yet to match the impact of several major storms that struck the island over the past 10 years.
Taiwan braces for once-in-a-generation typhoon
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration has issued a land warning for Typhoon Bavi, which is expected to bring up to 900 mm of rain to northern mountain areas by Sunday July 12, and generate waves of more than six metres along the coast.
China’s Xi orders all-out rescue effort after Fujian factory fire kills 28
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out search and rescue efforts after a fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang, Fujian province, left almost 30 dead.
Namibia targets domestic uranium processing in talks with China’s CGN
Namibia, the world’s third largest uranium producer, in 2024 exported nearly all its output to China, which also controls production at two of the African country’s largest mines.
Nigeria opens Chinese-built $250mn lithium plant, targets leading role in battery supply chain
Nigeria's $250mn launch of a lithium-processing plant comes as as UNCTAD forecasts global demand will rise by 353% between 2024 and 2040, driven by electric vehicles, battery storage and clean energy tech.
US strike on Iranian railway bridge hits China-Russia trade corridor near Turkmenistan
The US struck a railway bridge in Iran's Golestan province on the China-Iran-Russia rail corridor in one of the deepest US strikes inside Iran since the conflict began.
IMF downgrades global growth forecast second time in a row – Statista
The IMF downgraded global growth prospects for the second time this year, saying it expects the global economy to grow by just 3 percent in 2026. In January, this projection had still stood at 3.3 percent, Statista reports.
China weaponises port inspections to punish Panama over ports ruling
Panama's Supreme Court stripped China's CK Hutchison of its canal-flanking ports, a ruling Washington spent a year engineering. Beijing hit back with a quiet blockade of Panamanian shipping. Now Panama heads to Beijing to plead for a ceasefire.
China's massive battery capacity buildout – Statista
China’s lead in renewable energy is matched by its dominance in battery storage, Statista reports.
Iranian oil continued reaching customers despite sanctions, EIA data shows
Iranian crude and petroleum products continued to reach international markets despite years of US sanctions, with EIA data identifying at least 154 vessels involved in transporting Iranian cargoes recorded at 19 ports in four countries.
Beijing raises stakes in economic clash with Tokyo
Beijing expanded its economic pressure campaign against Tokyo in late June, imposing immediate outbound trade limits on 40 Japanese enterprises and state-run scientific bodies.
Record ocean temperatures push climate into uncharted waters
The world's oceans reached their highest average June surface temperatures on record this year, underscoring growing concern among scientists that the planet is entering a new phase of climate instability in which extreme weather events become normal
Trump's four-part strategy for a post-American world: retreat, rebel, replace and reform international institutions
Trump has broken with the paradigm of the rules based international order and is causing chaos with his “America first” approach. But actually he has four approaches to reforming international bodies: retreat, rebel, replace and reform.
Peru reasserts control over China's flagship South American port
China's flagship port just lost its shield. A Lima court stripped COSCO of regulatory immunity at Chancay, echoing Washington's Panama playbook. But a graft trail through Peru's own port officials suggests sovereignty was never the only motive.
Chinese state firms post 3.5% profit growth in first five months
Total operating revenue for the period fell 0.7% year on year to about CNY32.82 trillion, indicating pressure on top-line growth despite rising profitability.
Iran could regain four key Asian oil markets if US sanctions lifted
Iran could once again rely on four major Asian markets, China, India, Japan and South Korea, for its crude oil exports if banking sanctions are lifted, a former senior official at the National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) said.