China
Gold overtakes US Treasuries in central bank reserves
Gold has overtaken US Treasuries as the largest component of global central bank reserves for the first time since the mid-1990s, marking a significant shift in the structure of the international monetary system, Bloomberg reports.
MOSCOW BLOG: Pax Americana exposed as a paper tiger
Superficially the war in Iran has dealt Ukraine a huge blow. The White House is now completely distracted, and the Trump administration seems to have abandoned, or at least paused, the ceasefire negotiations with Russia.
IntelliNews launches IntelliNews Reputation Leaders Awards
April 2, 2026. bne IntelliNews, a leading provider of business news and data about emerging markets, today announces the launch of the IntelliNews Reputation Leaders Awards – an independent, annual awards programme.
Cost of living shock deepens as energy crisis hits G7 spending – Oxford Economics
A surge in energy prices following the escalation of the Iran conflict is intensifying the cost-of-living crisis across the G7, dragging consumer spending growth to its weakest level since 2022.
Ethiopia secures $13.1bn in deals led by $10bn Ming Yang investment into green ammonia project
Ethiopia has signed investment agreements and MoUs worth $13.1bn, including a $10bn planned investment by a Chinese company in green ammonia production and electrical equipment manufacturing projects.
COMMENT: Taiwan’s worship of America could be its downfall
Public discourse can appear disproportionately animated by US culture wars, US electoral cycles and US policy fashions. Foreign sports coverage on local media essentially means NBA or Major League baseball reports.
Jurong Island’s output cut triggers $1.64 petrol spike in Australia
Singapore’s reclaimed oil refining region, the 32-square-kilometre Jurong Island, has become the primary driver of record-high petrol prices in Australia as Middle East supply shocks ripple through the Asia-Pacific energy corridor.
China opposes Philippines renaming South China Sea features
Beijing has voiced firm opposition to Manila's plan to rename more than 100 maritime features in the Nansha Qundao on April 2, vowing to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
$2bn World Bank loan to eliminate Bosporus bottleneck in China-Europe trade corridor breakthrough
INRAIL project also a boost for commerce aross Central Asia, Caucasus and Middle East.
Aircon: from comfort to matter of life and death
The last three years were the hottest ever recorded and it’s only going to get worse – to the point where people will start to die from overheating. Unless you have an air conditioner.
ASIA BLOG: China wins while Iran burns
The world needs a stable Asia – East and West – and would be better served by the removal of the current Iranian regime. Only in the removal of said regime will Beijing be forced back into a more constrained, less opportunistic global role.
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
China and Pakistan issued a five-point peace plan on March 31 calling for an immediate ceasefire and reopening of Hormuz, though the plan's omission of the US and Israel by name and questions over Beijing's credibility as a guarantor may limit its im
Uruguay faces US pressure to cut China ties, economy minister warns
The United States is applying relentless pressure on Uruguay to sever its trade ties with China, Uruguay's Economy Minister Gabriel Oddone told business leaders at a private meeting last week.
China emerges as Iran war safe haven
China is emerging as a safe haven for investors seeking refuge from the Iran war storm.
Sany of China plans €1bn green energy and data centre project in Romania
Chinese industrial conglomerate Sany Group plans to invest more than €1bn in a large-scale hybrid energy and data centre project in western Romania.
China and Turkmenistan cannot get their gas export numbers straight
Eurasianet’s China-Central Asia Monitor: March 20-26, 2026.
China’s electrostate powers its grip on global metals
China’s emergence as a dominant force in industrial metals is increasingly being driven not only by its access to raw materials, but by the scale and structure of its electricity system.
EV sales overtake petrol vehicles in EU for first time
Sales of EVs overtook standard petrol cars in the EU for the first time in December 2025, marking a milestone in the bloc’s transition to cleaner transport and reducing its reliance on oil imports.
DR Congo–China agreement deepens minerals ties amid US supply chain push
The DRC, which produces 70% of global cobalt supply and holds vast copper reserves, has signed a mining cooperation agreement with China, as competition for critical minerals with the US intensifies.
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Taiwan opposition leader to visit China at Xi’s invitation
In a statement issued on March 30 through media channels in Taiwan, the KMT said Cheng had accepted the invitation and would lead a delegation to China.