China
Europe and China eye trade partnership – but sources of friction remain
Whether the Trump administration’s renewed trade confrontation with Beijing pushes Europe into a tighter partnership with China remains to be seen, especially as Japan will be pushing to prevent Beijing and Brussels from getting too close.
Uber to pay $700mn for 85% stake in Turkey delivery unit of Alibaba’s Trendyol
Trendyol GO delivered 200mn+ orders in 2024 and generated $2bn in gross bookings.
COMMENT: Trump’s tariff drive hits emerging markets as growth and inflation forecasts slide – Oxford Economics
President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies are already casting a long shadow over emerging market economies, with analysts cutting growth forecasts and warning of prolonged investment uncertainty and policy disruption.
Post-war order teetering – rights watchdog
Eurasia “at forefront” of assault on individual freedoms.
COMMENT: Middle Corridor makes progress, but playing second fiddle to the Northern Route
The Middle Corridor linking China to Europe through the South Caucasus and Central Asia has expanded significantly in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but its long-term prospects remain uncertain.
Global press freedom indicator slips – Statista
This year's World Press Freedom Index highlights the economic situation of journalists and media organizations being a major risk to press freedom.
Albanese defies ‘incumbency curse’ with a landslide re-election in Australia
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defied expectations and the so-called “incumbency curse” to secure a resounding second-term victory, with his centre-left Labor Party predicted to secure a landslide victory.
EU swaps China for Russia in procurement of rare earth metals
The EU is increasingly turning to China to source hard-to-find rare earth metals and dropping previous import deals with Russia.
Australia holds the key to breaking China’s stranglehold over global critical minerals supplies
In the deepening trade conflict between Washington and Beijing, one exception has stood out: 31 critical minerals, including rare earth elements, were exempted from tariffs. The move was less a concession than an admission of depence on China.
Indonesia’s coal politics: maintaining a strategic market price despite Chinese resistance
Indonesia's recent efforts to impose a government-mandated coal benchmark price or Harga Batubara Acuan on exports face resistance from its largest buyer, China
BRICS seeks new global alignment at Rio ministerial summit
The expanded BRICS alliance has emerged as a potent diplomatic force at its foreign ministers’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on April 28 ahead of the July meeting.
Global military spending surges to $2.7 trillion – Statista
Global military spending hit $2.7 trillion last year, according to the latest data by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Statista reports.
China and EU step up climate leadership as Trump left out of pre-COP30 talks
Leaders of more than a dozen countries, including China’s President Xi Jinping and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, gathered virtually last week for high-level climate talks ahead of the Brazilian COP30.
Japanese official warns of wider Asian security impact of Trump tariffs
Former defence minister Itsunori Onodera, speaking in Washington at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, expressed particular concern about the potential impact on Southeast Asia.
COMMENT: Embracing “Greater Central Asia” has become a strategic imperative for US
Wider region increasingly seen as arena in which major powers’ interests, such as in sourcing critical minerals, collide and converge.
BERTRAND: China now accounts for 64% of world’s renewable energy output
According to the latest report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an extraordinary 64% – nearly two-thirds – of all renewable energy capacity added globally in 2024 was installed in China.
Azerbaijan and China sign major renewable energy deals
Baku is accelerating its partnerships with major Chinese energy firms in developing large-scale renewable infrastructure, including offshore wind, floating solar and battery storage projects.
China creates world's thinnest chip with 5931 transistors
Researchers in China have created the most advanced microprocessor yet made from a two-dimensional material, boasting 5931 transistors crafted from molybdenum disulfide—just three atoms thick.
_1745520860.jpg)
Colombia’s import surge deepens trade deficit
Colombia's trade deficit expanded sharply in February 2025 to reach $1.24bn, a 63% increase from the same month in 2024, driven by a significant rise in imports, according to government agencies.
IMF: Enhancing financial stability for resilience during uncertain times
Capital markets are essential for driving economic activity, providing mechanisms for raising funds and allocating resources efficiently. The stability of these markets and the financial institutions that intermediate them are critical.