Features
Paraguay's Taiwan loyalty has a price and Beijing knows exactly what it is
Paraguay backs Taiwan — again. But with $6bn in Chinese imports and no direct access for beef or soy, the real pressure isn't coming from Beijing's diplomats. It's coming from Asunción's own farmers.
A world more afraid: Wars fuelling rising fears of foreign attacks
The world is simultaneously more afraid of war and less willing to fight one, according to the 2026 Democracy Perception Index. Governments are spending more on defence, but in the Western world the citizens are increasingly unwilling to go to war.
Global democracy perception of US collapses, behind Russia and China for first time
A survey of nearly 100,000 people across 98 countries has found that global perception of the US has collapsed to its lowest recorded level — placing it among the five most negatively perceived countries in the world, behind both Russia and China,
Pinglu Canal highlights China’s logistics-first infrastructure strategy
China’s latest major infrastructure project, the Pinglu Canal in Guangxi in the south of the country, is being described by local sources and in online forums in sweeping terms - a transformative trade route of sorts.
The Philippines bets big on nickel’s battery boom
The Philippine nickel sector is itching for a bigger slice of the global critical minerals pie as the world’s appetite for battery metals goes into overdrive.
Europe's rearmament programme is falling apart from the inside just when Ukraine needs it most
Europe's most ambitious attempt to coordinate its own defence — the €800bn ReArm programme launched with considerable fanfare in early 2025 — is being quietly undermined by the very governments that approved it.
Russia's machine and tool production growing fast on innovation forced by sanctions
Sanctions have spurred innovation from Russian cheese to turbines in the last few years. Now it’s the turn of precision machining in a key development for the economy.
The Iran war exposes fiscal fragility around the world
The Iran war has arrived at the worst possible fiscal moment for most of the world's major economies. Governments spent heavily on Covid, defence and two energy crises. Fiscal space across most of the developed world is limited or exhausted.
Taiwan's circle of friends has shrunk to 12 thanks to Beijing pressure
In 1969, Taiwan stood at the peak of its formal diplomatic standing, recognised by approximately 70 countries as the legitimate government of China. Today that number is 12.
Europe funds the Ukraine conflict with debt, Russia with cash
How can Europe cover the $100bn the war in Ukraine costs? The EU just signed off on a €90bn loan for Ukraine agreed at a summit on December 19 to get it through the next two years. Europe doesn't have the cash. Russia does.
BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Istanbul “lawfare” echoes Brazil playbook as Imamoglu trial mirrors elimination of Lula
Stinging comparison between Turkish judiciary’s actions and "Car Wash" moves that once upended Brazilian democracy.
Bosnia steel shutdown hits railways, port and regional supply chains
The suspension of steel production at Bosnia’s flagship plant in Zenica is sending shockwaves across the country’s industrial base and into neighbouring Croatia.
Israel courts Panama at moment of deep isolation and maritime crisis
Israel arrived in Panama championing open waterways, just 67 days after co-initiating the strikes that closed Hormuz. Behind the diplomacy: five strategic objectives, one canal, and a Latin American alliance in construction.
North Macedonia’s antimony project rekindles mining debate
Planned antimony mining project in the Kriva Palanka region becomes new flashpoint.
Beijing becomes the chessboard as Iran pre-empts Trump-Xi summit
Araghchi's pre-emptive trip to Beijing, 14 days before Trump meets Xi, has put Iran's interests on the table before Washington can carve them off.
China’s Treasury sell-off gains pace as fault lines appear in dollar dominance
That China is increasing its share in non-US sovereign debt at the same time many countries are purchasing Treasuries is classic China, with Beijing now starting to don the puppetmaster’s gloves.
India's changing FDI landscape
Capital with adversarial Chinese or Pakistani ownership will hit a wall that each successive regulation has made harder to get around.
Turkey’s prosecutors recorded 17mn people as “suspects” in 2025
Legal infrastructure faces a “file load” crisis. Simply entering the judicial process has become a punishment in itself.
Croatian blue chips post strong Q1 despite global volatility
Many constituents of the CROBEX index reported strong revenue and profit growth in Q1 despite a volatile global backdrop marked by geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures and uneven economic growth.
New report documents how Central Asian states abet Russian sanctions-busting
Georgia is Russia’s primary route in Caucasus.