World

Global events and international developments affecting markets.

Reporting on international affairs, geopolitical developments, and global economic trends. This category connects world events to their potential impact on financial markets, trade flows, and investor risk perception.

Articles

3,089 total articles

Malian Army Reclaims Border Town After Withdrawal of IS-Affiliated Fighters

Malian Army Reclaims Border Town After Withdrawal of IS-Affiliated Fighters

Malian troops have re-established control of Menaka, a town near the Niger border, after fighters linked to the Islamic State in the Sahel Province pulled back following clashes. The move comes amid a broader security operation after coordinated attacks over the weekend by al Qaeda-linked insurgents and a coalition of Tuareg separatists that killed…

Pentagon Says U.S. Military Operations in Iran Have Cost $25 Billion So Far

Pentagon Says U.S. Military Operations in Iran Have Cost $25 Billion So Far

A senior Pentagon official told lawmakers that the United States has spent $25 billion on military operations against Iran to date, with most of that sum going toward munitions. The official did not specify whether the estimate accounts for damage to bases or the costs of rebuilding. The conflict, which began with U.S. strikes on Feb. 28 and is now…

Mali Setbacks Undermine Russia’s Security Role and Access to Mineral Projects

Mali Setbacks Undermine Russia’s Security Role and Access to Mineral Projects

Recent battlefield reversals suffered by Mali’s Kremlin-aligned military government have weakened Russia’s standing as a security provider in West Africa and placed its political and economic foothold in the country at risk. A weekend offensive by a West African al Qaeda affiliate and a Tuareg separatist force saw the death of Mali’s Russia-trained…

Kremlin Orders Reduced Victory Day Parade, Citing Elevated Threats from Ukraine

Kremlin Orders Reduced Victory Day Parade, Citing Elevated Threats from Ukraine

The Kremlin has announced that this year’s Victory Day parade on May 9 in Moscow’s Red Square will be significantly pared back and will not include the customary display of military equipment. Officials said the change responds to an increased threat from Ukraine. The decision has prompted commentary from Kremlin critics, former diplomats and livel…

Germany to Levy Sugary Drinks from 2028 Under New Health Reform

Germany to Levy Sugary Drinks from 2028 Under New Health Reform

Germany has approved a healthcare reform package that includes a levy on sugary drinks, to take effect in 2028. The surcharge is projected to raise 450 million euros annually to finance disease prevention and health promotion; specific levy rates have not yet been set. The proposal has drawn criticism from the sugar industry and aligns with interna…

Merz Says Personal Ties with Trump Remain Intact Despite Public Row Over Iran

Merz Says Personal Ties with Trump Remain Intact Despite Public Row Over Iran

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his personal relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump remains good despite a public dispute over the Iran war. Merz repeated concerns about the economic fallout from disruptions linked to the conflict, notably the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its consequences for Europe's energy supplies a…

U.S. Sanctions on Hengli Signal Sharper Focus on Iran Oil Supply Chains

U.S. Sanctions on Hengli Signal Sharper Focus on Iran Oil Supply Chains

The U.S. Treasury on Friday placed sanctions on Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, accusing the firm of purchasing billions of dollars of Iranian crude. The parent company denies the allegations and is contesting the measures. The designation targets a 400,000 barrel-per-day refinery complex in Dalian and follows recent U.S. warnings and a lap…

Trump Presses Iran to Agree as U.S. Considers Extended Port Blockade

Trump Presses Iran to Agree as U.S. Considers Extended Port Blockade

President Donald Trump urged Iran to rapidly accept a negotiated settlement as a media report said U.S. officials have been directed to prepare for an extended blockade of Iranian ports. The move comes amid stalled talks, mounting economic pressure on Tehran, assertions from Iranian officials that alternative routes are mitigating effects of the bl…

Taiwan Dominates Agenda as Trump Prepares to Visit Beijing

Taiwan Dominates Agenda as Trump Prepares to Visit Beijing

As U.S. President Donald Trump plans a trip to Beijing next month, Taiwan has emerged as the central topic expected to dominate talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Taipei and Washington are closely monitoring whether any change in U.S. language or policy toward Taiwan could follow, amid diplomatic signals, military posturing and intensified commu…

What 'Taiwan independence' Means and Whether Taiwan Already Is Independent

What 'Taiwan independence' Means and Whether Taiwan Already Is Independent

As leaders from Washington and Beijing prepare to meet, the question of 'Taiwan independence' is expected to figure prominently. This article explains the historical roots of Taiwan’s current status, its international standing, how its government views sovereignty, the constitutional hurdles to a formal name change, President Lai’s statements on in…

Women Bear Brunt of Deadly Jakarta Commuter Crash

Women Bear Brunt of Deadly Jakarta Commuter Crash

Sixteen women were killed and 91 people, mostly women, were injured when two trains collided near Jakarta, with all fatalities occurring in a carriage reserved for female passengers. The victims included a 30-year-old mother of two who supported her family financially. The accident has underscored the heavy dependence of female workers and commuter…

Private firms bolstering Ukraine's local air defences to shield industry

Private firms bolstering Ukraine's local air defences to shield industry

Ukraine has begun deploying private air defence companies under a government pilot to protect businesses and vital infrastructure from frequent Russian drone attacks. Twenty firms have registered under the programme; two are already operating and coordinate with the Ukrainian air force’s command system. Companies employ layered protections - from i…

Drone Strikes Hit Odesa Region Ports and Hospital; Fires Rage in Residential Areas

Drone Strikes Hit Odesa Region Ports and Hospital; Fires Rage in Residential Areas

Ukrainian authorities say overnight drone strikes by Russian forces damaged port facilities in the southern Odesa region, destroyed the admissions department of a regional hospital and sparked fires in residential districts and a protected Danube nature reserve. Two people were reported wounded in the Odesa-area residential fires. Kyiv’s air force …

Beijing Urges Taiwan to Embrace Union, Taipei Reaffirms Rejection

Beijing Urges Taiwan to Embrace Union, Taipei Reaffirms Rejection

China reiterated that Taiwan would gain significant economic advantages if it agreed to reunification, while Taipei rejected the proposal and warned that Chinese military and grey-zone tactics threaten regional stability. Beijing emphasized access to its vast market and Taiwan’s technological strengths; Taiwan pointed to robust economic performance…

Ukraine’s Push to Thwart the Shahed: A Nationwide Effort to Hold the Line

Ukraine’s Push to Thwart the Shahed: A Nationwide Effort to Hold the Line

In northeastern Ukraine a small team of interceptor-drone crews operate from the back of a van, trying to stop low-cost Iranian-designed Shahed drones that Moscow has used in mass. Ukrainian officials, manufacturers and military personnel describe a rapidly evolving campaign that has raised interception rates but faces technical and operational lim…

Global tropical forest loss slowed in 2025 but risks persist, report finds

Global tropical forest loss slowed in 2025 but risks persist, report finds

A new report shows the world lost 4.3 million hectares of primary tropical forest last year, a 36% decline from 2024 largely attributed to Brazil’s strengthened anti-deforestation measures. Despite the improvement, experts warn that nations remain far off track to meet a 2030 commitment to halt and reverse forest loss, and that climate-driven fires…