International

In a symbolic gesture, King Charles III recently held a meeting with Mark Carney, the ex-Governor of the Bank of Canada and a key player in international finance, as a show of unity and backing for Canada. Although primarily ceremonial, the gathering emphasizes the monarch's lasting bond with the Commonwealth nation and showcases the significance of nurturing relationships with influential Canadian personalities worldwide.The meeting occurred amid the changing dynamics between the monarchy and its Commonwealth realms, such as Canada. Being a constitutional monarchy, Canada holds a distinctive connection to the British Crown, with the King acting as the nation's head…

As excitement grows around the forthcoming discussions between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, the Russian leader faces increasing demands to prove his nation's sincere dedication to peace. Demands for tangible measures are voiced by both global officials and analysts, stressing the importance of Russia taking substantial actions to reduce international tensions and showing readiness to participate in effective conversations.As anticipation builds for upcoming talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, the Russian president is under mounting pressure to show that his country is genuinely committed to peace. The calls for concrete actions come from both international leaders and observers, who…

China has revealed its intention to launch a substantial government-supported fund to boost progress in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hydrogen energy, and additional high-tech industries. This project, known as the "state venture capital guidance fund," was announced by Zheng Shanjie, the head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), at a press briefing conducted during China’s yearly legislative sessions.The fund is anticipated to accumulate close to 1 trillion yuan (around $138 billion) within a span of two decades, gathering investments from municipal governments and private companies. This bold initiative signifies China’s enduring strategy to cement its position as a…

Months following the rapid rebel offensive led by Islamists that toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syria continues to be a nation in crisis. The recently formed transitional administration, under the leadership of Ahmad al-Sharaa, is facing increasing security issues, with violent opposition from remaining Assad supporters. Although the breakdown of Assad's repressive government was a significant milestone in Syria's 13-year civil war, achieving lasting peace and stability is turning out to be extremely complex.Months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in a swift Islamist-led rebel offensive, Syria remains a country in turmoil. The new transitional government, led by Ahmad al-Sharaa,…

Ukraine and US Unable to Conclude Rare Earth Minerals DealOn Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump in Washington to sign an agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth mineral deposits. However, the meeting took an unexpected turn, ending in a heated exchange between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance. Following Zelensky’s early departure, the White House announced that no agreement had been signed.Zelensky had earlier conveyed hope that this "initial" agreement might lead to enhanced collaboration. Yet, he acknowledged that Ukraine still hadn't obtained any security assurances from the US—a crucial point…

Ukraine and US Unable to Conclude Rare Earth Minerals DealOn Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine held a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, aiming to sign a deal allowing the US to access Ukraine's rare earth mineral resources. Nonetheless, the discussions took a surprising shift, resulting in a tense argument with Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance. After Zelensky left prematurely, the White House confirmed that no deal was finalized.Previously, Zelensky had expressed optimism that this "preliminary" agreement could pave the way for further cooperation. However, he confirmed that Ukraine had yet to secure any security…

In a move sparking significant debate, former President Donald Trump has proposed transferring the whole population of Gaza to other nations as a possible remedy for the persistent issues in the area. This suggestion, put forward during a discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, has been met with strong disapproval from global aid specialists and human rights defenders, who caution that this plan could worsen the already critical humanitarian conditions affecting Palestinians.Trump's remarks outlined a concept for creating what he termed "various domains" in other nations to accommodate the 1.8 million residents of Gaza. He…

European stock markets traded lower on Monday in the last full trading session of 2024, as investors braced for a quiet end to the year. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index fell 0.5% in early afternoon trading in London, with most sectors posting losses. Technology, industrial and media stocks led the declines, while oil and gas stocks managed to post gains. Trading volumes remained light as markets across the region prepared to close early or remain closed until January 2 for the New Year holidays. Despite Monday's modest performance, European stocks are on track to end the year with moderate gains.…

On New Year's Day, Ukraine officially cut off the flow of Russian natural gas to several European countries, marking the end of Moscow's long-standing dominance of European energy markets. The move, which had been widely anticipated, comes as the five-year transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expired without renewal amid the ongoing war between the two nations. At around 8am local time on Wednesday, Russian state energy giant Gazprom confirmed that gas exports to Europe via Ukrainian pipelines had stopped. This development, which follows more than three decades of transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, highlights changing energy dynamics in…

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) made an unexpected policy adjustment on Thursday, cutting its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points. This larger-than-expected cut defied the forecasts of most economists, who had expected a more modest 25 basis point reduction. The move, aimed at combating low inflation and the continued strength of the Swiss franc, raises the central bank's main rate to 0.5%. This decision marks Switzerland's fourth rate cut this year, as the country remains the first major economy to adopt a more accommodative monetary policy in 2024. The SNB has struggled to curb the appreciation of the franc…