Asia & Pacific
Archive
WHO holds emergency meeting as coronavirus death toll hits 170
The World Health Organisation’s director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the WHO’s emergency committee would meet today to discuss the coronavirus outbreak. He had just...
Archive
Former EU diplomat suspected of spying for China disappears from EU lobbying register
Gerhard Sabathil, the former diplomat suspected of spying for China has been removed from a list of lobbyists in the EU's Transparency Register, a...
China
Kazakhstan takes measures to protect its citizens from Coronavirus
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan - Kazakhstan, which has a common border with neighbouring China with a length of almost 1,500 kilometres, decided to take tough measures...
Afghanistan
Green Central Asia initiative launched
Germany’s foreign minister Heiko Maas hosted a high-level ministerial conference on 28 January in Berlin, during which the ‘Green Central Asia’ initiative was launched.
The...
Analysis
World prepares as deadly coronavirus likely to spread
China’s death toll from the new coronavirus rose to 132, including the first death in the country’s capital, Beijing. The deadly flu-like virus was...
Archive
Asian stocks fall as China virus rattles markets
Global stocks and oil dropped on 27 January after China warned that the new coronavirus was spreading fast. The country extended its Lunar New...
Afghanistan
Conflicting accounts over mysterious plane crash in Afghanistan
The United States’ military said an E-11A aircraft crashed in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province, in a mountainous area partly controlled by the Taliban.
However, the military...
Archive
UK to make Huawei 5G decision today amid intensifying US pressure
London is expected to grant the Chinese tech giant Huawei some access to its 5G network, according to media reports. UK prime minister Boris...
Archive
First case of coronavirus in Germany confirmed
Germany has confirmed its first case of the deadly flu-like coronavirus that broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the death toll...
Archive
Chinese president warns of 'grave situation' as coronavirus death toll rises
Chinese President Xi Jinping called the new coronavirus outbreak a "grave situation". The death toll rose to 56 and more than 2000 people across...
Asia & Pacific
UN court tells Myanmar to prevent Rohingya genocide
After overwhelming evidence showed that Myanmar's government intentionally targeted its Rohingya Muslim minority, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ordered the Burmese...
Archive
Lam promotes Hong Kong in Davos as protests persist
Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam tried to convince the world’s leaders that the city she is in charge of is open for business.
“Because...
China
KazTransOil reduces exports to China after oil contamination
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan – Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry has adjusted the schedule for oil transportation for January, reducing oil exports to China, after contamination was detected...
Archive
Trump reiterates offer to help resolve Kashmir issue
US president Donald Trump reiterated Washington’s offer to resolve tensions between India and Pakistan.
Trump discussed India-Pakistan tensions with Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan on...
India
India’s top court refuses to halt citizenship law
India's Supreme Court has refused to put on hold a controversial new citizenship law, offered by the prime minister Narendra Modi, as part of...
China
China supports Myanmar despite Rohingya genocide accusations
China's president Xi Jinping expressed his support for Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is accused of overseeing a genocide against Rohingya Muslims.
During...
Archive
Former EU diplomat loses security clearance over allegations of spying for China
A German diplomat suspected of working as a secret agent for China had his security clearance revoked and was recalled from his job as...
Archive
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Visits Bier of Hwang Sun Hui
Pyongyang: Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
Archive
IEA: Global oil supply tumbles in December
Global oil supply tumbled 780,000 barrels per day in December as biofuels production declined seasonally and Saudi Arabia reduced output, the International Energy Agency...
Archive
EU to assess if US-China deal is compatible with WTO rules
The EU will assess whether the newly signed US-China Phase One deal is compatible with WTO rules. The deal opened a new, quieter phase...
Archive
European companies ask EU to toughen its approach to China
The business organization BusinessEurope complained that China was the most restrictive of the EU’s trading partners. The EU is China’s biggest trading partner.
The organisation...
Archive
Former EU diplomat suspected of spying for China
German prosecutors said they were investigating three people suspected of working as secret agents and spying for China. The suspects include a former EU...
Archive
US, Japan and EU target China with new WTO subsidy rules proposals
The European Union, Japan and the United States proposed new global subsidy rules on Tuesday, clearly pointing at China's state-supported economic model.
During a Trilateral...
Archive
US, China to sign Phase One trade deal
US President Donald Trump and Chinese vice premier Liu He will today sign the Phase One trade deal, reached in December.
The agreement is a...
Archive
Human Rights Watch chief denied entry to Hong Kong
The rights group Human Rights Watch announced on 12 January that its executive director Kenneth Roth has been denied entry to Hong Kong, where...
Archive
Australian firefighters face uphill battle as bushfires devastate the country
Gale force winds have fanned two of Australia's massive bushfires into a feared “mega blaze,” fueling fears that fire would spill over the New...
Archive
Lebanon issues travel ban for Ghosn, ex-Nissan boss
Lebanon's State Prosecutor Judge Ghassan Oueidat imposed on Thursday a travel ban on Carlos Ghosn, former boss of Nissan, to prevent him from leaving...
Archive
China replaces top Hong Kong envoy after months of protests
China’s ruling Communist Party replaced Wang Zhimin, the country’s official in charge of relations with Hong Kong.
China’s ministry of human resources and social security...
Archive
Wildfires in Australia: death toll rises, fears of “mega blaze”
More than 200 wildfires have ravaged Australia, with the hot and dry weather making it easy for the blazes to start and spread.
The number...
Archive
Interpol issues red notice for ex-Nissan boss Ghosn
The Japanese government called on the International Criminal Police Organization to request the Lebanese government to arrest the former Nissan chief, Carlos Ghosn.
Ghosn left...
Afghanistan
Iran’s top commander Soleimani killed in US drone strike
Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force and the mastermind behind the Islamic Republic’s military and foreign policy in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon,...
Archive
North Korea warns of ‘new strategic weapon’
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un said on 1 January that the world will witness a new strategic weapon soon, according to the the...
China
Kazakhstan cancels mandatory registration for foreigners visiting up to 30 days
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan – Foreigners will be able to stay in Kazakhstan without registration for up to 30 days, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said...
Archive
Prague mayor cuts ties with Beijing
The mayor of Prague, Zdenek Hrib, has warned Western societies to be aware of the Chinese Communist Party’s influence across the globe.
Last month, the...
Archive
Oil price reaches 3-month high as 2019 nears end
Hopes for a US-China trade deal and an American Petroleum Institute (API) report showing lower US crude inventories pushed oil prices about 1% to...
Archive
Russia commences Power of Siberia pipeline gas supplies to China
Russia started on 2 December Russian gas pipeline supplies to China via the ambitious Power of Siberia gas pipeline or so-called eastern route.Taking part...
Archive
Russia fuels global gas race with Arctic LNG-2 project
Competing in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) race, Russia’s largest independent gas producer, Novatek, France’s Total and the other project shareholders have approved...
Archive
Iran escalates tensions in the Persian Gulf after seizing UK tanker
In the latest escalation in the Persian Gulf region, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard reportedly captured a British-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz...
Analysis
Could Kazakhstan’s recent election be a model for the rest of Central Asia?
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan - As the dust settles following Kazakhstan’s elections, some outside observers are concluding that the approach taken by the Kazakh government in support...
Analysis
Trump sends David Malpass to the World Bank
President Donald J Trump named David Malpass, currently US Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs, as the US candidate for the Presidency of the World...
Archive
Slower global economic growth can lead to lower oil and gas prices in 2019
Oil prices are unlikely to rise significantly this year because of fears of an oil supply glut caused by over production and reduced oil...
Africa
Trump establishes US International Development Finance Corporation
President Donald J. Trump quietly approved the creation of a new foreign assistance agency on October 5, named the United States International Development Finance...
Archive
Cyprus-Egypt pipeline deal may facilitate LNG gas exports to EU
Cyprus and Egypt have signed an agreement for the construction of an underwater pipeline to export natural gas to Egypt. Cyprus’ Energy Minister Yiorgos...
Archive
Russia’s ‘western route’ to China may jeopardise Gazprom’s supplies to Europe
The Power of Siberia gas pipeline is scheduled to start on December 20, 2019, transporting gas supplies to China from the Russian Far East...
Archive
Despite EU measures, US sanctions against Iran to drive oil prices higher
Oil prices are likely to rise as traders worry that US sanctions against major oil producer Iran will lead to a tighter market towards...
China
A revived role for the US in Northern Greece requires dynamic action and focus
As a former US diplomat who served as Consul General in Thessaloniki, it’s impossible not to become a lifelong booster of the Thessaloniki International...
Archive
Russia’s Gazprom to supply China via Power of Siberia pipeline
In an effort to strengthen Russia’s foothold in the Asia-Pacific region, Gazprom is advancing plans to supply China with gas via the Power of...
Archive
Not impacted by sanctions, Russia, China ink Siberian exploration deal
Russian oil giant Rosneft and CEFC China Energy Company Limited signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement to develop projects in Western and Eastern Siberia and...
Africa
Low oil prices can’t sink tanker market
ATHENS – Despite slumping oil prices, the tanker market has been very healthy, a leading energy expert told New Europe at a maritime forum.“The...
Archive
Russia’s Syria Strikes, Slowing Production Boost Oil Prices
Rising geopolitical tensions and signs of slowing output, boosted oil prices last week testing new highs.International oil benchmark Brent crude has rallied by as...