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Ukraine

Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe after Russia, gaining independence from the Soviet Union and declaring neutrality in 1991. In February 2022, Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine under the auspices of a "special military operation" to "de-nazify" the country. The move turned Moscow into a global pariah, and the Ukrainian army - backed financially and militarily by the US and western European countries - continues to fight off the invading forces. Nuclear-armed Russia has warned of consequences if Nato interferes in the war, while strategic ally China urges a peaceful, diplomatic solution.

Capital

Kyiv

Head of State

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Head of Government

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov. Photo: AFP

Russia

Russia charges Telegram founder with aiding terror, issues wanted alert

FSB accuses app administration of enabling acts of sabotage and cyberfraud by Ukrainian forces.

19 minutes ago

The Philippines

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Middle East

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Ukraine war

Zelensky pursues Patriot missile licences in White House meeting with Trump

The Ukrainian president eyes weapons co-production and renewed diplomacy with the Trump administration.

4 hours ago

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via AFP

United States

Trump eulogises Lindsey Graham as ‘extremely hawkish’ ally at funeral

Washington ceremony highlights late South Carolina senator’s evolution from fierce critic to key presidential confidant.

2 hours ago

China-Latin America relations

Brazil turns to China trade deal after Trump tariffs, as years of resistance end

Xi and Lula agree to fast track Mercosur trade talks, endorsing a deal Brasilia fought to bury when Uruguay first proposed it.

28 Jul 2026 - 5:13AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Burnham meets Zelensky, pledges ‘Stone Cloak’ tech for Ukraine’s drones

In his first meeting with a foreign leader, Andy Burnham pledges battlefield jamming technology ahead of Volodymyr Zelensky’s trip to Washington.

28 Jul 2026 - 3:35PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Monday. Photo: TNS

North Korea

Why a 30,000-troop deployment suits both Russia and North Korea

Moscow gets more soldiers without risking another mass mobilisation, Pyongyang receives money and military tech.

27 Jul 2026 - 6:33PMvideocam

Ukraine war

UK’s Burnham to host Zelensky in first foreign leader visit

Burnham vows Britain will stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Ukraine ahead of Zelensky’s meeting with Trump.

27 Jul 2026 - 11:18AM

Ukraine war

Russian attacks kill 2 in Ukraine; 4 dead in Russian-held area hit by Ukraine

Russia’s defence ministry on Sunday claimed its latest attack on Kyiv had struck sites linked to drone production.

27 Jul 2026 - 1:59AM

Smoke and fire rise from burning vehicles at the site of a Russian strike in a location given as Kyiv, Ukraine on Sunday. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv Region / Handout via Reuters

Ukraine war

Russia asks North Korea to send 30,000 extra troops for Ukraine war: Zelensky

In return, North Korea has received cash, military technology, food and energy commodities to help it overcome international sanctions.

27 Jul 2026 - 10:32AM

A firefighter works at a site of a Russian strike on Sunday. Photo: Ukraine State Emergency Service/Reuters

Ukraine war

Ukraine insists Japan’s pacifist rules permit Patriot missile help

A senior aide to Ukraine’s president said Kyiv was looking to Tokyo for ‘defence cooperation’ to operate the American air defence system.

25 Jul 2026 - 1:23PM

Ukraine war

Meet Iryna Terekh, the trained architect behind Ukraine’s deep-strike drones

Her company, Fire Point, is a driving force behind the long-range weapons that are taking the battle to Russia.

25 Jul 2026 - 2:56AM

Ukraine war

Russian attack kills 10, injures almost 100, at Ukraine defence event

A strike hit a drone exhibition site hours after Ukraine’s leader hosted senior staff who work on protecting against aerial attacks.

24 Jul 2026 - 11:52PMvideocam

The site of a Russian missile strike in the Kyiv region of Ukraine on Friday. Photo: Ukrainian Emergency Services via AP

China trade

Beijing to upgrade railway freight services to Europe

Agreement to build first phase of a multifunctional terminal at Kuryk, a Kazakh port on the Caspian Sea, signed in Shanghai recently.

24 Jul 2026 - 6:00PM

A China-Europe freight train leaves Xian, Shaanxi province, in November. Photo: Xinhua

Ukraine war

Trump ally Loomer meets Zelensky after dramatic U-turn on Ukraine war

Conservative influencer sat down with the Ukrainian president after an air raid in Kyiv prompted her call for ‘moral clarity’.

24 Jul 2026 - 3:48PM

China-EU relations

Opinion | As the West finds common cause, China prepares for the worst

Far from being able to take advantage of fissures among Western allies, China faces narrowing diplomatic options. But all leverage is not lost.

24 Jul 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

China-EU relations

EU waters down Russia sanctions over fears China could seize key LNG assets

Bloc concludes banning Greek companies from transporting Russian gas to third countries may hand strategic shipping advantages to Beijing.

24 Jul 2026 - 1:44AMvideocam

The Sun Arrows tanker loads its cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the port of Prigorodnoye, Russia. The EU has watered down sanctions on Moscow amid fears that China could seize crucial LNG assets. Photo: AP

Ukraine war

Ukraine’s strikes on ‘Russia’s Amazon’ bring war closer to ordinary citizens

Drone attacks hit warehouses belonging to e-commerce giant Wildberries, founded by Russia’s richest woman, Tatyana Kim.

23 Jul 2026 - 1:18PM

Ukraine war

Opinion | Russia’s grinding war in Ukraine shows the impotence of nuclear weapons

Having the world’s biggest nuclear arsenal has not helped Russia on the battlefield.

22 Jul 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Zelensky sacks Ukraine army chief Syrsky after days of protests

Ukraine gets a new top commander as protests over defence minister’s ouster spark the war’s biggest military shake-up.

22 Jul 2026 - 2:16PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr and Oleksandr Syrsky, who has been sacked as army chief. Photo: AFP

US-Iran tensions

What can China learn from the US sea drone strike on an Iranian submarine base?

Experts highlight struggle for conventional systems to detect fast, low-visibility vessels after first combat use of the technology.

21 Jul 2026 - 7:30PMvideocam

A Corsair, a multipurpose unmanned surface vessel, has been used by the US military in its conflict with Iran. Photo: X.com/Saronic

China-EU relations

EU lawmakers arrive in China for high-stakes talks to manage mounting tensions

Wang Yi calls on delegation to strengthen exchanges across Chinese society for ‘a genuine, multi-dimensional and evolving perspective’.

21 Jul 2026 - 8:46PMvideocam

Britain

China’s Li congratulates Andy Burnham on becoming Britain’s new prime minister

Li said strengthening dialogue and cooperation between ⁠China and the UK will benefit ‌the nations and ‘inject stability into global ‌peace’.

21 Jul 2026 - 7:01AM

Electric & new energy vehicles

Hungary probes deal with China’s BYD after ex-foreign minister takes job there

Peter Szijjarto’s announcement that he would take a job at the world’s top electric carmaker prompted accusations of a conflict of interest.

21 Jul 2026 - 4:49AMvideocam

Hungary’s Peter Szijjarto, right, shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Budapest, Hungary on February 11. Szijjarto recently resigned as foreign minister to take an executive position at BYD. Photo: AFP

North Korea

North Korea paves way for possible Kim trip to Moscow

Pyongyang’s top diplomat met Putin to discuss the Ukraine war, munition shipments and a likely Kim visit, analysts say.

20 Jul 2026 - 3:53PMvideocam

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui shake hands during their meeting in Moscow on Sunday. Photo: Kremlin/Sputnik/EPA

Ukraine war

Lockheed Martin launches cheaper Patriot missile as air defence demand surges

The new missiles will cost less than half that of the current ones, which are about US$4 million each, the US defence contractor says.

20 Jul 2026 - 2:35PM

Ukraine war

Ukraine blames Russia for deadly strike on Turkish cargo ship

Ukraine’s navy said 6 died when Russia launched cruise missiles at the Golden Leo as it was ‘leaving the combat zone with a cargo of grain’.

20 Jul 2026 - 7:43AMvideocam

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Ukraine

Russia charges Telegram founder with aiding terror, issues wanted alert

FSB accuses app administration of enabling acts of sabotage and cyberfraud by Ukrainian forces.

EU’s US$17 million maritime aid for Manila targets ‘fault lines’

Trump’s irritation over leak signals strains as Netanyahu visits White House

Zelensky pursues Patriot missile licences in White House meeting with Trump

The Ukrainian president eyes weapons co-production and renewed diplomacy with the Trump administration.

Trump eulogises Lindsey Graham as ‘extremely hawkish’ ally at funeral

Washington ceremony highlights late South Carolina senator’s evolution from fierce critic to key presidential confidant.

Brazil turns to China trade deal after Trump tariffs, as years of resistance end

Xi and Lula agree to fast track Mercosur trade talks, endorsing a deal Brasilia fought to bury when Uruguay first proposed it.

Burnham meets Zelensky, pledges ‘Stone Cloak’ tech for Ukraine’s drones

In his first meeting with a foreign leader, Andy Burnham pledges battlefield jamming technology ahead of Volodymyr Zelensky’s trip to Washington.

Why a 30,000-troop deployment suits both Russia and North Korea

Moscow gets more soldiers without risking another mass mobilisation, Pyongyang receives money and military tech.

UK’s Burnham to host Zelensky in first foreign leader visit

Burnham vows Britain will stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Ukraine ahead of Zelensky’s meeting with Trump.

Russian attacks kill 2 in Ukraine; 4 dead in Russian-held area hit by Ukraine

Russia’s defence ministry on Sunday claimed its latest attack on Kyiv had struck sites linked to drone production.

Russia asks North Korea to send 30,000 extra troops for Ukraine war: Zelensky

In return, North Korea has received cash, military technology, food and energy commodities to help it overcome international sanctions.

Ukraine insists Japan’s pacifist rules permit Patriot missile help

A senior aide to Ukraine’s president said Kyiv was looking to Tokyo for ‘defence cooperation’ to operate the American air defence system.

Meet Iryna Terekh, the trained architect behind Ukraine’s deep-strike drones

Her company, Fire Point, is a driving force behind the long-range weapons that are taking the battle to Russia.

Russian attack kills 10, injures almost 100, at Ukraine defence event

A strike hit a drone exhibition site hours after Ukraine’s leader hosted senior staff who work on protecting against aerial attacks.

Beijing to upgrade railway freight services to Europe

Agreement to build first phase of a multifunctional terminal at Kuryk, a Kazakh port on the Caspian Sea, signed in Shanghai recently.

Trump ally Loomer meets Zelensky after dramatic U-turn on Ukraine war

Conservative influencer sat down with the Ukrainian president after an air raid in Kyiv prompted her call for ‘moral clarity’.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | As the West finds common cause, China prepares for the worst

Far from being able to take advantage of fissures among Western allies, China faces narrowing diplomatic options. But all leverage is not lost.

EU waters down Russia sanctions over fears China could seize key LNG assets

Bloc concludes banning Greek companies from transporting Russian gas to third countries may hand strategic shipping advantages to Beijing.

Ukraine’s strikes on ‘Russia’s Amazon’ bring war closer to ordinary citizens

Drone attacks hit warehouses belonging to e-commerce giant Wildberries, founded by Russia’s richest woman, Tatyana Kim.

Opinion | Russia’s grinding war in Ukraine shows the impotence of nuclear weapons

Having the world’s biggest nuclear arsenal has not helped Russia on the battlefield.

Zelensky sacks Ukraine army chief Syrsky after days of protests

Ukraine gets a new top commander as protests over defence minister’s ouster spark the war’s biggest military shake-up.

What can China learn from the US sea drone strike on an Iranian submarine base?

Experts highlight struggle for conventional systems to detect fast, low-visibility vessels after first combat use of the technology.

EU lawmakers arrive in China for high-stakes talks to manage mounting tensions

Wang Yi calls on delegation to strengthen exchanges across Chinese society for ‘a genuine, multi-dimensional and evolving perspective’.

China’s Li congratulates Andy Burnham on becoming Britain’s new prime minister

Li said strengthening dialogue and cooperation between ⁠China and the UK will benefit ‌the nations and ‘inject stability into global ‌peace’.

Hungary probes deal with China’s BYD after ex-foreign minister takes job there

Peter Szijjarto’s announcement that he would take a job at the world’s top electric carmaker prompted accusations of a conflict of interest.

North Korea paves way for possible Kim trip to Moscow

Pyongyang’s top diplomat met Putin to discuss the Ukraine war, munition shipments and a likely Kim visit, analysts say.

Lockheed Martin launches cheaper Patriot missile as air defence demand surges

The new missiles will cost less than half that of the current ones, which are about US$4 million each, the US defence contractor says.

Ukraine blames Russia for deadly strike on Turkish cargo ship

Ukraine’s navy said 6 died when Russia launched cruise missiles at the Golden Leo as it was ‘leaving the combat zone with a cargo of grain’.

Opinion | As the West finds common cause, China prepares for the worst