International

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has unveiled a comprehensive plan to require all adult men in Poland to undergo compulsory military training. Addressing the Sejm, the Polish parliament, Tusk detailed strategies to ready the country against possible security challenges, highlighting the importance of a robust and well-trained military reserve. The initiative, anticipated to be completed by year-end, seeks to equip every adult man with skills to face current warfare challenges.Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced a sweeping initiative to introduce mandatory military training for all adult men in Poland. Speaking to the Polish parliament, the Sejm, Tusk outlined plans…

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…

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…

On March 2nd, 2025, tensions in the Gaza Strip escalated dramatically following the Israeli government's decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory. This action occurred after Hamas declined a proposal to prolong the initial phase of the ceasefire, which has sparked international concern and worsened the humanitarian crisis in the area.Ceasefire Background and Unsuccessful NegotiationsThe ceasefire, which had been in place for 42 days, was brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, aiming to lessen hostilities and permit the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. During this time, there were exchanges of hostages and…

Ukraine and US Unable to Conclude Deal on Rare Earth MineralsThis past Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump convened in Washington with the intention of signing a deal that would allow the US to tap into Ukraine’s rare earth mineral resources. Nevertheless, the session deviated from its intended purpose and concluded with a tense discussion involving Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance. After Zelensky’s premature exit, the White House issued a statement confirming that the agreement remained unsigned.Zelensky had earlier conveyed hope that this "initial" agreement might lead to enhanced collaboration. Yet, he acknowledged that…

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…

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.…

The UK economy unexpectedly contracted in October, exacerbating fears of a prolonged economic slowdown as businesses and households grapple with uncertainty. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.1% month-on-month, defying economists' expectations of a modest 0.1% increase. This contraction follows a similar 0.1% decline in September, marking the second consecutive month of negative growth and raising concerns about the country's economic trajectory. The ONS attributed October's decline to reduced output across all key sectors. However, on a three-month rolling basis, GDP showed a slight increase of 0.1% for the period ending in…

Chinese leaders reaffirmed their commitment to boosting the nation's economy by unveiling plans for more aggressive fiscal policy and moderate monetary easing at a high-level economic planning meeting that concluded Thursday. The meeting, led by President Xi Jinping, highlighted the government's determination to stabilize growth despite growing external pressures and domestic challenges. State-run CCTV reported the meeting after the mainland stock market closed. The iShares China Large Cap ETF (FXI) briefly rose 0.8% in premarket trading before paring gains. The annual economic conference highlighted the need for increased government spending, a higher fiscal deficit and the issuance of very long-term…

China's leadership surprised markets this week by signaling a change in its monetary policy stance for the first time in 14 years. The announcement highlights the depth of the country's economic challenges, even as experts warn that a large stimulus package remains unlikely. The change involves moving from a “moderately expansionary” monetary policy to a more “cautious” approach in 2024, a phrase not used since the 2008 global financial crisis. At the time, China adopted an aggressively accommodative stance to combat the global recession . This policy adjustment marks the first recognition by the current leadership that more flexible monetary…