Italy’s struggles are nothing new. Their recent loss marks their third-straight World Cup qualification failure despite a history as one of the most successful national teams in World Cup history. The turmoil has set off a string of administrative changes, including the resignation of Italy soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina and the removal of coach Gennaro Gattuso.
Read MoreNew Zealand and the Cook Islands have signed a defense and security declaration, ending over a year of open tensions. But the strategic partnership deal with China that started the crisis remains intact, and New Zealand knows it.
Read MoreUkraine has denied involvement in an incident where explosives were found near a pipeline in Serbia, and experts have asserted that the incident was rather an attempt by Russia to influence Hungary’s election. Given that incumbent Viktor Orbán’s party is falling behind in polls, there have been accusations that this was a “false flag” operation by Orbán and Russia to drum up support.
Read MoreMass protests have erupted across Prague in recent weeks, as tens of thousands of citizens rally against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his coalition government, citing fears of democratic backsliding as governmental policies begin to shift from a traditional progressive to a more far-right stance. With protests being organized by the Million Moments for Democracy NGO, many state that these have been the largest protests since the Velvet Revolution of 1989.
Read MoreThe renewed attention surrounding the former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has once again drawn international attention to the lingering global consequences of his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
Read MoreThe Supreme Court recently struck down Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that the tariffs exceeded the authority given to the president by Congress under the 1977 law, which allows the executive branch to regulate commerce during national emergencies created by foreign threats.
Read MoreFollowing Japan’s lower house elections on February 8, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) now holds a two-thirds majority. This marks the most power any political party in Japan has had since post-war times. Led by the recently elected Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, the LDP stands as the political majority within the Japanese government. Campaigning on conservative ideals, Takaichi’s goals for Japan could have many implications for its citizens and relations abroad.
Read More84% of the crude oil that passes through the Strait of Hormuz is destined for markets in China, India, and South Korea, among other Asian countries. China also buys more than 90% of Iran's oil exports, and around 53% of India's imported oil in early 2025 came from Middle Eastern suppliers. Meanwhile, Europe faces a second large disruption in the energy market over the last decade, after previous complications stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Read MoreOn February 22, the Mexican army carried out an operation resulting in the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”), notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). On the surface, this marks a significant victory for the Mexican Government in its battle against cartel power. For years, CJNG has been one of the most dominant and violent criminal organizations in Mexico, heavily involved in trafficking synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl and methamphetamine, into the United States and Canada. However, the immediate aftermath, along with the historical pattern of similar “kingpin” operations, suggests that long-term change remains uncertain.
Read MoreOn February 16, the People’s Republic of China announced that it had extended its visa waiver for Canada and the UK, allowing nationals from both countries to enter China and stay up to 30 days for various purposes. The most visible short-term benefit is the ease of travel for Canadians and Brits looking to visit China. However, ramifications extend to economic priorities, as the two countries sought favorable trade deals while navigating their once-close ally, the United States.
Read MoreThe EU and India, two of the largest democratic economies, are now partners in a new economic pact that has the political world watching. The agreement is designed to boost trade in goods and services, but it also has a deeper meaning. Alongside the promising tariff cuts and access to global markets, there is a clear signal that the EU is shifting its sights to a more welcoming continent: Asia.
Read MoreThe Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) investigation of General Zhang Youxia is not just about corruption with senior leaders, as it shows President Xi tightening his control over the military during a tense moment for China. By targeting one of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) most experienced commanders, Xi makes clear that loyalty to him matters more than rank or battlefield experience.
Read MorePolitical upheavals in Bangladesh threaten to destroy its carefully curated relationship, and the aftermath has begun to bleed into both countries, becoming evident through changes in cricket and people's daily lives.
Read MoreBeginning on December 28th, 2025, millions of Iranians gathered nationwide to protest the Islamic Republic government amid the country’s deepest economic crisis in modern history, marked by currency collapse, inflation, and widespread loss of public confidence. In response, the Iranian government imposed a near-total internet blackout and carried out a violent crackdown that left thousands dead or detained, signaling a deliberate turn to mass repression to preserve regime control.
Read MoreIt is no secret that Greenland holds some of the world’s most valuable resources, including oil and copper. In the wake of recent ice melting, the vast natural reserves have caught the eye of the international community. In particular, U.S. President Donald Trump, who seems to have centered his term around Greenland’s acquisition. Much to the dismay of Europe, which now finds its relationship with the U.S. in a tumultuous position, America has entered a new age, one of expansion not from sea to shining sea, but to the Danish-controlled island of Greenland.
Read MoreFor the United States, the coming weeks will therefore be critical in determining whether such diplomacy can decrease or increase tension. For Iran, years of sanctions have negatively affected its economy, resulting in high inflation, a loss of value in currency, reduced oil revenues, and increased unemployment rates. Over the past two decades, the struggling Iranian economy has resulted in a slow population growth, an increase in the average marriage age, and riots across Tehran.
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Big tech companies are now so deeply woven into everyday life that the extent of their power over ordinary people often goes unnoticed. What may have once been a singular calamity is now becoming a growing worry for many European leaders in the wake of a Trump administration with an increasingly brash approach toward the EU.
President Trump’s takeover represents more than just a military victory—it is an unequivocal divergence from the status quo of international relations and a risky foreign policy gamble that is unlikely to end as neatly as it began.
Read MoreOn October 28, Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and United States President Donald Trump established the United States-Japan Framework For Securing the Supply of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths through Mining and Processing. The framework not only channels billions in joint U.S.–Japan investment to diversify critical mineral supply chains and rebuild high-value industries like magnet manufacturing, but also tightens their political alignment into a more unified bloc that reduces China’s leverage over global technology and security.
Read MoreRussia's late October announcement of successful nuclear weapons tests came days after Trump cancelled the Budapest summit and sanctioned major Russian oil companies. The timing reveals these tests as strategic signaling designed to fracture Western unity on Ukraine while positioning Russia as an indispensable nuclear power that cannot be isolated or ignored.
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