Chinese super embassy in London 'could spy on the whole of Europe'
Concerns are growing in the UK over plans for a vast new Chinese embassy in London, amid warnings it could become a major hub for espionage across Europe. Unredacted planning documents reveal a…
Japan: search for alternative rare earth sources to avoid reliance on China
Japan has launched a bold effort to secure its future supply of critical minerals by sending a research vessel to mine rare earth elements from the deep seabed near Minamitori Island. The month-long…
Colombia: Trump will meet Petro ‘in the near future’ despite recent threats
Donald Trump has said he will meet Colombian president Gustavo Petro at the White House in the near future, amid days of rising regional tensions. The announcement followed the US operation in Venezuela…
Israel again the deadliest country for journalists
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) report that 2025 was the third consecutive year in which Israel was identified as the deadliest country for journalists; 29 Palestinian reporters were killed amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign…
South Korea: president’s delicate balance as he hosts Xi and Trump
South Korea stands at a delicate crossroads, balancing its security alliance with the USA and its economic reliance on China. Recent rallies in Seoul captured this tension vividly, with protesters denouncing both Donald…
China: update on Zion Church following arrest of Church leaders
Zion Church, one of China’s largest and most influential house church networks, is facing a severe government crackdown under new online religious restrictions. Founded in 2007 by Pastor Jin Mingri (Ezra Jin), the…
ASEAN: China’s shift towards green technology may inspire others
The strengthened commitment by China to cutting emissions and expanding renewable energy production may well accelerate Southeast Asia’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Analysts note that, as one of ASEAN’s key investors and…
Taiwan / China: super typhoon causes widespread devastation
On 24 September Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest tropical cyclone globally this year, slammed into Yangjiang, southern China, after killing 17 people in Taiwan and battering Hong Kong with destructive winds and torrential rain.…
China: huge military parade watched by Putin, Kim, and other leaders
Beijing has hosted a grand military parade marking eighty years since the end of WW2, with Xi Jinping standing alongside Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un in a rare joint appearance. Xi framed…
Hong Kong: UK and Australia each grant asylum to a pro-democracy activist
Australia and the UK have each granted asylum to a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist. In 2020, lawmaker Ted Hui threw rotten plants on the floor of the legislative council chamber to protest…
