As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»

As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»

As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»

As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been conducting clandestine discussions with the grandson of Cuba's ageing former leader Raúl Castro as Washington explores options for political change on the island, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Axios. »»»

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been conducting clandestine discussions with the grandson of Cuba's ageing former leader Raúl Castro as Washington explores options for political change on the island, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Axios. »»»

A Brussels-based human rights group has filed a criminal complaint in Chile seeking the investigation and prosecution of an Israeli-Ukrainian former military sniper accused of participating in the deadly siege and destruction of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. »»»

A Brussels-based human rights group has filed a criminal complaint in Chile seeking the investigation and prosecution of an Israeli-Ukrainian former military sniper accused of participating in the deadly siege and destruction of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. »»»

A Brussels-based human rights group has filed a criminal complaint in Chile seeking the investigation and prosecution of an Israeli-Ukrainian former military sniper accused of participating in the deadly siege and destruction of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. »»»

As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»

As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»

As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»

As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»

Bulgaria's President Iliana Yotova approved a caretaker government proposed by prime minister-designate Andrey Gyurov on February 18 and said she would call a snap parliamentary election for April 19. Gyurov, former deputy»»»

As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»

Expectations that 2026 could prove decisive in ending the war in Ukraine are premature and risk misreading the logic driving Moscow, argues Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and founder of political analysis firm R.Politik, in a comment for Carnegie Politika. »»»

Expectations that 2026 could prove decisive in ending the war in Ukraine are premature and risk misreading the logic driving Moscow, argues Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and founder of political analysis firm R.Politik, in a comment for Carnegie Politika. »»»

Peru’s Congress on Tuesday voted to remove the interim President Jose Jeri over corruption allegations, deepening political uncertainty just weeks before the nation’s April presidential and congressional elections. Jeri is under preliminary investigation for alleged influence peddling tied to a ser»»»

On the eve of the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s "Board of Peace" initiative in Washington, FRANCE 24 spoke to historian and UN expert Alanna O’Malley about how the body reflects the MAGA movement's agenda seeking to further institutionalise US power at a global scale. Dozens of w»»»

Evidence is mounting that Elon Musk's decision to deny Russian forces access to his Starlink satellite-based internet service has blunted Moscow's advance, caused confusion among Russian soldiers and handed an advantage to Ukraine's defenders. But for how long? And what can Ukraine's military achie»»»

Share: Photo- Saad Hariri gestures towards the gathered crowd during an event to mark the 21st anniversary of the assassination of his father and former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, in Beirut, Lebanon, February 14, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir The Saudi newspaper Okaz, in an article by »»»

Leïla Shahid, a former Palestinian delegate-general to France who became one of the most recognisable political figures of the Palestinian cause, died on Wednesday at the age of 76. Leila Shahid, the first woman diplomat representing Palestine abroad, died in southern France aged 76, her family sai»»»

Washington (United States) (AFP) – The White House warned Iran it would be “wise” to reach a deal with the United States, as President Donald Trump again raised the prospect of military action amid renewed, Oman-mediated talks. The remarks come as tensions remain high following »»»

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, February 18, 2026: The killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque has plunged France into political chaos, as one of the suspects was revealed to be working for the far-left France Unbowed party. Meanwhile, as tributes for civil rights act»»»

In this edition, we take a look at France's falling birth rate. We find out why French people are deciding to have fewer – or no – children. We also look at some recent political proposals to reserve this trend and how they have been met with much criticism. Finally, we dive into some of the l»»»

The Paris prosecutor on Wednesday made a public appeal for victims of late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to come forward during an interview on a French radio show. Laure Beccuau said she was ready to receive testimony from any victims and that her office has jurisdiction when a perpetrator »»»

Pressure is mounting on France's far left political party France Unbowed, in the wake of the brutal killing of a far right student activist last week. 11 people have been arrested in connection with the 23-year-old's death, including two parliamentary assistants of a France Unbowed MP. This Wednesd»»»

Relatives of Venezuelan political prisoners staged a fifth day of hunger strike Wednesday on the eve of a parliament sitting they hope will result in passage of a long-awaited amnesty law. Outside the "Zona 7" prison in the capital Caracas, five women from an initial group of about a dozen lay on m»»»

Ashraf Siddiqui HE Karim Morcos, Ambassador of Canada to Qatar, has affirmed that the steadily growing relationship between Canada and Qatar — now spanning more than five decades — is entering an exciting new phase, marked by deepening political, economic, and cultural cooperation. Speaking at a re»»»

ATP/TNN Doha Carlos Alcaraz roused a big finish to secure progress in straight sets while Jannik Sinner got the better of Alexi Popyrin in top two matches of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Wednesday under lights. World number one Alcaraz overcame V»»»

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said the result of Ukraine’s latest round of peace talks with Russia was “not sufficient”, despite some issues being discussed “seriously and substantively”. The two sides have yet to address “sensitive political matters, possible c»»»

China carried out an underground “nuclear explosive test” in June 2020, a senior US State Department official has claimed, citing “fresh intelligence” on the matter. Beijing has repeatedly dismissed such allegations as “entirely unfounded,” while independent observers say the evidence is inconclusi»»»

At the very least, if we analyze the situation without speculating about intentions or disregarding the overwhelming evidence before us, U.S. President Donald Trump appears determined to continue pursuing a negotiated agreement with Iran rather than resorting to military action at this stage—someth»»»

Poland is preparing a lawsuit against Russia for what it describes as “reparations” for the legacy of “Soviet influence,” mirroring its earlier demand for €1.3 trillion ($1.36 trillion) in compensation from Germany over crimes committed during World War II, the Financial Times has reported. In Sept»»»

Climate Central's researchers found in a new analysis that heat threatens coffee harvests and coincides with recent record highs in prices. File Photo by Fully Handoko/EPA Feb. 18 (UPI) -- An analysis by Climate Central found that the world's five largest coffee-producing countries, which account f»»»

Iranians have returned to the streets this week to mourn those killed by security forces during last month's anti-government demonstrations, sparking some new crackdowns in an echo of the 1979 revolution that brought down the US-backed Shah. The anti-Shah revolutionaries turned Shiite Muslim memori»»»

Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Eleven people have been arrested for deadly attack on a far-right student activist at a protest last week in Lyon, France. Quentin Deranque, 23, died Saturday after he sustained a severe brain injury from the attack. Prosecutor Thierry Dran said Deranque had been "thrown to the gro»»»

Supporters of Hezbollah shout slogans during a protest organized by the group under the slogan "The entire country is resistance" outside the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, on February 4. The demonstrators condemned the ongoing Israel»»»

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman vowed on Wednesday to uphold the rule of law in Bangladesh and overhaul the battered economy in his first speech to the nation since taking office. Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was sworn into office on Tuesday after a landslide election vict»»»

Politicians shared their views on the Cabinet line-up that caretaker prime minister–designate Andrey Gurov presented to President Iliana Iotova on Wednesday. Reactions ranged from claims of “nods” to political forces to criticism labelling the proposed Cabinet as “the result of bargaining and backr»»»

Romania’s 2024 presidential election was already one of the most controversial political episodes in the European Union in recent years. A candidate who won the first round was prevented from contesting the second. The vote was annulled. Claims of Russian interference were advanced without public e»»»

The son of opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa, Ramon Guanipa, speaks to the press in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on February 10. Juan Pablo Guanipa was at his residence in the city of Maracaibo, where he will serve house arrest after being detained hours after his release from prison, his son, said. Ph»»»

Peru will again swear in a head of state chosen by Congress rather than by direct vote, after legislators removed José Jerí from office barely 130 days into his interim presidency.  The decision, approved on February »»»

The Lebanese Cabinet's decision to increase gasoline prices and raise the value-added tax has sparked widespread protests and political opposition, with demonstrators blocking major roads in Beirut and other cities. In res»»»

Another sign yet that Georgia’s worsening elations with the West is not deterring investment came in February, when the first phase of Eagle Hills Georgia’s Tbilisi Waterfront residential project sold out on its opening day. »»»

President Sadyr Japarov’s sudden dismissal of his friend and security service chief Kamchybek Tashiyev on February 10 sent shockwaves through Kyrgyzstan. Japarov offered up reasons for the decision and said it will not aff»»»

The Baku Military Court sentenced former Nagorno-Karabakh state minister Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison on charges including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism and financing of terrorism on February 17. »»»

The Baku Military Court sentenced former Nagorno-Karabakh state minister Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison on charges including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism and financing of terrorism on February 17. »»»

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on February 17 condemned the behaviour of a lawmaker from a key coalition partner who appeared in a video praising a World War Two-era pro-fascist leader, but said the incident would not threaten the stability of his government or its parliamentary majority.»»»

For the fifth consecutive day, demonstrators gathered on the rain-soaked streets of Sarajevo on February 17, demanding accountability following last week’s fatal tram accident that claimed the life of a 23-year-old student and left four others injured. The protests were smaller than in previou»»»