China
BUSINESS
EU Development Finance Bankrolls China’s African Expansion
Brussels funds hundreds of buses for Dakar, a Chinese state firm bids at half the European price and wins the contract.
WORLD
The Global South is Abandoning the Aid Model
As donor budgets dry up and military spending soars, the emerging South is forging a new path of economic parity, leaving Western-led development in its wake.
US-China
China’s Taiwan Rehearsal is Playing Out in Hormuz
As Iran weaponises the world’s most central oil lanes, Beijing is taking notes on how a well-placed blockade might one day decide the fate of the Taiwan Strait.
BUSINESS
Youthful Economic Leverage: Africa’s Coming Negotiating Power
At a point at which wealthy states grey and workforces shrink, Africa prepares to use its youthful population as a powerful tool for global negotiation.
Ukraine War
Start to Finish: Ukraine Peace and Nuclear Arms Race
Peace in Ukraine and the future of the world atomic arsenal collided in Abu Dhabi during the week as diplomats tried to save a treaty and stop a war all at once.
Popular
Super Intelligence: The Datacentre Is the New Science Lab
As Europe funds brilliant laboratories, are datacentre owners harvesting the discoveries?
Strasbourg Naked Golden Trump Trolls the Monument Tradition
A naked golden Trump in Strasbourg shows how statues, once made to flatter rulers, now serve to roast them.
Hanning Affair Hurts German Intel Cred
Germany's ex-spymaster undermined allied confidence and gave Moscow-friendly politicians a talking point.
Rubio Cherry-Picks Ancient Greece to Sell Modern Nationalism
Rubio urged the West to copy ancient Greek loyalty, yet ancient Athens thrived on argument, dissent and noisy assemblies.
Young Voters Could Decide France’s Next President
Hate-speech allegations bruise Bardella and energise Mélenchon, but household finances and young-voter turnout will determine who wins France's presidency.
