Global Briefing

The commission president has often taken positions that have not been agreed by member states

Beijing makes it clear it remains enthusiastic about improving relations between the two countries

Outcome is also important for China and India

Global Briefing: Concern for human rights may not be the Trump administration’s only motive

Taliban is eager to assert its sovereignty while Pakistan is worried about India’s influence in Afghanistan

Few of America’s allies have condemned its action, despite most tacitly acknowledging it to be illegal

Any autonomous nuclear shield would breach the Non-Proliferation Treaty and be hugely expensive and technologically challenging

Trump was well over an hour into the longest State of the Union address in history before leaving domestic politics

Country faces similar conditions to those that brought it to the brink of famine in 2022

Striking down of some tariffs strengthens Xi Jinping’s hand in talks over trade and other elements of China-US relationship

If the US president wishes to use the Diego Garcia base for his next attack, he will need Keir Starmer’s approval

As Peru loses its seventh president in 10 years, Washington is getting anxious about Lima’s burgeoning relationship with Beijing

Donald Trump could use gas-export controls or emergency powers to halt or reduce sales to Europe

Co-ordinated continental action may be needed to negotiate better international agreements

Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina prioritised relations with India, but her party is excluded from today’s vote

Armed gangs control almost 90 per cent of Port-au-Prince and violence has spread to other parts of the country

Election success due partly to wave of nationalist feeling following Thailand’s three-week conflict with Cambodia

Win will help Sanae Takaichi to implement her controversial plans for tax cuts and increased defence spending

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump had a friendly, two-hour phone call last night

Northeast region’s system of grassroots democracy prioritised equality between men and women and direct participation of communities

Five-yearly congress typically sets out Pyongyang’s military and political strategy

Expiration of US-Russia deal raises risk of new nuclear arms race in which Europe could find itself in particularly uncomfortable position

US is reportedly seeking to negotiate regime change in Cuba, but the country has no oil and exports little

Jilted by the United States, the European Union and India have agreed a trade deal after two decades of on-off negotiations

The Global Briefing: President Maia Sandu said she would prefer Moldova to give up its independence to become part of Romania

Israel’s move towards opening Rafah crossing is vital step in starting work of Gaza’s new technocratic government under board’s supervision

The Vietnamese Communist Party is set to re-elect Lam as general secretary, but it remains to be seen if he also becomes president

Canada’s prime minister calls on middle powers to act as counterweight to US and China in remarkable Davos speech

Michel Kuka Mboladinga evoked the pan-African struggle by mimicking statue of Congo’s first prime minister after winning independence

Canada is a step ahead of the Europeans

It will be a challenge for the prime minister to turn her personal appeal into votes for her party

Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni say it’s time to engage directly with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine, but who should lead negotiations?

Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, seems likely to extend his rule in a country that has become a key strategic ally of the West

Leadership of the Islamic Republic is under unprecedented pressure following massive protests

President is not sure if pledge from partner countries means they would protect Ukraine if Russia attacks again

Beijing uses economic rewards and punishments to discourage what it sees as foreign interference over Taiwan

Annexing the territory is now US policy, says White House deputy chief of staff

China is the biggest buyer of Venezuela’s oil and the country’s largest creditor

Saudi Arabian air strikes on a southern Yemeni port targeted weapons supplied by the United Arab Emirates to local separatist forces

Almost nobody believes that Myanmar’s first elections since the 2021 coup are free or fair.