TOPIC

/ location

Ukraine

Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe after Russia, gaining independence from the Soviet Union and declaring neutrality in 1991. In February 2022, Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine under the auspices of a "special military operation" to "de-nazify" the country. The move turned Moscow into a global pariah, and the Ukrainian army - backed financially and militarily by the US and western European countries - continues to fight off the invading forces. Nuclear-armed Russia has warned of consequences if Nato interferes in the war, while strategic ally China urges a peaceful, diplomatic solution.

Capital

Kyiv

Head of State

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Head of Government

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal

Black smoke over St Petersburg after a Ukrainian drone attack. Photo: AP

Russia

Ukraine drones target St Petersburg as ‘Russia’s Davos’ opens

Black smoke rises over major fuel terminal as city hosts Vladimir Putin’s global economic summit.

1 hour ago

Ukraine war

Major Russian air attack on Ukrainian cities kills at least 23, wounds dozens

3 Jun 2026 - 9:27AM

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Exclusive | Trump ‘personally called for China’s help’ to end Ukraine war in summit with Xi

2 Jun 2026 - 2:41PMvideocam

United States

Powell uses JFK award speech to defend Fed from political pressure

Former Fed chair urges protection of America’s democratic institutions, warns they face a ‘stress test’.

1 Jun 2026 - 11:35AM

China-UK relations

In sign of easing UK-China ties, British Foreign Secretary set for 3-day visit

Announcement comes days after delegations from both countries sat down at Shangri-La Dialogue to discuss concrete military engagement.

31 May 2026 - 7:40PMvideocam

Malaysia

Malaysia blasts ‘conspicuously muted’ response over axed Norway missile deal

Defence Minister Khaled told the Shangri-La Dialogue that Oslo’s move was ‘destructive’ to the credibility of the rules-based global order.

31 May 2026 - 6:23PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Russia says Ukraine drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Kyiv denies being behind the attack, calling the Russian claims ‘yet another propaganda ploy’.

31 May 2026 - 1:06PMvideocam

A view of a spent nuclear fuel storage grounds at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine in March 2023. Photo: TNS

Ukraine war

Nato and Romania accuse Russia after drone hits block of flats

Drone strikes a 10-storey building in Galati, causing an explosion and civilian injuries in an apparent spillover of the Ukraine conflict.

29 May 2026 - 9:10PM

War and conflict

Israel, Russia hit back after being added to UN blacklist for sexual violence in conflicts

UN documentation of alleged abuses sparks furious denials from both nations.

29 May 2026 - 4:25PM

Diplomacy

Opinion | 3 paths to stability in a conflict-ridden world

History moves in cycles, and today’s turbulence will settle into a new order. Will the US reassert dominance, China emerge as the leader, or will we see a world with two centres?

28 May 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Drones

South Korea aims to join top tier of ‘loyal wingman’ combat drone race

Planned indigenous engine for the most complex UAV technology to support crewed fighter jets ‘a deliberate bid’ by Seoul.

27 May 2026 - 6:19PMvideocam

Hanwha Aerospace and the South Korean space agency plan to jointly develop engines capable of powering the most complex drone technology in the world. Photo: Handout

United States

As I see it | Trump makes everything worse but he didn’t start it

Essays from over a decade ago show that America’s institutional decay and populist revolt predate the current US president’s rise to power.

26 May 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Russia tells US to pull its diplomats and citizens from Ukraine capital

Sergey Lavrov warns Marco Rubio of Russian plans to attack Kyiv facilities and ‘decision-making centres’.

26 May 2026 - 3:16PM

Ukraine war

Exiled Belarus opposition leader visits Ukraine as Kyiv warns of escalation

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya meets foreign minister during working trip as Kyiv reels from heavy Russian strikes.

26 May 2026 - 2:16PM

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

Ukraine demands emergency UN Security Council meeting over Russia strikes

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also called for a ‘strong response’ after the overnight attacks, which mainly targeted the Kyiv region.

25 May 2026 - 2:20AM

Firefighters work at the scene of a fire in a destroyed block of flats following a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on Sunday. Photo: SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire / dpa

Ukraine war

‘Deranged’: 600 drones, 90 missiles, hit Kyiv in retaliation for dorm attack

The latest strikes – including the use of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile – killed four people and wounded dozens.

24 May 2026 - 7:54PM

Cannes Film Festival

‘Fjord’ by Romania’s Mungiu wins Palme d’Or at Cannes

The film stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as a couple who have their children taken from them by child services for spanking them.

24 May 2026 - 9:03AM

China manufacturing

China told the solar industry to cut capacity. Firms built new factories anyway

Beijing has been striving to rein in severe overcapacity in the solar industry. But the sector is still plagued by illegal facilities, an insider says.

23 May 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Chinese workers prepare panels that will be part of a large floating solar farm project in the central Anhui province. Photo: Getty Images

Iran

UN event on nuclear non-proliferation treaty stumbles, US and Iran clash

There was no consensus among the 191 parties to the NPT, the third failure in a row at a conference reviewing the treaty.

23 May 2026 - 10:09AM

War and conflict

As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war

Trump, Putin and Netanyahu have all gone to war to prove how strong and powerful they are. The results should give any strongman pause.

23 May 2026 - 9:30AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Putin accuses Ukraine of deadly attack on student dorm, vows retaliation

Ukraine says it struck an elite drone command unit in Starobilsk, denying Russia’s accusations.

23 May 2026 - 2:06AM

Flames and smoke rise from the side of a college building in Starobilsk, Ukraine. Photo: Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service via AP

Science

China’s Tsinghua University honours German Gref, Russian banker sanctioned by US

Sberbank CEO accompanied Vladimir Putin during Russian leader’s recent trip to Beijing for summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

22 May 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Sberbank CEO German Gref (right) at the Great Hall of the People ahead of a signing ceremony during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China, in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Singapore

Singapore drone trials spotlight regional rush for uncrewed systems

As Southeast Asian militaries adopt cheap, lethal systems, experts warn a lack of established rules could prove dangerous.

29 May 2026 - 1:57PM

Britain

UK relaxes sanctions on Russian oil, leaving Ukrainians ‘very let down’

UK inventories of diesel and jet fuel are set to shrink to their lowest since 2023 this month.

20 May 2026 - 7:28PM

Hong Kong politics

China will actively help to resolve international conflicts, diplomat says

Han Zhiqiang delivers pledge at Global Prosperity Summit, where political heavyweight Regina Ip also calls for creating Apec think tank council.

19 May 2026 - 8:47PM

Chinese diplomat Han Zhiqiang delivers his keynote speech at the Global Prosperity Summit in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Photo: Edmond So

China-Russia relations

Putin hails ‘unprecedented’ ties ahead of China visit hot on Trump’s heels

Russian leader’s trip is widely seen as a move to boost energy relationship with Beijing as the Iran war disrupts global supply.

19 May 2026 - 3:59PMvideocam

President Vladimir Putin has visited China more than 20 times, and has met his Chinese counterpart in person more than 40 times since 2013. Photo: Handout

China-Russia relations

Vodka, bullet train and boat rides: how Xi and Putin built up a personal rapport

Xi Jinping’s friendship with Vladimir Putin has been cultivated over many visits and informal events, from pancakes to lakeside teas.

19 May 2026 - 4:39PM

United States

US extends Russian oil waiver by 30 days as Hormuz closure chokes supply

US Treasury secretary says reprieve will allow energy-vulnerable nations to access Russian seaborne oil.

19 May 2026 - 12:59PM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Ukraine

Ukraine drones target St Petersburg as ‘Russia’s Davos’ opens

Black smoke rises over major fuel terminal as city hosts Vladimir Putin’s global economic summit.

Major Russian air attack on Ukrainian cities kills at least 23, wounds dozens

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | Trump ‘personally called for China’s help’ to end Ukraine war in summit with Xi

Powell uses JFK award speech to defend Fed from political pressure

Former Fed chair urges protection of America’s democratic institutions, warns they face a ‘stress test’.

In sign of easing UK-China ties, British Foreign Secretary set for 3-day visit

Announcement comes days after delegations from both countries sat down at Shangri-La Dialogue to discuss concrete military engagement.

Malaysia blasts ‘conspicuously muted’ response over axed Norway missile deal

Defence Minister Khaled told the Shangri-La Dialogue that Oslo’s move was ‘destructive’ to the credibility of the rules-based global order.

Russia says Ukraine drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Kyiv denies being behind the attack, calling the Russian claims ‘yet another propaganda ploy’.

Nato and Romania accuse Russia after drone hits block of flats

Drone strikes a 10-storey building in Galati, causing an explosion and civilian injuries in an apparent spillover of the Ukraine conflict.

Israel, Russia hit back after being added to UN blacklist for sexual violence in conflicts

UN documentation of alleged abuses sparks furious denials from both nations.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | 3 paths to stability in a conflict-ridden world

History moves in cycles, and today’s turbulence will settle into a new order. Will the US reassert dominance, China emerge as the leader, or will we see a world with two centres?

South Korea aims to join top tier of ‘loyal wingman’ combat drone race

Planned indigenous engine for the most complex UAV technology to support crewed fighter jets ‘a deliberate bid’ by Seoul.

As I see it | Trump makes everything worse but he didn’t start it

Essays from over a decade ago show that America’s institutional decay and populist revolt predate the current US president’s rise to power.

Russia tells US to pull its diplomats and citizens from Ukraine capital

Sergey Lavrov warns Marco Rubio of Russian plans to attack Kyiv facilities and ‘decision-making centres’.

Exiled Belarus opposition leader visits Ukraine as Kyiv warns of escalation

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya meets foreign minister during working trip as Kyiv reels from heavy Russian strikes.

Ukraine demands emergency UN Security Council meeting over Russia strikes

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also called for a ‘strong response’ after the overnight attacks, which mainly targeted the Kyiv region.

‘Deranged’: 600 drones, 90 missiles, hit Kyiv in retaliation for dorm attack

The latest strikes – including the use of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile – killed four people and wounded dozens.

‘Fjord’ by Romania’s Mungiu wins Palme d’Or at Cannes

The film stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as a couple who have their children taken from them by child services for spanking them.

China told the solar industry to cut capacity. Firms built new factories anyway

Beijing has been striving to rein in severe overcapacity in the solar industry. But the sector is still plagued by illegal facilities, an insider says.

UN event on nuclear non-proliferation treaty stumbles, US and Iran clash

There was no consensus among the 191 parties to the NPT, the third failure in a row at a conference reviewing the treaty.

As I see it | How China wins by avoiding war

Trump, Putin and Netanyahu have all gone to war to prove how strong and powerful they are. The results should give any strongman pause.

Putin accuses Ukraine of deadly attack on student dorm, vows retaliation

Ukraine says it struck an elite drone command unit in Starobilsk, denying Russia’s accusations.

China’s Tsinghua University honours German Gref, Russian banker sanctioned by US

Sberbank CEO accompanied Vladimir Putin during Russian leader’s recent trip to Beijing for summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Singapore drone trials spotlight regional rush for uncrewed systems

As Southeast Asian militaries adopt cheap, lethal systems, experts warn a lack of established rules could prove dangerous.

UK relaxes sanctions on Russian oil, leaving Ukrainians ‘very let down’

UK inventories of diesel and jet fuel are set to shrink to their lowest since 2023 this month.

China will actively help to resolve international conflicts, diplomat says

Han Zhiqiang delivers pledge at Global Prosperity Summit, where political heavyweight Regina Ip also calls for creating Apec think tank council.

Putin hails ‘unprecedented’ ties ahead of China visit hot on Trump’s heels

Russian leader’s trip is widely seen as a move to boost energy relationship with Beijing as the Iran war disrupts global supply.

Vodka, bullet train and boat rides: how Xi and Putin built up a personal rapport

Xi Jinping’s friendship with Vladimir Putin has been cultivated over many visits and informal events, from pancakes to lakeside teas.

US extends Russian oil waiver by 30 days as Hormuz closure chokes supply

US Treasury secretary says reprieve will allow energy-vulnerable nations to access Russian seaborne oil.

Exclusive | Trump ‘personally called for China’s help’ to end Ukraine war in summit with Xi

Opinion | 3 paths to stability in a conflict-ridden world