#geopolitical-tensions

#geopolitical-tensions

Coventry confirmed that she had no plans to meet Trump amid rising global tensions before the 2028 Olympics, which are expected to bring together more than 10,000 athletes from over 200 nations, and said she did not want to get involved with geopolitics. We are always aware of all the conversations that are happening and the geopolitics and political conversations happening, said Coventry on Wednesday. I want to make clear that it is not in our remit to comment on such matters.

Commenting on the current environment, Kozakou-Marcoullis said Europe today is "facing new and unprecedented challenges stemming from Russia's war against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, within a rapidly changing global landscape and growing instability." According to the diplomat, the EU appears determined to assume a more prominent leadership role in addressing these challenges a stance reflected in the strategic agenda adopted by the European Council in 2024, covering the period through 2029.

The latest rally came after the U.S. launched strikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria on Thursday, adding to other geopolitical tensions. Earlier in the week, the Trump administration continued to pile on more pressure on Venezuela by targeting additional oil tankers, squeezing a key source of revenue for the Maduro regime. Meanwhile, the Pentagon sent large numbers of special-operations aircraft, troops and gear into the Caribbean, sources told the Wall Street Journal.

Data indicate that geopolitical tensions are affecting how scientists around the world collaborate on research projects. But "rather than uniformly shrinking, global academic networks are being reconfigured", says Marina Zhang, a technology and geopolitics researcher at the University of Technology Sydney, in Australia. Collaborations with Israel and Russia, and between China and the United States, are among those seeing such shifts.

The company has also denied allegations that it has failed to pay employee salaries, claiming that its recently ousted CEO, Zhang Xuezheng, was actively spreading "falsehoods" after the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs took control of the firm last week, according to a statement obtained by Bloomberg. Based in the Netherlands, the Chinese-owned chipmaker produces components for, among other things, electronic control units (ECUs) used in automobiles.

Defense stocks are gaining traction in 2025, driven by heightened global security concerns and robust investor interest. A post from The Kobeissi Letter on X highlights FactSet data showing aerospace and defense exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows reaching $8.2 billion in the first three quarters of 2025 - a 573% surge compared to 2024. This spike reflects growing unease over geopolitical tensions and optimism about long-term sector growth, fueled by increased defense spending and new fund launches.

Donald Trump hints at lifting sanctions on Ankara buying F-35 jets during meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan. For the first time in six years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has returned to the White House for a high-stakes meeting with Donald Trump aimed at resetting strained ties. The two leaders had much to discuss, from deals on Ankara buying fighter jets to deep divides over Gaza and Russia.

The airports in Copenhagen and Oslo, the two busiest in the Nordic region, were shut for hours last night after drones were observed in their airspace late on Monday, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded as flights were diverted, delayed and cancelled. Police officers stand guard after all traffic has been closed at the Copenhagen Airport due to drone reports in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photograph: Steven Knap/Reuters The Danish and Norwegian authorities are understood to be in contact in case the two incidents were linked, NRK reported.

During a state visit to India, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr stated the Philippines may be drawn into a potential conflict between China and the US over Taiwan, citing humanitarian concerns for Filipinos in Taiwan.

The Kremlin has moved four Tu-95M strategic nuclear bombers armed with cruise missiles closer to Ukraine, indicating a high probability of imminent attack as they return to Engels airbase.

Dependence on American cloud giants has become risky in a world where geopolitical tensions can directly affect digital infrastructure, according to Bernd Wagner, CEO of Stackit.

"As our cooperation has deepened, so have imbalances," von der Leyen told Xi, describing EU-China trade imbalances as having reached "an inflection point" where China must "come forward with real solutions."

The successful live-fire test sank a maritime target, showcasing the effectiveness of the Mid-Range Capability missile system in a key operational area.

Europe's defence tech startups secured $971mn in funding in the first half of this year, surpassing the whole of 2024, which saw $605mn raised.

U.S. officials state that airstrikes inflicted significant damage on Iran's Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, though actual destruction varies in assessment.