Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is feared dead following a helicopter crash: state media

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is feared dead following a helicopter crash: state media

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a meeting with the cabinet in Tehran, Iran, October 8, 2023. Wana News Agency | Reuters Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is feared to have died in a helicopter crash along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, state media reported Monday. Iranian state television reported there were “no sign of life” … Read more

Modi strongman rule raises questions on India’s ‘democratic decline’

Modi strongman rule raises questions on India’s ‘democratic decline’

Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, center, during a campaign rally in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Modi doubled down on his attacks against the main opposition party by using language critics say sows division between the country’s Hindu majority and Muslim minority. Photographer: Prakash Singh/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg | Bloomberg … Read more

How much money the U.S. spends on war

How much money the U.S. spends on war

U.S. defense spending and military aid costs are adding up. President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion U.S. military aid package in April allocating funding to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region. On top of that, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 authorized military spending of a record $886 billion. A big chunk … Read more

No longer in life-threatening condition

No longer in life-threatening condition

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico walks during the European Council summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, on April 18, 2024.  Kenzo Tribouillard | Afp | Getty Images Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico is expected to survive a multiple-shot assassination attempt following surgery, according to the country’s deputy prime minister. “Fortunately, as far as … Read more

Saudi-Israeli normalization obstacle is two state solution: former CIA

Saudi-Israeli normalization obstacle is two state solution: former CIA

Gen. David Petraeus, Former CIA Director, Fmr. Central Commander and American commander in Iraq. Adam Jeffery | CNBC A two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict is “elusive” right now, according to former CIA director David Petraeus, adding that it is also the “single biggest barrier” to normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. “A solid … Read more

Russia and China keep the West guessing

Russia and China keep the West guessing

China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attend the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 18, 2023. Pedro Pardo | Afp | Getty Images Russia’s close relationship with superpower China is under close scrutiny as Russian … Read more

Xi welcomes Putin to China as both leaders seek to bolster ties

Xi welcomes Putin to China as both leaders seek to bolster ties

China’s President Xi Jinping (R) and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attend the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 18, 2023.  Pedro Pardo | Afp | Getty Images Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing … Read more

Russia wants 3 things from China, says FPRI

Russia wants 3 things from China, says FPRI

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China this week is the latest sign of deepening strategic ties between both sides.    Putin will make a two-day state visit to China from Thursday at the invitation of Xi, it was announced on Tuesday. This will be the Russian leader’s first overseas trip … Read more

Biden signs bill banning imports of Russian uranium for nuclear fuel

Biden signs bill banning imports of Russian uranium for nuclear fuel

Ready-to-ship canisters filled with enriched uranium at the Urenco USA uranium enrichment facility near Eunice, New Mexico, US, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is forcing the US and Europe to search for alternative sources of enriched uranium to power their reactors.  Mark Felix | Bloomberg | Getty Images The United States … Read more

China is engaged in ‘deliberate’ efforts to undermine the U.S. and Europe, says EU envoy Gitenstein

China is engaged in ‘deliberate’ efforts to undermine the U.S. and Europe, says EU envoy Gitenstein

Mark Gitenstein, the U.S. ambassador to the EU, said China is deliberately distorting markets with a glut of cheap goods. Speaking to CNBC’s Silvia Amaro on Tuesday, Gitenstein said China was “engaged in a deliberate effort to undermine economic sectors in both Europe and the United States.” The Chinese Embassy in London did not immediately … Read more