Chinese technology firm ByteDance is strengthening its presence in southern China with plans to establish a second headquarters in Shenzhen dedicated primarily to operations linked to its short video platform Douyin. The move signals the company’s growing commitment to the city as a
China’s ruling Communist Party is rapidly intensifying its ability to monitor and shape the behavior of its population as new research shows artificial intelligence is being deeply woven into nationwide systems of surveillance and censorship. A new report from the Australian Strategic Policy
China’s property sector continues to contract, with the number of developers capable of generating large scale sales falling sharply amid a prolonged and unresolved housing downturn. In 2025, only ten Chinese property developers recorded annual sales exceeding US$14 billion, a dramatic decline from
The US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is prompting governments across Latin America to reassess their strategic assumptions about China, Russia and the limits of their protection when Washington decides to act. Analysts say the episode
The dramatic crisis unfolding in Venezuela is increasingly being viewed through a broader geopolitical lens, with analysts pointing to an intensifying rivalry between the United States and China over access to critical minerals and strategic resources. While Washington has publicly framed its intervention
The Palestinian diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom has been formally upgraded to full embassy status, marking what Palestinian officials described as a historic step in bilateral relations. The inauguration ceremony in London was attended by diplomats, politicians and members of the Palestinian
Denmark has issued a stark warning that any attempt by the United States to take control of Greenland by military force would effectively mark the end of the transatlantic alliance, underscoring growing unease in Europe over rhetoric surrounding strategic territories. The comments reflect
A bar in the Swiss alpine resort of Crans-Montana that was destroyed in a deadly fire had gone without mandatory safety inspections for five years, local authorities have confirmed, as prosecutors launched a criminal investigation into the establishment’s management. The revelation has intensified
Senior figures in the US administration have publicly praised American media organisations for exercising restraint ahead of the military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The comments highlight an unusual moment of alignment between the government and
The Winter Olympics risk losing their core identity if organisers continue to add novelty events that drift too far from snow and ice based sport, according to the head of the global skiing and snowboarding body. Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski
