latest news in global

China Grants Tariff-Free Access to 53 African Nations Amid Global Trade Shifts

China Grants Tariff-Free Access to 53 African Nations Amid Global Trade Shifts

Beijing, Sunday, 15 February 2026.
Effective May 1, Beijing eliminates duties for 53 nations, sacrificing an estimated $1.4 billion in revenue to bolster trade ties and counter Africa’s widening $60 billion deficit.

France Signals Tidal Energy Industrialization with Major 2030 Commercial Tender

France Signals Tidal Energy Industrialization with Major 2030 Commercial Tender

Paris, Sunday, 15 February 2026.
France has officially committed to industrializing its tidal energy sector by embedding a commercial tender for 250 MW into its newly published energy strategy, with awards scheduled by 2030. This strategic move marks a pivotal transition for tidal technology, shifting it from experimental pilot projects to scalable infrastructure assets capable of contributing to national energy sovereignty. When combined with the United Kingdom’s recent 140 MW allocation, this development solidifies Europe’s position as the global leader in marine energy commercialization. For international investors and energy executives, this tender provides the long-awaited market visibility and regulatory certainty needed to unlock private capital, signaling that the supply chain is maturing and ready for mass manufacturing and large-scale deployment.

Leaked Records Reveal China Paid U.S.-Born Olympians $14 Million for Representation

Leaked Records Reveal China Paid U.S.-Born Olympians $14 Million for Representation

Beijing, Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Scrubbed financial documents disclose that Beijing paid naturalized stars, including Eileen Gu, nearly $14 million to secure their allegiance for the 2026 Winter Games.

US Clears Way for Global Oil Giants to Resume Operations in Venezuela

US Clears Way for Global Oil Giants to Resume Operations in Venezuela

Washington D.C., Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Following Maduro’s removal, Washington authorizes global majors to restart Venezuelan production, projecting $5 billion in near-term sales while strictly excluding Russian and Chinese participation.

Rubio Sets Conditional Terms for Renewed Transatlantic Alliance

Rubio Sets Conditional Terms for Renewed Transatlantic Alliance

Munich, Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Secretary Rubio characterized America as a “child of Europe” but conditioned future partnership on adopting President Trump’s anti-globalist agenda. Underscoring this transactional shift, Rubio withdrew from a critical high-level Ukraine meeting, signaling that the transatlantic alliance now requires significant structural adjustments.

European Coalition Confirms Kremlin Used Dart Frog Toxin to Assassinate Navalny

European Coalition Confirms Kremlin Used Dart Frog Toxin to Assassinate Navalny

London, Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Intelligence findings confirm the Kremlin assassinated Alexei Navalny using a lethal South American dart frog toxin, formally implicating Moscow in a breach of international chemical weapons laws.

Reform UK Moves to Displace Conservatives as Britain’s Primary Right-Wing Force

Reform UK Moves to Displace Conservatives as Britain’s Primary Right-Wing Force

London, Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Amidst key staff defections on the eve of the Welsh Conservative conference, Nigel Farage asserts Reform UK has effectively replaced the Tories, signaling a volatile realignment in British political stability.

Taiwan Pledges $44 Billion for US Energy in Strategic Trade Deal

Taiwan Pledges $44 Billion for US Energy in Strategic Trade Deal

Taipei, Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Taipei secures a 15% tariff cap by committing $44.4 billion to US energy imports, solidifying economic ties with Washington while facing calls to increase defense spending.

Dutch Asset Tax Overhaul Approved: Actual Returns to Replace Fictitious Gains by 2028

Dutch Asset Tax Overhaul Approved: Actual Returns to Replace Fictitious Gains by 2028

The Hague, Friday, 13 February 2026.
On February 12, 2026, the Dutch House of Representatives officially approved a landmark overhaul of the Box 3 asset tax regime, scheduled for implementation on January 1, 2028. This legislation marks a critical shift from taxing controversial fictitious returns to levying taxes on actual value increases. However, the most intriguing aspect of this reform is its precarious political standing; while the law introduces a capital growth tax on unrealized “paper” gains, a majority of lawmakers simultaneously demanded a transition to a realized gains tax before the 2028 start date. Consequently, while this vote aims to resolve a decade of legal disputes regarding fairness, it effectively establishes a legislative placeholder, leaving the final taxation method for stocks and cryptocurrencies in a state of flux.

High Court Deems Palestine Action Terror Ban Unlawful in Landmark Ruling

High Court Deems Palestine Action Terror Ban Unlawful in Landmark Ruling

London, Friday, 13 February 2026.
Despite ruling the terror designation unlawful and “disproportionate,” the ban remains active pending appeal—leaving over 2,700 previous arrests in legal limbo as the government challenges the verdict.