Premier Li Chang has arrived in North Korea. On the surface, this looks like business as usual. Just two old allies putting on a show of unity.But the real story is what's happening behind the scenes behind the handshake. This is China's response to a new potentially more worrisome dynamic in its own backyard. Think of this as this very complicated geopolitical love triangle between China, North Korea, and Russia.For decades, Beijing has been North Korea's one and only major partner. But now, there's anothe ...

To counter Russia and China in the high north, America must expand its icebreaker fleet. To do so quickly, it will need Finland’s help https://t.co/dkVAfWoaM7 ...

China’s rebound on the NBA sends a message to businesses in America and elsewhere. They are all welcome in China—as long as they play by its rules https://t.co/godgsXaEAS ...

Core Insights - The price of gold has rallied 53% this year, raising concerns about its implications for the US dollar's dominance [1][6] - Central banks are diversifying their reserves, increasingly purchasing gold, which some interpret as a sign of diminishing confidence in the dollar [2][4] - Despite the rise in gold prices, the dollar remains the dominant international currency for reserves and transactions [3][8] Central Bank Activity - Central bank buying is a significant factor driving the gold rally, with gold holdings increasing by 52% to $4.6 trillion since the end of 2024 [4] - The share of dollar reserves held by central banks has seen only a slight decrease, attributed to exchange rate fluctuations rather than a reduction in dollar holdings [5][7] Dollar's Status - The dollar is involved in 89% of all foreign exchange trades, highlighting its liquidity and continued dominance in global transactions [7] - The current gold rally does not appear to threaten the dollar's status as the primary international currency [8]

The European Union is a post-war project designed to make it unthinkable for European states to settle disputes by arms. Unfortunately, this 21st century miracle of peace-through-bureaucracy borders Russia, a 19th-century power https://t.co/Gx2ChcOSYG ...

The US and Finland will sign a deal to kickstart the expansion of the American icebreaker fleet due to the rising geopolitical importance of the Arctic. https://t.co/kHWo0V0C8l ...

How the West reacts to the current spate of provocations has big implications, not only for the immediate security of Europe and East Asia, but also for the future of America’s alliances https://t.co/PwGVcs2GTR ...

Taiwan’s energy is almost entirely dependent on fuel imported by sea, meaning a Chinese blockade would quickly cripple the island’s ability to produce electricity https://t.co/VMXkGuqdEz ...

To counter Russia and China in the high north, America must expand its icebreaker fleet. To do so quickly, it will need Finland’s help https://t.co/YqtSMIbceg ...

Heading into its fourth winter of war, Ukraine is banking on a network of U.S.-designed batteries held at top-secret locations to help keep the lights on https://t.co/k1njhXS1ZA ...