foreign governments

The German government has forbidden the sale of a Hamburg port logistics company to Chinese investors, citing security concerns over critical infrastructure. The decision affects Cosco's attempts to expand its stake in port operations and reflects growing Berlin resistance to Chinese investment in strategic assets. Debate is ongoing in Germany about how far to go in restricting foreign ownership of key ports and logistics networks.

Donald Trump has stopped flying on the luxurious Boeing 747 he accepted from Qatar, with reports describing the plane as a lavish but defenceless aircraft. The decision ends a saga that drew scrutiny over the ethics of accepting a foreign government's gift and over questions about the jet's security and readiness for presidential use.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced a ban on face coverings in schools, alongside plans to cap the number of foreign students in each classroom. The measures, framed as protecting Italian students and their identity, sparked strong reactions online, with supporters praising the hard line and critics calling it discriminatory.

Spaniards are checking the latest polls ahead of the general election, with coverage focusing on what is at stake. In the Canary Islands, the regional government is voicing frustration that key demands, such as limiting foreign purchases of housing and reforming the financing system, remain unaddressed by national parties. As voting approaches, attention is on whether campaign promises will translate into action after the ballots are counted.

At the One Conference in the Netherlands, Osvaldo Zavala Giler, who handles ICT matters at the International Criminal Court, made an urgent appeal to EU countries to use the so-called 'blocking statute'. The statute could shield the Court's digital operations from foreign data-access laws, an issue the ICC has flagged as a serious operational risk. Conference attendees are sharing and discussing his call, which touches on digital sovereignty and cooperation with international justice.

Taiwan's foreign minister is set to attend the opening of a new office in Phoenix, in the United States. The visit underscores Taiwan's efforts to expand its unofficial representation in the US, a move likely to draw attention given Beijing's sensitivity to any steps that suggest heightened official ties between Taipei and American cities or governments.

Former foreign minister Seiji Maehara, now with the Japan Innovation Party, has called for Agriculture Minister Kohei Yanagida to step down and resign his Diet seat. The demand has put pressure on the minister and drawn attention to the government's handling of the issue, with political debate over the resignation call spreading across Japanese media and social networks.

A Thai activist's message that human rights cross borders is drawing attention in Thailand, where rights groups and foreign observers continue to raise concerns about harassment of dissidents and regional cooperation on returning exiles. The statement has become a rallying phrase for those calling on governments across Southeast Asia to protect activists rather than send them back to persecution.

Sweden, Germany, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Italy and France have reportedly told their citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible. The advisory, circulating widely online, points to growing security concerns for foreigners in the country, though no official statement detailing the reasons has been confirmed. The coordinated warning from multiple European governments has fueled speculation about rising tensions involving Iran.

Investor Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, has warned that China and Japan could reduce their holdings of US Treasuries, a shift that would raise borrowing costs for the United States. The two countries are among the largest foreign holders of American government debt, so any pullback would be significant for markets.

A major Japanese fund has sold off its holdings of French government bonds, contributing to a wider gap between French and other Eurozone borrowing costs. The move adds pressure on France, which is already facing scrutiny over its fiscal position and political instability, and highlights how shifts in Japanese investor behaviour can ripple through European debt markets.

Japanese institutional investors are reducing their holdings of French bonds and moving capital back into domestic assets, a shift that adds pressure to European debt markets. At the same time, US Treasuries are seeing a surge in retail buying, suggesting American individual investors are stepping in as buyers even as foreign institutions rebalance away from some overseas government debt.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is facing criticism at home and abroad over Tehran's diplomatic handling of the conflict with Israel and the United States, and has publicly defended his negotiating record. The dispute centers on whether Iran's diplomacy during the war advanced or damaged its position, with critics arguing talks failed to protect Iranian interests.

India's new Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) is being explained as a rebalancing of the relationship between foreign investors and the Indian government. The model text governs how India signs investment protection agreements, and debate centres on provisions that limit investor rights to challenge state actions, including in arbitration. Commentators describe it as an attempt to protect policy space for regulators while still reassuring foreign investors that India remains open to investment.

A new Linux Foundation Europe report says digital sovereignty is a core driver of European technology strategy, but that governance challenges and strains around artificial intelligence pose major obstacles. The findings suggest European organisations are prioritising control over their digital infrastructure while struggling with fragmented governance frameworks and the fast-moving demands of AI adoption.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with former Japanese foreign minister Iwaya Takeshi, prompting a response from Japan's chief cabinet secretary, who outlined conditions for what was described as a renewed normalization of Japan-China relations. The meeting is being read as back-channel diplomacy at a time when bilateral ties remain strained, and the Japanese government's comments on terms for improved relations are drawing attention.

South Sudanese authorities have dismissed circulating rumors that the government ordered the expulsion of foreigners from the country. Officials say no such directive exists, seeking to calm concerns among foreign residents and neighbouring states. The denial comes as unverified claims about mass deportations spread, prompting questions about the treatment of foreign nationals in the young nation.

South Sudan is stepping up efforts to attract investment in its vital oil sector, seeking foreign capital to revive output and shore up government revenues. The challenge is geography: its main export pipeline runs through war-torn Sudan, where fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces has repeatedly disrupted flows and payments. Analysts warn investors face pipeline insecurity, payment risk and a fragile peace at home, complicating Juba's pitch.

An investor says the main obstacle to putting money into Sri Lanka is the requirement to transfer funds to a local bank or brokerage, citing a past experience of needing government permission to withdraw money. They say they would invest immediately if a US-based fund offered exposure to Sri Lankan assets instead.

The New York Times has published a review of 'Brink,' the new book by Brett McGurk, the veteran US diplomat who played a central role in Middle East policy and hostage negotiations across multiple administrations. The review adds to attention around McGurk's account of his time in government, drawing interest from readers following US foreign policy and diplomacy.