Everyone is watching the Strait of Hormuz right now. The burning tankers, the oil price ticking above $100, the White House press conferences. That’s understandable. However while that drama plays out, something arguably more consequential is happening in the background and it’s barely getting a line of coverage. Russia is
On the 25th of February 2026, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana stood before Parliament and delivered a budget built on a story of redemption. Five years back, South Africa was grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force, it was downgraded to junk status, and reeled from State Capture. On Wednesday, he
Brazil has the 11th largest economy in the world, with a GDP of around $2.3 trillion. Brazil’s political landscape has been particularly contentious. Brazil has suffered an attempted coup in 2022 after former president Jair Bolsonaro allegedly initiated a coup in order to nullify the election result in favour president
The Communist Party of China’s (CPC) leadership has emphasised multiple frameworks to ensure the success of China’s five-year plans. The frameworks emphasise a collective effort to ensure national progress. These were emulated in China’s 20th National CPC Congress. The concept of national rejuvenation has become a defining theme in contemporary
The University of Johannesburg this week hosted a three-day Comparative Governance Forum in partnership with Fudan University, bringing together South African and Chinese academics, policymakers and researchers to engage on governance, innovation and development in a rapidly changing global context. Fudan University is one of China’s leading higher education institutions,
The BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC), which was launched in April 2025 in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), functions as a one-stop centre that offers integrated services, capacity building, and technical support that is focused on Industry 4.0 competencies, digital manufacturing, and productivity enhancement. It
In the final days of January 2026 and the first days of February, developments in Russia’s strategic environment highlighted how Moscow continues to balance security, diplomacy, and resilience in a world of uncertain stability. While much of Western commentary focuses on conflict or economic pressure, Russia’s priorities reflect a different
On the 20th of January 2025, China Daily published a report titled “Closer China-Africa cooperation energises Global South growth,” showing Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s early-year visit to Africa and exalting expanding ties between Beijing and African countries. The article’s core message is that the deepening of China-Africa engagement is
For decades, Middle Eastern states secured food by importing commodities on global markets. That model is no longer sufficient. Climate volatility, geopolitical disruptions and tightening export controls have exposed how fragile global food supply chains really are. In response, the region has begun to rethink food security not as trade
India is moving swiftly to strengthen its space-based intelligence and monitoring capabilities after weaknesses were exposed during last year’s border confrontation with Pakistan, according to individuals familiar with the matter. New Delhi is preparing to deploy more than 50 dedicated surveillance satellites in the near term, with plans ultimately extending