December 2024
- Opinion
- World politics
Why the world’s leading democracies are in crisis
The majority of G7 governments are now so burdened with domestic political problems that they are incapable of steering their own countries – let alone the free world.
- Gideon Rachman
October 2024
Israel strikes heart of Beirut, killing six
Witnesses reported hearing a massive blast, and a security source said it targeted a building in the central district of Bachoura, near parliament.
- Timour Azhari and Ari Rabinovitch
September 2024
AUKUS was part of plan to punish Macron, says Boris Johnson
Writing in his upcoming memoirs, the former UK prime minister accused the French president of being a “positive nuisance” during talks to leave the EU.
- Updated
- Daniel Martin
Iran ships ‘hundreds’ of missiles to Russia in ‘huge threat’
Delivery of weaponry to Moscow marks a “dramatic escalation” in the war against Ukraine, Kyiv and Western officials warn.
- Christopher Miller
US, Britain and Brussels set to sign agreement on AI standards
The convention, which was drafted by more than 50 countries, requires signatories to be accountable for any harmful and discriminatory outcomes of AI systems.
- Madhumita Murgia and Javier Espinoza
- Opinion
- World politics
Kishida was better on the foreign stage than at home
The outgoing Japanese PM strengthened international ties and was decisive on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, he missed the opportunity to fix the economy.
- Shiro Armstrong
July 2024
Meloni vows to ‘relaunch’ cooperation with China
Italy was the only Group of Seven country to join the massive Belt and Road Initiative, but it withdrew last year under US pressure over Beijing’s economic reach.
- Giselda Vagnoni and Laurie Chen
June 2024
Top Fed official warns interest rates may need to go up again
Michelle Bowman said looser financial conditions and government stimulus “could add momentum to demand, stalling progress or even causing inflation to accelerate”.
- Claire Jones
Global tax war fears as landmark deal set to fail
Champions of digital taxes have started taking unilateral steps after losing faith in the OECD-backed treaty to overhaul taxation of multinationals.
- Emma Agyemang, Paola Tamma and Claire Jones
Biden vows weapons, aid for Ukraine ‘until they prevail’
The US president has signed a new security agreement with Volodymyr Zelensky, and the G7 plans $75 billion in aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia.
- Updated
- Matt Viser and Tyler Pager
- Analysis
- World elections
Talks on EU top jobs kick off at G7 summit
A summit of G7 leaders hosted by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni will feature private conversations with the EC president as she seeks five more years in the job.
- Henry Foy and Andy Bounds
Italy’s Meloni strengthens grip at EU elections
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right Brothers of Italy won about 28.8 per cent of the vote, strengthening her political position at home and in Europe.
- Crispian Balmer and Angelo Amante
May 2024
G7 finance chiefs back Russian assets plan for Ukraine
The G7 ministers also warned against China’s dumping of cheap exports into their markets, although no concrete actions were decided against China.
- Alan Rappeport
- Opinion
- Productivity
Fear and crisis fatigue are holding back productivity
Our uncertain world is generating collective caution. This leaves economies experiencing too little change and bearing too little risk.
- Andy Haldane
April 2024
Albanese out, Pope in for G7 summit
Despite Australia being a regular fixture in recent years, Anthony Albanese is off the guest list for the June leaders’ summit of the world’s most advanced economies.
- Andrew Tillett
Israel considers next move as US urges restraint
The US has highlighted its role in helping Israel thwart Iran’s aerial attack as Joe Biden convenes G7 leaders in an effort to coordinate a global rebuke of Tehran.
- Updated
- Matthew Cranston
- Opinion
- Russia-Ukraine war
‘Cartel of aggression’ trades on timidity and self-interest
The West has enormous economic leverage over China and Russia. But fear of their own consumers prevents governments from using it.
- Simon Johnson and Oleg Ustenko
February 2024
Yellen says ‘unlock’ frozen Russian assets for Ukraine
The EU, G7 nations and Australia have frozen about €260 billion ($430 billion) in Russian cash and securities, but are undecided on what to do with them.
- Viktoria Dendrinou and Christopher Condon
January 2024
Central banks poised for rate cuts in 2024
With falling headline inflation rates and slowing economies across the industrialised world, the pressure to cut borrowing costs is set to gather strength.
- Updated
- Sam Fleming
December 2023
EU readies $32b plan B to fund Ukraine
The alternative scheme would allow the European Union to sidestep Hungary’s veto because it would not require unanimous backing.
- Paola Tamma and Henry Foy