Ursula von der Leyen

‘Mother of all trade deals’: EU pivots to India in historic trade shake-up

28 Jan 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Banking & finance

Trump says the US dollar can move like a yo-yo. Will Treasuries be left hanging?

28 Jan 2026 - 11:18AMvideocam

India, EU ‘make history’ as they seal trade pact amid US tariff pressure

Both sides are ‘set to benefit’ from the deal that analysts say will underscore broader shifts under way in the global order.

27 Jan 2026 - 7:10PMvideocam

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre) with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday. Photo: AP

European leaders say the quiet part out loud: order no longer constrains power

EU leaders appear to have finally accepted they are facing a new era of great power competition – the question now is how they respond.

27 Jan 2026 - 9:40AMvideocam

EU opens probe into Musk’s Grok over sexual AI deepfakes

Brussels targets X with a new probe into ‘digital undressing’, vowing to protect women and children from illegal AI content.

26 Jan 2026 - 7:50PM

EU envoys top guests at India celebration to seal trade deal

India and the EU have tried to cut dependence on Russia and the US respectively by diversifying imports and pushing their own domestic manufacturing.

25 Jan 2026 - 7:01PM

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive for a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on February 28 last year. Photo: Reuters

My Take

My Take | Trump threatens Greenland but Nato chief says China is the real threat

EU and Nato ‘leaders’ can continue to act slavishly before the Americans. They are just making themselves irrelevant and despised.

25 Jan 2026 - 6:51PM

United States

Editorial | Trump’s antics at Davos further erode trust in US leadership

No exaggeration to say Trump is openly using US power to upend both the world economy and the global order.

23 Jan 2026 - 7:15AM

World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

India, EU ramp up push for ‘historic’ free-trade deal amid US tariff tensions

A trade pact with the EU would offer an ‘alternative market’ for Indian goods amid a fraught global environment, analysts say.

22 Jan 2026 - 6:45PM

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting in New Delhi, India, in February 2025. Photo: Reuters

United States

Trump’s freewheeling Davos speech stirs unease among global audience

Harsh rhetoric from the US leader at forum combined threats towards allies with praise for traditional adversaries during a 70-minute talk.

22 Jan 2026 - 6:11AMvideocam

US President Donald Trump walks with the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende, during World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

United States

Trump lays out Greenland-Arctic deal framework, pauses February tariffs

In his speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, the US president vowed not to invade Greenland while slamming Nato and Europe.

22 Jan 2026 - 5:18AMvideocam

Macron urges Europe to hit back against Trump’s threats

French president advocates use of the EU’s anti-coercion mechanism against US tariffs, as he warns of moving ‘towards a world without rules’.

27 Jan 2026 - 5:27AMvideocam

World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

China’s He Lifeng warns of ‘law of the jungle’, blasts protectionism, at Davos

Amid escalating transatlantic rifts fuelled by Donald Trump, vice-premier urges global cooperation, free trade and dialogue, pledging to boost imports and open China’s market.

20 Jan 2026 - 9:36PMvideocam

Vice-Premier He Lifeng delivers a speech during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump

Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invites

Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

20 Jan 2026 - 12:29PM

US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: AP

Israel-Gaza war

Israel objects to composition of Trump-led Gaza ‘board of peace’

PM Netanyahu says the unveiling of the board was not coordinated with Israel and contradicted his government’s policy.

18 Jan 2026 - 2:05AM

South American bloc and EU sign long-awaited FTA amid Trump’s tariffs

The deal creates one of the world’s largest free trade areas after 25 years of tricky negotiations.

18 Jan 2026 - 7:56AM

China’s charm offensive: Beijing bypasses Brussels to soften EU trade push

From aircraft orders in France to reopened beef and pork markets for Ireland and Spain, mainland officials are leaning hard into diplomacy.

17 Jan 2026 - 12:13PMvideocam

European Union flags fly outside the bloc’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Beijing is ramping up bilateral diplomacy as the European Commission prepares for another confrontational year of trade action against China. Photo: AP

Germany’s Merz backs India-EU trade deal during first official visit to Asia

The German chancellor and India’s Modi have signed agreements aimed at boosting bilateral trade and enhancing defence cooperation.

13 Jan 2026 - 5:46PMvideocam

My Take

My Take | The days of EU and Nato may be numbered under von der Leyen and Kallas

Europe’s leaders continue to play supplicants to Trump, who may be an even bigger existential threat than Putin with his undisguised US imperialism.

11 Jan 2026 - 10:15PM

EU agrees to ‘world’s largest’ free-trade zone with Mercosur pact after 25 years

The EU sealed the historic deal with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to form a 700 million strong bloc, defying fierce farmer opposition.

9 Jan 2026 - 9:59PM

EU flags waving in front of the European Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Shutterstock

Bulgaria becomes 21st country to adopt euro in historic milestone

The Balkan nation, which joined the EU in 2007, retires the 19th-century lev for the single currency.

1 Jan 2026 - 2:06PM

Revellers celebrate the New Year in front of the Bulgarian National Bank in Sofia as Bulgaria officially adopts the euro. Photo: AFP

Year in Review

10 most read Daily Pulse briefings of 2025

SCMP Plus looks back at the year’s 10 most popular Daily Pulse bulletins, covering China issues related to diplomacy, trade and economics.

22 Dec 2025 - 5:00PM

Ukraine war

Russia says Putin open to Ukraine war talks with France’s Macron

Moscow’s response came after the French president urged Europe to ‘re-engage’ with the Russian leader.

21 Dec 2025 - 1:20PMvideocam

EU facing crunch talks over Ukraine, China and its economic future

EU leaders are set to meet amid growing concern in Brussels that the bloc’s divisions will impede meaningful action across a range of issues.

18 Dec 2025 - 2:07PMvideocam

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc had to decide what option it wanted to take to ensure Ukraine received funding. Photo: dpa