Global Watch

Seventeen years after Air France Flight 447 plunged into the Atlantic and killed 228 people, two corporate giants have finally been branded responsible for one of aviation’s most haunting disasters.   A Paris appeals court has convicted Air France and Airbus of corporate manslaughter, overturning an earlier acquittal and rejecting the idea that two dead pilots should carry the blame alone. The ruling turns a long fight by victims&rsq...

Turkey and Indonesia are moving beyond traditional diplomacy and trying to build a long-term strategic partnership. During talks on June 3, 2026, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for discussions covering trade, defense, energy, transportation, artificial intelligence, and halal industries.   Indonesian diplomats say the countries are aiming to boost their bilateral trade to a stunning $1...

On June 15, 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced the beginning of a two-day visit with Russia's President, Vladimir Putin. With talks being held in Kazan (Russia), both counterparts are aiming to strengthen ties based on food and energy security, two relevant matters of mutual interest.   This announcement comes at a time where the Philippines, and other South-East Asian nations, are actively seeking new economic and mil...

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva went to Europe selling Brazil as the stable giant the world suddenly needs. From April 16-22, Lula traveled to Barcelona, Hannover, and Lisbon with a big delegation of ministers and development officials.   The message it was trying to send was clear. As the United States turns inward under Donald Trump, the Middle East burns, and Europe scrambles for safer partners, Brazil wants to be t...

Cotton is one of Turkmenistan’s most important exports and a major source of income for rural communities. The crop supports jobs, generates foreign currency, and plays a significant role in the country’s agricultural economy. Yet despite years of international scrutiny and recent reform efforts, concerns about labor practices in the industry continue to attract attention.   New reports published in 2026 suggest that forced lab...