Wang Yi launches Middle East tour to boost China’s regional role
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has begun a multi-nation diplomatic tour of the Middle East, showing Beijing’s deepening engagement in a region und...
The European Commission has announced plans to dispatch a technical mission to Georgia in the coming weeks to investigate alleged violations during the October 26 parliamentary elections.
The European Commission has announced plans to dispatch a technical mission to Georgia in the coming weeks to investigate alleged violations during the October 26 parliamentary elections.
Peter Stano, spokesperson for the European Commission on external relations, confirmed the preparations, noting that details would be disclosed later. Stano also highlighted that the head of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission will deliver a report to EU member states, assessing how complaints about electoral irregularities were handled.
On November 18, Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, reiterated the EU’s concerns about the election process, describing it as indicative of a "democratic backslide" by Georgia's government. Following the EU Foreign Ministers’ Council meeting, Borrell announced that a specialized mission would examine the election proceedings.
The election results, which saw the ruling party "Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia" secure 53.93% of the vote and 89 parliamentary seats, have faced mixed reactions from the EU. While Hungary and Slovakia acknowledged the results, other member states, such as Lithuania, questioned the elections’ fairness. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis called for an independent international investigation, urging Georgian authorities to cooperate fully.
Amid the controversy, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze expressed the government’s readiness to assist the EU mission, stating that Georgia is open to scrutiny and willing to provide access to ballots.
The October 26 elections were marked by notable opposition resistance. Key opposition parties, including the “Coalition for Change,” which secured 19 seats, and the “Unity – National Movement,” which won 16 seats, rejected the results. Protests erupted in Tbilisi on November 16, with demonstrators blocking entrances to the Central Election Commission (CEC).
As the EU mission prepares to arrive, questions about the integrity of Georgia’s electoral process remain under scrutiny, reflecting growing tensions between the nation’s ruling party and opposition forces.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Iran's President Massoud Pezeshkian has begun a two day visit to Kazakhstan, with officials from both sides describing the trip as an opportunity to advance cooperation in trade, transport, industry, mining and cultural exchanges.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their tensions through dialogue and engagement, as it pledged to work with the international community to help improve relations between the two countries.
Kazakhstan has begun redirecting part of its crude exports, sending oil from Kashagan to China as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) operates at reduced capacity.
Azerbaijan’s post-conflict reconstruction in Karabakh is attracting international attention. The book by British author Graeme Wilson documents this journey, combining first-hand reporting and digital storytelling to highlight both the region’s restoration and the human stories behind it.
Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, has welcomed the expansion of ties with neighbouring Azerbaijan, stating that Tehran and Baku are committed to building a ‘shared, secure and mutually respectful’ future, local media reported on Friday.
Tashkent is hosting the 2025 Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Annual General Assemblies, one of the most significant events in global motorsport and mobility governance, bringing together officials and delegates from around the world.
The global centre of political gravity is increasingly moving from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a development with significant implications for the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
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