Telecoms group China Unicom's $11.7 billion ownership-reforms plan, billed as a model case for revitalizing Chinese state firms with private capital, remained under a cloud on Friday, with confusion about fundraising details persisting.

• August 19, 2017

Venezuela's alliance with Russia is "perfect," the president of state oil company PDVSA said on Friday, blasting what he said was a U.S.-led attempt to sully the growing ties between the two nations.

• August 19, 2017

The UK government is trying to send a trade Trojan Horse to Ireland. The European Union wants Northern Ireland’s knotty border issue resolved before Britain’s wider exit terms from the bloc can be agreed. New proposals from London deftly advance the government’s trade agenda, couched in concern for the region’s peace process. It may not work, but it’s smart, because having Dublin onside raises the chances of Britain getting what it wants.

• August 19, 2017

By Benyamin Poghosyan, PhD, Executive Director, Political Science Association of Armenia

China's growing involvement in the South Caucasus may provide Armenia a much needed flexibility in its foreign policy.
On August 9, 2017 work started on the construction of China's new Embassy building in Yerevan. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Yerevan's Mayor Taron Markarian, and visiting Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Huilai participated in the ground-breaking ceremony of the 40,000-square-meter embassy compound that should be completed by the end of 2019. READ MORE

• August 18, 2017

Alibaba, China's top e-commerce firm, beat analyst estimates with a 56 percent rise in first-quarter revenue, driven by strong online sales.

• August 17, 2017

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder hit back at criticism of his planned new job at Russian oil producer Rosneft on Thursday, accusing his foes of political maneuvering to help get Angela Merkel re-elected.

• August 17, 2017

CEFC China Energy, which has grown from a niche oil trader to a sprawling energy conglomerate, is in talks to acquire a stake in Russian state oil giant Rosneft (ROSN.MM), three people with direct knowledge of the discussions said.

• August 17, 2017

Germany on Wednesday vowed to do all it could to defuse tensions between the United States and North Korea, lauding China's role in pressuring North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to delay plans to fire missiles towards the U.S. territory of Guam.

• August 16, 2017