International

A crucial meeting between China and the United States is approaching under the shadow of geopolitical uncertainty.China continues moving forward with plans for a high‑level meeting between its leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, even as turmoil across the Middle East adds complexity to the diplomatic landscape. The summit, now anticipated for mid‑May, is regarded in Beijing as a key opportunity to adjust its relationship with Washington amid persistent tensions and uncertainty.Sources familiar with internal discussions suggest that Chinese officials see the prolonged U.S. involvement in a conflict with Iran as a development that may have subtly shifted…

Global inequality—both between countries and within them—has been shaped by a complex mix of economic, technological, political and environmental forces over the past four decades. Some trends reduced differences across countries, notably rapid growth in China and parts of Asia; others sharply widened income and wealth gaps inside most advanced and many emerging economies. Understanding the drivers helps explain why wealth and income cluster in the hands of a few while large populations remain vulnerable.Core economic driversStrong returns to capital relative to growth The dynamic highlighted by Thomas Piketty—that returns on capital can outpace economic growth—remains central. When asset returns…

Relying on a single energy supplier occurs when a household, business, community, or country receives most or all of its electricity, natural gas, heating fuel, or essential components for renewable technologies from one provider, whether that provider is a lone company, a specific foreign nation, a particular fuel source, or a single point within the supply chain; such dependence heightens vulnerability, as disruptions, cost surges, technical breakdowns, policy changes, or geopolitical tensions affecting that sole supplier can disproportionately impact consumers and broader systems.Types of Single-Supplier DependenceSingle company or utility: A region served mainly by one dominant provider responsible for delivering…

Relying on a single energy supplier means that a household, business, community, or country obtains most or all of its energy—electricity, natural gas, heating fuel, or critical components for renewable systems—from one source. That source may be a single company, a single foreign country, a single fuel type, or a single supply chain node. Dependence concentrates risk: supply interruptions, price spikes, operational failures, policy shifts, or geopolitical events affecting that supplier can have outsized effects on consumers and systems.Forms of Reliance on a Sole SupplierSingle company or utility: A monopoly or dominant supplier providing electricity, gas, or district heating to…