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Here are top ten news articles of the day:
- Reuters — Global Markets / Geopolitics
Title: Dollar set for biggest weekly rise since October with U.S.-Iran tensions in focus
Description:
The U.S. dollar surged toward its strongest weekly performance in four months as rising tensions between Washington and Tehran increased safe-haven demand. Markets reacted to warnings issued by President Donald Trump to Iran over nuclear negotiations while investors monitored Federal Reserve policy signals.
- Reuters — Asia Security / China Policy
Title: Japan PM Takaichi warns of China ‘coercion’, vows security overhaul
Description:
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced sweeping defense reforms, citing rising pressure from China, North Korea’s nuclear program, and regional instability. Plans include increased military spending, intelligence restructuring, and efforts to reduce economic dependence on strategic rivals.
- Modern Diplomacy — Middle East / Financial Geopolitics
Title: Markets Falter as Trump Raises Iran Tensions
Description:
Asian equities declined as geopolitical risks tied to escalating U.S.–Iran tensions rattled investors. Analysts warned that prolonged instability could disrupt energy markets and global investment flows already strained by private-equity turbulence.
Link:
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/02/20/markets-falter-as-trump-raises-iran-tensions/
- Geopolitical Futures — U.S.–China–Taiwan Strategy
Title: Taiwan at the Center of a Fragile U.S.-China Rapprochement
Description:
The analysis examines how Taiwan has become a key bargaining element in renewed U.S.–China diplomatic engagement, where arms transfers and signaling strategies now shape broader strategic negotiations between Washington and Beijing.
Link:
https://geopoliticalfutures.com/taiwan-at-the-center-of-a-fragile-us-china-rapprochement/
- Modern Diplomacy — East Asia Politics
Title: South Korea’s Ex-President Yoon Apologises After Life Sentence Over Martial Law
Description:
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a public apology following a life sentence tied to his controversial declaration of martial law, triggering debate about democratic resilience and civil-military relations in Asia.
- Reuters — Global Markets & Trade
Title: Global markets steady as investors track U.S. data and geopolitical risks
Description:
Global financial markets stabilized as investors balanced stronger U.S. economic data against geopolitical uncertainty linked to Middle East tensions and monetary policy expectations, influencing currency and commodity movements worldwide.
Link:
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/global-markets-global-markets-2026-02-20/
- Reuters — Russia–Japan Geopolitics
Title: Russia says no peace dialogue ongoing with Japan over territorial dispute
Description:
Moscow confirmed that negotiations with Tokyo over disputed islands remain frozen, highlighting persistent tensions between Russia and Japan amid broader shifts in Asia-Pacific security alignments.
- Economies.com — Currency & Energy Geopolitics
Title: Dollar heads to biggest weekly profit as Middle East tensions mount
Description:
Currency markets reacted strongly to escalating geopolitical risks in the Middle East, with investors moving toward the U.S. dollar amid uncertainty surrounding oil prices and potential regional conflict escalation.
- TS2 Financial News — U.S. Economy & Global Markets
Title: US stock market today: GDP, inflation data and oil prices in focus
Description:
Investors awaited U.S. GDP and inflation data releases while monitoring oil prices near recent highs, reflecting concerns about geopolitical instability and future Federal Reserve decisions impacting global markets.
- Modern Diplomacy — Indo-Pacific Strategy
Title: Indonesia at the Board of Peace: Realistic Choice or Subtle Coercion?
Description:
The article explores Indonesia’s strategic positioning amid shifting global diplomacy, analyzing whether participation in emerging peace frameworks reflects sovereign decision-making or growing geopolitical pressure.