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This week's violence brings with it a sense of deja vu. This time it's the result of more fighting between the Syrian army and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces or SDF. It reflects a deep rift between the two sides and many rounds of talks have so far failed to reach common ground. The SDF seeks a decentralized system of government - with areas under its control having a certain level of autonomy. But the government in Damascus wants to centralize power. So, what does it all mean for Syria's unity?

On Tuesday, Ukraine got yet another push from its western allies. A meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris pledged full support for Kyiiv in any future peace settlement to the ongoing war with Russia. The gathering stressed that Ukraine should be able to defend itself even after the fighting ends. France and the UK said a multinational force would be deployed if and when a peace deal is achieved. But Russia has made it clear that it opposes any NATO members deploying troops inside Ukraine So, what would that mean for the future of Ukraine?

As this year is coming to an end, a deal between the Syrian government and the Kuridish-led Syrian Democratic Forces had been expected to come into force. Instead, fighting erupted between the two sides in the northern city of Aleppo. They later agreed to stop the fighting, while blaming each other for the violence. That deal was supposed to lead to the SDF integrating with the army, but it is stalling on how that should be implemented. This renewed tension comes as Damacus is facing other threats, ranging from ISIL to recurrent conflicts with the Druze community and continuing attacks by Israel. So what does this complex security situation mean for Syria, a year after the fall of Bashar al Assad?

The United States has realised it cannot keep “trying to police the whole world”, argues Victor Gao, the vice president of the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing.

A nation with the world's largest oil reserves, Venezuela is now at the centre of a high-stakes economic power play over energy supply - with global ramifications. The United States says it will control the sales and revenue of Venezuelan oil "indefinitely", days after it abducted the nation's President Nicolas Maduro. President Donald Trump wants US companies to invest billions of dollars to revive the nation's oil sector.

In 2017, a reckoning over sexual violence called “#MeToo” swept the globe. Eight years later, has the movement done enough for survivors? And what will it take for some of the world’s most powerful men accused of sexual misconduct to face consequences?

A masterclass in maritime power and corporate reach. From the legacy of the Armada to the rise of the East India Company, Britain fuses naval supremacy with global trade control and divide-and-rule governance. Case studies include India, Africa, and Atlantic circuits.