“Tensions between Moscow and the West have escalated even further this week, with Russia running military exercises in the Black Sea and massing a large number of troops in Crimea and at Ukraine's border. This comes at a time when internal protests and international pressure around the health of Alexi Navalny already have eyes on Russia and coordinated sanctions have been launched by the US and EU.”
Read More“On the night of March 30th, an Italian navy captain was caught exchanging classified documents for money from a Russian military official in a Roman car park. The Italian captain was apprehended immediately after completing the exchange.”
Read More“Ten years after the conflict began, the United Nations special envoy to Syria now claims there may be a ‘window of opportunity’ to end the fighting. In an interview with the BBC, Geir Pedersen has pointed to the fact that there is a fragile ceasefire in place between Assad’s forces and rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib. Idlib is the last province under rebel control. ‘For the first time in 10 years, the frontlines in Syria have not changed,’ Mr. Pedersen said. ‘This creates an opportunity.’”
Read More“The first article of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic states: “France shall be an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic. It shall ensure the equality of all citizens before the law, without distinction of origin, race or religion.” However, during his 2012 presidential campaign, François Hollande promised to remove the word ‘race’ from the constitution. From Hollande’s point of view, race does not exist, and therefore should not be mentioned in any official text. While this may sound surprising to American ears, 33% of French citizens do not believe that race exists.”
Read More“The Open Skies Treaty has gone from one of the most effective treaties in creating transparency and some semblance of trust across the international community to one that is now standing on its last legs. Even though he has left the White House, Donald Trump’s foreign policy still stands as an obstacle to international cooperation today.”
Read More“No longer the president, but still a formidable political force, the Republican Party will likely be reckoning with Trump’s influence for years to come.”
Read More“If the Vice President won’t implement the fourth section of the 25th Amendment now, when would he consider it to be appropriate?”
Read More“In the final week of the post-Brexit transition period, ending on December 31st, a trade deal was finally struck between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Negotiations between the two parties had drug on for months. Now, over four years after the referendum, the UK will now be entering the new year as the first ex-member state of the European Union.”
“Hungary has been on a shopping spree of military and defense technology in the past few years. These purchases are part of Hungary’s ten-year Zrinyi 2026 military development program with the aim to upgrade the country’s weapons and defense forces.”
Read More“The idea of a Democrat-controlled Senate may have taken a hit - but it isn’t gone yet. Two seats in historically conservative Georgia are projected to head to runoffs on January 5th.”
Read More“Greece has made it clear that they are not open to letting in Syrian migrants. In addition to building a wall, Greece has fired tear gas at refugees, shot at the sea near dingeys, and recently suspended registration of asylum claims - a violation of 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees. The anti-refugee action in Greece has been supported across the EU, with the President of the European Commission describing Greece as Europe’s “shield” from refugees entering.”
Read More“Violations from all parties to the R-ARCSS make it clear that an international organization must step in and introduce mechanisms to establish harmony, promote justice, and provide humanitarian aid to areas of South Sudan decimated by conflict and natural disasters.”
Read More“While the international community is occupied with COVID-19, Mozambique’s situation has flown largely under the radar. The situation looks grim without external actors becoming involved - begging the question: will the international community fund humanitarian aid or will the people of Mozambique continue to suffer at the hands of both the insurgency and their own government?”
Read More“The new acrimonious dispute over Ireland Protocol has put relations between the UK and the EU at a new low. A ‘no-deal’ Brexit - the worst-case scenario - approaches every day.”
Read More“What was previously a local dispute over maritime borders between Greece and Turkey has become a matter of international interest after a 2010 study by the US Geological Survey estimated 1.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 122 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Levant Basin. Turkey’s survey vessel -The Orus Reis - crossed into recognized Greek territory in early August. It was originally supposed to finish its mission last Monday, but on Saturday evening, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that it would remain in the region for another 90 days.”
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