The 83rd anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union was tragically echoed in Kharkiv, Ukraine, as Russian forces unleashed a devastating bombardment on the city centre using precision-guided munitions. On June 22nd, guided aerial bombs once again fell on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second most populous city. The Russian Armed Forces dropped four such bombs,…
The growing popularity of Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs in Europe is causing mixed feelings in political circles. His most recent appearance was in Rome, 20 June. He presented his views to a group of Italian MPs and a group of observers on the war in Ukriane at a conference entitled “The European and Italian…
On June 18th, for the first time in 24 years, Russian President Vladimir Putin embarked on a two-day visit to North Korea. This move, which has stirred concerns among the global community and democratic nations, was anticipated. The Russian leader chose a strategic moment to expand military and economic ties with Pyongyang, using the recent…
Photo by Manson Yim on Unsplash The EU’s outgoing foreign affairs chief says there has been a “continuous erosion of the rights and freedoms” of people in Hong Kong. Josep Borrell was reacting to the release of the EU’s 2023 annual report on Hong Kong. The former Spanish MEP said the report “illustrates in great detail the continuous…
Photo by Dawid Małecki on Unsplash The European Parliament elections with their low turn outs, unknown politicians, and use as a protest vote against incumbent governments have exploded into life with the decision of President Macron to dissolve the French Parliament, writes Denis MacShane. In effect he is holding a plebiscite asking the French people and indirectly the…
Photo by Kristina V on Unsplash The restoration of the press must be included in the programmes of economic and social restoration of Ukraine. That is a demand made by the organisation representing media in the war torn country. The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) recently held a joint round table at…
Photo by Thomas Bennie on Unsplash Europe is retreating from Africa in what seems likely to be the greatest shift of all in the 21st century’s new era of tectonic geo-political change, writes Giles Merritt. It is five hundred years since Henry the Navigator’s explorers set up Portuguese trading posts that eventually led to European colonialism. Africa was…
A delegation from the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) Japan traveled to France to highlight the ongoing crisis of religious freedom in Japan and brought to light the severe social, political, and legal challenges facing the organisation, writes Peter Zoehrer. President Tomihiro Tanaka, who did not travel to France, sent a compelling…
The recent Global Peace Summit has proven to be a pivotal event in the ongoing struggle for international stability, particularly in the light of Russia’s aggressive actions. Despite Russia’s attempts to derail the summit, including efforts to forge alliances with China and Brazil and propose alternative peace plans, the gathering saw the participation of leaders…
Initiating the Peace Summit today in Switzerland, Ukraine has taken a significant step towards intensifying its contacts with countries of the Global South, which are increasingly playing a prominent role in the contemporary world order. Under President Zelenskyy, Ukraine has notably entered into a competition with Moscow for the favour of African and Latin American…
