The EU’s Dwindling Reputation in Africa

EU and Africa

A leading think tank has called for an “unprecedented”  EU investment strategy in Africa which has an “image problem.” Friends of Europe founder Giles Merritt says, “Nobody would deny the widespread prejudice against corruption and inefficiency there, whatever the facts of individual cases.” Many African countries are, it is claimed by Friends of Europe, a…

Has Putin Lost China as an Ally?

XI Jinping and Vladimir Putin

On 27 October, President Xi Jinping said that China should develop dialogue with the West on equal terms. By the word “West”, the Chinese Secretary General meant the United States, and in fact confirmed Beijing’s focus on the formation of a bipolar world in which China will become a superpower. Earlier, on 25 October, President…

CICA: Formation of the Asian Counterweight

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Asia is gaining momentum. The time has come to launch international mechanisms, which, before that, were created and regulated for almost 30 years, to turn them into a single structure. Clear, stable and running smoothly. Considering the fact that the world situation is now in dire need of this.     These meetings on the…

Under Olaf Scholz, Germany Stumbles Towards Deeper Economic Ties with China

Scholz visiting China

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s upcoming visit to Beijing has aroused harsh criticism in Germany and the global community, writes Jianli Yang. A year ago, in early November 2021, on a visit to Taiwan, a member of a European Parliament delegation claimed that Europe “stands with you” on,”  reminding the world of where EU-China relations stood in light of China’s…

Russian Blackmail on Nuclear Dirty Bomb

President Zelensky

Back in 1994, Ukraine voluntarily renounced the world’s third largest nuclear arsenal and it has never conducted its own nuclear programme since. The state is a committed party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and actively cooperates with the IAEA. Whilst there are scientific organisations in Ukraine that are engaged in the…

Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine and Moldova

Commissioner Lenarcic and President Zelensky

The European Commission has announced a new emergency shelter and winterised facilities programme for Ukraine, as Russia’s war continues to destroy civilian infrastructure. Furthermore, the Commission will provide an additional €175 million in humanitarian assistance to support those most in need in Ukraine and Moldova. The announcement comes as Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, is visiting…

The Iranian Axis of Evil

Iranian Drones bombing Ukraine's civilians

Should Iran’s alliance with Russia be a cause for concern? Relations between Iran and Russia began to improve rapidly after 24 February, and in late March Sergey Lavrov said that the government of the two countries would look for ways to circumvent Western sanctions. Iranian exports to Russia increased by 70% from March to October…

People of Ukraine Win Sakharov Prize

The people of Ukraine are the winners of the 2022 Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought. The decision, made on Wednesday, was broadly welcomed.  S&D members said the European Parliament’s choice of this year’s final laureate. “reaffirms our wholehearted support to Ukrainians in the war waged by Russia, the most brutal attack on peace in…

Fraud is Disrupting Livelihoods Post-Covid

Taiwan’s participation can strengthen international cooperation to fight transnational telecommunication fraud in the postpandemic era, writes Li, Hsi-ho The internet is very much part of daily life in the postpandemic world. Working, studying, shopping, and conducting other transactions online have become commonplace. But the digital financial services that have developed from these activities are an…

Morocco signs Green Partnership with the EU

Nasser Bourita and Frans Timmermans

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, and the Executive Vice-President in charge of the Green Pact for Europe, Frans Timmermans, signed today the Green Partnership on Energy, Climate and Environment between the European Union and Morocco. This is the EU’s first partnership of its kind with a third country. The Green Partnership with Morocco…