The Peace Trap

Photo by Max Kukurudziak on Unsplash

Photo by Max Kukurudziak on Unsplash The war is not over yet; it is simply entering a new phase. A ceasefire is not even on the horizon, and some international players are still trying to trap Ukraine into a quick peace which in reality would mean a temporary respite for Russia and a strategic loss…

Munich Security Conference 2025

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Photo by Nagarjun Kogaravalli Sathyanarayana on Unsplash Munich is once again at the centre of global diplomacy. Within the walls of this German city, the annual security conference takes place, where the world’s future is discussed. However, when turning the pages of history, one cannot help but remember the year 1938 when diplomacy suffered one…

EP Pledges Support for Georgian Dissidents

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Photo by Max Kukurudziak on Unsplash MEPs have called on the international community to join the boycott of Georgia’s self-proclaimed authorities. Meeting in Strasbourg on Thursday they accused the Georgian authorities of eroding the country’s democracy and cracking down on dissent. In a resolution adopted at its plenary, Parliament refused to recognise the self-proclaimed authorities…

The Imperial Threat

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Photo by Jacob Thorson on Unsplash Europe, a continent that has endured centuries of war, change, and struggles for peace, now faces challenges that seem eerily familiar. These challenges come from ideologies disregarding democratic principles, aligning with authoritarianism, and seeking to revive imperialistic narratives. The greatest threat to Europe today is not just external forces…

EU-UK Relations Improve

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Photo by Rocco Dipoppa on Unsplash Both the EU and UK want closer ties, says a  survey from the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). The survey looked at both EU-UK and EU/UK-US relations. It comes at a time of heightened global uncertainty, highlighted by the looming trade war sparked by new trade tariffs by…

President Trump’s Second Term

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Photo by Kowshik Roy sagor on Unsplash The United States is Europe’s closest and most important ally and partner. During a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, the transatlantic relationship remains indispensable, writes David McAllister. President Trump’s first term in office was characterised by unpredictability and a discrepancy between what he said and what his administration…

New Book Pays Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Copyright, Walsall archives

Queen Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest-serving monarch and much loved throughout her Kingdom. Now, a newly-launched book aims to chronicle the late Monarch’s links to one particular part of her realm: the town of Walsall in the West Midlands. Her experience of the Black Country seems to have contrasted somewhat with the initial impressions the…

Zhanna Shamalova, Mastering The Art of Reinvention

Zhanna Shamalova

Zhanna Shamalova represents a notable example of entrepreneurial success in the post-Soviet era, having transformed early adversity into opportunity through strategic vision and adaptability. Her journey from late Soviet Moldova to becoming a sophisticated London-based investor and healthcare innovator illustrates the possibilities that talented individuals may exploit in a period of profound global change. I…