Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash Since the conflict in Sudan erupted on 15 April 2023, more than 150,000 people have died and 12 million have fled their homes in what the United Nations has called the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. International peace efforts have failed to truly launch, due to the Sudanese Armed Forces…
Politics
Why Orbán Clings to Russian Oil
Photo by Zbynek Burival on Unsplash When US President Donald Trump announced on 31 October that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had personally asked him for an exemption or transition period from new US sanctions on Russian oil, few in Brussels were surprised. Trump’s refusal, followed by Orbán’s promise to keep trying to convince Washington,…
Taiwan is a Victim of Coercion – Government Minister
Photo credit: Octavian Carare A senior Taiwan government minister has become the first to give a speech in a foreign parliament. Speaking on Friday (7 November) Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim gave what has been hailed as an unprecedented address at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China’s Annual Summit in the European Parliament in Brussels. She…
Political Leaders Restate Faith
Photo by Kai Pilger on Unsplash Centre right EU political leaders have had a formal audience with the Pope in Rome. EPP leaders from the European Parliament met His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. During growing global instability, the EPP Group Presidency said “Europe must draw strength from Christian values.” It added, “These…
A Resounding Mandate for Democracy
Photo by Yuriy Vinnicov on Unsplash MEPs have greeted the outcome of elections in Moldova which saw the pro-European party of Moldovan President Maia Sandu claim victory and a new majority in parliament. She had warned of massive Russian interference after voting, saying the future of Moldova, flanked by Ukraine and Romania, was on the line.Igor…
Moldova at the Crossroads
Photo by Sasha Pleshco on Unsplash On 28 September 2025, Moldova arrives at a critical crossroad, not only electing a new parliament but also determining its geopolitical future. These elections will either reinforce the country’s commitment to European integration or lead to its transformation into a grey zone of instability along the borders of the…
Can Europe Keep Moldova out of Putin’s Camp?
Photo by Sasha Pleshco on Unsplash As Vladimir Putin wakes up each morning and finds that the planned conquest of Ukraine, launched nearly four years ago, still hasn’t worked will he try and settled for a smaller prize, the ancient Black Sea region of Besserabia, made famous in Olivia Manning’s novels of the second world…
Will Prague Turn its Back on Ukraine?
Photo by Martin Krchnacek on Unsplash As the Czech Republic prepares for parliamentary elections on 3–4 October 2025, the country faces a pivotal moment in both foreign and domestic policy. Andrej Babiš, former prime minister and leader of the right-wing populist ANO party, which currently tops the polls, has declared his intention to halt a…
Deteriorating Political Crisis in Serbia
Photo by Valery Tenevoy on Unsplash The Socialists and Democrats in the EU Parliament are sounding the alarm over the rapidly deteriorating political crisis in Serbia. The group, the 2nd biggest in the assembly, is also calling out the European People’s Party (EPP) for what S and D calls its complicit silence and…
Sudan’s Secretary Bird Takes Flight in New Direction
Photo by Elize Bezuidenhout on Unsplash In the last days of August, Sudan’s two rival governments both held cabinet meetings which, in their different symbolisms, reflected very different visions for the future of their benighted country. Those different visions were best captured in the redesigned state coat of arms that hung on the wall behind…










