Section: News & Summaries

      Wanted: A Strong Stand Against Russia
      Nov24

      Wanted: A Strong Stand Against Russia

      The shoot-down by Turkish fighters of a Russian warplane in Turkish airspace is an event of major significance in Syria, Ukraine, and beyond. The savage attack by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in Paris on Nov. 13 has prompted French President François Hollande to seek a grand coalition with the United States and Russia against...

      Making Sense of Mariupol’s Messy Elections
      Nov24

      Making Sense of Mariupol’s Messy Elections

      As cities finished counting the votes from Ukraine’s second round of mayoral elections, Mariupol and Krasnoarmiisk in the Donetsk region still haven’t held elections. Mariupol, which over the last nineteen months has been a strategic target of pro-Russian separatists, has become a political battleground. Local elections that were...

      UN chief responds to NK visit reports

      UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he was discussing with North Korea the dates for his visit to the isolated state. ||| Seoul – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he was discussing with North Korea the dates for his visit to the isolated state but no decision has been made in his first public comments on the trip since news...

      Ukraine Is Not a Bargaining Chip for Putin’s Support Against ISIS
      Nov23

      Ukraine Is Not a Bargaining Chip for Putin’s Support Against ISIS

      A month and a half ago, while traveling along the frontlines of eastern Ukraine, I predicted that the Minsk II ceasefire agreements would not be respected by the Kremlin and its puppet Peoples’ Republics. It was clear to me—in spite of a tentative ceasefire put in place on October 2—that the situation in the Donbas would continue to...

      If Ukraine has the military component, our diplomacy will have stronger voice – Ukrainian Foreign Policy Expert
      Nov22

      If Ukraine has the military component, our diplomacy will have stronger voice – Ukrainian Foreign Policy Expert

      Interview of Oleh Belokolos, the Ukrainian Foreign Policy Expert, diplomat, member of Maidan of Foreign Affairs during the program UA Tea...

      Crimean blackout as power lines blown up

      Crimea declared a state of emergency on Sunday after its main electricity power lines from Ukraine were blown up. …read more Source:...

      The Importance of Measuring Terrorism
      Nov19

      The Importance of Measuring Terrorism

      The Institute for Economics and Peace has released the 2015 edition of its Global Terrorism Index only days after the terrible attacks in Beirut and Paris – and the numbers paint a disturbing picture. The Index measures the direct and indirect impact of terrorism in 162 countries in terms of its effect on lives lost, injuries, property damage and...

      OSCE observes registered 250 instances ceasefire violations by separatists in Ukraine
      Nov19

      OSCE observes registered 250 instances ceasefire violations by separatists in Ukraine

      The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) continues to note ceasefire violations in a number of locations, most notably in areas north-west and west of Donetsk city. On Sunday, the SMM observed a marked increase in the number of ceasefire violations in areas around Donetsk airport, noting 250 instances. “We also noted a spike yesterday. In the...

      App blocks IS propaganda channels

      Encrypted messaging app Telegram says it has blocked 78 accounts associated with the jihadist Islamic State group. ||| The instant messenger app Telegram, created by Russian Internet guru Pavel Durov, says it has blocked 78 accounts associated with the jihadist Islamic State group following the attacks in Paris.“We were disturbed to learn that...

      Making Sense of Ukraine’s Local Elections: Voters Put Multiple Parties in Office
      Nov18

      Making Sense of Ukraine’s Local Elections: Voters Put Multiple Parties in Office

      As the ballots are counted in Ukraine’s November 15 runoff elections, the preliminary results show no national mandate or overarching themes. Instead, in a positive step for the country’s democratic development, voters dispersed power widely and put multiple political parties into office. Here’s a quick rundown of the big races...