As a rule of thumb, all dictators are worried at the end of their rule about the future and who will grip power after them. Their attempts are geared towards somehow putting their children in their place in order to continue their rule. This is also true of Ali Khamenei, …
Read More »For Refugees on Serbia-Hungary Border, ‘the Game’ Goes on
While Europe shows compassion to refugees from Ukraine, those from outside Europe face the same obstacles to get to the West as before – as BIRN found out on a nighttime visit to a forest in northern Serbia. If you didn’t know the context, it might look like a rave …
Read More »Balkan States’ Stash of Soviet-made Weapons Could Aid Ukraine
With political will and the right incentives, a number of Balkan states could provide Ukraine with significant Soviet-made weaponry in its fight against Russia. From T-72 tanks to BMP infantry fighting vehicles, Mi-24 gunships to Strela anti-aircraft missiles, the countries of the Balkans have a lot to offer when it …
Read More »Russia Targets Bosnia With Disinformation About Ukrainian War
Moscow is busy selling its own version of the war in Ukraine to Bosnian citizens – cynically using analogies with the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica to justify its invasion and destabilize Bosnia at the same time. “There were literally bodies on the streets. Some of them had just been shot, …
Read More »DEMOCRACY DIGEST: OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS
The EU’s proposed oil embargo on Russia causes more rifts within the V4. The European Commission’s latest planned sanctions to punish Russia has highlighted once again how the war in Ukraine is exacerbating differences between the Visegrad Four group of countries. Poland has been long calling for a ban on …
Read More »Global Coalition Warns No Rest for Fight Against Islamic State
Nearly three years after U.S.-backed forces in Syria seized the last remaining territory held by Islamic State’s self-declared caliphate, members of the global coalition charged with eradicating the terror group warn their task is not getting any easier. Despite IS’s loss of several key leaders and intelligence that suggests a …
Read More »Pope Francis: NATO Was ‘Barking at Russia’s Door,’ Provoking Moscow to Invade
The holder of the highest seat in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, said that the West is partly to blame for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the Pope said “that barking of NATO at the door of Russia” has pushed …
Read More »EXPLAINER: Why Finland, Sweden joining NATO will be big deal
It’s likely to be the quickest NATO enlargement ever and one that would redraw Europe’s security map. Finnish leaders announced Thursday their belief that Finland should join the world’s biggest military organization because of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Sweden could soon follow suit. Should they apply for membership, the move …
Read More »Russian threats push Finland toward joining NATO alliance
Finland’s leaders Thursday came out in favor of applying to join NATO, and Sweden could do the same within days, in a historic realignment on the continent 2 1/2 months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine sent a shiver of fear through Moscow’s neighbors. The Kremlin reacted by …
Read More »Hamas appeals to Russia for support in confrontation with Israel
A Hamas delegation visited Moscow at a time when relations between Russia and Israel are taking a more tense turn due to Israel’s position in the Russia-Ukraine war. A Hamas delegation visited Moscow on May 4, where it held talks with Russian officials at the Russian Foreign Ministry’s guesthouse. The …
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