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Social Controls: China-Style Surveillance is Coming to Serbia

Serbia is already seeing an erosion of civil rights and liberties, democracy and the rule of law – and many fear the rapidly expanding use of advanced technologies will be directed against them rather than criminals and terrorists. The emergence of digital surveillance performed by state actors coincides with the …

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Palestinians: We Prefer Terrorism to Peace with Israel

The findings of the poll, which was conducted between June 7 and 11, show that the Biden Administration and all those who continue to talk about reviving the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians are living under an illusion. The results of the poll indicate that most Palestinians are …

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Data, Spies and Indifference: How Mitsotakis Survived His ‘Watergate’

The surveillance scandal made headlines but did not hurt the Greek government at the ballot box. Experts say this reflects a general ambivalence about privacy violations in the digital era. Whatever information Thanasis Koukakis had been sharing with his readers, it was not quite enough. Someone wanted more. Twice in …

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Russia and Iran Diverge in the South Caucasus

Despite some similarities in Iran’s and Russia’s approaches towards the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tehran and Moscow have diverged in recent years regarding the Zangezur Corridor, its possible effects for Iran’s border with Armenia, and Israel’s relations with Azerbaijan. Russia’s relations with …

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BRICS Currency: Is It A Feasible Idea? – Analysis

In recent times, there has been a growing call among countries to trade in currencies apart from the US dollar due to the economic disruption caused by Western sanctions against Russia and its subsequent eviction from international dollar-trading systems like SWIFT. In April, the BRICS nations announced their plans to …

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Old Game, New Gold: What Is Saudi Arabia Planning With Golf? – OpEd

The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and LIV Golf announced this month that they will merge, shocking not only the world of sports but also the broadcast media and corporate worlds. Heretofore, the latter have been the biggest investors and buyers in professional golf’s lucrative market of tournaments, gear, player endorsements …

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US Chipping Away At Global Semiconductor Supply Chains – Analysis

On 7 October 2022, the US Bureau of Industry and Security issued new regulations on exports of semiconductors and certain semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The rules attempt to block Chinese access to high-end artificial intelligence chips through a combination of new controls on software, people, knowledge transfers, manufacturing equipment and US …

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Blacklisting Russia Should be a Priority for the FATF

In reply to a recent RUSI analysis, a Ukrainian MP argues that the FATF should use all measures at its disposal to respond to Russia’s aggression – including placing the country on its blacklist. This commentary was prompted by the recent publication of a RUSI article entitled ‘The Financial Action …

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Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Begins: Shall the Leopards Break Free?

Ukrainian forces are making gains, but the offensive is some way from its decisive phase; we must refrain from premature pronouncements of success or failure. Ukrainian forces have launched their long-anticipated offensive in an attempt to break through Russian defence lines to liberate the occupied territories. Ukrainian troops have broken …

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The Two-Headed Russian Eagle at War

[Politicians, pundits, and pranksters] were making the same mistake that many commentators on the Ukrainian conflict are making today: believing that the struggle was over a piece of land. British and French leaders made the same mistake in 1938, when they believed that all that Hitler wanted was the so-called …

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