April, 2021

• 2 April

  Chinese Business In Central Asia: How Crony Capitalism Is Eroding Justice

  

  China’s economic influence in Central Asia has gained a new character after President Xi Jinping came to power. In almost all economic activities there is a growing Chinese presence, and these actors range from large multinational firms to small businesses. In a region with weak states and institutions, these players …

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• 2 April

  Hedging American Risks In Afghanistan – Analysis

  

  With the May 1 deadline for an expected United States (US) military withdrawal from Afghanistan a little less than a month away, multiple avenues of diplomacy have been launched as the administration of President Joe Biden in Washington DC navigates the future of the US involvement in the 20-year-long war …

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• 2 April

  Ukrainians held hostage by PKK militants in Iraqi Kurdistan over arms trafficking scam

  

  Al-Monitor sheds light on how two Ukrainian men were taken hostage by a Kurdish militant group that was scammed by Ukrainian crooks in a million dollar plus arms trafficking deal. On a recent morning in Schevchenko Park in central Kyiv, Ukraine, a tall man wearing dark sunglasses, a black crew …

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• 2 April

  The U.S. Can Still Promote Democracy in Africa

  

  America’s democracy, once seen as a shining light and inspiration to democrats across the world, was pushed to the brink by Donald Trump’s presidency. In the aftermath of last month’s storming of the Capitol by right-wing extremists, some commentators declared that the United States’ own troubles mean it must now …

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• 2 April

  America Comes and Goes. Trans-Atlantic Tensions Are Forever

  

  “First thing I’m going to have to do, and I’m not joking,” candidate Joe Biden said last September in a campaign interview about America’s European allies. “If elected I’m going to … get on the phone with the heads of state and say America’s back, you can count on us.” …

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• 2 April

  How Germany Can Work With Biden to Rebuild Trans-Atlantic Ties

  

  Joe Biden’s election as U.S. president was greeted with deep relief in Berlin, as it was in most other European capitals. After Donald Trump’s presidency—which was characterized by animosity toward Germany and repeated attempts to sow division among European countries—German policymakers hope that some immediate sources of tension can now …

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• 2 April

  Can Biden Repair the Damage of Trump’s Israel-Palestine Policy?

  

  Harun Abu Aram was shot in the neck on the first day of the New Year. In a confrontation captured on film, the 24-year-old Palestinian, along with several other men, can be seen tussling with Israeli soldiers who had been trying to seize a village generator in the West Bank’s …

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• 2 April

  In Central Europe, Biden Can Build on Trump’s Record

  

  Today, the United States’ relations with Central Europe are at an inflection point. Much of the recent media coverage in the region has focused on how Washington’s influence might wane if President Joe Biden picks a fight with the governments of Hungary and Poland, whose leaders had cultivated close ties …

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• 2 April

  Crisis-hit Turkey risks disastrous foreign investor flight

  Erdogan’s interference with the central bank is badly damaging foreign investor confidence in Turkey, threatening hard-currency crunches that could send the Turkish lira to new lows. The turbulence rattling Turkey’s financial markets since the shocking removal of the central bank governor March 20 has caused significant losses for foreign investors, …

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• 2 April

  Exclusive: U.N. team finds Houthis launched Aden airport attack that killed 22 – diplomats

  An investigation by a U.N. team of experts found Yemen’s Houthis were responsible for a Dec. 30 attack on Aden airport that killed at least 22 people as members of the country’s internationally recognized government arrived, two diplomats familiar with the matter said on Monday.

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