October, 2022

• 3 October

  Is Taiwan Becoming Asia’s Ukraine? – Analysis

  

  Taiwan and Ukraine are far apart, geographically different, and have contrasting geopolitical valuations. One is in Asia, an island, and the world’s largest microchip maker. The other is in Europe, a continental country with a maritime frontage, with a bustling pre-war industrial base, and is one of the world’s breadbaskets. …

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• 3 October

  Iraq Energy Profile: Second Largest Crude Oil Producer In OPEC – Analysis

  

  Iraq (Federal Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government) is the second-largest crude oil producer in OPEC after Saudi Arabia. It holds the world’s fifth-largest proved crude oil reserves, at 145 billion barrels, representing 17% of proved reserves in the Middle East and 8% of global reserves.1 Most of Iraq’s major known …

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• 3 October

  Giorgia Meloni And The New Face Of Euroscepticism – OpEd

  

  The victory of Giorgia Meloni and the right-wing Brothers of Italy party in Italy’s general election signals a turning point in Rome’s relations with Brussels and the evolving dynamics of Euroscepticism across the continent. Meloni has gone to great lengths to assure Brussels that she is pro-EU and pro-NATO at …

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• 3 October

  Anti-Mobilization Protests In Dagestan Becoming A Maidan In The North Caucasus – Analysis

  

  Since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his partial mobilization program on September 21, officials across Russia have sought to carry out his order. This has sparked protests in more than 50 cities and fire bombings of official buildings in more than 20. Outside the two capitals (Moscow and St. Petersburg), …

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• 3 October

  Bosnia’s peace envoy imposes changes to election law

  

  Bosnia’s international peace overseer imposed changes to the election law aimed to prevent blockades of a regional government after polls closed in presidential and parliamentary vote on Sunday. Former German politician Christian Schmidt, who has vast powers as international High Representative in Bosnia, acted to enable a more effective work …

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• 3 October

  EU overlooks Azeri energy graft risk

  

  As the EU talks of ‘freedom’ from Russian gas for central and eastern Europe and the Balkans, brought by increased imports from Azerbaijan, sceptics warn it comes at a cost: increased reliance on a country engaged in a conflict and with a recent history of bribery and corruption in Europe. …

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• 3 October

  The economic response that can match Putin’s escalation in Ukraine

  

  On September 30, two days after the publication of this post, the US government announced a new series of sanctions against top Russian officials (including Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina), business leaders, and others. The United States is also targeting military procurement and sanctions-evasion networks, while tightening export controls (as …

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• 3 October

  Iran: The Chained Volcano

  

  Today’s Damavand [volcano] s made of a new generation of Iranians who don’t give tuppence about the Islamic Republic’s arcane narrative, and prefer life in the modern world, warts and all, to the North Korean-style society that “Supreme Guide” Ali Khamenei is trying to impose on Iran. The uprising was …

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• 3 October

  Only Adult Children Still Believe U.S. Propaganda

  

  It should now be quite clear to any reasonable person that the Biden administration is hell-bent on destroying Russia and will risk nuclear war in doing so. It has already started World War III with its use of Ukraine to light the final match. The problem is that reasonable people …

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• 3 October

  Israel, Lebanon Receive US-Brokered Maritime Border Proposal

  

  Israel and Lebanon received a US-brokered proposal for an agreement on a maritime border between the two countries. Lebanese President Michel Aoun met with US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea on Saturday and received the written proposal from US mediator Amos Hochstein, according to the Lebanese Presidency. At Sunday’s regular …

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