A richer, wary Europe strengthens common defence
Wary of Russia and chided by Donald Trump, Europe is spending more on defence and cooperating more closely. But the effects of collaboration will take time.Continue Reading →
Facebook, Twitter combat disinformation, belatedly
Facebook and Twitter were caught napping when Russian agents tried to sway the U.S. 2016 elections. Now, they are declaring…
In Moscow, an education in all things Putin
Recently I went to Russia. I discovered that Russians view their president, Vladimir Putin, in a much different light than…
Ukraine: Two revolutions and a war later, corruption reigns
Ukraine has had two revolutions and a war since 2004 but is still mired in conflict and graft.Continue Reading →
EU’s Balkans expansion to go ahead despite concerns
Plans to expand the European Union to include the volatile Western Balkans appear to be going ahead after an agreement…
Soccer takes center stage with World Cup in Russia
All you need is a flat surface and a ball. Soccer, the world’s leading football sport, takes center stage in…
Corrected – Do you want change? Beware inertia
You're a young person. You want change. You're confident political winds are in your favor. Beware of the defenders of the status quo. They have inertia on their side.Continue Reading →
It’s the 100th anniversary of the first Muslim democracy
One century ago, Azerbaijan declared independence, becoming the first democratic state in the Muslim world and one of the first…
Angels, demons, double standards in Trump’s Mideast
Donald Trump has withdrawn the U.S. from the Iran nuclear accord. But his criticism rings hollow in a region dripping…
Missiles in South Korea: Dialogue of the deaf
The U.S. and South Korea see defensive missiles as a shield against possible North Korean aggression. But the move is seen entirely differently in Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow.Continue Reading →