Foreign Policy
informed Summary
- China's proposed legislation to make it illegal to or hurt "the feelings of the Chinese people" could lead to diplomatic disputes with the West. The law, which could result in a fine or imprisonment, doesn't specify what constitutes offensive actions, words or clothing.
World Affairs7 min readinformed Summary
- In France, a water war is escalating due to the use of artificial reservoirs for irrigation. These reservoirs are criticized for depleting groundwater resources for the benefit of a few large producers. This conflict is part of a global trend as climate change intensifies water scarcity.
World Affairs5 min readinformed Summary
- The recent downfall of high-ranking Chinese officials, such as former Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Defense Minister Li Shangfu, highlights the precarious nature of political life in China, with the potential for sudden purges being a feature of the country's system.
Politics7 min readinformed Summary
- The moral case for supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia is not as straightforward as it may seem, according to Foreign Policy columnist Stephen M. Walt. While Russia is to blame for starting the war, the claim that Western policy had no role in the conflict is disputed.
World Affairs7 min readinformed Summary
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to seek a second mandate. To secure it, she will need to gain the support of all 27 EU member states, who will decide her fate after the European Parliament elections in June.
Politics7 min readinformed Summary
- The Free Saxons movement is a right-wing monarchist group that seeks to restore the German kingdom of Saxony and finds common ground with Russia. The group's members, including far-right extremists and Soviet nostalgics, have voiced sympathy or support for the country's invasion of Ukraine.
World Affairs7 min readinformed Summary
- The global economy is experiencing a shift away from neoliberalism, with countries like Japan and the U.S. adopting policies that were previously associated with each other. Japan is enjoying a resurgence, suggesting a turning point in its 25-year battle with deflation.
Economy15 min readinformed Summary
- North Korea's move towards Russia is not a tactical or desperate act, but a fundamental shift in policy. Effectively the country is abandoning a 30-year effort to normalize relations with the U.S.
World Affairs3 min readinformed Summary
- The multilateral institutions created after World War II are struggling to address transnational challenges such as pandemics, debt and climate change due to political gridlock and systemic rivalry between liberal democracies and countries like China and Russia.
World Affairs5 min readinformed Summary
- The G-20, whose leaders met in India over the weekend, is expected to usher in an era of increased influence and economic justice for the global south,
World Affairs5 min readinformed Summary
- Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, Germany, has a rich history that mirrors the city’s own. Established before the Nazi regime, it was occupied by both the Russians and Americans and is now Germany's largest refugee camp, hosting hundreds of asylum-seekers and refugees.
Culture5 min readinformed Summary
- Since the start of the war in Ukraine, 1,100 multinational firms have left Russia. Despite this, President Vladimir Putin’s war campaign continues, largely due to his control over 70% of the Russian economy and the use of advanced Russian weaponry and Iranian drones, which rely on U.S. electronic components.
World Affairs9 min readinformed Summary
- The Russia-Ukraine conflict has given rise to a new generation of individuals branded as traitors, echoing infamous names from history. The motivations of these individuals are varied, from genuine political belief to opportunism, but their actions have profound implications for the conflict and the future of Ukraine.
World Affairs8 min readinformed Summary
- Polestar, a Swedish electric vehicle (EV) company owned by Chinese car company Geely, is making a significant push into the American market. It plans to have 40 retail locations across the U.S. by the end of 2022 and to begin producing cars out of a South Carolina factory in 2024.
Business6 min readinformed Summary
- FP columnist Howard W. French, who lived in China in the early 2000s, revisited the country in 2023 and was struck by the lack of foreigners, despite its recent reopening after Covid-19 quarantine measures.
World Affairs6 min readinformed Summary
- The G-7, a coalition of seven major industrial democracies, has emerged as a dynamic coalition in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's growing challenge to the liberal international order, according to G. John Ikenberry, writing in FP. It fosters solidarity and coordinates policies among the leading democratic stakeholders of the Western-oriented multilateral system, he argues.
World Affairs8 min readinformed Summary
- Germany is one of the few countries resisting the global trend towards cashless payments, with Germans paying for nearly 60% of their purchases in cash. This is due to a cultural preference for privacy, mistrust of big tech and fears of financial crises depleting bank balances.
Economy7 min readinformed Summary
- The BRICS forum has announced the addition of six new members: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. This expansion will make the BRICS states a significant economic force.
World Affairs5 min readinformed Summary
- Olaf Scholz, Germany's ninth chancellor, ascended to power in December 2021, primarily due to a pragmatic and reserved approach. He is described as an influential figure in progressive European political circles, symbolizing a possible model for centrist governance amidst rising far-right sentiments.
Politics7 min readinformed Summary
- Russia is leading the development of a new currency for cross-border trade by the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which could potentially displace the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency of these countries. This comes as part of a broader push for de-dollarization among these nations.
World Affairs7 min read
