Headlines

Africa: Why Franck Zanu Is Wrong About Africa

[African Arguments] "Well, the effort is useless because no black country would ever develop... Black countries meaning the 54 that is on the continent, the 13 black countries in the Caribbean, the Black communities in the United States... you are never ever going to develop."

Africa: What Al-Shabaab Understands About Somali Authority

[African Arguments] In south-central Somalia, a trader knows what to expect at an al-Shabaab checkpoint. The rate is fixed, set out in a published schedule. The receipt allows passage through the next checkpoint without paying again. If the assessment seems unfair, there is a

Hands of our nature, hands off Albania

On 17 June, MEPs voted on the parliamentary report on Albania, highlighting the country’s progress in the EU enlargement process and the need for environmental safeguards. To shed light on the endangered natural treasures of Albania, a group of Greens/EFA MEPs will visit the

Strategic autonomy and strategic anxiety

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Japan builds its own AI future as US tightens controlScott Foster reports that Trump’s restrictions on Anthropic AI models have reinforced doubts about Japan’s reliance

Asia

Israel steps up Lebanon attacks with strikes that kill 15

DUBAI, June 19 (Reuters) - Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 15 people on Friday, state news agency NNA said, while Israel said the attacks launched overnight were aimed at what it described as Hezbollah targets in several areas. Residents and domestic media

Newsletter: EU leaders poised for battle over cash

Also in this newsletter: EU leaders react to European Council President António Costa laying the groundwork for diplomatic contacts with Russia; and exclusive comments from Sweden's EU affairs minister as EU leaders gear up to debate the bloc's next long-term budget.

China wins the Iran war without firing a shot

“At this critical stage, relevant parties, including Israel, need to follow the overwhelming trend of peace and stability in the region,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian, following the signing of the first-stage US-Iran memorandum of understanding The Chinese

Asia

Act of Remembrance honours war dead buried in Belgium

It isn’t for nothing that Belgium is, historically, known as the “battlefield of Europe” and a solemn and moving event this weekend highlights the shared sacrifices of the tens of thousands of war dead buried in Belgian soil. The annual Act of Remembrance this Saturday (June