What role is the international community playing in the Israel-Hamas war?

 

In this analysis we take a look at German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to Israel, Qatar's self-chosen role as a mediator, the Jordanian King's opinions on why Palestinian refugees should not be pushed into Egypt or Jordan, and the US's talks with Israel on creating safezones in the south of the Gaza Strip. Plus, geopolitical strategist Velina Tchakarova gives us her thoughts on whether a wider war might be triggered.

Iran's three nation Africa visit - A threat to the stability of African nations?

 

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi just wrapped up his three nation African visit in Zimbabwe after visiting Kenya and Uganda. Raisi was met by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa at Harare airport. Both countries are under US sanctions and this visit is partly aimed at building new partnerships to soften the impact of that economic punishment.

Diplomat explains: How to prepare for peace | DW News

 The world needs to get ready now for talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine – that's according to one of the most senior figures in German diplomacy, former Munich Security Conference Chair Wolfgang Ischinger. In a detailed interview with DW's Richard Walker, Ischinger draws on decades of experience to explain how peace processes work, saying preparation now is essential. He breaks down scenarios on:

The signs that show Putin is looking to end the war

"Russia is not succeeding in its aims of reaching Odessa, securing the north of the Black Sea, and is only managed to secure a relatively small chunk." There are signs that Moscow is realising the invasion of Ukraine has failed, says Maj. Gen. Tim Cross.

Are words enough to stop Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?

 

Joe Biden talks tough on Vladimir Putin in his first US State of the Union address.

US President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address since he became president.

And much is expected of him at home.

Ukraine crisis: Has diplomacy reached a dead end?

 

As tension runs high in Ukraine, Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have spoken yet again.

The latest diplomatic attempt between the United States and Russia to resolve tensions over Ukraine achieved nothing.

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden exchanged warnings and concerns over the phone but little else, while military activity continues on both sides.

International community drives up diplomatic efforts to diffuse Ukraine crisis

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the West had "ignored" Moscow's security concerns in his first public remarks over the Ukraine standoff in more than a month.

How Russia and China are winning the vaccine diplomacy race

 Russia and China have been challenging the West for years. Their military build-ups, infrastructure projects and targeted economic support have bolstered their geopolitical clout. Critics say they're threatening the international order.

Why Europe is praying for Trump to lose the US election

 Almost four years of Donald Trump have left America's European allies in a state of shock. He's walked out of important treaties. He's lashed out against America's friends. He has cozied up to authoritarians. He's abandoned the most important international treaties of our time.

Why China Will be the Big Winner of the 2020 Crisis

This is China, what is still the worlds foremost industrial economy has apparently been knocked down a peg as it emerged into the new decade. There has been wild speculation about companies divesting from the country as a response to the critical flaws in supply chains that have been brought to light. The world today is heavily reliant on China to manufacture almost everything we take for granted in our modern lives.

Donald Trump's Twitter Diplomacy or Yes, he's incompetent

Every morning the world awakens to inarticulate twitter stylings of Donald Trump.  No matter the subject his understanding of the day's twitter diatribe or lack thereof can be seen the incomprehensible way he constructs his thoughts.  He sees these musings as a way to show the world he's has a grasp of complex issues.  Acept he doesn't.  For weeks he's been attacking not only North Korea and its leader but America's foreign policy efforts. Last week Secretary of State Rex Tillerson  issued a statement about indirect contacts with North Korea. Immediately Donald Trump taking to twitter completely undercut any efforts that might have led to the easing of tensions between the two countries. 


Today is no different.  As once again Donald Trump vomited up more rhetorical nonsense.

Our country has been unsuccessfully dealing with North Korea for 25 years, giving billions of dollars & getting nothing. Policy didn't work!


In the 1994 America detected activity at North Korea's most secure nuclear facility fearing that it could lead to the construction of nuclear weapons former President Clinton came close to ordering an attack on these facilities.  That never happened. Instead North Korea, South Korea and the U.S. came together and the Agreed Framework was developed.  In exchange for decommissioning its heavy water reactor South Korea would construct a light water reactor to produce electricity.  While never perfect the agreement actually worked.  Following the election of George W. Bush the agreement collapsed after he named them as a member of the Axis of Evil. 

As for the billions of dollars of aid given to North Korea a majority of that funding has come courtesy of South Korea. 

Given Donald Trump's abject stupidity one should be concerned that he will America and world into an unnecessary war on the Korean peninsula.   

Donald Trump Attacks China On Twitter

Donald Trump has throughout the presidential primaries, general campaign and even since the election that he's incapable of  dealing with criticism on his policy positions.  (He has shown an inability to deal with the vagaries of life.)  As in earlier instances his complete lack of knowledge of the subject has given rise to political and diplomatic headaches for all parties involved.  This last burst of outrage follows his telephone conversation with the President of Taiwan Tsai ing wen on Friday.

The last part of his tweet is the most disconcerting given the fraught nature of current diplomatic situation in the South China sea.  In November of 2014 the Chinese issued what it called the Nine-Dashed Line map which claimed 90% of the South China fell under Chinese control.  China isn't the only player in this dispute which involves 6 other countries.  For example: Accepting China's claim as it stands would allow Beijing to claimed waters with the known and recognized exclusive economic and territorial zone of The Philippines.  The Philippines is, but of the nations involved in this dispute.  China to further enforce its claims as a fait aclopmli has constructed several artificial islands in the sea and started constructing military bases on them.  

Donald Trump is angry and lashing out  due to his diplomatic faux pas involving the President of Taiwan and their telephone conversation.   Since 1979 when the U.S. and other nations recognized the one China policy direct diplomatic relations with the government of Taiwan were severed.  This diplomatic fiction has allowed for stability in the region.  Conducting foreign policy through angry twitter rants will only lead to political and diplomatic isolation of the incoming Trump administration as no country will want to deal with a world leader unable to control his emotional outbursts.

 

This Is How America's Warmongering Conservatives See Iran

Bill Kristol Claims Deal With Iran Will Only Make Things Worse In The Middle East

How many times does Bloody Bill Kristol get to be wrong about everything before he's drummed out of polite society? Here he is on ABC's This Week ignoring completely that it's the policies he has endorsed that have resulted in the Middle East being "in flames" to begin with, claiming that coming to a peaceful deal…