Doing away with diplomatic niceties, the top European Union officials have welcomed the gains made by the Democrats in the US midterm elections. Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans hailed the electoral results while attacking the Trump administration for its “racism” and “rudeness.” “Inspired by voters in the U.S....
President Donald Trump’s administration has officially restored sanctions on Iran that went away with the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal.
At the same time, SWIFT, a financial messaging service based in Belgium, announced it will suspend “some unspecified Iranian banks’ access to its messaging system in the interest...
What is the status of the Singapore Summit agreement five months after the historic deal was signed by President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un?
The American press is highlighting a set-back on the path to peace. North Korean officials are warning that the nation will begin strengthening its nuclear...
A leading Chinese bank, which acted as the main conduit for payments to Iran, is halting financial transactions with the Islamic Republic, Reuters news agency reports. The state-owned Bank of Kunlun’s decision was made “under pressure” of impending U.S. sanctions due to take effect early November, news reports disclose.
The halting of transactions spells...
Poland has signed a long-term gas deal to buy natural gas from the United States to ease its reliance on Moscow.
Polish state-run energy company PGNiG signed a 20-year supply contract with Louisiana-based Venture Global LNG. “Today we can fulfill our efforts to improve the sovereignty, security, and competitiveness of our gas sector,” Polish...
When reporting on the landmines removal from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas, I noted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on his way for a meeting with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un to discuss denuclearization of the peninsula.
It appears the meeting was a success.
The U.S. and North...
Fresh off his visit to North Korea and ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meeting, South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed a free-trade agreement with the United States, marking the first time the President Donald Trump has finalized a major trade deal since entering office.
The Trump administration is capping the number of refugees which will be allowed into the U.S. at 30,000 in 2019, a record low. Liberal critics will undoubtedly cite this as evidence of xenophobia but that misses the point entirely.
India, the second biggest oil customer for Iran, has begun cutting Iranian crude oil imports ahead of the November deadline set by the Trump administration, Indian newspapers report. The United States is expected to impose a fresh round of crippling sanction on Tehran in early November, targeting the country’s oil industry...
Next week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in is expected to head to Pyongyang for the first time with the goal of accelerating international efforts to denuclearize North Korea.
“At this stage, I believe it is most important to put a complete end to...
Former Secretary of State John Kerry recently admitted that he has had meetings with officials from Iran since leaving office. One of the points Kerry relayed to them was that they should wait out the Trump presidency. It’s nearly impossible to imagine the firestorm this would set off among Democrats and...
The last time we visited the Korean Peninsula, South Korean officials firmly stated that they want the U.S. and China to declare a formal end to the Korean War, and the two Koreas seem to be moving forward on a peace-first approach.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has laid out an ambitious plan to counter the United State at the world stage.
In an article titled “Making Plans for a New World Order,” Minister Mass talked about forming a “counterweight” to...
I have been watching events on the Korean Peninsula since the conclusion of the Singapore Summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, trying to determine what the eventual outcome of that meeting would be.
I have come to the conclusion that the two Koreas are like the children...
The United States has imposed sanctions on Chinese and Russian companies for violating the trade restrictions on North Korea. The move highlights President Donald Trump’s strategy to keep tightening the screws on Pyongyang over its nuclear program.
The Treasury Department blacklisted a Russian port agency and two Chinese firms on Wednesday for aiding North...
With the Turkish currency in free fall, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a boycott of US-made electronic goods. Showing defiance in the wake of the recent US sanctions imposed in a dispute over the detention of an American pastor, Erdogan accused US President Donald Trump of waging “economic warfare” against the country.
