International News
Coverage of international events and global policy shifts. The Daily Signal offers news reporting with opinion and commentary on world affairs.
-
- News
Despite North Korea’s Missile Tests and Diplomatic Snub, Pompeo Holds Out Hope for Renewed Talks
BANGKOK—Brushing aside repeated entreaties from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for a meeting, North Korea was a no-show at a diplomatic forum in Bangkok. The snub didn’t deter Pompeo from holding out hope that Pyongyang soon will come back to the table and resume denuclearization talks. From the get-go, North Korea loomed large over…Nolan Peterson -
- News
Trump Adds Sanctions on Russia After Chemical Weapons Used on Ex-Spy
President Donald Trump put more sanctions on Russia via executive order Thursday as required by law in response to Russia’s use of chemical weapons in a 2018 attack on an ex-spy in the U.S., two U.S. officials said. The attack was made on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his adult daughter Yulia Skripal, who…Evie Fordham -
- Opinion
Why Trump Is Right to Pull Out of Nuclear Treaty With Russia
The United States is withdrawing this week from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a 31-year-old agreement with Russia. The decision to withdraw is the right move. Russia has failed to comply with the treaty in recent years, allowing it an advantage over the United States, which has continued to abide by the treaty. At this…Emma Watkins -
- News
Rep. Rashida Tlaib Gets Donation From Developer Who Died in 2009
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., received a $2,500 donation from a man who died more than a decade ago, public records show. Michigan businessman and real estate developer George S. Farah Sr., who emigrated from Palestine to the United States in the mid-1950s, donated $2,500 toward Tlaib’s election, according to campaign filings. Farah died Feb. 1, 2009, according to Michigan…Audrey Conklin -
- Opinion
What Putin Really Wants
Military aggression is no surprise coming from Russia—it’s what Russia’s been doing for generations. But Americans might be surprised to learn the motivations behind that aggression. What’s going through Putin’s mind when he invades Crimea and wages war in eastern Ukraine? Today, we address those questions and more with Nolan Peterson, who is The Daily…Daniel Davis -
- Opinion
Turkey’s Anti-Western Drift Ought to Be Repudiated
Turkey recently marked the three-year anniversary of the country’s failed July 15 coup attempt, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and almost succeeded in ousting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Since the coup’s failure, Erdogan has solidified his control over the country—most notably the military and the press—and has turned the anniversary of the coup…James Phillips -
- Opinion
Protests in Moscow Reveal a Disparity in Russian Democracy
Some surprising events transpired in Moscow last weekend. Violent protests—the largest in Russia in a decade—erupted, and more than 1,300 people were detained. Protesters demanded that dissident figures be allowed to run in the local city council elections set for Sept. 8. Authorities declared the protests illegal, but thousands of people showed up anyway, chanting…Alexis Mrachek -
- News
Wall Street Journal Corrects ‘Bombshell’ Report on North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons
The Wall Street Journal quietly added a massive correction to a story that, if accurate, would have had significant implications for nuclear talks between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. On Thursday, the newspaper reported that analysts with the Defense Intelligence Agency believe that North Korea may have developed as many as 12…Chuck Ross -
- Opinion
Ukraine Takes Another Step Toward Freedom From Russia
KYIV, Ukraine—Ukrainians have taken another step in their long struggle to free themselves from the shadow of Vladimir Putin’s Russia, holding elections that were orderly, free, and fair. In a country in the midst of a shooting war with soldiers sent by the Kremlin, the exercise in democracy July 21 was a peaceful way to…Mike Gonzalez -
- Opinion
Countering China, Trump Seeks to Increase Domestic Production of Rare Earths
President Donald Trump recently invoked a provision of the Defense Production Act to ensure the timely delivery of rare earth materials to the nation’s industrial base. Having made the determination rare earths are “essential to national defense,” Trump authorized a wave of potential investment in the industry. Although rare earths are not actually “rare” in…Emma Watkins -
- Opinion
Japanese Upper House Election Puts Abe in a Strong Position
Japan held elections over the weekend for 124 of the 245 seats in the upper house of Japan’s legislature, the House of Councilors, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s political party, the Liberal Democratic Party, maintained its majority and how holds 113 seats. Upper house elections in Japan are held every three years, which means Abe,…Aidan Berger -
- Opinion
Why South Korea Is Key to America’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
During his recent visit to South Korea, President Donald Trump discussed with South Korean President Moon Jae-in a range of issues pertaining to our bilateral partnership. One of the least-noticed but actually critical outcomes was an acknowledgement by Moon of America’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which refers to America’s approach to various powers in the region. Moon…Anthony B. Kim -
- News
Schumer Calls for Federal Probe of Russia-Based FaceApp
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced recently on Twitter the “need” for a federal investigation into the popular Russia-based image-editing technology for smartphones called “FaceApp.” “BIG: Share if you used #FaceApp: The FBI and FTC must look into the national security and privacy risks now because millions of Americans have used it; it’s owned by…Kaylee Greenlee -
- News
The ‘Spirit of Apollo’ Inspires a New Generation of Ukrainian Spaceflight Pioneers
DNIPRO, Ukraine—Viktor Listov was a 10th grade student in St. Petersburg (then known as Leningrad), Russia, when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, completing one orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961, aboard his Vostok 1 spacecraft. Listov vividly remembers the day. His teacher interrupted the day’s lesson and told…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
New Chief at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Is a Hopeful Sign for Much-Needed Leadership Change
The announcement of new leadership at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty could signal the beginning of a new era in U.S. international broadcasting. Last week, foreign policy specialist and German Marshall Fund senior fellow Jamie Fly was appointed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s new president, a choice that bodes well for the mission and for management of the…Helle Dale -
- News
UK Knife Crime Hits Record High, Despite London Mayor’s ‘Knife Control’
The U.K., most notably London, has experienced a sharp increase in knife-related crime, despite “knife control” efforts to curb the violence, newly released figures detail. Knife crime in both England and Wales is up 8% from April 2018 to May 2019. U.K. police reports from 43 departments recorded 47,136 incidents involving sharp objects, an Office…Jake Dima -
- Opinion
Mr. President, It’s Time to Meet With Ukraine’s New Leader
There is an old saying that I made up: “Nobody wants to be a suburb of Moscow.” That’s the sum of decades of experience witnessing how the Soviet Union abused captive nations, now only to watch history repeat itself through Russian President Vladimir Putin’s destabilizing foreign policy. Put Ukraine at the top of the list…James Carafano -
- News
Diplomat: Poland Doesn’t View Trump as Cozy With Putin
From the perspective of a country counting itself as the “best barometer” of concern about Russia’s aggression, President Donald Trump is anything but soft on the government of Vladimir Putin, a top Polish official in the U.S. says. Trump pledged last month to put 2,000 more U.S. troops in Poland, at a time when that…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
American Health Care Treats Canadians Who Cannot Wait
Canadian Medicare, our northern neighbor’s universal health care system, generally receives rave reviews from proponents of nationalized or socialized health care, but the Fraser Institute found that more than 63,000 Canadians left their country to have surgery in 2016. As Americans contemplate overturning our health system in favor of one similar to Canada’s, we must…Kevin Pham -
- News
Iran Is Using Russian ‘Gray Zone’ Tactics, in Echoes of Ukraine War
KYIV, Ukraine—The recent military tension between the U.S. and Iran underscores a new era of conflict, some military officials and analysts say, in which a country’s power on the world stage is no longer measured solely by economic clout, military force, or even diplomatic sway. Rather, the audacious use of misinformation to shape public opinion…Nolan Peterson