International News
Coverage of international events and global policy shifts. The Daily Signal offers news reporting with opinion and commentary on world affairs.
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- Opinion
We Hear You: Transgender Pronouns, School Discipline, the Russia Probe, and Climate Change
Editor's note: Many readers admired the high school students who stood up for a teacher who was fired for declining to use male pronouns to refer to a transgender student who was born female. Those comments lead off this week's mailbag. Don't forget to write us at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: Bless the hearts…Ken McIntyre -
- News
Ukraine’s Leap of Faith Is a Step Toward Ditching Russian Influence
KYIV, Ukraine—Orthodox Christians celebrated Christmas on Jan. 7, according to the Julian calendar. This year’s holiday was the first for Ukraine’s newly unified, national Orthodox Church, independent from Russian control for the first time since the 17th century. Monday’s milestone marked a major step forward in Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to diminish Russian influence, highlighting an…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
Jeremy Corbyn Has a Sordid Past. Now, He’s Closer Than Ever to Leading Britain.
The Democratic Party is seriously flirting with socialism. It’s frightening on so many levels. If you want an idea why, take a look at my country, Britain. We tried “real socialism” two generations ago, and it was a disaster. Yet it has had a Lazarus-like revival in the U.K., inspiring the Democrats in America. Thanks…Christopher Walker -
- Opinion
US Must Take Action on Venezuela’s Humanitarian Crisis as Maduro ‘Wins’ Second Term
On Thursday, Nicolas Maduro will be sworn in for his second term as Venezuela’s president, but the election was anything but free and fair. Opposition politicians were imprisoned and/or barred from running. Meanwhile, his socialist party cronies controlled the entire electoral system. Far from democracy, this is a criminal syndicate of government kleptocrats in action. And 20…Ana Quintana -
- Opinion
The Problem Isn’t the Poor. It’s Young Men on Welfare Who Could Be Working.
Left-wing media stalwarts such as Newsweek, Huffington Post, and Salon launched a barrage of fake news after I appeared on “Fox & Friends” recently to discuss new Agriculture Department rules tightening work requirement on food stamps. Unfortunately, the now all-too-common disinformation campaigns from the left, distorting or simply lying about what our president says or…Star Parker -
- News
Taxing the Rich Probably Isn’t Enough to Fund Ocasio-Cortez’s ‘Green New Deal.’ Who Else Would See Higher Taxes?
New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told “60 Minutes” host Anderson Cooper her grand plan to fight global warming could be paid for with a “60 or 70 percent” top marginal tax rate. Ocasio-Cortez’s call for nearly doubling top marginal tax rates made waves in the media, but raising taxes on the wealthy is likely only one…Michael Bastasch -
- Opinion
7 Presidents Who Were Tougher Than Trump on the Media
The president was frustrated with the media coverage of him and his policies, swearing that 85 percent of all newspapers were against him. “Our newspapers cannot be edited in the interests of the general public,” the president griped. Then, almost derisively, he said: “Freedom of the press. How many bogies are conjured up by invoking…Fred Lucas -
- News
Weather Forecasters Warn of Impending Danger as US Climate Skeptics Upend UN Climate Summit
KATOWICE, Poland—TV weather forecasters who understand the potential dangers of climate change are well-positioned to educate the public and spur them to take action, participants said in a panel discussion at the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held here earlier this month. A major theme at…Kevin Mooney -
- News
At Year’s End, What We Know About Mueller’s Probe of Trump and Russia
As the second year of investigations of President Donald Trump wraps up, he and his lawyers probably won’t be able to take a breather in 2019, when the Democrats’ new House majority creates a third track of probes. Legal experts agree that special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian election meddling won’t conclude by year’s…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Trump’s New Africa Strategy Targets Those Starved of Economic Freedom
President Donald Trump continues to take bold steps, recapturing America’s exceptionalism at home and leadership abroad. These important developments are too often getting drowned out by relentless noise in Washington, where the media obsess over many issues concerning this president except those most relevant to his job—his performance leading the nation to excellence. A good…Star Parker -
- News
Ukraine Steps Out of Russia’s Religious Shadow
KYIV, Ukraine—At the end of the workday on Oct. 17, a rush-hour flood of pedestrians exited the funicular at the top of central Kyiv’s Volodymyrska Hill and passed by the gates of St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery. It was a clear day and sunlight illuminated the golden roofs of the belltower and main cathedral. There has…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
Just Because We Can Create Genetically Modified Babies Doesn’t Mean We Should
Two remarkable things took place last month in the world of biotechnology: A Chinese doctor claimed to have created two genetically modified human embryos who were successfully nurtured to birth, and the worldwide scientific community roundly rejected this experiment as a violation of ethics. In turn, the Chinese government condemned the doctor and called for…Ryan T. Anderson -
- Opinion
Attack at French Christmas Market Reminder of Looming Threat Islamist Terrorists Pose in Europe
The deadly attack by a gunman Tuesday at a Christmas market in France was an unwelcome reminder of the threat Islamist terrorists pose in Europe and around the world. While police shot and killed the gunman Thursday night when he opened fire on them, the sad truth is that we can expect more attacks by terrorists like…Robin Simcox -
- Opinion
Trump’s Newly Unveiled Strategy Will Advance US-Africa Relations
National security adviser John Bolton presented the Trump administration’s new Africa strategy Thursday at The Heritage Foundation. The strategy focused on three priorities: Enhancing U.S. trade and commercial ties with African nations through arrangements that benefit both the United States and Africa. According to Bolton, “We want our economic partners in the region to thrive,…Joshua Meservey -
- News
John Bolton: US Must Curb Chinese, Russian Influence in Africa
The United States must revamp policies toward Africa on improving trade, fighting terrorism, and providing financial assistance to stave off the growing influence of China and Russia on the continent, White House national security adviser John Bolton said. “Great power competitors, namely China and Russia, are rapidly expanding their financial and political influence across Africa,”…Fred Lucas -
- News
With War on Its Doorstep, a Ukrainian City’s Civil Society Flourishes
MARIUPOL, Ukraine—The people of Mariupol have lived within earshot of Europe’s only ongoing land war for four and a half years. At first, they plainly showed fear at the sounds of the tank shots and the shelling. Now, they have the temerity to simply shake their heads and shrug their shoulders at the sounds of…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
Put Human Rights Back on the Negotiating Table With North Korea
Some of the world’s worst human rights violations take place in North Korea. Estimates say between 80,000 and 120,000 individuals are inhumanely detained in North Korea’s six known, operational political prison camps. A United Nations Commission of Inquiry report on human rights revealed that the North Korean regime regularly committed crimes against humanity, including extermination, murder,…Hyun Suk Kim -
- Opinion
This Teacher Was Fired for ‘Misgendering’ a Student. Who Could Be Next?
Last week, a Virginia school board voted unanimously to fire a teacher after he refused to comply with administrators’ orders to use a female student’s preferred masculine pronouns. The student “transitioned” over the summer and began identifying as a man. This latest casualty in the culture wars raises the obvious question: Who could be next?…Monica Burke -
- Opinion
Why the US Is Right to Refuse to Sign UN Migration Compact
On Dec. 10-11 in Morocco, most of the world’s nations will sign on to the United Nations’ Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The U.S. will not be signing the migration compact—and that’s the correct decision from public policy, national security, and national sovereignty standpoints. The migration compact was initiated when the U.N….Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
Right Side of History: Meet the Man Who Made the Supreme Court
“The Right Side of History” is a podcast dedicated to exploring current events through a historical lens and busting left-wing myths about figures and events of America’s past. On this week’s episode, hosts Jarrett Stepman and Fred Lucas discuss the legacy of Chief Justice John Marshall and how it relates to today. Chief Justice John…Jarrett Stepman