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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news
Ted Kennedy Made Secret Overtures to Russia to Prevent Ronald Reagan’s Re-Election
Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy had “selfish political and ideological motives” when he made secret overtures to the Soviet Union’s spy agency during the Cold War to thwart then-President Ronald Reagan’s re-election, a Reagan biographer said in an interview with The Daily Signal. When they came to light years later, Kennedy’s secret contacts with the Russians… -
news
Key Questions About Russia’s Alleged Hacking of the US Election
A Central Intelligence Agency report that Russian operatives intervened in the U.S. election to help President-elect Donald Trump win has roiled Capitol Hill, producing a bipartisan call for congressional investigations. But there is skepticism within the U.S. government, particularly at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, that the evidence definitively proves that the Russians had the… -
opinion
A Labor Secretary Who Knows How to Create Jobs
President-elect Donald Trump has selected Andy Puzder, CEO of Carl’s Jr., the successful fast-food hamburger restaurant chain, as his secretary of labor. This has set off a bit of protest by the hard left and the union bosses. How could Trump select someone who actually knows something about hiring workers and creating jobs? How dare he!… -
news
The 2 Largest Land Armies in Europe Tiptoe to the Edge of War and Back
KYIV, Ukraine—A planned missile test over the Black Sea spurs a Kremlin threat to shoot down the missiles and possibly target the launch sites. An eleventh-hour compromise is reached, defusing an act of brinkmanship, which could have sparked an all-out war. An episode between NATO and Moscow during the Cold War? Or, perhaps, the latest… -
opinion
As South Korea Impeaches President, US Must Remain Steady Ally
The South Korean National Assembly impeached President Park Geun-hye Friday by a resounding vote of 234-56. Under the country’s constitution, Park will immediately cede all her authorities to Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn but remain in office until the Constitutional Court reviews the impeachment proceedings. The largest liberal opposition party has declared that it will not… -
opinion
What African-Americans Have to Gain From a Trump Presidency
A lot of strong words were thrown about in this year’s presidential campaign, but few packed as powerful a punch as a single question that Donald Trump asked black voters in August. “What do you have to lose?” The pundits didn’t seem to understand, but many of us knew exactly what he meant. While the black… -
news
Britain’s Daniel Hannan Explains Why Obama’s 8 Years Were a ‘Wasted Opportunity’
Daniel Hannan was a supporter of Barack Obama when he ran for president in 2008. Eight years later, the British member of the European Parliament sees Obama’s presidency as a failure. “He approached the economy like he approached everything else: He wanted to spend more. And he, therefore, exacerbated the problem instead of soothing it,”… -
opinion
Japanese Prime Minister’s Pearl Harbor Visit Will Further Reconciliation
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced he would travel to Pearl Harbor later this month, the first Japanese leader to do so. Abe commented he would accompany President Barack Obama to “pay tribute [and] comfort the souls” of those who died from both countries during World War II. He emphasized his intent to “send messages… -
opinion
Has North Korea Reopened an Old Prison Camp?
Recent satellite images reveal that a North Korean political prison camp, former Camp 18, may have been reopened. It is unclear when and why this may have happened. The time lag in obtaining detailed information from North Korea means this could be somewhat dated information. But even the possibility that the camp has reopened raises… -
news
‘My Soul Is Here’: A Thanksgiving on the Front Lines of the War in Ukraine
MARINKA, Ukraine—In the night I wake with a start to the sounds of artillery and gunfire. The shelling is loud enough and close enough to shake the walls. A stir from the body lying next to me. I look over at my brother, Drew, sleeping there. Both of us cocooned in our sleeping bags. Above… -
opinion
Is the Chinese Economy Hitting Stagnation?
For roughly three decades, the Chinese economy registered a staggering annual growth rate in the vicinity of 10 percent. Over the past four years, however, it has clearly slowed from that breakneck speed. There has also been increased skepticism about the reliability of the old growth figures, and even whether today’s slower pace of expansion… -
news
‘We Need to Know We’re Not Alone’: Ukraine’s Soldiers Carry the Burden of a Nation at War
MARINKA, Ukraine—As the war in Ukraine nears its fourth calendar year, Ukrainian troops remain entrenched along a static front line in eastern Ukraine where they exchange small arms and artillery fire with combined Russian-separatist forces every day. More than 21 months after it was signed, the cease-fire is a charade. The war may be at a… -
opinion
Russia’s Ban on LinkedIn Reflects Global Decline of Internet Freedom
The decision by a Russian court earlier this month to shut down the professional social network LinkedIn came right on cue. The court ruling coincided with the publication of “Freedom on the Net 2016,” an annual report on internet freedom published by the human rights organization Freedom House. As noted in the report, freedom on… -
news
What You Need to Know About Gov. Nikki Haley, Trump’s Pick for UN Ambassador
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Trump’s transition team announced Wednesday. “Gov. Haley has a proven track record of bringing people together regardless of background or party affiliation to move critical policies forward for the betterment of her state and our… -
news
Trump Picks Ex-General for National Security Adviser. Who Is Mike Flynn?
President-elect Donald Trump chose Michael Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, to fill the role of assistant to the president for national security affairs. Flynn accepted the position Friday. My transition team, which is working long hours and doing a fantastic job, will be seeing many great candidates today. #MAGA — Donald J. Trump… -
news
Meet the Candidates Who Want to Lead House GOP’s Largest Caucus
Two House Republicans are in the running to be the next chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of 178 Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives. Members of the RSC are voting for their next chairman today. Reps. Andy Harris of Maryland and Mark Walker of North Carolina are the two candidates running… -
news
Ex-Georgian President Saakashvili Says Ukraine Is ‘Running Against the Clock’ to Prevent Another Revolution
KYIV, Ukraine—Mikheil Saakashvili sits at a desk devoid of any photos or personal memorabilia. On this day, the 48-year-old former Georgian president has only been on the job for four days as leader of a startup Ukrainian opposition political party called Wave. This is the next chapter of Saakashvili’s anti-corruption crusade following his resignation as… -
news
With Trump Win, Ukraine Hopes to Score a US Presidential Visit
KYIV, Ukraine—Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko congratulated Donald Trump on his election win by inviting the newly minted U.S. president-elect to visit the war-torn, Eastern European country. “This is a symbol of true democracy when nobody knew the results of the elections until the very last moment,” Poroshenko told U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch during… -
opinion
North Korean Women Live Desperate Lives, Even After Escape
A recent report from The Washington Post detailed some of the grimmest experiences faced by escaped North Korean refugees: sexual abuse and human trafficking. Through the vivid recounting of Suh, the Post captured a portrait of one female North Korean defector and her tragic sojourn from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to Thailand. Sadly,… -
news
Who Pays for Politicking on Air Force One? Here’s the Formula for How Costs Are Split
President Barack Obama hit the skies in Air Force One in the week before the presidential election, stumping for who he hopes to be his successor—at a cost that will mostly be covered by taxpayers, but will be partially refunded by the campaign. The president stumped for Hillary Clinton, stopping for speeches in Columbus, Raleigh,…