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
Violence in Burundi Highlights the Fragility of Democracy in Africa
The small central African country of Burundi is approaching its 17th month of violence sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a third term in office. Once a relative success story, Burundi’s democracy is now on life support. Its plight is a reminder of the fragile state of African democracy, and is part of… -
opinion
‘I Thought You’d Forgotten’: Visiting My Friend, a Wounded Ukrainian Soldier
KYIV, Ukraine—There were three beds in the hospital room. Two were empty and in the middle bed was my friend Nemo. He was naked except for a white sheet haphazardly draped over his crotch. A mess of tubes extruded from his chest and torso. A long bandage went down his abdomen where the surgeons had… -
opinion
The US Should Halt UN Aid for Hamas
Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, has arrested two aid workers this summer and charged them with funneling funds to Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip, according to reports. A substantial amount of these funds were provided by the U.S. government for charitable, humanitarian, and development purposes. But, if these charges are… -
opinion
Doing Business in Asia: It’s Complicated
On June 23, The Heritage Foundation welcomed a delegation from the Asia Pacific Council of Chambers of Commerce (APCAC), a forum of 29 American Chambers of Commerce spanning the Asia–Pacific. APCAC members manage trade volumes in excess of U.S. $400 billion, and direct investments of more than U.S. $200 billion. This year’s group included business… -
news
Rigged Election? A History of Presidential Candidates Who’ve Made Allegations
The current election is not the first time a candidate has charged that the game was rigged. The new book, “Tainted by Suspicion: The Secret Deals and Electoral Chaos of Disputed Presidential Elections,” delves into the common thread regarding the most controversial presidential elections in history. The focus is on elections that dragged well beyond… -
opinion
Russia Continues to Dominate Arctic as US Struggles to Procure Icebreakers
The Arctic is shaping up to be one of the most strategically important regions in the 21st century. However, the United States has fallen far behind in building the specialized ships necessary to traverse the region’s treacherous waters. On June 10, Russia launched its first new military icebreaker in half a century. The Ilya Muromets,… -
opinion
Russian Olympics Cheating Is Emblematic of the Nature of Putin’s Regime
The Games of the XXXI Olympiad open tonight in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As you watch the parade of nations, you may notice Russia’s contingent of Olympians is noticeably smaller. That’s because well over 100 Russian athletes have been banned from competing in the Olympics for their use of performance-enhancing drugs. In December 2014, the… -
opinion
Obama Seeks to Circumvent Congressional Opposition by Advancing Nuclear Agenda at UN
President Barack Obama has supported a ban on nuclear testing since his earliest days in office, but has been unable to rally support for ratification of a nuclear test ban treaty in the U.S. Senate. Frustrated with this opposition and facing the end of his second term, The Washington Post reports, Obama will bypass Congress and seek a United… -
opinion
A Year After His Death, What I Wish I Could Tell the Ukrainian Soldier I Befriended
KYIV, Ukraine—One year ago on Saturday, a 19-year-old Ukrainian soldier named Daniel Kasyanenko died on a battlefield in eastern Ukraine. He died alongside one of his friends, a fellow Ukrainian volunteer soldier, when a mortar fell on them. They were among 18 Ukrainian soldiers to die in a 10-day stretch from Aug. 1 to Aug…. -
news
Russia’s Moves, Terrorism Fuel Talk of War in Europe
KYIV, Ukraine—Whether referring to Russian aggression in the east or to the threat of Islamist terrorism in the West, Europe’s political, media, and religious elite are increasingly using the word “war” to describe the Continent’s security challenges. The day after the July 14 terror attack in Nice, in which a man drove a large truck… -
opinion
Hostage Deal Is Latest Example of Obama’s Sell-Out to Iran
The only thing more pathetic than the Obama administration paying the Islamist Republic of Iran ransom for American hostages, and thereby ensuring more Americans will be taken hostage by thug regimes around the world, is that they expect us to believe, despite evidence to the contrary, that they didn’t. Right. First, President Barack Obama and… -
opinion
With a Domestic Economy Slowing Down, China Doubles Down on Foreign Investments
China is the world’s largest exporter of merchandise. What is not well known: it is the world’s second largest net creditor nation, increasingly acquiring western companies and technology. According to the China Global Investment Tracker from the America Enterprise Institute and The Heritage Foundation, Chinese global outbound foreign direct investment (defined as having at least a… -
opinion
How Putin Hoodwinked the Political Right
It’s easy to see why Vladimir Putin has emerged as the lodestar of certain elements of the political right across the West. Russia’s president poses as the champion of nationalism vs. rampant transnationalism, of Christianity vs. secularism, and of European identity in general. These are battles that set conservatives’ teeth on edge. The political left… -
news
Russia’s Pattern of Influencing Foreign Politics
KYIV, Ukraine—If the FBI proves Russia is behind Friday’s leak of embarrassing Democratic National Committee emails, the revelation would be consistent with Russia’s pattern of clandestine and overt gambits to influence the politics of its perceived adversaries. “In the Putin era, Russia has been aggressive on many fronts, including invasions of Georgia and Ukraine,” said… -
opinion
The Man Who Tried to Kill Reagan Is Going Free. Americans Should Be Outraged.
The decision to release John Hinckley Jr. from St. Elizabeth’s psychiatric hospital after his attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan is outrageous, disgraceful, and a travesty of justice. No matter how much supervision he has, Hinckley cannot be trusted to move and function in society. Even though his victims, Reagan and White House press secretary… -
news
Undercover Filmmaker Who Exposed Planned Parenthood Calls His Case a ‘Huge Win’ for Journalists
Two undercover filmmakers whose videos exposed abortion provider Planned Parenthood won’t face criminal charges after all. Instead, they’re hailing the news as a First Amendment victory for citizen journalists. On Tuesday, the Harris County district attorney’s office dismissed all charges against David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt. The duo worked undercover to produce a series of… -
opinion
The UN Funds Repressive Regimes at the Expense of US Taxpayers
A new report shows how the U.S. contributes more money to the U.N. than it spends on shipbuilding for the Navy, yet there is a huge disparity in what it receives back compared to many repressive countries. The United Nations recently released a report detailing the countries of registration of the recipient vendors of $17.6… -
opinion
Why the United States Must Continue to Embrace NATO to Answer Aggressive Russia
Sixty-seven years ago yesterday, the U.S. Senate ratified the North Atlantic Treaty, creating NATO. Ravaged by two world wars, and faced with the very real existential threat of the Soviet Union, European democracies allied with the U.S. and Canada created a security pact with collective defense at its core. The United States lost over half… -
opinion
US Allies Must Embrace Advanced Missile Defense to Counter North Korea Nuclear Threat
North Korea provocatively conducted missile tests on Wednesday, a clear warning to the United States and its allies that nuclear defense systems must remain a priority. North Korea launched one Scud and two No Dong missiles 500-600 kilometers and announced it was a practice drill for preemptive nuclear attacks on South Korea and U.S. forces…