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
Chinese Military Parade Sends Multiple Signals
In honor of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) staged a major military parade, featuring some 12,000 troops and major displays of new equipment. Prominent among these was the DF-21D, the so-called “carrier killer” anti-ship ballistic missile. The parading of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s…Dean Cheng -
- Opinion
The Connection Between China’s Stock Market Collapse and Its Past Spectacular Growth
In mid-June, China’s Shanghai Composite Index was up a dazzling 60 percent since the beginning of the year. It was the highest level in more than six years. Some took it as a sign that the recent weakness in China’s economy would be short-lived. Yet it is only a little more than two months later,…William T. Wilson -
- Opinion
Iran Could Outsource Its Nuclear Program to North Korea
Of the myriad of mind-blowing flaws contained in the Iran nuclear deal—a subject that has dominated the foreign policy debate across the country this summer—there’s one angle that hasn’t gotten enough attention. It’s the possibility that Iran could outsource its nuclear program. In other words, Tehran could play along with the P5+1 (China, France, Germany,…Peter Brookes -
- Opinion
Europe Gives Trinidad the Charlie Brown Treatment
The nations that have ratified the controversial Arms Trade Treaty, which seeks to regulate the international sale of conventional arms, concluded their first meeting last week in Cancun. One order of business at the four-day meeting was to pick the location for the Arms Trade Treaty’s headquarters – its secretariat. And when the time to…Ted Bromund -
- News
Math Teacher Who Arrived Late to Work 111 Times Allowed to Keep His Job
In a decision that reinvigorated some of the frustrations between teacher unions and the public school system, a New Jersey elementary school teacher who blamed being late to work 111 times over the past two years on “eating breakfast” was allowed to keep his job. “I have a bad habit of eating breakfast in the…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
South Korea Looks To China for Help With Aggressive North Korea
South Korean President Park Geun-hye traveled to Beijing this week to attend events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. She met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss North Korea—both the regime’s recent provocations and the nascent effort at inter-Korean reconciliation. Both leaders warned North Korea against committing further provocations….Bruce Klingner -
- Opinion
The Ukraine War Is Supposed to End Today. But It Won’t.
KYIV, Ukraine—One year ago I was in Mariupol, Ukraine, when the first cease-fire was signed on Sept. 5, 2014. Late that afternoon I visited the still smoldering battlefields outside the city. There had been a battle that day and the day prior, involving tanks and artillery. The aftermath was tragic. Many soldiers still lay dead…Nolan Peterson -
- News
Ukraine: Deadly Protests Outside Parliament Over Autonomy Vote
KYIV, Ukraine—One Ukrainian National Guard soldier died and more than 100 law enforcement personnel and civilians were injured, several critically, after violent protests erupted outside Ukraine’s parliament on Monday. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said a demonstrator threw fragmentation grenades into a line of Ukrainian National Guard soldiers and law enforcement personnel guarding the entrance…Nolan Peterson -
- News
As War Escalates, Ukrainian Volunteer Battalion Remains Sidelined
URZUF, Ukraine—The vehicle yard at the Ukrainian National Guard Azov Battalion’s base here looks like the set of a Mad Max movie. There is a semi-truck tractor covered in welded black armor parked next to a fleet of busses, minivans, pickup trucks and hatchback Volkswagens all painted in camouflage patterns—some sporting bullet holes. The up-armored…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
In Treaty Negotiations, Obama Administration Broke Own Red Line and Alienated China
CANCUN, Mexico – After China went Communist in the late 1940s, conservatives liked to ask “who lost China?” That same question occurred to me on Tuesday, when China made it clear that it’s not likely to sign or ratify the controversial Arms Trade Treaty any time soon. The answer to the question this time seems…Ted Bromund -
- Opinion
What We Can Learn From 3 Americans Who Fought, Disarmed Attacker on Paris Train
The thwarted terrorist attack by three Americans on a Paris bound train last week exposed a flaw in terrorist tactics. Spreading fear with violence (the goal of terrorism) is not possible when populations fight back. The botched attack demonstrated vulnerabilities in a command and control terror strategy, and shows a break down in the sequence…Amber Smith -
- News
Meet 5 Key Democrats Who Could Determine the Fate of Iran Deal
Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington announced support for the Iran deal Tuesday, following on the heels of Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., to further President Barack Obama’s growing support in the Senate. The announcements mark a setback to Republican-led efforts to secure the 67 votes needed to override a presidential veto if a resolution…Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
Memo to Obama: It’s Not Iran Deal Critics Who Are the ‘Crazy’ Ones
Just back from his annual summer vacation at Martha’s Vineyard, President Barack Obama has returned to disparaging his political adversaries and anyone who happens to disagree with him on policy. According to a report in Politico, the president has taken to describing opponents of the hugely controversial Iran deal as “crazies.” The so-called “crazies” now…Nile Gardiner -
- Opinion
How US Should Respond to China’s Stock Market Collapse
To give perspective, China is the world’s second largest economy, as well as the second largest importer. It is the largest trading nation for 75 countries and is by far the largest importer of commodities in the world. Over the past seven years, China has accounted for an incredible one-third of global growth. But its…William T. Wilson -
- News
Why China’s Economy Is Scaring the World, Explained in 90 Seconds
Stock markets in the United States plunged over the past week, and many are blaming a place far away from home: China. Investors around the world are worried about China’s struggling economy — and its own stock market crash. Why should Americans care about China’s economic struggles, and what does it mean for the rest…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
North and South Korea Step Back From Precipice of War
SEOUL, South Korea – After marathon talks, North and South Korea have reached an agreement to defuse the rising tensions, which had created the potential for a military clash along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Both Koreas can claim they achieved what they wanted. But, as with any development on the Korean Peninsula, the agreement will…Bruce Klingner -
- News
China’s Economic Woes Jolt Global Stock Markets
U.S. stock markets plummeted Monday, furthering a global market decline that has eliminated nearly $10 trillion from international shares as concerns grow over China’s economic health. The Dow Jones industrial average plunged more than 1,000 points soon after trading began, continuing losses from last week that marked the worst for U.S. stocks in four years….Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
What’s Wrong With the UN’s New 169 Goals
The United Nations is quite proud of its Millennium Development Goals—the criteria it uses to measure the success of economic development programs. In a 2013 report, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon “modestly” stated that “Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been the most successful global anti-poverty push in history.” Of course, this is vastly overstated. In…Brett Schaefer -
- News
Michigan Could Keep Its Iran Sanctions Regardless of Washington’s Actions
As Congress spends its August recess deliberating the Iran deal, Michigan has introduced two resolutions this week urging U.S. legislators to oppose the accord. The state House is also moving to preserve its sanctions against Tehran regardless of the agreement’s fate. “Certainly, there are several members of Congress both in the House and the Senate…Natalie Johnson -
- News
A Ukrainian Town on War’s Edge Faces Its Darkest Hour
SARTANA, Ukraine—A biography of Winston Churchill sits on Stephan Machsma’s desk. Machsma is the mayor of Sartana, Ukraine, and he is leading the town’s approximately 10,000 residents through their own darkest hour. On Sunday night, starting around 10 p.m., combined Russian-separatist forces shelled Sartana with 122-mm and 152-mm artillery for about 25 minutes. The attack…Nolan Peterson