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
Experts Urge John Kerry to Include Christians in State Department Middle East Genocide Finding
A silent persecution of Christians tantamount to genocide is ongoing in the Middle East, according to experts in Washington. Last week, at a panel organized by The Heritage Foundation to discuss modern Christian martyrs, academic, religious, and media leaders discussed the persecution—as well as the inattention being paid to the issue by developed nations including… -
opinion
Venezuela Staves Off Default in Advance of Dec. 6 Election
Legislative and municipal elections this weekend might give Venezuelans a chance to get out from under the oppressive reign of corruption and criminality that have been the hallmarks of the government of President Nicolás Maduro. But don’t hold your breath. Maduro has warned that he will not “surrender the revolution” to an opposition victory, and… -
opinion
Why China Shouldn’t Be Trusted on Its Climate Commitment
There has been a lot of attention given to China at the climate conference in Paris. As the largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, a lot depends on what China will do—or more accurately what it won’t do. Lots of media reports have commended China for its sudden commitment to climate change. But… -
opinion
Leading Muslim Voice Speaks Out Against Islamic Extremism
In the aftermath of the massacre in Paris and the shooting this week in San Bernardino, Calif., the debate over the threat of Islamic terrorism is again front and center. Many political leaders, including President Barack Obama, refuse to make the connection between the terrorist acts of groups like ISIS and the religion of Islam…. -
opinion
Why Montenegro Was Just Invited to Join the NATO Alliance
On Wednesday, foreign ministers extended an invitation of NATO membership to Montenegro, a small nation in the Balkans. The decision to offer Montenegro membership will strengthen the NATO alliance, improve regional security in the Balkans, and most importantly send a clear signal that NATO remains committed to its open door policy. It also shows other countries… -
opinion
Judge Throws Out Lawsuit Filed by Those Who Found a WWI Memorial Cross Offensive
In a decision on Monday that preserves the thanks of a nation for the sacrifice of Americans who died in World War I, Maryland federal judge Deborah Chasanow (a Clinton appointee) threw out a lawsuit filed by the American Humanist Association over a forty-foot-tall war memorial that is almost 100 years old. The monument, built… -
opinion
Rebooting the U.S.-China Cyber Dialogue
U.S. and Chinese officials meet today in Washington to discuss ongoing challenges to cyber-security. Behind closed doors, there’s bound to be finger-pointing. After all, China is a leading source of cyber-attacks on U.S. corporate and government facilities. Expectations for the meeting have already been lowered. A recent state visit by Chinese President Xi produced nothing… -
opinion
Yes, the European Union Wants a Court for That, Too…
When it comes to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a proposed trade agreement between the United States and the European Union, there are many opinions on how to structure the arrangement. One disagreement concerns how to protect investors. With any large trade agreement, disputes between investors and governments are bound to arise. To… -
opinion
West Germany’s Former Chancellor Predicted Europe Would Have an Assimilation Problem
In 1990, former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt told me in an interview that massive Islamic immigration into Europe kept him awake at night. Between pinches of snuff, Schmidt said he worried Muslims wouldn’t assimilate, and that this would become a big problem for the continent. Schmidt’s ruminations are worth remembering following French President François… -
opinion
Want to Know Why the South China Sea Is Always Being Talked About?
Many politicians have recently voiced concern regarding Chinese activity in the South China Sea. With all the issues to be discussed, some might wonder why so much attention has been paid to a body of water so far away from the U.S. The answer lies in an American interest as old as the Republic itself…. -
news
How Will Downing of Russian Plane Impact Campaign Against ISIS?
President Barack Obama on Tuesday used the downing of a Russian warplane as evidence to support the view of the international community that the Kremlin get with the program in the fight against the Islamic State. While the move by Turkey, a NATO ally, to shoot down a Russian jet that it says was flying… -
opinion
Why Turkey Shot Down a Russian Fighter Jet
On Tuesday morning a Russian Su-24 warplane was shot down by Turkish F-16s after violating Turkish airspace. According to the latest media reports one Russian pilot was killed and another has been captured by local rebel forces on the ground. To discuss what this means for NATO, the U.S., and the on-going conflict in Syria… -
news
How One Religious Organization Is Helping Syrian Refugees as They Arrive in Europe
As the United States debates how to properly vet 10,000 Syrian refugees expected to resettle here, employees with Samaritan’s Purse are stationed on the frontlines in Greece, working to be a “face of compassion” for refugees fleeing war and terror. Ken Isaacs, vice president of programs and government relations for Samaritan’s Purse, spent a week… -
opinion
Energy and Security in Japan
In October, a delegation of researchers from The Heritage Foundation had the opportunity to travel to Japan for a week. It is clear from their time there that Japan has a keen interest in increasing its energy diversity and making sure that experts are knowledgeable about the security changes and challenges in the region. Through… -
news
Ohio Bakery Owner Who Posted ‘Politically Incorrect’ Sign on Stores Explains Why He Did So
A sign posted outside an Ohio bakery eschewing political correctness has gone viral. Schuler’s Bakery posted signs outside of its four Ohio locations that read: Notice: This store is politically incorrect, we say Merry Christmas, God Bless America, we salute our flag and give thanks to our troops, police officers and fire fighters. If this… -
opinion
In Australia, Catholic Bishops Face Court Action, Huge Fines Over Traditional Views on Marriage
Australians have always viewed America’s litigious culture with suspicion. Our “no worries mate” approach to life means we tend not to rush off to court at the drop of a hat. So last week when a state government commissioner ruled that the nation’s Catholic bishops may have broken the law in distributing their booklet “Don’t… -
opinion
Russia Admits Plane Brought Down By Bomb But Putin Won’t Make Defeating ISIS Top Priority
Russia’s intelligence services have finally admitted what most have already suspected: that a bomb brought down the Russian commercial airliner over the Sinai Peninsula last month, killing 224 innocent holiday goers. It is unclear who the culprits are. Two employees from Sharm el-Sheikh airport have been arrested, and Russia has announced a $50-million reward for… -
news
Students Across US Demand Free College, Stumble Over Who Will Foot the Bill
Students swarmed college campuses across the nation Thursday to rally against the rising costs of higher education, demanding free college tuition, the zeroing out of student debt, and a $15 minimum wage hike for campus employees. The protests, which spawned from a social media movement called the Million Student March, hit 110 colleges throughout the U.S. and… -
news
Meet the Nun Who Took Her Soup Kitchen Cooking Skills to TV and Won First Place
Last week, Chicago-based Sister Alicia Torres, a soft-spoken member of the Franciscans of the Eucharist, took first place on the Food Network cooking competition “Chopped.” Torres, competing on a special Thanksgiving-themed episode of the popular show, won $10,000 for her take on a traditional Thanksgiving feast. In one challenge, she made turkey quesadillas and, in… -
news
Obama Criticizes Those Who Want ‘Religious Tests’ for Refugees, Defends ISIS Strategy
President Barack Obama said during a press conference in Turkey on Monday that his administration has “the right strategy” on ISIS, and “we’re going to see it through.” “What I’m not interested in doing is posing or pursuing some notion of American leadership, or American winning or whatever other slogans they come up with, that…