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
Russia Bans U.S. Agricultural Imports: What Effect Will It Have?
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to impose a one-year ban on many agricultural imports from the United States and other countries that have imposed economic sanctions against Russia in connection with its actions in Eastern Ukraine—namely Australia, Canada, the European Union (EU), and Norway. The impact on the U.S. should be relatively small….Daren Bakst -
- Opinion
Unlocking Energy Opportunity in Africa
Visiting America for the U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit last week, heads of African nations had plenty to say about the need to increase access to reliable, affordable energy. Yet some are trying to dissuade African investment in conventional energy sources such as coal and natural gas in an effort to stave off global warming. Roughly 550…Katie Tubb -
- Opinion
State Department Rejects Most Critical Security Recommendations Post-Benghazi
The State Department released a report earlier this month on implementation of the Best Practices Panel’s (BPP) recommendations on diplomatic security. Interestingly, the two most important ones were rejected by the State Department. The panel of five seasoned security experts was established according to the recommendation of the Benghazi Accountability Review Board (ARB). The BPP…Helle Dale -
- Opinion
Is Putin About to Attack Ukraine?
Russia could double down on Ukraine anytime now. Undeterred by the West’s questionable response to the tragic Malaysian airliner shoot-down — or the moral and material support to the Ukrainian rebels — or the carving off of Crimea, Russia seems ready to roll. News reports indicate Moscow has bumped up Russian forces near the Ukrainian…Peter Brookes -
- Opinion
Obama’s Africa Summit: A Few Positive Notes, More Questions
The first U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit concluded this week. President Obama has, quite expectedly, characterized it as “an extraordinary event, an extraordinary summit.” The three-day summit yielded some positive notes and outcomes. Yet on balance, the summit was the Administration in a nutshell—compelling theatrics, nice sounding rhetoric, ambitious promises, and lingering doubts about implementation and follow-through….Brett Schaefer -
- Opinion
Chile: Bachelet Fails First Test of New Term by Raising Taxes
Michelle Bachelet, president of Chile, is reforming the country’s education system and paying for it by raising corporate taxes. Bachelet aims to increase the corporate income tax from 20 percent to 25 percent, which would collect approximately $8.2 billion, or roughly 3 percent of gross domestic product. Bachelet also plans to eliminate the “taxable profits…Ashley Wright -
- Opinion
Ghana Woes a Warning to Other Oil-Rich African Countries
African leaders are in Washington this week for the White House–sponsored U.S.–African Leaders Summit, a meeting of nearly 50 African heads of state meant to promote trade and investment. But for Ghana, the optimism surrounding the conference and a second U.S. aid compact have been drowned out by economic troubles at home. One of West…Ryan Olson -
- Opinion
Why Anti-Semitism Is Increasing in Europe
“They’ve had major riots, that have not just been anti-Israeli policy, but are blatantly anti-Jewish. … They’re predominantly the immigrant Muslim populations in Germany and France, for instance, but there are significant numbers of German citizens, native German citizens and native French citizens, either from the far right or the far left, who blame Israel…Steven Bucci -
- Opinion
The Obama Administration Needs to Stop Ignoring Africa: Seven Ways the U.S. Could Help
African leaders and citizens had great expectations in 2008 that the election of President Barack Obama would elevate the prominence of Africa and its concerns in U.S. government deliberations. These expectations have not been met. Shortly before the 2008 election, a senior Obama campaign Africa policy adviser outlined an agenda of (1) accelerating Africa’s integration…Brett Schaefer -
- News
Team of Statesmen Rally Against Putin to Stop Russia’s Hosting of 2018 World Cup
Should Russia play host to the World Cup in 2018 in light of its recent aggression against its neighbors? Prominent people on both sides of the Atlantic have begun to raise that question in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and arming of separatists in eastern Ukraine. Leaders from Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and…Philip Wegmann -
- Opinion
Russia Is Trying to Undo Europe’s Post-Cold War Settlement
What’s at stake in Ukraine? If the actions of Western governments speak louder than words, the short answer is “not much.” The full range of sanctions on Russia has not yet been imposed, and there is a widespread reluctance to embrace Ukraine too closely. But what if our reluctance is a mistake? We could end…Kim Holmes -
- Opinion
Russia: Time to Act on INF Violations
American officials have confirmed that Russia has been violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The INF Treaty was concluded in 1987 and prohibits all ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. Pointing to official Russian media sources, defense analysts Mark Schneider and Keith Payne contend that Russia has been developing…Harrison Menke -
- News
‘Whatever It Takes’: U.S. Action Encourages Opposition to Venezuelan Regime
At dawn last Friday, a group of hooded men — hidden, but unmistakably officers from Venezuela’s Military Intelligence — burst into the cell of political prisoner Leopoldo Lopez. They repeatedly punched him, then tied him up and took his belongings. For almost five months, Lopez, an opposition leader jailed after the Venezuelan government accused him…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Baker Who Won’t Make Cakes for Same-Sex Weddings Appeals Mandatory Re-Education Order
Jack Phillips, the cake artist facing legal action and a ruling to re-educate his staff because he declined to design a wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony in 2012, has filed a notice of appeal with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colo., said in his appeal he would…Leslie Ford -
- Opinion
Q&A: Ebola in Africa Not Yet a National Security Issue
This latest outbreak of the Ebola virus is getting a great deal of attention, as it should. Here are some questions that need to be asked and some answers you need to know: What is Ebola? The Ebola virus is a severe, often fatal disease that is in the hemorrhagic fever category. The symptoms include…Charlotte Florance -
- Opinion
China Confronts Growing Instability in Its West
Reports indicate major violence erupting in western China this week, with knife-wielding assailants attacking two towns. Casualties are said to involve dozens of Uighurs and ethnic Han (the largest ethnic group in China), as well as extensive property destruction. The attacks were apparently aimed at local police forces, with dozens of police cars damaged. The…Dean Cheng -
- Opinion
Northeast Asia: Opportunities for Alliance Cooperation
“Japan needs Korea as a strategic partner and friend,” said Takeo Kawamura, senior member of the House of Representatives in Japan at an event on alliances in Northeast Asia at The Heritage Foundation. In recent years, tensions between Japan and South Korea—two of America’s key allies in Asia—have increased. But rather than dwelling on downward…Olivia Enos -
- News
Obama Follows Europe in Expanding Sanctions on Russia
Following the lead of the European Union, President Obama announced expanded sanctions against Russia Tuesday for supporting separatists in Ukraine. The latest American sanctions target Russia’s financial, energy and military sectors. The Treasury Department released a list of large Russian banks that are blocked from transactions with Americans, including the Bank of Moscow, the Russian…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Russia Violated a Nuclear Treaty. What the U.S. Must Do.
Russian violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty come as a surprise to only those who have not been paying attention to foreign policy in the last few decades. In a recent National Review piece, Mark Schneider, senior analyst at the National Institute for Public Policy, and Keith B. Payne, former deputy assistant secretary of defense,…Michaela Dodge -
- News
Benjamin Netanyahu: Hamas Violated Cease-Fire With Israel
As violence in Israel and Gaza continues, hope for a break in the conflict was quickly shattered as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas violated the cease-fire. Hamas offered a 24-hour cease-fire beginning at 2 p.m. local time today. But Netanyahu told both “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace and “State of the Union” host Candy Crowley the…Melissa Quinn