Written by 
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at which countries are choosing to defy the ICC arrest warrant for Israel’s top leader, Iran’s new uranium-enriching advanced centrifuges, and upcoming presidential elections in Romania and Uruguay. Flouting the ICC Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vowed on Friday to defy the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) recent […]
Being the archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England, has always been a risky business. Modern incumbents are not likely to be murdered before their own altar, beheaded by Puritans, or burned as a martyr. But being the leader of 85 million believers in the world’s third-largest Christian group—the Anglican Communion—is still a […]
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at Israeli efforts to secure support from both the Biden and Trump administrations, New Zealand apologizing for exposed systemic abuse, and a deadly Chinese car crash. Diplomacy Across the Aisle Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is meeting with senior U.S. officials in Washington this week to […]
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deteriorated further over the past month, according to an assessment by aid groups, despite demands made by the Biden administration that Israel take specific steps to improve the situation within 30 days or risk jeopardizing the ongoing supply of U.S. arms. A scorecard issued by eight aid organizations—including Mercy […]
There’s been plenty of invective and grandiose ambitions at Vladimir Putin’s recent hosting of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. But amid all the noise, is BRICS the future? Jim O’Neill, the Goldman Sachs analyst who conceived the acronym for the then-emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China 23 years ago (the “S,” for […]
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at deadly Israeli operations in Lebanon, efforts to counter terror threats in Turkey and Sri Lanka, and a G-7 loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets. Preventing a Protracted War An Israeli strike killed three Lebanese soldiers on Thursday while they were reportedly trying to evacuate wounded […]
Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza—and the assassinations, tanker wars, and drone attacks it has provoked throughout the broader Middle East—means the Gulf states are on edge. As the U.S. election approaches, the region’s two powerhouses—Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—might be expected to lean toward stability in the form of Vice President […]
This week’s BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, features a new participant: Turkey. A Kremlin official leaked last month that Ankara had applied to join the grouping, following repeated expressions of interest over the years. A spokesperson for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) then conceded that “a process is underway.” […]
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at U.S. diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, alleged Russian interference in Moldova’s general election, and a step toward disengagement along the India-China border. 11th Time’s the Charm? U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to the Middle East on Monday to push for restarting cease-fire negotiations […]
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at what the killing of Yahya Sinwar means for the Israel-Hamas war, alleged North Korean troops alongside Russian forces, and U.S. accusations against a former Indian intelligence officer. The War Trudges On Hamas confirmed the killing of leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces in a televised eulogy […]