Tag: International

Biden to Host Sweden’s Prime Minister at White House as Nordic Country Struggles to Join NATO

President Joe Biden will host Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Wednesday at the White House, as the Nordic country’s path to NATO membership remains up in the air. Sweden has expressed a strong desire to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), citing heightened security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. NATO…


Australia to Ease Visa Rules to Boost Indonesian Ties

Business travel for Indonesians to Australia will be made easier in a bid to boost the economic partnership between the two countries following a deal struck between Anthony Albanese and President Joko Widodo. The pair met for talks in Sydney on Tuesday during the Indonesian president’s three-day visit to Australia. Visa changes, climate initiative funding and…


Unravelling the Damage Inflicted by Past Judicial Activism

Commentary Judicial activism. The role of the democratic legislature. The separation of powers. The creative tensions between the two. They are all substantive issues vitally important to the proper functioning of our body politic. It is right and proper that those who make the laws are not the interpreters of those laws. So we have…


NATO Chief Stoltenberg to Stay in Office Another Year, Cites ‘More Dangerous World’

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries confirmed on July 4 that current Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will remain in office for another year. The announcement came after the alliance failed to settle on a candidate for the leadership position. “Honoured by #NATO Allies’ decision to extend my term as Secretary General until 1 October 2024,” Stoltenberg…


Polish Climber Dies After Scaling Pakistan’s ‘Killer Mountain,’ Nanga Parbat

PESHAWAR, Pakistan—A Polish climber has died after scaling Pakistan’s Nanga Parbat, known as “killer mountain” for its dangerous conditions, local police and a mountaineering official said Tuesday. Pawel Tomasz Kopec had suffered breathing problems while descending the 8,126-meter (26,660-foot) mountain with two other climbers in harsh weather conditions, a local police official Zahid Hussain said….


Human Rights Watch Reports New Evidence of Ukrainian Use of Banned Landmines

WASHINGTON—Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday that it uncovered new evidence of the indiscriminate use by Ukrainian forces of banned anti-personnel landmines against Russian troops who invaded Ukraine in 2022. The group called on Ukraine’s government to follow through with a commitment made earlier in June not to employ such weapons, investigate their suspected…


China’s Defense Minister and Russia’s Navy Chief Meet for First Military Talks Since Wagner Revolt

BEIJING—China’s defense minister reaffirmed the country’s military relations with Russia during a meeting Monday with the head of Russia’s navy, the first formal military talks between the friendly neighbors since a short-lived mutiny by Russian mercenary group Wagner. Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu told Russian Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov that the Chinese regime hoped for…


US Ambassador Visits Wall Street Journal Reporter Detained in Russia on Charges of Espionage

MOSCOW—U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy on Monday was allowed to visit Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been behind bars in Russia since March on charges of espionage. Tracy last visited Gershkovich in April. The U.S. Embassy confirmed Monday’s visit but did not immediately provide more information. The 31-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested in…


US Ambassador to Russia Meets Jailed Wall Street Journal Reporter Gershkovich

American ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy was granted access on Monday to jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, the U.S. State Department said, in the second such visit since his pre-trial detention in March on espionage charges he denies. Tracy met with Gershkovich at Lefortovo Prison in Moscow in what was the first time…


Australia, Canada, UK Call For Middle East Peace Amid Palestine-Beijing Talks

The foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, and the UK have issued a joint statement calling for the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Palestine and the creation of a Palestinian state. The leaders called on the Israeli government to reverse its approval of 5,700 new settlement units in the West Bank on June 26. “The…