(2021-12-13). NATO and Lithuania talking tough as EU-Russia tensions loom over Ukraine. peoplesworld.org 
(2021-12-13). Knights Close the Ranks: New Sanctions Against Belarus. moderndiplomacy.eu Another package of sanctions has been introduced against the Republic of Belarus. The USA, UK and Canada simultaneously announced restrictive measures against a number of Belarusian officials, security officials and persons close to the government structures. The restrictions also affected a number of Belarusian legal entities. These countries openly say that the imposed sanctions are …
(2021-12-13). Germany's new chancellor and foreign minister visit Paris and Warsaw: Promoting European Great Power policy. wsws.org The new German government regards a strong European Union as a precondition for an aggressive military foreign policy. This calls for close collaboration with its largest neighbours, France and Poland.
(2021-12-13). The Russians Love Their Children Too. moderndiplomacy.eu Recently, there have been all the more articles with headlines screaming "What does Vladimir Putin really think about Donbass?" or "When will the war between Russia and Ukraine break out?" To be honest, I really envy the authors of such publications. All these contributors must have supernatural telepathic channels of communication with the Russian leadership, …
(2021-12-13). G7 foreign ministers summit in Liverpool threatens Russia, China. wsws.org The summit communiqué accused Russia of planning war with Ukraine and threatened Moscow with "massive consequences" if it did not bow to US demands.
(2021-12-13). Vienna Talks and the Future of the Middle East. journal-neo.org 
The negotiations now opening in Vienna under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran on the one hand and, on the other, a number of countries including the E3 (France, Great Britain, and Germany), Russia, China, and the US, are not generally thought likely to make any major positive change to the stability …
(2021-12-13). New page in Turkey-UAE ties: Why now? moderndiplomacy.eu Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed's (MBZ) recent visit to Ankara came after a long period of frozen relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). For years, the two have held different positions on several regional and international developments including the 2013 Egypt events, the Libya crisis and the tensions in the Middle East …
(2021-12-13). Gig Workers are in the Driver's Seat in Europe. Is There Hope for the US? inequality.org
(2021-12-13). Germany's new health minister continues "profits before lives" policies. wsws.org Chancellor Olaf Scholz has chosen the SPD deputy and health expert Karl Lauterbach as the future government's new health minister.
(2021-12-13). A Recent Case in Point of What anti-Chinese Sanctions Could Bring. journal-neo.org 
"One gets an impression that the West has lost a culture of political dialogue. The partners have forgotten how to address problems in a civilized manner," said Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Pankin on December 8. Pankin explained that the West most often responds to any decision that does not conform to …
(2021-12-13). Moscow's Caucasian Conundrum: Turkish-Russian Relations and the Limits of "Strategic Competition" moderndiplomacy.eu Authors: Pietro Shakarian and Benyamin Poghosyan* Russo—Turkish relations have been at the forefront of recent media discussions. Cooperative competition, "frenemies," managed rivalry, "co-opetition," and other catchy terms are used to describe bilateral relations between Moscow and Ankara. However, the reality is that the two countries have both overlapping, and yet contradictory, interests in many parts …
(2021-12-13). Modernising India-Russia Ties. moderndiplomacy.eu The India—Russia leaders' summit and ministerial meetings in New Delhi on Dec. 6, scored big. Differences were set aside to make transformative progress in defence, fintech and connectivity among other sectors, commencing a new era of India-Russia relations fit for the 21st century. Indian and Russian diplomats responsible for drafting the joint statement—the outcome document …
(2021-12-13). Massive protests force Serbian president to halt controversial laws supporting Rio Tinto's mining project. peoplesdispatch.org The Serbian parliament adopted two controversial legislations in November, reportedly to facilitate the quick launch of a lithium mining project of the Rio Tinto group…
(2021-12-12). Lithuanian FM resigns over Belaruskali sanctions debacle. ecns.cn Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis submitted Friday his resignation amid the controversy of Belaruskali products being transported via Lithuania despite the US sanctions against Belarus' fertilizer manufacturer.
(2021-12-12). Ukraine: U.S. to supply $20 million for buildup on Belarusian, Russian borders. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com U.S. to provide Ukraine with 20 million dollars to strengthen border The United States will provide Ukraine with $ 20 million to strengthen the border. This was reported by the press center of the State Border Service of Ukraine. "The start of the implementation of Strengthening the Capacity of the State Border Service project will …
(2021-12-12). Biden to Putin: U.S. to deploy troops to nine NATO eastern flank states if Russia intervenes in Ukraine. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com From TASS. Four of the Bucharest Nine nations (all NATO members) have land and two more sea borders with Russia. All are former members of the Warsaw Pact, dissolved thirty years ago, and three of those are former Soviet republics. To be recalled the next time you read about so-called red lines in regard to …
(2021-12-12). Ukraine drone attack on Donetsk leaves 2 dead. en.mehrnews.com Two soldiers were killed after an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the Ukrainian security forces dropped explosives in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), an official said.
(2021-12-12). Biden rejects US deploying of ground forces to Ukraine. en.mehrnews.com The possibility of sending US ground combat troops to Ukraine against Russia has been never on the table, US President said, claiming that he warned Russia on any military move against Ukraine.
(2021-12-12). Who is to Blame for the Fall of French Influence in Africa? journal-neo.org 
Despite the Africa-France Summit held recently, and intense attempts by individual French politicians to publicize Paris' actions on the African continent, criticism of France's current neo-colonial policy in Africa continues to increase in the region. Africa has recently become rapidly embroiled in anti-French demonstrations. People have taken to the streets in particular because of the …
(2021-12-12). Atmosphere in Vienna talks 'positive': Russian diplomat. en.mehrnews.com Russian diplomat at Vienna talks criticized the comments of some analysts and journalists about the talks underway in the Austrian capital, saying that the atmosphere in the talks in Vienna is "positive.
(2021-12-12). US passes bill to ban Iran military drones amid Vienna talks. en.mehrnews.com A US House panel has approved a bill to restrict the proliferation of Iran's military drone in the midst of negotiations over the removal of anti-Tehran sanctions in the Austrian capital of Vienna.
(2021-12-12). Mapped: Europe's Fossil Fuel-Backed Hydrogen Lobby. popularresistance.org Hydrogen has shot up the European legislative agenda in recent years, with politicians of all stripes touting its potential to help countries meet their climate goals. | The UK government's Hydrogen Strategy, launched in August, promises to develop a "thriving low carbon hydrogen sector" as a "key plank" of its climate plans, and the fuel was given pride of place at a "Hydrogen Transition Summit" hosted in Glasgow during the recent UN climate talks. | But not all hydrogen is created equal, and environmental experts have raised concerns about the type of hydrogen being advocated — as well as which sectors of…
(2021-12-12). Commissioner's office of Chinese foreign ministry urges U.S., EU politicians to stop interfering in HK's rule of law. ecns.cn The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Friday strongly disapproved of and firmly rejected irresponsible remarks of some U.S. politicians and misguided comments of some European Union (EU) officials on Hong Kong.
(2021-12-12). Macron, Germany's Scholz meet in Paris, vow to enhance ties. ecns.cn French President Emmanuel Macron met with the new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday in Paris, in a bid to strengthen relations between the two leading European countries.
(2021-12-12). EU demands slowing down pace of Vienna talks: source. en.mehrnews.com A source close to the Iranian delegation to the Vienna talks said the Europeans were trying to impose demands beyond the nuclear deal's terms.
(2021-12-12). Geopolitics and strategy drive Greece-US relations. moderndiplomacy.eu A new era has unfolded in Greece-United States relations that are based on common democratic values and shared interests. The bilateral relationship is strategic, multifaceted and is bound to expand in the years to come. The promotion of a solid defense cooperation and the support of a secure East Mediterranean constitute major pillars of the …
(2021-12-12). Greece's American NaàØveté: Beware Americans Bearing Gifts. moderndiplomacy.eu Early last year, I concluded an article entitled 'Greece and Russia: back to the 'Truman Doctrine?', with the words: 'Then becomes now, albeit with different colors. Just as with Britain during her heyday, Greece's relations with Russia today are predicated on the US's keeping Russia at bay in the Eastern Mediterranean, and therefore from having …
(2021-12-12). Gas explosion in Italy's Sicily leaves one dead, 12 missing. en.mehrnews.com At least 12 people went missing after a gas explosion in Ravanusa, located in the province of Agrigento in Sicily, local media outlets have reported.
(2021-12-12). Russia wants a treaty with NATO on eastern enlargement. indybay.org There is now a need for "a treaty that prevents NATO from standing on the Russian border: " "We need to start negotiations on the new NATO expansion plans." Conceding such a "red line" to the Russians has so far been rejected by NATO…