The website utilizes different types of cookies to enhance user experience and gather data. Necessary cookies distinguish between human users and bots, improving website reporting accuracy. Functional cookies remember user preferences, like language selection. Performance/Analytical cookies track website usage through unique IDs, facilitating statistical analysis and throttling request rates. Advertising/Marketing cookies collect consumer behavior data, which is then sent to Alexa Analytics for further analysis.
Read More
UN report finds United Nations reports are not widely read, and honestly, it’s not that surprising. The news itself is almost a self-fulfilling prophecy, isn’t it? A report on reports that aren’t being read? Well, color me unsurprised. It’s a bit like someone finally realizing the emperor has no clothes, except the emperor is the UN, and the clothes are… well, lengthy reports.
The core issue seems to stem from a fundamental disconnect between the UN’s output and its audience. The UN is churning out a significant volume of reports – the Secretary-General himself mentioned thousands of meetings and hundreds of reports, with a 20% increase since 1990.… Continue reading
President Trump has expressed intentions to potentially abandon a trade deal with Canada due to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state. This announcement follows Trump’s ongoing tariff negotiations with Canada, which were initially constructive before this shift in foreign policy. Carney’s decision, inspired by similar moves from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is predicated on specific conditions for the Palestinian Authority. The United States has already brokered a trade agreement with the United Kingdom, while the recent shift in the support for Palestinian statehood has introduced uncertainty into the future.
Read More
During the World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in Geneva, a significant protest occurred as Valentina Matvienko, representing the Russian Federation, began her speech. Video evidence shows dozens of delegates from various national delegations exiting the hall in protest. This action, shared by the Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, was a demarche against the aggressor and a show of support for Ukraine. The Verkhovna Rada had previously urged partners to boycott the Russian delegation’s participation, and this conference marks the first such event since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Read More
The United States has imposed sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes under the Magnitsky Act, citing concerns over human rights violations and censorship, which has led to the revocation of visas for Moraes and his family. This decision, spearheaded by the Trump administration and influenced by efforts from Brazilian Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, follows judicial actions taken by Moraes against former President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters. The Brazilian government has condemned the sanctions as an interference in domestic affairs, while the STF has reaffirmed its independence, leading to escalating tensions between Brazil and the US and reigniting debates about national sovereignty. The impact could include a diplomatic crisis, impacting trade relations, and raising questions about the limits of international sanctions against judges.
Read More
Polish authorities have detained 32 individuals suspected of coordinating with Russia to carry out acts of sabotage. The group includes a Pole, Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and a Colombian man. The Colombian man is accused of arson attacks in Poland last year at Russia’s direction, potentially facing up to life in prison. One person has been convicted, with the others awaiting trial, but details regarding the alleged sabotage remain undisclosed.
Read More
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that his government has been unsuccessful in its attempts to negotiate with the U.S. regarding the 50% tariff on Brazilian imports threatened by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Washington has seemingly ignored Brazil’s attempts to negotiate before the tariff’s expected implementation. Trump has directly linked the import tax to the ongoing trial of his ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, exacerbating tensions. Brazil has also raised concerns at the World Trade Organization, arguing that such tariffs violate the organization’s principles and disrupt global value chains.
Read More
Clashes between Thailand and Cambodia along their disputed border escalated for a second day, resulting in multiple fatalities and the evacuation of over 135,000 civilians. The conflict, rooted in long-standing tensions over the partially French-demarcated border and archaeologically significant sites, saw both sides exchanging fire, including heavy weaponry and artillery. Thailand’s military, which possesses a significant advantage over Cambodia, initiated F-16 jets and bombed military targets in Cambodia after initiating firing. The United States and China have called for de-escalation.
Read More
Alison Mutler is a British journalist with three decades of experience, having begun her career covering the anti-communist revolution in Romania for ITV. Following the fall of communism, she worked as a freelancer for various media outlets before becoming the chief correspondent for The Associated Press, covering Romania, Moldova, and occasionally Bulgaria for 25 years. She continues to contribute to Radio Free Europe, Coda Story, and Euronews, as well as to universul.net’s English section. Her Twitter handle is @AlisoNJMutler.
Read More
The United States, under President Trump, will withdraw from UNESCO, citing concerns about its alignment with “woke” and divisive causes, and its perceived bias against U.S. interests. This decision marks a continuation of the President’s pattern of exiting international institutions and focusing on ending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. State Department officials stated that continued US participation is not in its “national interest” and that the withdrawal will take effect on December 31, 2026. The move has been met with both support from Israel and criticism from French President Emmanuel Macron.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood