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Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair
Ethiopia’s upcoming election provides an opportunity to allow for greater political representation.
The Dayton Peace Accords at 30: An ugly peace that has prevented a return to war over Bosnia
More than 100,000 people were killed in the Bosnian war. But the peace that ended it in 1995 sowed the seeds for ethnonationalism.
China’s new 5‑year plan: A high‑stakes bet on self‑reliance that won’t fix an unbalanced economy
The latest blueprint from Beijing stresses ‘self-reliance’ and ‘high-quality development.’ But is that enough to offset weak domestic growth and poor consumption?
Trump’s Middle East pivot aims to counter China’s rising influence
Trump is trying to strengthen ties with Gulf states in an attempt to contain China’s growing regional ambitions.
US presidents have always used transactional foreign policy – but Trump does it differently
US presidents have long mixed economic incentives with diplomacy, but Trump’s approach represents something very different.
US force has been used against drug traffickers before – but Trump’s plan is a dangerous escalation
The use of US force against drug traffickers is not without precedent.
Trump’s insistence on personal loyalty from ambassadors could crimp US foreign policy
Ambassadors play a middle role between the countries where they serve and the one they represent. Trump insists their loyalty must be to the US.
Lasting peace in Ukraine may hinge on independent monitors – yet Trump’s 28‑point plan barely mentions them
Building in safeguards, including third-party monitoring, can increase the chances of a successful peace by almost a third, research shows.
Ukraine is under pressure to trade land for peace − if it does, history shows it might not ever get it back
Ukraine may need a major, system-level change or crisis in Russia to regain any lost territories.
Why are the ICJ and ICC cases on Israel and Gaza taking so long?
An expert on international law and genocide explains.