World News Insights: Opinion Articles

No matter how Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine ends, China will determine whether the world freezes into a New Cold War. So far, Beijing — and its declared “no limits” partnership with Moscow — has failed to recognize the dangers that the Russian president’s wrecking-ball strategy poses to its…

Ukraine has most of the world on its side. It now has as many as 20,000 foreign fighters, too. From former members of the US, British and Canadian militaries to citizens from Japan, Jamaica and Europe and an Edinburgh grandfather, volunteer soldiers from across the globe have signed up — at the…

The Europeans are terrified by the prospect of Ukraine’s flames reaching their countries. They are afraid that their safe countries, thriving economies, and free societies will be Russia’s next target. The specter of losing today’s privileges is a major motive for their cautious and confused…

As President Vladimir Putin was launching his battle to restore Russia’s former glory by leveling Ukraine, something as important to his country’s future had already begun to play out at home. Russia’s most valuable asset — its young people — were indicating they want out. A poll taken before…

Kremlin propaganda isn’t just piped into Russia’s brains via television. On TikTok, which suspended all new video uploads from Russia this week, some “influencers” managed to stand out in the sea of dancing and cooking clips by supporting President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The reach of…

This is the biggest crisis in world history since World War II, a far cry from the Cuban missile crisis, the chaos of the collapse of the Soviet Union, wars in the Middle East, etc. These kinds of wars go beyond defining the borders and interests of countries to deciding the fate of humanity. Their…

President Joe Biden’s effort to craft a US strategy for cryptocurrencies has highlighted a big question: Should the Federal Reserve enter the fray by issuing a digital version of the national currency, as China and others have already done? Although some are urging the US to act, there’s really…

Some in the Arab world have loudly deplored the concern about the ongoing Russian Ukrainian war, particularly concern for the Ukrainian people’s suffering. We Arabs, they argue, have our own tragedies in Palestine, Iraq, and Yemen (Syria and Lebanon are often disregarded, as accusing America,…

Bitcoin has found its calling: As Ukrainians face escalating violence at the hands of Russian forces, the world’s premier cryptocurrency has become a key way for people to bypass centralized financial systems, store wealth and raise funds amid an unfolding humanitarian disaster. With Washington…

The international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is seriously lacking. There is one glaring question that needs to be answered: Should the US, Europe and Asia stop buying Russian oil? Choking off Russian oil sales would put significant pressure on the Russian economy, and perhaps…

The White House’s roadmap for the next phase of the pandemic covers all the usual suspects, including Covid-19 surveillance, testing, vaccination and treatment. But there’s also a happy surprise tucked in there: a series of proposals to help improve indoor air quality. This marks an essential…

China is the wild card. President Xi Jinping has vowed that the friendship between China and Russia has “no limits,” and he certainly has the tools to help soften the blow of unprecedented sanctions imposed by the US and European Union on Vladimir Putin’s wartime economy. Beijing could buy some…