OPINION

By Maria Dubovikova The confrontation between Russia and the West that started over the Ukrainian crisis, having led to mutual sanctions and blacklists, seems to be calming down. Both sides have shown readiness for dialogue and we seemed on the edge of a thaw in relations. However, it …

The worldwide use of the renminbi would reduce the cost of financial transactions for China by allowing the direct exchange of RMB claims with non-USD currencies.  China established the first renminbi clearing center in the Middle East in Qatar in April. The aim of the center is to offer local financial institutions access …

By Jay Johnson US foreign policy seems to follow a certain pattern. Deny Deny Deny until it can not be denied and then quietly admit the truth. The war in Iraq was about oil and regime change in Syria is also about energy. A recent DIA document details …

Valbona Zeneli Fortunately for all, the Greek government and the rest of the Eurozone reached an agreement extending the country’s bailout program for four months. This extension will allow all parties to apply clear and critical thinking towards resolving this challenge. However, four months is an incredibly brief …

The troubles in the Middle East sometimes seem to multiply by the minute as the conflict-ridden region grapples with terrorism and violence that Xinhua blamed on Obama’s “crippled” Middle Eastern policy.  “The Islamic State (IS) is gaining an ever stronger foothold that straddles both Iraq and Syria, and …

By Stephen Lendman Russia issued travel bans against 89 European Union political and military officials in response to imposed 2014 EU sanctions. Affected nations received a list of barred individuals. In 2013, 18 Americans were denied entry in response to US sanctions and visa bans on 18 Russian …

By Eric Sommer The Obama administration would do well to apply lessons from the Korean War 55 years ago if it wants to avert a new war with China, which is growing increasingly wary of the US military’s presence in the region. Tensions between the US and China …

“It’s unprecedented, I have two opponents in front of me – the president and the prime minister,” Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, told AFP, challenging Erdoğan to “take up again the leadership of the AKP and lead the campaign.” Battered and bruised by …

BY MALIKA ORAZGALIYEVA in EURASIA & WORLD ASTANA – The majority of 30 Syrian opposition figures who met in Astana on May 25-27 issued a joint statement on May 28, in which they appealed for a continued search for political solutions to the lasting conflict in their country. …