Greenland's prime minister has condemned reports that an American tried to pay people to sign a petition backing Greenland joining the United States.Jens-Frederik Nielsen described the reported offer as "indecent".Local broadcaster KNR reported that a "mysterious American" calling himself "Cliff" offered a taxi driver in Nuuk US$200,000 to sign the petition.The driver, Danny Brandt, said he declined the offer.Brandt later wrote about the encounter on social media, and said another person commenting on the post claimed to have been offered money as well.The reported approach has prompted public criticism from the Greenlandic government.The allegation matters because it touches on political... [Continue Reading]
Outgoing European Commission trade official Sabine Weyand has said the EU's 2020 investment agreement with China is obsolete and should remain in the "deep freezer".Weyand made the remarks as Brussels weighs possible action on what she described as "macroeconomic imbalances" linked to the impact of China's economic model on the rest of the world.She said the agreement should not be revived, and quoted former competition chief Margrethe Vestager as saying that if something has been in the deep freezer for a long time, it should not be taken out and served again.The comments matter because they point to a firmer... [Continue Reading]
Arctic warming is sharpening competition between the United States and China as the region becomes more accessible for shipping and resource extraction, according to a new analysis.The report says the opening of new sea lanes is creating both challenges and opportunities for the two powers.It says sea ice has declined to record or near-record lows, making the Arctic easier to navigate and more attractive for resource access.The analysis frames the region as a new arena in broader US-China rivalry.The piece says competition between the two countries in the polar region is expected to intensify.It also says analysts believe some form... [Continue Reading]
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]