NDO – More than 1,000 European parliamentarians from across political lines strongly opposed Israel’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank in a recently published letter. They expressed “serious concerns” about the US proposal to solve the Israel-Palestinian conflict which would allow Israel to annex 30% of West Bank territory. 

NDO – Last week was the “deadliest” in the 19-year conflict in Afghanistan, during which the Taliban group carried out 422 attacks in 32 provinces, killing 291 security personnel and wounding 550 others. President Ashraf Ghani condemned the violence, which he blamed on the Taliban. The government sees the violence “as pushing against the spirit of a commitment to peace”, he noted. 

NDO – In a recent report published on the occasion of World Refugee Day this year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that nearly 80 million people in the world have been forcibly displaced due to violence, conflict, natural disasters, etc. This figure once again rang a warning bell, urging the international community to join hands in maintaining peace and finding sustainable solutions to the issue of migrants and refugees. 

NDO – A new crisis emerged in relations between Iran and the West, as the United States and the European Union (EU) have increased pressure on Tehran, demanding that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) be allowed to access its two nuclear facilities. In response, Iran has continued to maintain a tough attitude and is seeking Russian support in a new confrontation with the West. 

NDO – US relations with Germany and NATO members have seen new rifts after President Donald Trump made public his plan to withdraw a portion of US troops stationed in Germany. 

NDO – A recent meeting via video conference between the leaders of the UK and the European Union (EU) is being viewed as positive and having added impetus to negotiations on bilateral trade relations in the “post-Brexit” period. 

NDO – Although the latest statistics have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic is devastating the US economy, economic experts still express hope and optimism about the prospects for the world's number one economy in 2021. 

NDO – United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that hundreds of millions of people around the world could be facing a “global food emergency” as the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening global food supply chains. 

NDO – Palestine is trying to establish a broader front at the United Nations (UN) in order to put pressure on Israel to immediately halt its plans to annex land in the West Bank from July 1. The international community, including UN Security Council member countries and the European Union (EU), have called on Israel to set aside its intention to annex occupied territories in Palestine as well as facilitate negotiations to proceed to toward a two-state solution.  

NDO – The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 7 issued a statement saying that, in recent weeks, India and China have maintained communication through available diplomatic and military channels to resolve the tense month-long confrontation along their shared border. 

NDO – Italy is facing enormous economic challenges in the context of its economy being forecast to decline more than 9% this year. The government and people of the “boot-shaped country” are trying to get out of the current crisis by restarting the economy as well as taking advantage of stimulus packages. 

NDO – A donors’ conference for Yemen, hosted by the United Nations and Saudi Arabia recently raised US$1.35 billion in humanitarian aid for Yemen. Although the amount of money raised was not as much as expected, in the context of the world facing numerous difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its to be considered one of the efforts needed to prevent humanitarian tragedy in this Middle East country. 

NDO – Analysts have recently issued many statements expressing concern about the difficulties and challenges to be faced by the world in the next decade, in the context of rising public debt, global supply chains fracturing due to the pandemic and great power competition as well as population aging.