NDO – The UN Climate Action Summit opened in New York, the US on September 23 with the participation of representatives from more than 60 countries and the European Union (EU). 

NDO - Arab countries in the Middle East simultaneously strongly criticised the new move of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the Jordan Valley, a key part of the West Bank, if he wins a closely contested election just a week away. The international community is concerned that this Israeli plan will escalate tensions in the region, threatening to completely bring down the Middle East peace process. 

NDO – More than 1,000 African and international leaders operating in the fields of politics, economy and society, as well as global scholars, recently gathered in the South African city of Cape Town to attend the 28th World Economic Forum on Africa (WEF Africa 2019). 

NDO – Forecasts and statistics have shown that "dark clouds" have begun to cover the prospects of the world's leading economy. 

NDO – The growing wildfires in the Amazon rainforest have become a “hot” topic for the media and occupied the whole agenda of many forums in the world over recent times. The international community is concerned about not only the serious impacts of the wildfires, but also the search of a consensus to address the common global challenges. 

NDO – Anticipating difficulties in reaching a consensus on many of the world’s current pressing issues, the host country of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit 2019, France, adjusted the traditional format as it had not drafted the conference’s Joint Declaration. However, resolving disagreements between the most developed countries in the world still remains an “impossible mission”. With G7 members not looking towards the same direction, it is difficult for the group to maintain its influence in global governance. 

NDO - Iranian Foreign Minister M. Zarif has just concluded his visits to four countries including Finland, Sweden, Norway and France to promote diplomatic efforts to reduce the negative impact of US sanctions. Iran wanted to seek European support to remove the current economic difficulties, as well as reduce pressure from the US, amid France's plan to ease escalating tensions in the Gulf. 

NDO – Russian President Vladimir Putin paid an official visit to France on August 19. The visit takes place ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit 2019, scheduled to be held in France’s Biarritz from August 24-26. The relations between Moscow and Paris are gradually warming again when meetings between the two sides, especially at a high level, have become more regular.  

NDO - A bloody terrorist attack recently took place in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing 63 people and injuring nearly 200, for which the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility. 

NDO - The world oil market currently reamains unsteady before the developments of the trade war between the US and China, as well as the geopolitical tensions between Iran and the West. Experts recently warned that the “black gold” market is on the verge of crisis. 

NDO - The stagnant and unpredictable Brexit process (the UK leaving the European Union - EU) is negatively affecting the UK and other European countries. Analysts are concerned about the risk of the double crisis both in the economy and politics in the UK in the coming time. 

NDO - The US-China trade war and the gloomy future of Brexit (Britain’s split from the European Union) have had a negative impact on Europe's two leading economies, Germany and France. This has also “darkened” the economic growth prospects of the entire Eurozone. 

NDO - Once regarded as the greatest success in arms control efforts during the Cold War, the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) was cancelled by signatories. The fact that both the US and Russia put an end to the validity of this document has created a dangerous effect, shaking global security commitments.