Au revoir, Sahel: Did 2023 crush France’s influence in Africa?
France’s hold on its African allies significantly shrunk in 2023. Here’s a timeline of how that unfolded.
Thousands protest in Serbia alleging election fraud by governing party
Protesters accuse President Aleksandar Vucic’s ruling party of fraud and demand the December 17 election be annulled.
Russia accuses US of threatening global energy security
Moscow slams Washington’s sanctions on a new LNG plant in the Arctic as ‘unacceptable’.
‘Switch to defence’: Ukraine faces difficult 2024 amid aid, arms setbacks
A failed counteroffensive, declining aid and shifting public sentiments are leaving Kyiv less optimistic about the direction of the war in the new year.
Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs commission approves Sweden’s NATO bid
Panel’s approval clears another hurdle in Sweden’s accession process to the bloc in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Serbia police fire tear gas as opposition backers demand election annulled
President Aleksandar Vucic condemns ‘attempted violent takeover’ amid protests over alleged election fraud.
Analysis: Has the US-led Red Sea force calmed shippers amid Houthi attacks?
Maersk will resume shipping through the Red Sea but concerns remain. Meanwhile, France, Spain and Italy have dropped out of the force.
Israel says Gaza war is like WWII. Experts say it’s ‘justifying brutality’
Netanyahu has compared the Gaza war with World War II. But this narrative is ahistorical, ignores the roots of the conflict and dehumanises Palestinians, say experts.
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