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Philippines will slowly strengthen hand against China

Location:

PHILIPPINES

Duterte’s initial decision to scrap the pact was in line with his personal antipathy towards the United States, and his wish for better ties with Washington’s rival, Beijing…

New Turkish Cypriot leader is chance for settlement

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CYPRUS/TURKEY

Reunion of the island is now an option, for the first time since the Turkish invasion of 1974. There is strong international support, but designing a deal acceptable to both…

Conservative factionalism will shape Iran’s policies

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IRAN

The new conservative president is walking a fine balance between hard-line conservative demands and pragmatic compromises as regards negotiations on a revival of the 2015…

South African government faces public-sector showdown

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SOUTH AFRICA

The negotiations follow the government’s refusal last year to pay the final annual tranche of a previous three-year deal. Containing the public-sector wage bill is seen as key for…

Russia will exploit Macedonian name row in Balkans

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BALKANS

It will change if 50%+1 of the electorate participate and 50%+1 of them approve. The government’s greatest hope for winning the referendum may be to provoke the Internal…

Anger at EU North Macedonia deal may unseat government

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BULGARIA/NORTH MACEDONIA

North Macedonia’s government and EU member states have welcomed a framework proposed in the final days of France’s EU Council presidency for opening EU accession talks with…

Election outlook becomes more uncertain in Venezuela

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VENEZUELA

The ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) is confident it can demonstrate activities justifying her exclusion from public life. It does not see the ruling as violating…

COVID-19 to hinder international climate diplomacy

Location:

INTERNATIONAL

Climate diplomacy.

Time has come to close more Polish coal mines

Location:

POLAND

Efforts to tackle financial problems at state-owned coal miner Polska Grupa Gornicza (PGG) were deferred during the two-year election cycle which ended in July. PGG faces the…

Laos economy troubled but not at breaking point

Location:

LAOS

Laos’s critically low foreign exchange (forex) reserves, significant currency depreciation and high inflation are prompting many external observers to suggest that it could soon…