Two weeks until Paris hosts the Olympic Games, the French have spoken. In the highest voter turnout since 1997, and after three weeks of horse trading and politicking, the results of President Emmanuel Macron’s call for parliamentary elections are in.

Sanctions enforcement against North Korea is collapsing. Alternative strategies are likely to be ineffective, and North Korea is poised to take advantage. 

War between Israel and Lebanon may be inevitable. What might Western support for Israel look like and how might Israel mitigate Hezbollah’s strengths and the threats of regional escalation?

Japan has focused on increasing ties with Taiwan in response to changing regional power dynamics. A key question is if the new Taiwanese leadership will be able to sustain the momentum behind this partnership.

The irony of African politics is that those who promise to eradicate corruption are often the ones distributing money to voters, while those who demand corruption-free leadership are frequently the recipients of such payments. This illustrates the intricate relationship between political rhetoric and practical realities, shaping the continent's political landscape.

Escalating tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea are greatly concerning. ASEAN needs to be prepared not only to prevent conflict, but also to respond to it.

Home to more than 2,300 languages, Asia is both the most populous and most linguistically diverse continent on earth. The region’s Indigenous languages currently face a number of serious threats, as demonstrated by its two largest countries: India and China.

The decimation of Israel's peace camp is often attributed to Palestinian violence during the 2nd Intifada and after Israel's 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, but other factors also played a role. Demographic shifts and the rise of a nationalist-religious movement, led by influential figures like Naftali Bennett, significantly steered Israeli politics to the right, transforming the conflict into a divine mission for many.

The merits of the international order based on rule-of-law extend to more than just the US. Middle powers have a role to play, and can influence great powers when collective pressure can be brought to bare. 

The Ukraine Global Peace Summit is a platform for the international community to take unified action and put diplomatic pressure on Russia. South African history suggests that achieving a fair peace for Ukraine requires Russian political leaders to condemn the aggression and compensate the victims.