Russia formally designated the U.S. “unfriendly,” but put off imposing new restrictions on its embassy in Moscow, as the two former Cold War rivals prepare for a possible presidential summit.
Modern Diplomacy
The peace and prosperity in Afghanistan have been a mere myth for decades. With a succession of invasion by a blood-ridden Taliban rule followed by a 2-decade long US invasion, the said country has seen little tranquillity when it comes to human rights and secure living. While the US vowed to ensure a democratic regime laced by a rule of law in Afghanistan, the withdrawal seems anti-climactic: especially after spending trillions of dollars and suffering thousands of soldiers in warfare. As the egress nears, however, the one glimmer of hope dwindles faster than expected. The hope of peace. It is ironic, however, as to how an invasion initially programmed to contain terrorism is culminating whilst the transition witnesses similar bloodshed and instability.
Should Russian Banks Be Scared of SWIFT Disconnection?
Talk of financial Armageddon should Russia be kicked out of the system may be overblown. Calls for Russia to be disconnected from SWIFT have grown in recent weeks. Alexander Demianchuk / TASS
Ukraine has joined the chorus of voices calling for Russia to be disconnected from SWIFT the financial messaging network that underpins the global banking system.
In a meeting with EU foreign ministers, Ukraine’s top diplomat Dmytro Kuleba said he had called for a tough new package of sanctions, including the expulsion of Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) network, which currently links more than 11,000 banks operating in at least 200 countries and territories around the world.