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Stefan Wolff

Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham
The author of eighteen books and over fifty journal articles and book chapters, Stefan Wolff is Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham, England, UK. He is also A political scientist by background, he specialises in the management of contemporary security challenges, especially in the prevention and settlement of ethnic conflicts and civil wars, and in post-conflict reconstruction, peace-building and state-building in deeply divided and war-torn societies. He has extensive expertise in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union, and has also worked on a wide range of other conflicts elsewhere, including the Middle East, Africa, and Central, South and Southeast Asia. Bridging the divide between academia and policy-making, he has been, and is, involved in various phases of conflict settlement processes, including in Iraq, Sudan, Moldova, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Kosovo.

Ukraine summit fails to provide a path to peace for Kyiv and its allies

Jun 20, 2024 05:37 am UTC| Insights & Views

Was the the first so-called Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Switzerland on June 15 to 16, a failure? Certainly not, if you listen to the fairly upbeat reactions of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his western...

Global Geopolitics Series

Ukraine war: $60 billion in US military aid a major morale boost but no certain path to victory

Apr 23, 2024 08:04 am UTC| Insights & Views

It took months of delays and desperate pleas from Ukraine, but the US House of Representatives has finally passed a bill authorising US$60 billion (50 billion) worth of military aid to Ukraine. The bill is still subject...

China Crisis Series

China’s new world order: looking for clues from Xi’s recent meetings with foreign leaders

Apr 22, 2024 03:31 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

There is broad consensus that Chinese foreign policy has become more assertive and more centralised in the decade since Xi Jinping has ascended to the top of Chinas leadership. This has also meant that Chinese foreign...

Global Geopolitics Series

Ukraine is losing the war and the west faces a stark choice

Apr 18, 2024 06:24 am UTC| Insights & Views

Ukraine is now experiencing a level of existential threat comparable only to the situation immediately after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. But in contrast to then, improvements are unlikely at least...

Global Geopolitics Series

Moldova: Russia continues its mischief-making in breakaway Transnistria

Apr 01, 2024 11:05 am UTC| Insights & Views

In mid-February, the leader of Moldovas breakaway region of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky, summoned deputies of all levels of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. The purpose of their meeting, he announced, would be...

Ukraine war: ten years after Putin annexed Crimea, Russia’s grip on the peninsula looks shaky

Mar 18, 2024 09:03 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

It is ten years since Russia illegally annexed Crimea on March 18 2014. Subsequent efforts to firmly integrate the peninsula into the Russian Federation, however, have been far from the success story that the Kremlin often...

Global Geopolitics Series

Ukraine war: stakes are high for EU and Ukraine ahead of crucial European summit

Dec 12, 2023 15:59 pm UTC| Insights & Views

When the EUs heads of state and government come together in Brussels for their final European Council meeting of the year on December 14 and 15, their agenda is likely to be dominated by the war in Ukraine. As youd...

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Economy

European Stocks Slip as Iran Tensions Offset Strong Eurozone Data

European stocks reversed early gains on Wednesday as renewed tensions involving Iran weighed on investor sentiment, overshadowing stronger-than-expected Eurozone economic data and temporary relief in crude oil prices. The...

Dollar Hits Two-Month High as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise

The U.S. dollar climbed to a two-month high on Wednesday as traders increased bets that the Federal Reserve will continue raising interest rates to curb persistent inflation. The Dollar Spot Index gained 0.2%, extending...

US Stock Futures Rise as Meta Muse Fuels AI Rally

U.S. stock futures edged higher Wednesday as investors focused on renewed artificial intelligence enthusiasm, upcoming U.S. economic data and a key meeting between U.S. and Chinese leaders. Dow Jones futures rose 41...

Diesel Dilemma: U.S. Considers Export Ban Amidst Record Prices

Rising domestic costs to unprecedented levels, President Trump has said support for a short ban on U.S. diesel exportsa complicated issue for the administration. Driven by the Middle East war, supply interruptions, and...

Asian Stocks Mixed Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting

Asian stock markets traded mixed on Wednesday as investors remained cautious ahead of a closely watched meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. U.S. stock futures were also largely...

Politics

Trump Board of Peace Unveils $2.45 Billion Gaza Recovery Plan

U.S. President Donald Trumps Board of Peace is set to unveil a six-month, $2.45 billion Gaza recovery plan on Wednesday, outlining dozens of projects aimed at rebuilding critical infrastructure and restoring basic services...

Kremlin Says No Grounds Yet for Ukraine Peace Talks

The Kremlin said Wednesday that conditions are not yet in place to restart Ukraine peace talks, even as Russia remains open to negotiations ahead of a planned meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S....

Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro Tied in Brazil Runoff Poll

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro remain locked in a statistical tie in a potential presidential runoff, according to an AtlasIntel/Bloomberg poll released Wednesday, highlighting...

Iran Vows ‘Crushing’ Response as US Talks Continue

Irans military has warned it is prepared to launch crushing retaliatory attacks if the United States or Israel carries out further strikes, responding to President Donald Trumps threat to annihilate the Islamic Republic....

China Tightens Fentanyl Rules Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

China has introduced new guidelines for handling criminal cases involving fentanyl-related substances, strengthening its legal framework for combating synthetic opioid crimes ahead of a high-profile meeting between Chinese...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Microsoft Stock Upgraded as Stifel Sees Stronger Azure Growth

Stifel upgraded Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) to Buy from Hold and lifted its price target to $575 from $530, citing stronger confidence in the technology giants ability to maintain mid-to-upper-teens revenue growth. Analysts...

Scott Bessent Eyed as Trump’s New AI Czar

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is under consideration to become President Donald Trumps new artificial intelligence czar as Washington intensifies its focus on AI development, safety and national security. A source...

China Reviews Broadcom Switch Use in State Data Centres

China is reviewing the use of Broadcom switches in state-backed data centres as Beijing intensifies efforts to reduce dependence on foreign technology and promote domestic semiconductor and networking equipment suppliers,...

US Northeast Airports Resume Operations After Telecom Outage Disrupts Thousands of Flights

US airport operations across the Northeast began returning to normal on Monday after crews repaired telecommunications problems that had disrupted air traffic and contributed to thousands of flight delays and cancellations...

Burnham Eyes UK Leadership Role in AI Ahead of Trump Meeting

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will push for the UK to take a global leadership role in artificial intelligence on Tuesday as he makes his first major appearance on the international diplomatic stage at the United...