Opinion

Over the weekend, UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced that London would be increasing its military presence in the Arctic to "stay vigilant to new challenges," including Russia's activities in the region.

German Chancellor Angela has lashed out at the United States for its unilateral policies, saying that Europe supports a multipolar world. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend Merkel criticised Washington’s stance on Iran, the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Norway, Sweden and Denmark have responded to US President Donald Trump's demand for Europe to take back their ISIS fighters. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said that dozens of adult Norwegian militants in Syria are free to return home and face trial, adding that the country will not bring anyone from the Arab Republic back proactively.

Berlin and Washington don't see eye to eye on a number of foreign policy issues, which became more apparent during last week's Munich Security Conference, where German Chancellor Angela Merkel received lengthy applause for a speech in which she criticised unilateral US foreign policy and defended the Iran nuclear deal.

Israel, one of Washington's key allies in the Middle East, refused to impose anti-Russian sanctions and is seeking to sign a free trade agreement with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Israeli publicist Avigdor Eskin told Sputnik, explaining how Iran's plans to ink a similar pact with the bloc may affect Tel Aviv.

The French people may be renowned for exercising their democratic right to protest, but the Yellow Vest movement has surpassed all expectations. Sputnik spoke to Dr Binoy Kampmark, Senior Lecturer at RMIT University, for his take on what we can expect in future from the Yellow Vests.

Richard C. Pendry, an ex-member of the Parachute Regiment and a management consultant in the field of counter-terrorism in high-threat environments, spoke about the prospect of Daesh* teen widow Shamima Begum returning from Syria to Britain in an interview with Sputnik.

A study by Texas Tech University professor Asheley Landrum has concluded that YouTube may be partly to blame for the growing number of flat Earthers, with users falling down a "rabbit hole" of related videos to confirm their biases. Speaking to Sputnik, solar system expert Dr. Ian Whittaker explained why the odd theory just refuses to die.

With negotiations with Brussels regarding the Irish backstop set to resume this week, British Prime Minister Theresa May is remaining stubbornly optimistic about getting her Brexit deal through parliament. But is this just a pipe dream and would it be better for the UK to simply depart the EU sooner and trade under WTO rules?

Key officials in the US intelligence community weighed the question of removing US President Donald Trump from office in 2017. This is what former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe told CBS on Thursday.

The case of Shamima Begum, a UK teen who fled to Syria to marry a Daesh* fighter, has triggered controversy over security concerns in Britain as reports emerged saying that the 19-year old is seeking to return home after spending four years with militants in Syria.

Sunday Express has reported that Israeli, British, and US intelligence services have exfiltrated an Iranian nuclear scientist, hiding him among refugees. The operation is reported to have been planned since October 2018 and conducted on the eve of the Iranian New Year due to concerns regarding the disclosure of the scientist’s identity.

Former MP from the conservative Austrian People’s Party Marcus Franz said during an appearance last week on the OE24 news television channel that young women in Vienna have to wear shawls to avoid being harassed by male Muslim migrants.

Saudi Arabia and Israel have the funds and political means to work together. This is what Saudi Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud said in an unprecedented interview with an Israeli TV channel. Prince Turki stressed that relations with Arab countries would only be possible if the Palestinian issue is solved.

Friday, 15 February marked the 30th anniversary of the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Sputnik discussed the event and the situation in the country today after decades of war with Dr Joseph Fitsanakis, associate professor of politics in intelligence and the national security studies programme at Coastal Carolina University.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News on Thursday that European nations are in unison with the US intention to control Iran and its missile programme.

Gabi Silva, an organizer with Damayan and the Scamazon Coalition, told Sputnik that backlash over Amazon's plans to establish its second headquarters in the Big Apple was a result of the "resurgent left."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under fire for comments he made in relation to the Holocaust whilst on a diplomatic visit to Poland.

Senior officials and diplomats from dozens of countries as well as NATO top brass gathered in the Bavarian capital for the annual Munich Security Conference. Just like last year, issues of war and peace dominated the agenda.

US President Donald Trump has signed a bill designed to avert another government shutdown, but he hs also declared a national emergency to get the funding he wants to build the border wall with Mexico.