Every Monday, the Research Trainees of the CERESE assess the news of the previous week. You can read their opinions below:

I like…

…the protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama in Albania. Many Albanian citizens appear disgruntled with the Prime Minister’s attitude. Rama is accused of links to organized crime cases, an accusation that has also been expressed by international organizations. Although these incidents sometimes turn violent, these unfortunate reactions are limited and do not undermine the will of people to protect the rule of law. Rama’s attitude towards the justice system risks Albania’s path to European accession.

...that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended the maritime rights of the Philippines. More specifically, Marcos stood up against Chinese aggression during his presence at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June, where he declared that his country would not tolerate the death of a Filipino civilian in its territorial waters. Recently, Chinese maritime harassment has been getting more frequent and bolder, escalating tensions while ignoring the 2016 court arbitration and questioning the jurisdiction of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Further escalations in the region will be perceived as an act of war and activate the defense pact between the USA and the Philippines.

I dislike…

…the obstruction of data collection to prove that there is a famine in northern Gaza. According to FEWS NET— an internationally recognized authority on famine— the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, as well as the restrictions on humanitarian access to the enclave have made it difficult to collect valid data to investigate the issue. The declaration of famine could be used as evidence at the International Criminal Court and/or the International Court of Justice, where Israel faces charges of genocide. Finally, it was reported that these conditions are likely to remain at least until July unless there is a fundamental change in the way food aid is distributed.

...President Putin’s statement about providing Russian arms to the West’s rivals. Reacting to Western governments sending arms to Ukraine, as well as many NATO members’ approval of Ukraine using those arms against targets inside Russia, Putin warned that he could follow the same example. Considering the delicate international balance due to the two ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine, this move could trigger a domino effect. The allies in the Euro-Atlantic institutions and the Kremlin need to be more careful to avoid a direct conflict between NATO and Russia.