U.S. Weekly Articles
35 years after Chernobyl: Eastern Europe’s Nuclear Energy Landscape
The year 2021 marks the 35th anniversary of the disaster in the nuclear power plant (NPP) of Chernobyl. It is often described as the worst nuclear accident known to humanity, with its fatality rates reaching the five-digit numbers. Despite being badly affected by the accident, Russia is now notorious for dominating the nuclear energy market in Eastern Europe. Three and a half decades after the fallout seems an opportune time to critically reflect on the current state of the nuclear energy landscape in Eastern Europe and Russia’s central role within it.
Alone Against the Entire World
The 78th anniversary of the arrest of General Stefan Grot-Rowecki was commemorated in Poland on June 30, 2021. The history of this soldier, a warrior for freedom and independence of Poland, was inextricably linked with the fight against the enemies of the Fatherland during World War II.
Joe Biden’s Approach: The Paris Agreement
Joe Biden’s first decision after moving into the White House was reversing president Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This might have signalled a new break in the importance of climate policy—but did it really? In order to convince the world to trust his newfound focus on climate policy, President Biden will have to act on his promises with bold decision in the near future.
Phishing – Cyber Extortion Aimed at Politicians
In 1971, almost two decades before the World Wide Web, Ray Tomlinson sent a message to himself on the ARPANET saying “something like QWERTYUIOP.” It is considered to be the first ever email. Internet mail and its functionality have evolved considerably over half a century, but its core principle has remained unchanged.
Consumer Patriotism as an Economic Opportunity
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected shopping attitudes? In the case of individual consumer choices of Polish citizens, we are beginning to see significant changes in trends. Consequently, retail chains are altering their marketing and sales policies on the domestic market. How can this impact the economy? Can consumer patriotism be relevant to everyday life?
Energy Attacks on Diplomats
A number of American diplomats, primarily those based in Cuba and China, showed specific clinical symptoms between 2016 and 2018. Those affected by the previously unknown condition reported: sudden pain, pressure, and vibrations in the head, loud noise that seemed to come from a specific direction, and pain in one or both ears that accompanied it. Some of them also complained about tinnitus, vision problems, lack of concentration, and dizziness.
Technology and democracy: A new challenge for European security?
Technology permeates every aspect of our daily lives. However, its increased presence has posed a significant challenge to our liberties. Western democracies need to re-adapt in order to concretely regulate tech and prevent potential new forms of interferences for its institutions. Especially in Europe have democratic states felt the need to develop new normative approaches and regulations to provide a framework regulating Big Tech companies and preventing them from abusing their power.
Cybercrime: Further Data Leaks
Two major databases have been leaked in the past weeks. The first one concerned Facebook users’ information, the second one contained data of LinkedIn users. These leaks share not only the date and method of disclosure (both sets of data were originally uploaded on RaidForums, a hacker forum), but also the fact that they included a considerable number of records.
The First Major Middle East Crisis Under Joe Biden
Introduced on May 21, 2021, a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip brought an end to fresh tensions in the Israel-Palestine conflict, or the first major crisis in the Middle East since Joe Biden was sworn in. Since new strains on May 10, Hamas militants have fired hundreds of rockets towards Israel whose forces replied with a military tit-for-tat.
Russian Espionage at the core of NATO: the “Biot case”
A recently discovered case of Russian espionage in Italy revealed a major threat to the security of NATO. Italy-Russia relations have been under close observation of the international forum, with their motives questioned and investigated by security experts worldwide. Concerns have been raised about the possible repercussion of Rome’s privileged economic and political partnership with the Kremlin in the European and NATO contexts. Because of the “Biot case” the security of NATO might be at stake.
The Auschwitz Hero
On the 120th anniversary of Witold Pilecki’s birth, it is vital to recall one of the most outstanding soldiers of the Polish armed underground resistance movement during World War II.
Saudi-Iranian relations. Can we expect a breakthrough?
The rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran is one of the principal factors that shape the image of the Middle East today. There are three key dimensions of it: religious (referring to the rivalry between its two most important denominations – Sunnism and Shiism, which is as old as Islam itself), economic (both countries are major crude oil exporters) and political (Riyadh and Tehran are considered regional powers that try to extend their influence. Naturally, this leads to a confrontation).
US and Turkey – Further Loosening of the Alliance?
The recent recognition of the 1915 massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as a genocide by the American President, was strongly opposed by the authorities in Ankara. In recent years, Turkey has been gradually distancing itself politically from the West, however, it remains the second military power and an important member of NATO. In the “post-Erdoğan” era, Turkey should be able to engage in the alliances of the Western world, anew, with a clean slate. Where are bilateral relationships among Ankara, Washington and other North Atlantic Alliance members headed?
Pulaski, Kosciuszko and the Memory of the Sons of Liberty
Casimir Pulaski Day was celebrated in Illinois on March 1, 2021. This legal holiday was established on June 20, 1977 to commemorate Casimir Pulaski, a hero of the American Revolutionary War. This day is a symbol and a tribute of the American people to all the Poles who took part in the American War of Independence. What do we know about the involvement of Polish volunteers in the Revolutionary War and are those events remembered in light of ongoing sociocultural changes, more than 240 years after Pulaski’s death?
Warsaw Institute
