Eighteen years since the US-led invasion of Iraq toppled the Baathist dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, a whole generation has come of age knowing only the system of parliamentary democracy built in its place. But as election day unfolds today, many young Iraqis still feel alienated from the political process and …

There has been a lot of saber-rattling in recent days on the Iranian side of their border with Azerbaijan. One analysis suggests three reasons: a joint drill by Azerbaijani, Pakistani, and Turkish troops, which occurred 500 kilometers from the Iranian border; Azerbaijani restrictions on Iranian truck drivers’ access to roads, …

President Biden has hit the road in an attempt to peddle the Democrats’ mega spending package—a package that originally carried an eye-popping price tag of $3.5 trillion. It now appears that haggling amongst the Democrats has dialed the advertised price tag down to $2.3 trillion or less. Or, at least, …

In March 2019, when senior Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farook was summoned by National Investigation Agency [NIA] and a ban was imposed on Jamaat-e-Islami [JeI], Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam was so disturbed that he gave a call for complete shutdown in Srinagar to register public anger against these decisions. Two …

As what remains of Islamic State crumbles, the would-be victors have started circling. In Mosul, Iraqi forces have begun preparing for peace in the city where the now-encircled marauders took root three years ago. Across the border in Raqqa, with five of its neighbourhoods under their control, Kurdish forces are …

From a ridge known locally as Baghouz Mountain, the most contested corner of the Middle East resembles an oasis: it’s a splash of green on a desert horizon stretching from the banks of the Euphrates to a sprawling area of new homes housing new – and unruly – neighbours. Little …

Die ÖVP kann nicht mit Kurz in Neuwahlen gehen. Sie soll eine honorige Person als Kanzler vorschlagen und die Regierung fortsetzen. Nicht. Schon. Wieder. Alle zwei Jahre eine innenpolitische Detonation. Von heute auf morgen befindet sich Österreich wieder im Krisenmodus. 2017: die Kurz-Machtübernahme. 2019: Ibiza. Und jetzt das Kurz-Debakel. Wenigstens …

The vision of a united Europe cannot be completed without the Western Balkans. In that context, the leaders of the European Union need to set a date for the start of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania as soon as possible. Alas, we’ve heard a lot of promises in …

Die EU reagiert besorgt auf die gewaltsamen Pushbacks an der kroatisch-bosnischen-Grenze. Daraus folge jedoch vermutlich nichts, kommentiert Carolin Born. Dabei müsse die EU nun sicherstellen, dass die Geldmittel aus Brüssel nicht für staatliche organisierte Gewalt missbraucht würden. Schlagstöcke, die auf Körper prallen – erst dieses Geräusch und dann zeigt das …

en wyrok nie musiał zapaść, ale tak zdecydowano w Brukseli i Berlinie. Tak – w tamtych stolicach, bo tam podjęto decyzję o podjęciu brutalnej i bezprawnej próby rozszerzenia władzy instytucji europejskich. Niezgodnie z Traktatami tworzącymi Unię, bez oglądania się na inną praktykę wobec pozostałych państw, z jawnym zamiarem wymuszenia politycznej …