Yearly Archives: 2021

The Middle East Is No Longer A Top US Priority – OpEd

Where the US goes, much of the Western world follows – willingly or reluctantly, depending on circumstances. From the first days of his presidency Joe Biden started implying that the Middle East did not feature among his top concerns. As a consequence the region has been sinking down the policy …

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Crypto Boom Poses New Challenges To Financial Stability – Analysis

Crypto assets offer a new world of opportunities: Quick and easy payments. Innovative financial services. Inclusive access to previously “unbanked” parts of the world. All are made possible by the crypto ecosystem. But along with the opportunities come challenges and risks. The latest Global Financial Stability Report describes the risks …

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Das Ibiza der ÖVP in „Österreich“

Man darf gespannt sein, wie der Kanzler da herauskommt. Sofern er da überhaupt noch herauskommt. Eine historische Chance ist nahezu vertan. Wir blenden zurück – in die Zeiten der Mitterlehner-ÖVP: Die ÖVP lag in den Umfragen darnieder, dazu brauchte man gar keine geschönten. Sebastian Kurz und seine Trabanten schickten sich …

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Es könnte eng werden für Sebastian Kurz

Als es nur um den Vorwurf der Falschaussage vor dem Ibiza-Untersuchungsausschuss im Parlament ging, gab sich Österreichs Kanzler Sebastian Kurz cool: Das werde sich im Sande verlaufen; bei einer Anklage bleibe er im Amt. Ob das ethisch und politisch richtig gewesen wäre – diese Frage dürfte seit Mittwoch sein kleinstes …

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Το βουλγαρικό παράδειγμα

Στη Βουλγαρία η υπηρεσιακή κυβέρνηση πρότεινε την καταβολή 330 εκατ. ευρώ ως επιδότηση σε όλες τις εταιρείες της χώρας για να μειώσει την πίεση των υψηλών τιμών ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας Υπάρχει μια διάχυτη σιγουριά σε ένα σημαντικό μέρος της κυβέρνησης ότι το θέμα της ενέργειας και των ανατιμήσεων που παρατηρούνται είναι …

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Russia ramps up strikes on Islamic State in Syrian desert

Moscow is intensifying its airstrikes on Islamic State targets in the Syrian desert. ALEPPO — Islamic State attacks in the Syrian desert have escalated over the past two weeks, causing heavy losses among the Syrian government forces and their allied militias. Russia has intensified airstrikes on IS positions in support …

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Tunisia’s Ennahda party shaken by resignations, political crisis

The Islamic Ennahda movement is facing a wave of resignations that are depriving it of its historical leadership and popular base after being the country’s ruling party since 2011. TUNIS — During the Oct. 3 protests in support of Tunisian President Kais Saied in the coastal Monastir province in northeastern …

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Arab-Israelis split on Shin Bet’s role in fighting surging violence

Arab-Israelis are divided over the government’s decision to bring in the IDF and the Shin Bet to help police control rising crime and violence in Arab towns. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett convened the first meeting of the ministerial team for combating crime in Arab society on Oct. 3. This team, …

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Iraqi intel service, tribal fighters kill Islamic State commanders

Iraqi national security forces working closely with local tribal fighters say they have managed to kill two key Islamic State figures involved in planning suicide attacks. A man driving a car loaded with explosives who was thought to have been about to attack a police station detonated himself in the …

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Why the World’s Eyes Are on the Afghanistan-Tajikistan Border

Afghanistan and Tajikistan share a 1,400-kilometer border. Recently, a war of words has erupted between Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon and the Taliban government in Kabul. Rahmon censures the Taliban for the destabilization of Central Asia by the export of militant groups, while the Taliban leadership has accused Tajikistan’s government of …

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