Domestic quarrels and fears of a fractured nation are formidable hurdles on the path to KRG self-rule. What does Massoud Barzani want? The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced that it would hold an independence referendum on September 25. This isn’t the first time that the prospect of independence has been …

An SPD-led government in Germany has significant potential to sharpen international attention to the problems of corruption in Bulgaria. This could create big issues for former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his GERB party (EPP), which is trying to find ways to return to power. For the past 15 years, …

In France, the executive has carefully avoided a reaction to the outcome of the German elections. However, in a Twitter post on 26 September, French President Emmanuel Macron used election day to talk about his EU vision and ambitions. He recalled his initiative for a “sovereign, unified and democratic Europe”, …

Now that the United States has withdrawn its last remaining troops from Afghanistan, many expect the result will draw in regional powers, each seeking to cultivate proxy forces to work through. Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and China all have their own designs for the future of Afghanistan, and each have specific …

Former FBI agent Ali Soufan has investigated numerous terrorism cases, inside and outside the United States, including the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa and the 2000 attack on the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole. His role in shedding light on the 9/11 attacks also raised his profile. It is …

Government shutdown? No. Votes in the House? Not until at least 9 p.m. tonight. And on the Senate side, as Marianne LeVine wrote, “Democrats are desperately trying to make lemonade out of the bag of lemons Joe Manchin handed them today. Senate Democrats spun away Manchin’s utter rejection of their …

Fighting intensified this week in the strategically important city of Marib in central Yemen, believed to be a key access point to the northern part of the country. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan traveled to the Middle East earlier this week, meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. …

Hezbollah’s importation of Iranian fuel supplies demonstrates its willingness and ability to act independently of Lebanon’s official leadership. Easing Lebanon’s fuel shortages, even if marginally, enhances the position and popularity of both Hezbollah and Iran within Lebanon. The Biden administration is not likely to impose penalties on the fuel deliveries …

President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin are each day moving closer to the era of the Soviet Union’s complete control of the information that the Russian people can see, hear, and read. Under the new “Foreign Agent” designation, the Kremlin can now crackdown on all independent news services and reports …

Mali’s discussions with the Russian Wagner Group have sparked intense debate among the European Union members deployed to Mali under a French-led coalition to defeat Islamic jihadists. The Wagner Group mercenary company is owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mali is in …