Eurasia

Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek says the number of people that will be allowed by Prague and Moscow at their respective embassies will be 32, as tensions between the two continue to simmer over Russia’s alleged role in a deadly 2014 explosion at a Czech arms depot. “[The Czech Republic’s …

Claims that Russian troops are beginning to pull back from positions in Crimea and along the Russian border with Ukraine are being met with caution in the West, where officials are demanding that Moscow be more transparent and refrain from additional saber-rattling. Western officials said Friday that they were watching …

The death of Chad’s President Idriss Deby could be a major setback for counterterrorism efforts in Africa’s restive Sahel region, according to Chadian activists, African politicians and security experts. The 68-year-old longtime leader died Monday from injuries sustained while visiting troops fighting a Libya-based rebel group known as the Front …

The departure of a UK government minister does little to promote a serious discussion about a painful episode. On 20 April Prime Minister Boris Johnson sacked Johnny Mercer from his position as Minister for Defence People and Veterans. Mercer had repeatedly criticised the decision not to extend protections to Northern …

Revelations that Russia’s intelligence agents were responsible for setting off deadly explosions at a Czech arms depot back in 2014 offer Prague an opportunity to hit back at Moscow’s egregious behaviour. But the Czechs would need to be supported in this endeavour. The coronavirus pandemic continues to throttle international travel. …

For the second consecutive day, the Turkish forces have imposed a curfew in the city of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), which is under their control, against the backdrop of bloody fighting between Turkish-backed armed opposition groups. The city of Sere Kaniye, on the Syrian-Turkish border, in northeastern Syria, witnessed intensive …

Syria and Russia have said that the US and its allies’ occupation of Syrian territories — which support terrorist organizations and plunder natural resources — leave huge damages to the Syrian economy. A joint statement by the Syrian and Russian coordination committees on the return of Syrian refugees called on …

Qamishli has seen a return of cautious calm after successful Russian efforts to broker a truce between clashing groups, writes Baladi News. Cautious calm prevails in the city of Qamishli in Hassakeh, after two days of clashes and tension between the Kurdish internal security forces “Asayish” and the pro-government National …

The ripple effects emanating from the death of Chadian President Idriss Déby on April 20 are only beginning to be apparent. Most immediately, the future of Chad has been thrown into question. Déby reportedly died while on the frontlines fighting rebel forces, just days after cementing his continued grip on …

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) also recommended Egypt, Iraq and Turkey be added to the State Department’s special watchlist for religious freedom offenders. Religious groups remain under threat across Syria, a US watchdog group said Wednesday, calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate the war-torn …