“We tell ourselves stories in order to live,” observed Joan Didion. Yet politicians are different. They tell stories not so much to live, but to survive. Stories give leaders an aura of purpose and control, imbuing their decisions with great meaning; ushering in new beginnings and, of course, new ends. …

Cyprus has been unlawfully detaining Syrians for years. With the EU’s support, it started deporting them too. For Abu Iskander Alshami the question of returning to a post-Assad Syria is fraught with uncertainty. “My situation is similar to 90% of Syrians – undecided,” he told The New Arab. We spoke …

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared a ceasefire with Turkey after jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan called for the group’s dissolution and disarmament. Outlawed Kurdish militants on Saturday declared a ceasefire with Turkey following a landmark call by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan asking the group to disband. It was the …