Politics

Saudi Arabia and the Khashoggi murder

Still no justice

Far from a pariah state after the assassination of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia features ever more prominently on the world stage. How do Saudi activists keep fighting when the world is looking away? By Cathrin Schaer
By Cathrin Schaer
Saudi-Israeli relations

US-Saudi defence pact tied to Israel deal, Palestinian demands put aside

Saudi Arabia is seeking binding assurances of US protection in the event of an attack in return for normalisation with Israel – even if Israel does not agree to make major concessions to the Palestinians. Although such a deal could reshape the Middle East, it would mean that the Palestinian demand for statehood would take a back seat once again
Iran and Mahsa Amini, one year on

Tehran's power base is fading

Prominent voices from within the Islamic Republic's inner circle of power – once spokesmen for the most radical factions – are now vehement in their criticism of Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader. They used the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death to drive home their condemnation. By Ali Sadrzadeh
By Ali Sadrzadeh
Ataturk's republic turns 100

Turkey's enduring identity crisis

To mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey, German journalist and Qantara.de contributor Cigdem Akyol has written a new history of what she calls "the divided republic". Marian Brehmer read the book
By Marian Brehmer
Bashar al-Assad in China

Will Xi Jinping help to end Syria's isolation?

Largely isolated since Syria's civil war began in 2011, President Bashar Assad will return home from a trip to China with a new "strategic partnership" in the works. Fu Yue reports
By Yue Fu
More corruption, death and destruction

Haftar's sons rise in Derna flood aftermath

Khalifa Haftar, the strongman of eastern Libya, has placed his six sons in positions of political and military power. The deadly floods in Derna have seen his youngest, Saddam, rise to head of disaster relief management and the top of his succession charts. For Libyans, it spells more bad news, writes Leela Jacinto
Libya's Derna

A city known for rebellion – and neglect

Before the September 10 storm and flooding killed thousands, Libya's eastern port of Derna was best known for its revolutionary thinking, Islamist extremists and coastal scenery. Now the city is fighting for its very survival. By Cathrin Schaer
By Cathrin Schaer
Morocco quake

Why the distance, Mohammed VI?

When a devastating earthquake shook Morocco's High Atlas mountains, residents of poor areas where it struck turned for help to the state and the man who leads it, King Mohammed VI. Yet the monarch, with his sweeping powers, has kept a low profile, making just three appearances since
Iran-Saudi deal

The Islamic Republic's dilemma

Iran's deal last spring with Saudi Arabia, brokered by China, highlighted the emergence of an unstable equilibrium in the Islamic Republic's foreign policy. Amin Naeni and Ali Fathollah-Nejad explore the inherent tensions
By Amin Naeni, Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Voices from Morocco

Earthquake rescue enters critical phase

Small mountain towns near the Morocco earthquake's epicentre will be hard to reach, locals confirm. Many people are still trapped under the rubble in towns that were only accessible by foot or donkey even before Friday's quake
By Cathrin Schaer
Is it India? Is it Bharat?

Modi government pushes for Sanskrit name

It began with a dinner invitation. How it ends could affect more than a billion people. State-issued invites sent to guests of this week's G20 meeting referred to India's president, Droupadi Murmu, as "President of Bharat". Is the country of more than 1.4 billion now to be called by its ancient Sanskrit name?
By Sheikh Saaliq
Repression in Sisi's Egypt

Activists targeted in presidential election run-up

Egypt's clampdown on political dissent increasingly includes family members of activists living abroad. The Sisi regime has also admitted to leveraging the release of individual political prisoners for financial aid. Jennifer Holleis reports
By Jennifer Holleis