Politics

Ukraine and Iraq

Compassion yes, sympathy no

Iraq is in a quandary over Russia and Ukraine. Its attitude toward Kiev is ambivalent, yet it still hopes to emerge as one of the winners in this war. If Russia fails as an oil supplier, Iraq could step in. Birgit Svensson reports from Baghdad
By Birgit Svensson
Ukraine conflict

Chechen and Tatar Muslims take up arms against Russia

Chechen warlord and Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov has boasted of his soldiers' part in Russia's war in Ukraine. But many Chechen and Tatar Muslims are defending Ukraine and settling scores with the rulers of their homelands. By Monir Ghaedi
By Monir Ghaedi
Arabs attend Negev summit

Israel moves centre-stage in the Middle East

A straightforward message emerged from last week’s meeting in the Negev desert of the foreign ministers of four Arab countries, Israel and the United States: Israel is key to the security of Gulf autocracies and continued U.S. engagement in the Middle East. By James M. Dorsey
By James M. Dorsey
Kurdistan's decline

Iraq's beacon shines no more

The Kurds are fleeing Kurdistan. The wave of refugees on the Belarusian-Polish border and the drowned Kurds in the English Channel are only the tip of the iceberg. Birgit Svensson visited Erbil and Dohuk to find that the exodus from Kurdistan has already been going on for several years
By Birgit Svensson
Pakistan's no confidence vote

End of the road for Imran Khan?

Pakistan's opposition is looking to topple the Khan government in a vote of no confidence on 28 March. The prime minister, meanwhile, is threatening to prosecute opposition politicians even more harshly for corruption. Mohammad Luqman has the details
By Mohammad Luqman
Middle East

A new Arab Spring, thanks to the Ukraine war?

The price of bread is rising rapidly in the Middle East, thanks to concerns about wheat supply from Ukraine and Russia. In the past, such increases have led to violent protests and political upheaval. By Cathrin Schaer
By Cathrin Schaer
Yemen, Ukraine, the world

Fighting fake news and disinformation

Sidq Yemen, an independent online platform, specialises in fact-checking viral Yemeni news stories and countering mis/disinformation. Hannah Porter spoke to its head of communications about fake news in Yemen
By Hannah Porter
Pakistan's troubled province

Balochistan – tradition versus globalisation

Attacks by separatist groups in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province, have increased recently. Mohammad Luqman looks into what is driving the flare-up in this frequently overlooked region
By Mohammad Luqman
East Jerusalem decision

Sheikh Jarrah at a crossroads

A surprise ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court earlier this month produced a rare sigh of relief from Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah, but the struggle isn’t over. Reporting from Jerusalem, Noam Yatsiv describes the implications of the recent ruling and where things could go from here
By Noam Yatsiv
Ukraine war

Learn from Israel and you learn how to beat Putin

Across the political divides, Ukrainians regard the Jewish state as a model of both defensible strength and modern nation-building. The war is now putting this admiration to the test, reports Joseph Croitoru
By Joseph Croitoru
War in Ukraine

Stress test for the Arab world

It’s unusual for the troubled Middle East to be looking at a war in Europe. And in that unfamiliar situation, Arab nations are jostling to adopt a position on the issue – as was evidenced by the show of spectacular shilly-shallying by the wealthy United Arab Emirates in recent days. Karim El-Gawhary reports from Cairo
By Karim El-Gawhary
Arms to Ukraine

How useful are Turkish-made drones fighting in Ukraine?

Propaganda videos boasting of the successes of the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones in the Ukraine war are popular on social media. Elmas Topcu asks what role these drones are really playing in the conflict
By Elmas Topcu