Politics

Saudi Arabia, football and the Olympics

Making the leap from off-side to big league?

The Saudi national team is set to play the German Olympic squad at the Olympics in Tokyo later this month – a chance for the outsiders to make their mark. At the same time, and keen to buff up the nation's badly tarnished image, the Kingdom is looking to pitch for glory in the multi-million dollar football business. It's a risky strategy. By Sebastian Sons
By Sebastian Sons
Exclusive: Investigating Syria's civil war

How hardline rebels turned on activist Razan Zeitouneh

The disappearance of Razan Zeitouneh and her colleagues has been one of the greatest mysteries of the Syrian war – until today. DW's investigative unit hunted clues across six countries to track down the perpetrators
By Lewis Sanders IV, Birgitta Schuelke-Gill, Maria Chehadeh
Erdogan's NATO peace offering

Can Turkish forces tame the Taliban in Afghanistan?

Almost all NATO troops have withdrawn from Afghanistan. Turkey is looking to fill the gap and is offering itself as a new protective power. But the Taliban are sending clear threats in the direction of Ankara. By Hilal Koylu
By Hilal Köylü
Cyber disinformation

How dangerous are the Middle East's "electronic armies"?

The Middle East is plagued by electronic armies working at the behest of one regime or another. Long used by those in power as a weapon in the fight against activists and dissidents, such operations can have deadly consequences for those caught in the crosshairs. Cathrin Schaer has the details
By Cathrin Schaer
U.S. and NATO withdraw from "the forever war"

What we should all know about Afghanistan

United States and NATO troops are leaving Afghanistan after 20 years, despite the fact that the Taliban is still advancing. The German Bundeswehr is already out. Sandra Petersmann examines the key issues
By Sandra Petersmann
Indo-Pakistani relations

Detente over Kashmir following decades of conflict?

Over the years, the relationship between arch-rivals India and Pakistan has been shaped by conflict and confrontation. For some time now, however, both countries have been singing a more conciliatory tune. Is this the dawn of a lasting detente in South Asia? By Mohammad Luqman
By Mohammad Luqman
Northern Syria's humanitarian disaster

Syria's IDPs – waiting for death in Idlib

Millions of people in Syria's Idlib region depend on foreign aid that passes through only one border crossing. The UN mandate regulating passage through it will expire on 10 July; a humanitarian disaster looms if it isn't renewed. Diana Hodali reports
By Diana Hodali
DW documentary: Who's behind Islamist terrorism?

Intelligence and the business with terror

Who’s financing, planning and commissioning terror attacks in Europe? This investigative documentary follows a trail that leads to Pakistan’s intelligence service, the ISI, which seems not only to fight terror, but sponsor it as well
The controversial Jerusalem Declaration

Why the world needs a new definition of anti-Semitism

Years ago, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance formulated how hatred of Jews can be recognised. Now a new definition is causing controversy. By Sarah Judith Hofmann
By Sarah Judith Hofmann
Conflict between Ankara and Athens

Has Erdogan's foreign policy hit rock bottom?

The change in U.S. president is also having an impact on the conflict between Turkey and Greece. Since the USA has started to play the Greek card, the strategic situation in the Eastern Mediterranean has shifted to Turkey's disadvantage. Ronald Meinardus reports from Istanbul
By Ronald Meinardus
International Libya Conference in Berlin

Libyans harbour high hopes for a transition to stability

The Libya Conference will be held in Berlin on 23 June. Much has been achieved since the last Libya Conference in Berlin in January 2020. The ceasefire is holding, there is a united interim government for the first time and parliamentary elections are scheduled for 24 December. But the path ahead remains strewn with obstacles. By Karim El-Gawhary
By Karim El-Gawhary
Elections in Iran

Khamenei shuts down opposition ahead of upcoming ballot

In the run up to Iran’s presidential election, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has sought to entrench his power. Alex Vatanka asks whether a sharp slump in voter turnout will reveal the extent of popular discontent
By Alex Vatanka