Politics

First INSTEX transaction with Iran

Trade as an obstacle course

Germany and other member states of the European Union are for the first time making use of the so-called INSTEX mechanism to circumvent the sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States. By Birgit Svensson in Cairo
By Birgit Svensson
Western Sahara territorial dispute

New African consulates cause trouble for Western Sahara

Several African countries have opened diplomatic missions to Morocco in Western Sahara, a disputed area occupied by Rabat. This has been exacerbating the conflict in an already volatile region seeking independence. By Martina Schwikowski und Hugo Flotat-Talon
By Martina Schwikowski & Hugo Flotat-Talon
COVID-19 pandemic

Science versus covidiots – Indiaʹs coronavirus challenge

Obscurantism is making it harder to prevent Covid-19, not only in Southeast Asia. Though India's lockdown was poorly planned, we must hope it will prove effective. By Aditi Roy Ghatak
By Aditi Roy Ghatak
Syria and Iraq

Islamic State seeking to profit from coronavirus pandemic

From advisories against travel to calls for a new jihad, Islamic State sees the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to exploit. The militants, however, are no more immune to the virus than anyone else. By Lewis Sanders IV & Tom Allinson
By Lewis Sanders IV & Tom Allinson
COVID-19 in North Africa

Corona proactivity in Tunisia, trivialisation in Egypt

Healthcare systems in Tunisia and Egypt are in a catastrophic state. The governmental response to the crisis in both nations could not be more different. Sofian Philip Naceur reports from Tunis
By Sofian Philip Naceur
COVID-19

Syriaʹs crisis within a crisis – coronavirus could hit hard

The corona pandemic has reached Syria. Anna Fleischer explains why the virus could hit the country extremely hard and above all endanger those imprisoned
By Anna Fleischer
COVID-19 in Iraq

Working under the coronavirus curfew in Baghdad

Coronavirus is also spreading in Iraq. This didn't stop hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travelling to a Shia shrine, however. The nation's health system has already conceded it cannot cope with the epidemic. Birgit Svensson reports from Baghdad
By Birgit Svensson
COVID-19 pandemic

How is Turkey dealing with the corona crisis?

Going by the official numbers, Turkey is doing well, especially in comparison to other countries. But does this impression correspond to the reality? There are significant reasons to doubt that it does. By Tayfun Guttstadt
By Tayfun Guttstadt
After the Berlin conference

Libya's war for war’s sake

Libyan political analyst Faraj Alasha argues that the Berlin conference on the Libyan war did nothing to change the fact that there is no political solution to end the war raging in the suburbs of southern Tripoli
By Faraj Alasha
COVID-19 epidemic in Iran

Faith and the coronavirus

The "holy" city of Qom, the centre of Shia scholarship, was the starting point of the corona epidemic in Iran. The ayatollahs vehemently and successfully resisted quarantine and the virus spread rapidly throughout the country. But corona is not the plague, Iran is not in the Middle Ages and the virus is not divine retribution. By Ali Sadrzadeh
By Ali Sadrzadeh
Sudan's ex-dictator Bashir at the International Criminal Court

Arab dictators take note

Political scientist Ali Anouzla interprets the potentially imminent trial of Sudan's ex-dictator Omar al-Bashir before the International Criminal Court as a warning sign for numerous despots across the Arab world who must themselves answer for serious human rights violations
By Ali Anouzla
U.S.-Taliban peace deal

Bleak days in Afghanistan

Developments in recent days have revealed – unsurprisingly – that Donald Trump's recent "peace deal" with the Taliban is barely worth the paper it was written on. What is clear, however, is that the next president of Afghanistan, whoever that may be, will inherit a nation that has long since ceased to function. Emran Feroz reports from Mussahi
By Emran Feroz