Politics

Panama Paper revelations

The Emirs of Panama

The autocratic Gulf states in particular are famous for their covert business style. It′s something they share with Panama′s offshore operations. Karim El-Gawhary reports on the involvement of prominent Arab politicians and businessmen in dubious financial transactions
By Karim El-Gawhary
Police co-operation with Egypt

Is Germany an "accessory to repression"?

A security agreement between Germany and Egypt is imminent, as confirmed by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere during his Cairo visit in March. But is the Egyptian Interior Ministry, which has been held responsible for systematic torture and human rights violations, an appropriate partner for Berlin in the war against terrorism and in migration policy? By Sofian Philip Naceur
By Sofian Philip Naceur
Egyptian-Saudi relations

Tightening the pursestrings

Saudi Arabia has stumped up billions to help Egypt′s economy in recent years. But bilateral relations seem to be cooling under the new Saudi King Salman. An analysis by Sebastian Sons
By Sebastian Sons
Global strategies in the war on terror

Eliminate the breeding grounds

One of the reasons for terrorism is a world order that is out of whack, which no longer reacts appropriately to crises around the globe, writes Syrian publicist Mohammed Dibou. Neither ″national″ nor ″continental″ measures can offer the protection craved by the West's citizens
By Mohammed Dibou
Arab reactions to the reconquest of Palmyra

A dirty double-cross

The reconquest of Palmyra is a bittersweet victory: with finger-pointing and insinuations, the warring factions are exploiting the site's destruction for propaganda purposes. By Joseph Croitoru
By Joseph Croitoru
IS attacks in Brussels

No more shades of grey

Following last week′s brutal events in Brussels, there has once again been much talk in the media of an attack on Western lifestyle and freedoms. Meanwhile the strategy and the tactics of Islamic State are much more sophisticated than some of this post-attack coverage. By Karim El-Gawhary
By Karim El-Gawhary
Terrorist attacks in Brussels

A clash of what?

Culture, religion – or merely politics? Recent terrorist attacks against another European capital city in less than a year have once again shaken world politics to the core. Are we playing into the hands of Daesh? By Hakim Khatib
By Hakim Khatib
Russian intervention in Syria

Make no mistake

The partial withdrawal of Russian armed forces from Syria came as a surprise to many. But Loay Mudhoon says that its message to President Assad is clear: he must finally negotiate with the opposition
By Loay Mudhoon
Turkey and the Kurdish conflict

The desolation of Cizre

Residents of Cizre, in Turkey's volatile southeast, have slowly been returning to the city which has been laid waste by a protracted military campaign targeting Kurdish militants. Tom Stevenson and Murat Bayram report
By Tom Stevenson, Murat Bayram
EU-Turkey deal

The alternative is Idomeni

Instead of mocking Merkel as a "pushover", those concerned with the welfare of refugees would do better to throw their weight behind realising her plan. Otherwise, we could see Europe adopting the Victor Orban model, the consequences of which can already been seen. Commentary by Daniel Bax
By Daniel Bax
Interview with Israeli historian Ilan Pappe

"This situation is not temporary, it is the future"

In interview with Emran Feroz, Israeli historian and Exeter University professor Ilan Pappe criticises the unilateral policy favoured by the Netanyahu government, which is committed to retaining control of historical Palestine in its entirety and approves of the restoration of authoritarian Arab regimes
By Emran Feroz
Turkey′s media crackdown

No freedom. No press.

The crackdown on media critical of the Turkish president and his government continues unabated with the official seizure of the country′s bestselling ″Zaman″ newspaper. With international criticism muted, many government critics fear the lights are about to finally go out for independent media. By Dorian Jones in Istanbul
By Dorian Jones