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Russia, Ukraine, world energy
Why the Saudis won't pump more oil
Just as Saudi Arabia refused to accommodate American requests to increase oil production last November, it is likely to refuse U.S. President Joe Biden’s request today. When the Saudis increase their production, it will be because to do so is in their own interest, writes Bernhard Haykel
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Islamophobia
Trojan Horse affair: Muslim Council of Britain calls for independent inquiry
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has called for an independent public inquiry into the 2014 Birmingham Trojan Horse affair, following fresh revelations about the case in a recent New York Times podcast.
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Iran nuclear talks enter ‘final stage’
Iran's Vienna gambit
The risk that the United Nations will re-impose the economic sanctions on Iran that were ended by the 2015 nuclear deal hangs over the presidency of hardliner Ebrahim Raisi like a sword of Damocles. This threat may be Raisi's strongest incentive to reach a compromise in the ongoing nuclear talks. By Djavad Salehi-Isfahani
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The Gulf
Bahrain – where human rights don’t count
The catastrophic human rights situation in Bahrain is being largely ignored by the rest of the world. Despite all the damning evidence, which includes a Human Rights Watch report, the West is unlikely to apply any pressure on the regime due to geostrategic interests. By Diana Hodali
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Sudan anti-putsch protests
"We have to keep fighting"
The military in Sudan has never waged war against a neighbour, but it has already staged 17 coups. Tens of thousands of people are risking their lives to oust the military by peaceful means. About a revolution that is far from over. Bernd Dorries reports from Khartoum
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Interview with German anthropologist Dieter Haller
Tangier/Gibraltar: a tale of one city
In his new book, "Tangier/Gibraltar- A Tale of one city: An Ethnography", Dieter Haller looks at how shared experiences and practices have created a unique relationship and a sense of neighbourhood across the Straits of Gibraltar – a cultural area he calls "TanGib". Although "TanGib" has never been an administrative entity, the two cities and the surrounding regions have at times been inextricably linked. Fouzia Hayouh spoke to Prof Heller about his book and what the future could hold for the region
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Takeover of Newcastle United by Saudi PIF
Mohammed bin Salman and the Premier League: more than a game
The takeover of English football club Newcastle United by the Saudi Public Investment Fund is more than an attempt by the Kingdom to boost its own image. There are strategic economic interests behind the deal. Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman is also looking to consolidate his position at home. By Sebastian Sons
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Middle East in the Second World War
Nazis had their sights set on Palestine
Newly discovered aerial photographs taken by the German Luftwaffe show what a keen interest the Germans took in British-controlled Palestine during the Second World War. Not only that, they provide a unique pictorial record of the region during this period. Joseph Croitoru reports
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Hisham A. Hellyer on "the War on Terror"
"You cannot rely on the West"
Western states have fought against terrorism not only in Afghanistan, but also in Syria and Iraq – leaving behind people who were once their partners in fear and poverty. Hisham A. Hellyer talks in interview about the "war on terror" and the role played by the West 20 years on. Interview by Andrea Backhaus
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Taliban in the ascendant
Joe Biden and America’s withdrawal of choice
The swift fall of Kabul recalls the ignominious fall of Saigon in 1975. Beyond the local consequences – widespread reprisals, harsh repression of women and girls, and massive refugee flows – America’s strategic and moral failure in Afghanistan will reinforce questions about U.S. reliability among friends and foes alike. By Richard Haass
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EURO 2020: Racism in football
Racists, not missed penalties, are the problem
The final defeat against Italy hurt England – but the racist insults against Saka, Sancho and Rashford were far more painful, revealing the deep rift running through English society. Commentary by Joscha Weber
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Debate about anti-Semitism and the Middle East conflict
Dissidence and the Jewish diaspora
Jewish voices are much more diverse than the public often sees. Jewish men and women who oppose the injustice of Israeli occupation in the West Bank deserve our respect and protection against defamation, writes Charlotte Wiedemann