European Union
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Udo Steinbach on Europe and the Gulf
Let's have none of the old arrogance
Middle East expert Udo Steinbach has been advocating closer relations with the Gulf states for years. Genuine interest in regional development, however, needs to look beyond the stereotypes. Birgit Svensson spoke to him in Baghdad
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Italy and Algeria cooperate on energy
Algiers is banking on Europe's gas rush
Following the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to Algeria, both countries are seeking to expand their energy cooperation. This will, however, only further cement Algiers' dependence on the gas rush. By Sofian Philip Naceur
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Earthquake aid for Syria
Bashar al-Assad – pariah no more
While hundreds of thousands of people in northern Syria are still waiting for tents, water and medical aid, the Syrian regime is celebrating its comeback in the Arab world. Earthquake relief is serving as a fig leaf for Assad's rehabilitation, writes Kristin Helberg
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Earthquake politics
Syria – do EU, U.S. sanctions stop aid deliveries?
On social media, calls to lift sanctions on Syria and expedite earthquake aid recently went viral. But are such calls genuine, or are they part of a cynical campaign to further Bashar al-Assad's rehabilitation on the international stage? By Cathrin Schaer
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Earthquake diplomacy 2.0
New dawn for Turkish-Greek relations?
Greece is responding to the catastrophic earthquake in Turkey with great sympathy. Could it lead to an easing of tensions between the traditionally hostile neighbours? By Ronald Meinardus
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Women’s rights in Afghanistan
The Taliban cannot defeat women
Since returning to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have steadily eroded the rights and opportunities of women and girls, particularly their access to education. But Afghans are not taking the regime's draconian policies lying down – and nor should the rest of the world. By Gordon Brown & Yasmine Sherif
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Economic crisis on the Nile
Is Egypt the 'new Lebanon'?
Food prices doubled, salaries halved, banks restricting withdrawals: Egyptians now have the same problems as the Lebanese. But if things get worse here, the fallout will be far more damaging. By Cathrin Schaer
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Turkish-Syrian relations
A menacing rapprochement
Any reconciliation between Turkey and Syria’s Assad regime would have disastrous consequences for many Syrians, explains Syria expert Kristin Helberg
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Migration from Tunisia
Why many young Tunisians set their sights on Europe
Tunisia has been going through a severe economic and political crisis in recent years. More than one in three young people there are unemployed. For many skilled, qualified and unemployed young Tunisians, the route to Europe, which lacks qualified personnel in many sectors, seems like the only way forward. By Marco Wolter
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"Not our Islam!"
German imams condemn ban on university education for Afghan women
German imams have publicly expressed their solidarity with the women of Afghanistan. In a letter of protest, the clerics say that the Taliban regime's decree barring women from universities cannot be justified by Islam and is even "in fatal contradiction" to the religion
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Syrian conflict's impact on international law
The future cost of normalising Assad
Recent efforts to rehabilitate Assad are setting a damaging precedent for accountability, just as the international community is expressing the need to hold Russia to account for similar human rights violations in Ukraine. By Burcu Ozcelik
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Iranian literature in exile
"A great demand for Persian books"
Cologne-based publisher Anahita Redisiu sells Persian books that have been banned or censored in Iran. She regards the situation in Iran with concern and has harsh words for Germany's stance towards the Iranian regime. Gerrit Wustmann spoke to her about politics and literature