Iraq’s parliamentary elections are scheduled for November 11, but voters aren’t holding their breath for change. Allegations of pervasive vote buying and reliance on patronage systems already taint the election. These practices empower elite politicians, instead of bringing about transformation. But while Iraqis don’t expect change, international players are watching …

The net continues to tighten around PiS politicians who are alleged to have played fast and loose with the rules during their time in power from 2015-2023. On Thursday, Poland’s parliamentary affairs committee began considering waiving former justice minister and PiS MP Zbigniew Ziobro’s immunity over allegations he abused his …

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A new round of clashes between Druze armed groups and government forces in the province of Sweida in southern Syrian had subsided Friday but left fears of another escalation. Clashes on Thursday led to both sides blaming each other for violating a ceasefire that ended several days of violent fighting …

Donald Trump hates Antifa. He hates late-night TV hosts, Democratic-controlled cities, and anyone who has ever challenged him in court. As of October, he officially hates the Nobel committee for not giving him a peace prize, despite his efforts to strong-arm its members into voting for him. The president has …

At the Xi-Trump meeting, China paused rare-earths curbs for a year and pledged to refine detailed plans, offering a cautious sip of a bitter cup ahead. On 10 October, a remark made by China’s former leader Deng Xiaoping was recalled around the world, becoming a focal point of commentary across …

À la différence de ceux qui soutiennent l’Empire américain, les partisans de l’Empire britannique savaient qu’ils soutenaient un empire. Ceux qui ont soutenu les massacres perpétrés par l’Empire britannique aux quatre coins du monde soutenaient la Couronne, et souhaitaient que Sa Majesté civilise les impies et transforme l’ensemble des habitants …

Toplines The Russian military command appears to be prioritizing the seizure of Pokrovsk over efforts to close the wider Ukrainian pocket in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad area. Russian advances in and around Pokrovsk over the last several days suggest that Russian forces in Pokrovsk are prioritizing the seizure of the settlement itself. …

Toplines Three small Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) vessels intercepted a Marshall Islands-flagged oil products tanker, Talara, and moved it into Iranian waters in the Strait of Hormuz on November 14.[1] The vessel is operated by Cyprus-based, German- and British-owned Columbia Ship Management. The vessel is owned by Pasha Finance, …

In recent comments to CNN, Qatar’s prime minister reflected on his country’s unique ability to “convene between conflicted parties and understand the grievances.” Of course, Qatar’s ability to perform that job rests on a hefty rolodex of international contacts, including some of the world’s most notorious terrorist groups. At first …