
Among the Unanticipated Outcomes of the U.S. Election: A Palestinian One
Abbas agrees to face voters more than a decade after his term expired.

Outside Powers Are Making the Conflict in the Central African Republic Worse
Proxy wars pitting France and Chad against Russia and Rwanda threaten to destabilize the entire region while subjecting Central Africans to more violence and instability.

Ahead of Biden’s Inauguration, a Solemn Eeriness Descends on the Capital
A maze of checkpoints stretches across Washington’s commercial and residential districts, webbed in caution tape and patrolled by thousands of troops.

Red Card for Emirati Royal’s Soccer Diplomacy?
A peculiar deal that symbolized the entente between Israel and the UAE could get nixed.

Looming Aid Cuts Will Harm Afghan Women’s Health
With violence on the rise and the U.S. military drawing down, international donors are pulling back some assistance to Afghanistan. Women in refugee camps stand to suffer.

The End of the Road for Bibi?
Another Israeli election and a rebellion in the ruling Likud party spell trouble for Netanyahu.

Lebanon’s Concrete Cartel
How business interests prevent Lebanon from rebuilding its infrastructure, government, and economy.

Old Rivals in Kashmir Are Joining Forces Against Modi
India’s attack on Kashmiri autonomy has united two parties that were once sworn enemies. The newly formed Gupkar Alliance could reshape the disputed region’s politics and cause problems for the BJP.

Forget Greenland, There’s a New Strategic Gateway to the Arctic
The Faroe Islands have a history of trading with everyone who will buy their fish. With growing tensions in the Arctic region, the islands are now receiving more attention from superpowers.

Election Déjà Vu for Israelis
A move to dissolve parliament could mean a fourth ballot in less than two years.

Afghanistan Needs Truth Before It Can Have Reconciliation
Politicians and warlords have benefited from decades of violence. The victims of the country’s endless wars could provide the key to a lasting peace.

Israel Is the Wrench in Biden’s Iran Policy
The U.S. president-elect wants to reengage with Iran, but Israel has other plans.

Iraqi Kurds Turn Against the PKK
Now that it’s beaten back the Islamic State, the Kurdistan Regional Government is focusing its attention on a group it has long tolerated.

India’s Farmers Come Out in Force Against Modi
New agriculture laws are making a desperate situation more dire.

Russian Troops in Nagorno-Karabakh ‘Clearly a Win for Moscow’
The Russian-brokered cease-fire that ended six weeks of fighting means soldiers on the ground—either as peacekeepers or as a vanguard of Putin’s latest garrison state.

In Afghanistan, Bringing New Life Into the World Is Deadly
Terrorist violence and COVID-19 have set maternal health back decades.

Crime Wave Further Rocks Confidence in Afghan Government
Afghan officials are trying to contain a spate of kidnappings and armed robberies that appear designed to bolster public thirst for Taliban-style justice—just ahead of a critical donor meeting.

The Coronavirus Is Now Another Risk of U.S. Migration
At least 2,500 Mexicans in the United States, many of them essential workers, have died from COVID-19. Back home in Mexico, their grieving families are left without support.

Rap Against Dictatorship Turns Thai Protests Into Video Hits
Facing a military-backed government, Thai protesters find musical inspiration.

Atrocities Pile Up for CIA-Backed Afghan Paramilitary Forces
Many Afghans want the groups disbanded when the United States withdraws.

Sudan Will Decide the Outcome of the Ethiopian Civil War
As Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed goes to war against Ethiopia’s former rulers—the Tigray People’s Liberation Front—Khartoum’s moves will determine whether the conflict remains a local affair or a regional conflagration.

In Nagorno-Karabakh, the Cycle of Ethnic Cleansing Continues
In the 1990s, the Azerbaijani population was expelled. Now Armenians could face the same fate.

Why a Biden Win Is Bad News for Boris Johnson
By casting his lot with Trump, the U.K. prime minister now looks like yesterday’s man. He is in for a rude awakening.

Poland’s Anti-Abortion Dream Has Become a Nightmare
The country’s Catholic conservatives have achieved a long-sought goal—and may have fatally weakened their power in the process.

Is Ethiopia Headed for Civil War?
Abiy Ahmed’s military move against the Tigray region could spark a conflict with the party that once dominated Ethiopian politics—and tear the country apart.

Locked Down at Home, Much of France Is Quietly Rooting for Biden
Trump’s insults and ideological closeness to Marine Le Pen have left a bitter taste.

Has Trump Been Good for Israel?
Trump has showered Netanyahu with foreign-policy favors, but a Biden win could be a harsh wake-up call for Israelis.

If Trump Wins, America Could Look a Lot Like Bulgaria
Corruption, oligarchs, and media concentration have weakened Bulgarian democracy.

Is This Nigeria’s Arab Spring Moment?
The protests that began as a movement against police brutality have much bigger goals—including regime change.

Thai Protesters Claim a Temporary Victory
Both the government and demonstrators are borrowing tactics from Hong Kong.

Thai Protesters Defy New State of Emergency
After a confrontation with the royal motorcade, the government is cracking down.

Christian Victims in Nigeria Fear Future Attacks
Religious violence is growing despite the pandemic.

Europe’s Failed Migration Policy Caused Greece’s Latest Refugee Crisis
The burning of the Moria refugee camp in Lesbos has exposed the EU’s short-sighted, inhumane, and ineffective approach to asylum.

In Afghanistan, Social Media Is the Only Way to Talk Back to the Taliban
As the United States abandons demands for human rights, young Afghans are embracing free speech the only place they can—on the Internet.

Thai Protesters Test a Royal Redline
The biggest rallies in years are risking the wrath of royalists eager to use the lèse-majesté law.