International politics: all articles

42 people killed and dozens injured in a suicide bombing in Iran's southeast. Civilians flee as Pakistan launches South Waziristan offensive. South Sudan village raided, seven die. Gun battles and bombings in southern Russia. UN passes resolution in support of Gaza report. All in today's security briefing.

Daniele Archibugi reflects on a new history of piracy

A lasting judgment of the system that imploded in 1989 needs a large view. Fred Halliday's your man

The US is preparing to escalate and retool in Afghanistan. But Pakistan shows why it can't win

Italy's showman-premier faces a struggle that will test his "postmodern populism" to the limit

The UN Human Rights chief backs the Goldstone report. More bomb attacks strike Pakistan. The head of Mi5 defends Britain’s foreign intelligence co-operation. All this and much more in today’s security update.

China and India exchange words over disputed Himalayan territory. Grenade attack injures forty in Moldova. Hezbollah plays down Israel's claims of missile stockpiling. North Korea accuses South of naval transgression. Deadly attacks hit police in Pakistan. All this and more in today's update.

The critics of the Yerevan-Ankara protocols neglect their potential benefits

A new assessment illuminates the roots of conflict in Africa's most complex region

Officials meet for Shanghai Cooperation Organization talks as China and Russia commit to improving relations. UN-backed Congo offensive a ‘humanitarian disaster'. Britain commits 500 more troops to Afghanistan. Syria and Turkey to hold joint military exercises. China tries fourteen more over Xinjiang unrest. All this and more in today's security briefing.

A Nobel peace prize intended to encourage the US president may do him more harm than good

A bad agreement cannot turn old adversaries into good neighbours

U.S. targeting of al-Qaeda funds harming group's influence, alleges US Treasury. Clinton pushes for Iran sanctions in Russia. North Korea test fires missiles ahead of talks. Fatah agrees Palestinian unity deal. All this and more in today's update.

A clash over media is at the core of the region's bitter divides, pressing left and right into new shapes

Militant attacks prompt Pakistan to accelerate Waziristan offensive. UN representative admits fraud in Afghanistan election. Turkey and Armenia normalize relations. All this and much more in today's update.

The Armenia-Turkey accord entails a pragmatic and dangerous silence over the events of 1915

No chance for peace in the middle east, says Israeli foreign minister. The US denies involvement in the disappearance of an Iranian nuclear scientist. Over forty people are killed in a devastating bomb attack in North West Pakistan. All this and more in today’s security update.

The US considers its strategy in Afghanistan on the eighth anniversary of the conflict; Pakistan weighs its options in its fight against insurgents; Anti-IMF protests take a violent turn in Turkey; Uganda frees Somali defense minister and Mugabe seeks better relations with the West. All this and much more in today's security briefing.

The rhetoric of the new Moldovan government is not music to the Kremlin's ears. However the powers that be in Chishinau have no choice. Immediately after the present summit of the Community of Independent States, the government has to move ahead with the hard work of serious reform of the economy, judiciary, media and bureaucracy.

A contemporary of "neoconservatism's godfather" describes the arc of an intellectual life from post-New Deal assimilationism through McArthyism and CIA-funded organs of Cold War soft power