Turkey arrests 3 academics for advocating peace with the PKK

Turkey arrests 3 academics for advocating peace with the PKK

In the latest attack on freedom of expression in Turkey, three academics who signed a peace petition in January 2016 have been detained by a court of Istanbul, being charged with making terrorist propaganda. The 3 were arrested on 15 March 2016, pending the completion of a criminal investigation. Security forces requested imprisonment up to

Luaty Beirao, Angolan dissident rapper sentenced to 5 years in jail

Luaty Beirao, Angolan dissident rapper sentenced to 5 years in jail

5-and-a-half years in jail: this is the price Angolan musician and rapper Luaty Beirao paid for his political commitment against President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. The verdict issued by a court of Luanda found Beirao and 16 other activists guilty of wanting to overthrow the government and institutions. The sequence of events started on 20

Palmyra and ISIS: yesterday, today and tomorrow

Palmyra and ISIS: yesterday, today and tomorrow

Syrian regime forces have regained control of the city of Palmyra, ten months after its capture by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). The Islamist militants were driven out of the ancient site on the 27th of March following three weeks of intensive military operations backed by Russian air strikes and Lebanese militias.   During its

Erik Jones. Why Donald Trump could become Obama’s successor

Erik Jones. Why Donald Trump could become Obama’s successor

To get a – general, non-comprehensive – picture of him, saying that, as an American, he’s been called as “European” expert by US President Barack Obama during his political campaign in 2008 could be enough. Erik Jones is a United States citizen, but he has lived in Europe for the last 25 years. He worked at the University

What happened in Brussels, the capital of Europe, on 22 March

What happened in Brussels, the capital of Europe, on 22 March

Two explosions rocked the departures area in Zavantem international airport. Then, another explosion devastated the metro station of Maelbeek, about an hour and a half later. This is how the attacks to Brussels and to the very heart of Belgium and Europe begun on 22 March, just a few steps from the main communitarian institutions.

Elections in Africa: six countries go to the polls

Elections in Africa: six countries go to the polls

This is a crucial week for Africa. Six states voted on 20 March, the African Super Sunday according to local press: five countries held presidential and parliamentary elections while one voted on a constitutional referendum.   Benin In Benin, Prime Minister Lionel Zinzou and cotton tycoon Patrice Talon face each other in run-off presidential elections, after the first round ended

Brussels attacks. Explosions in the airport and the metro

Brussels attacks. Explosions in the airport and the metro

16:54 – Tributes to the victims of the Brussels attacks (via Alice Dulczewski)         16:32 – Director of Site Rita Katz tweets that ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks through Amaq, the press agency of the Islamic State.   Breaking:#ISIS –#Amaq claims #Brusselsattacks as carried out with “a series of bombings w/explosive belts& devices” pic.twitter.com/wExeGqaaAr —