Democracy in decline worldwide

For the first time since 2004, the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) has recorded more autocratic states than democracies around the world. Civil society activists often represent the last bastion of resistance. Autocracies such as Russia and China on the one hand; democracies like the USA or Germany on the other. Is that the great conflict

Turkish President Erdogan arrives in UAE for the first time in nearly a decade – WION

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in the United Arab Emirates for the first time in nearly a decade, to improve ties between the two nations.

US sends first shipment of military aid to Ukraine amid standoff with Russia

The United States says the first shipment of military aid promised by President Joe Biden to Ukraine amid the standoff with Russia has arrived in Kyiv. Washington has also endorsed a move by the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to send US-made weapons to Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted on Saturday to salute

Turkey’s Erdogan Raises Coup Clashes in Warning Rivals Against Protests

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a stern warning for any Turkish citizens preparing to protest against his government, as anger rises over soaring inflation and opposition parties step up their criticism of economic policy. In a televised speech in Ankara on Tuesday, Erdogan said supporters of his AK Party and its nationalist ally remained united,

Turkey Urges Russia to Drop ‘One-Sided’ NATO Demands

Turkey urged Russia on Monday to drop “one-sided” demands and adopt a more constructive approach in its standoff with Western powers and NATO over Ukraine. NATO member Turkey has irritated Moscow by supplying combat drones to Ukraine that Russia fears could be used by Kiev in its conflict with separatists in two eastern regions. But

Turkish lira in historic 15% crash after Erdogan stokes fire sale

Lira has shed 45% vs dollar this year, worst in world Central bank has slashed policy rate 400 points since Sept Turks say household budgets, future plans in turmoil Ex-central banker calls for end to ‘irrational experiment’ Erdogan insists tighter policy will not lower inflation Turkey’s lira nose-dived 15% on Tuesday in its second-worst day

Democracy slipping away at record rate, intergovernmental body warns

A greater number of countries are sliding towards authoritarianism, while the number of established democracies under threat has never been so high, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) said on Monday. Populist politics, the use of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to silence critics, a tendency of countries to mimic the anti-democratic behaviour of

Erdogan says Turkey is set to banish 10 Western ambassadors

Kavala has been in prison since late 2017 He denies charges of role in failed coup and mass protests Rights groups say case emblematic of crackdown in Turkey Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday he had ordered the foreign ministry to declare 10 ambassadors from Western countries ‘persona non grata’ for calling for the

Two Hindu men killed, temples vandalised in Bangladesh violence

Religious violence erupts after photo widely circulated on social media shows the Quran placed on the knee of a Hindu deity. Police in Bangladesh have detained at least 300 suspects after two Hindu men were killed and temples vandalised following unrest triggered by the alleged desecration of the Muslim holy book during a Hindu religious

Cyprus’ top diplomat: Turkey is creating new Ottoman empire

The foreign minister of the divided island of Cyprus is accusing Turkey’s president of attempting to promote a new Ottoman empire in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East — and says such an approach to geopolitics could adversely impact regional security. Nikos Christodoulides, whose Mediterranean island nation is divided into a breakaway Turkish Cypriot