Rebel attacks in northern Mali: Some targets meant as ‘diversions’, expert says

The Malian army said Saturday that several northern towns, including Gao and Sévaré, were targeted by rebels. The statement came as a rebel group announced a new offensive to capture a town in the country’s north. Andrew Lebovich, a research fellow at Clingendael’s Conflict Research Unit, said some of the targets were intended more as … Read more

AfD elects leaders amid massive protests

While the protesters intended to disrupt the AfD party conference in Erfurt, the proceedings eventually started on time.Image: Tobias Junghannß/dpa/Picture Alliance The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) opened its party conference in Erfurt as scheduled on Friday, with protesters blocking roads around the venue since the morning. The protesters hoped to prevent the conference from … Read more

Iran holds funeral for Ali Khamenei: Attendees ‘hardline factions’ of society, specialist says

Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Saturday for the start of a days-long funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tara Kangarlou, a global affairs journalist and author of The Heartbeat of Iran, said most attendees were “more emboldened, hardline factions of the society,” making the crowd unrepresentative of broader … Read more