After the trials and tribulations of 2016, here are ten thoughts to take away for 2017: 1) Don’t cling too hard to any predictions, good or bad. If 2016 taught us anything, it’s that if a storm has been brewing for a while, no amount of wishful thinking or good intentions will preventing from breaking – […]
Turkey
Turkey’s wannabe coup: democratic or dangerous?
A t 10:30pm on 15 July, armed soldiers swarmed upon Istanbul’s Bosphorus bridge, blocking its access and declaring to drivers: “There is curfew, everybody go home.” Their motives appeared disconcertingly ambiguous. “Both bridges in Istanbul have been blocked by Turkish military. Reason unknown,” tweeted one bemused observer. “Military doing a show of force, low-flying jets […]
Euro 2016 Preview: Group D
Spain – Ollie Lund World Ranking: 6th Best Euro Finish: Champions (1964, 2008, 2012) The holders Spain go into the tournament as one of the favourites. A surprise defeat against Slovakia aside, they were superb in qualifying – picking up nine wins and eight clean sheets. The squad oozes quality with the likes of Sergio Ramos […]
Turkey and the culture of fear
My first memory of that Saturday morning was being woken up by a woman’s guttural screams. Against a backdrop hum of the urban city, its dissonance was chilling. Sitting among Istanbul’s tea drinkers, typing and sipping in mutual harmony at one of the city’s numerous cay houses, I am still unaware of the real cause […]
Negotiations and escalations: what’s next for Syria, the Middle East and the world?
Amid the ongoing rumblings of the devastating conflict of Syria, the last fortnight has seen some interesting developments on the international stage. Despite the huge impact these will have on those still living in Syria, there is a large extent to which they represent performance politics, with heads of state and diplomats addressing one another […]