Charles Recknagel is standards editor for RFE/RL.
Iraq's Kurdish region is playing the independence card, but there are signs it could simply be upping the ante in a bid for more territory and rights within Iraq.
There is no underestimating the anger that supporters of Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah feel over initial election results showing him way behind his rival. But how much power does he have to make trouble if the crisis continues?
The European Union will sign key political and trade agreements with Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova on June 27. What do the accords mean for these countries and how might Russia react?
As Sunni insurgents take territory in northern Iraq, they hope to win local support by capitalizing on deeply felt grievances within Iraq's Sunni community. What are those grievances and how did they help fuel the current crisis?
U.S. and Iranian officials say they could consider cooperating in Iraq against the ISIL. But what form might that take?
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has quickly turned to Shi'ite militias to reinforce the army for a planned counter offensive against Sunni insurgents in the north. Is it a recipe for success, or civil war?
How do Islamists and Ba'athists end up as allies on one side in Iraq while the United States and Iran share interests on the other? Those are just some of the incongruities characterizing the Iraqi crisis today.
Some half a million people have fled Mosul. Now, they are trying to come to grips with what happened and wondering when they can go back.
Iraq is reeling from the rout of its national army from two provincial capitals by Islamic militants. Why is the army collapsing so quickly?
Russia is building the South Stream pipeline under the Black Sea to eliminate Ukraine as a transit state for gas exports to Europe. But after a Bulgarian surprise this week, the planned pipeline suddenly has nowhere to go.
For years the Ukrainian army has been underfunded and neglected. So much so, that volunteers are now raising money to get soldiers the most basic supplies.
Fighting is ramping up fast in eastern Ukraine and so far the Ukrainian Army has shown combat capabilities that vary from very bad to very good. Why the mixed performance?
The killing of a Pakistani woman by her relatives because she married a man against her family's will is again focusing the world's attention on so-called honor killings. What drives honor killings and why are they so hard to prevent?
Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko says his first priority is to visit the Donbas region. What will he hear when he goes?
Pro-Russian separatists are using force and intimidation to ensure the city of Donetsk misses Ukraine's May 25 presidential election.
Whenever there is a serious political turmoil, Russian capital flees the country. Now, the standoff with the West over Ukraine is prompting the largest flight since the financial crisis of 2008.
Some of the deadliest fighting in eastern Ukraine has taken place in the port city of Mariupol. Now the city is quiet, but it is unclear who is in charge and criminal gangs rule the streets by night.
As the EU worries about its energy security with Russia, Iran is offering to become one of its major natural-gas suppliers. The offer seems aimed at giving the West more reasons to lift sanctions over Iran's nuclear program, but how feasible is it?
There are plenty of reasons for the European Union to worry about what happens in Ukraine, not the least of which is the security of its gas supplies from Russia.
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