Recent developments in Germany suggest that the Syrian refugee issue has entered a new and complex phase as the country moves toward reviewing its existing asylum policies.

German media outlets disproportionately report on violent crimes where the suspect is foreign, non-German or has a recent migration background.

The debate within the German government is gaining momentum over the fate of Syrian refugees, amid sharp differences between those advocating for the resumption of deportations and those opposing.

Tensions have escalated between Moscow and Tehran after Russia’s Sergey Lavrov and former Iranian diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif traded accusations over the snapback mechanism, described as the “legal trap” in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

At a time when Western democracies are facing security and political challenges, an international human rights report finds that the right to protest is under continuous and systematic attack.