Washington’s inability to subjugate Iran is an example of how it is trying to preserve a regional order that no longer exists, argues RAMZY BAROUD
GERMANY’S long election campaign, full of ups and downs, marked the end of 16 more or less placid years with Angela Merkel, 67, and her “Christian double party” (CDU and CSU) known as the “Union” (though the Christian Democratic Union’s Bavarian component, the Christian Social Union, stays somewhat separate).
Until now it had joined up with the Social Democrats (SPD) as increasingly uncomfortable junior partners.
But now, without Merkel, her unlucky Union followers ended up with the worst vote in their history (24.1 per cent) and an embarrassing second place.
JOHNNIE HUNTER reports from the German Communist Party’s (DKP) weekly Unsere Zeit (Our Newspaper)-organised Peace Days festival in Berlin last weekend
NICK WRIGHT returns to Berlin and finds a city in darkness and political turmoil



