The month saw Venezuela’s political, economic and humanitarian crisis worsen amid heightened tensions between the government and opposition, a situation which could lead to state collapse and regional destabilisation. Another major setback in electing a new president in Haiti prompted fears of further civil unrest. In West Africa, deadly violence in central Mali and south-east Nigeria spiked, while a power struggle in Guinea-Bissau led to a dangerous standoff. In Libya, factions for and against the fledgling Government of National Accord (GNA) advanced on Sirte to expel the Islamic State (IS), risking clashes over oil facilities, while Turkey saw heightened political polarisation and an increase in violence in Kurdish areas. Ongoing peace talks, despite slow progress and ongoing violence, remain the best chance to end major combat in Yemen.

The month saw Venezuela’s political, economic and humanitarian crisis worsen amid heightened tensions between the government and opposition, a situation which could lead to state collapse and regional destabilisation. Another major setback in electing a new president in Haiti prompted fears of further civil unrest. In West Africa, deadly violence in central Mali and south-east Nigeria spiked, while a power struggle in Guinea-Bissau led to a dangerous standoff. In Libya, factions for and against the fledgling Government of National Accord (GNA) advanced on Sirte to expel the Islamic State (IS), risking clashes over oil facilities, while Turkey saw heightened political polarisation and an increase in violence in Kurdish areas. Ongoing peace talks, despite slow progress and ongoing violence, remain the best chance to end major combat in Yemen.

As I write this message, Crisis Group experts are working to address urgent challenges ranging from escalating hostilities in Syria to the complex peace process in Colombia to the formation of a transitional government of national unity to calm violence in South Sudan. Our field-centred analysis and advocacy are influencing key players in each of these major conflict-prevention efforts. I ask you to consider making a donation to Crisis Group today, as we approach the end of our fiscal year on 30 June. We need your support now with the demand for our work growing alongside the terrible trend toward more wars, more civilians killed, and more people displaced worldwide.

The month saw fighting escalate again in Syria and Afghanistan, and erupt in Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenian-backed separatists and Azerbaijani forces. In Bangladesh, election violence and killings by extremist groups showed how new heights of government-opposition rivalry and state repression have benefitted violent political party wings and extremist groups alike. Political tensions intensified in Iraq and Macedonia, and security forces severely supressed opposition protests in the Republic of Congo and Gambia. On a positive note, new governments were formed in the Central African Republic and South Sudan to consolidate peace gains, and talks to end Yemen’s one-year-old civil war got underway, albeit later than planned.

The month saw violent extremist movements, including the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda-linked groups, carry out major deadly attacks in Turkey, Pakistan, Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia and Belgium. In Libya, the arrival of Prime Minister Serraj in Tripoli despite warnings from multiple factions could lead to further destabilisation. Meanwhile in Central Africa, political violence rose in Burundi and could break out in Chad around the 10 April presidential election. Yemen, South Sudan and even Syria saw progress, of varying degrees, toward peace talks or implementation of agreements, and in Colombia the start of talks between the state and the National Liberation Army (ELN) could lead to the end of the 52-year-old conflict.

The International Crisis Group is honoured to announce the creation of the Giustra Fellowship for Conflict Prevention, made possible by a generous gift of $1 million from Canadian businessman and philanthropic leader Frank Giustra through The Radcliffe Foundation. Mr. Giustra has been a long-time advocate for Crisis Group, providing transformational financial support since joining its Board of Trustees in 2005.

Türkiye devleti ile uluslararası alanda terör örgütü olarak kabul edilen PKK arasındaki çözüm sürecinin çökmesi, Temmuz 2015’te çatışmaların yeniden başlaması ve daha sonra derinleşen şiddet sarmalı, yeni bir çözüm sürecinin inşasını hiç olmadığı kadar gerekli kılıyor.

The month saw conflict continue to rage in Turkey’s south east between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), looking likely to further escalate in March. Afghanistan and Somalia both saw armed insurgencies capture new territories. In Africa, political tensions rose in Chad, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, while in Venezuela, deadlock between the opposition-held parliament and government has brought the country closer to political and economic implosion. In Asia, North Korea’s announcement of a satellite launch in violation of UN Security Council resolutions prompted international condemnation and calls for tough new sanctions. On a positive note, the coming month brings the possibility of a final agreement to end Colombia’s decades-old insurgency.

The month saw an intensification of Yemen’s war, amid heightened regional rivalries between Saudi Arabia and Iran complicating prospects for peace. Political tensions increased in Haiti, Guinea-Bissau and Moldova, where protests over endemic corruption and a lack of confidence in the government could escalate. In Africa, Boko Haram’s deadly attacks increased in northern Cameroon, and Burkina Faso was hit by an unprecedented terror attack. On the nuclear front, in East Asia, North Korea’s announcement that it had carried out a successful hydrogen bomb test was roundly condemned, while nuclear-related sanctions on Iran were rolled back in accordance with the July 2015 deal.

The month saw an intensification of deadly violence in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, with over 80 people killed following clashes with security forces. The African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) made a welcome statement of intent to deploy forces to halt the slide toward civil war and mass atrocities. In Afghanistan, fighting raged between government and Taliban forces, particularly in Helmand province, while in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Niger, political tensions heightened. In a positive step forward, a peace deal was signed in Libya but uncertainties remain over the viability of the agreement. As stressed by Jean-Marie Guéhenno, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group, in today’s Ten Conflicts to Watch in 2016, it “should be seen as a beginning, not an end, to the peace process”.

Crisis Group mourns the passing today of Sandy Berger, a tremendous friend and colleague who worked tirelessly to promote greater peace and security in a troubled world. He died of cancer at the age of 70.

November saw further military escalation and setbacks in Syria, particularly after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane it claimed had violated its airspace. Meanwhile, several countries faced extremist attacks claimed by the Islamic State (IS), including in Lebanon, France and Bangladesh. Violence also rose in Turkey between the state and Kurdish insurgents. In Venezuela, political tensions and violence increased ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for 6 December and could worsen, while both Nepal and Kosovo faced deepening political crises. In a positive step forward, Burkina Faso and Myanmar experienced peaceful and openly-contested elections last month.

As armed conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere continued to inflict much suffering and instability around the world, the heads of the UN and International Committee of the Red Cross issued an unprecedented joint warning about the impact of today’s conflicts on civilians and called on states to redouble their efforts to find sustainable solutions to conflicts. Welcoming the call to action, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, President & CEO of the International Crisis Group, said: “It is imperative that the world do much more to respond to early warning signs and prevent wars breaking out in the first place”.

To mark the 20th anniversary of International Crisis Group, we are publishing a series of 20 essays by foreign policy leaders forecasting the “Future of Conflict”.

The International Crisis Group congratulates the members of the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet as this year’s recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. It is an apt recognition of its achievement in allowing the spirit of inclusion and compromise to triumph over the polarisation and violence that has been all too prevalent in the region, and of the central role civil society can play at moments of crisis.

Following UN Special Representative for Libya Bernardino León’s announcement of a new Government of National Accord, Joost Hiltermann, Crisis Group’s Middle East and North Africa Program Director, had the following reaction.

Political crises and violent protests rocked a number of countries in August, including Guatemala, Nepal, Lebanon and Iraq, where popular unrest threatens to topple the government and overturn the post-2003 political order. Deadly conflict worsened in Yemen, Afghanistan and Kashmir, while violence increased in Burundi following President Nkurunziza’s successful run for a third term, and instability remained the norm in the Central African Republic where UN peacekeeping efforts faced a series of setbacks. A border crisis also prompted a dangerous spike in tensions between Colombia and Venezuela. On a positive note, August saw a peace agreement in South Sudan, strengthened prospects for political and constitutional reform in Sri Lanka, and an important political agreement ahead of October elections in Guinea.

Political crises and violent protests rocked a number of countries in August, including Guatemala, Nepal, Lebanon and Iraq, where popular unrest threatens to topple the government and overturn the post-2003 political order. Deadly conflict worsened in Yemen, Afghanistan and Kashmir, while violence increased in Burundi following President Nkurunziza’s successful run for a third term, and instability remained the norm in the Central African Republic where UN peacekeeping efforts faced a series of setbacks. A border crisis also prompted a dangerous spike in tensions between Colombia and Venezuela. On a positive note, August saw a peace agreement in South Sudan, strengthened prospects for political and constitutional reform in Sri Lanka, and an important political agreement ahead of October elections in Guinea.

St. Pachomius can justifiabley be called the founder of cenobitic monasticism, monks who live in community. Even though St. Antony the Great was the first to go into the desert to live a life of seclusion pursuing evangelical perfection, he lived a heremitic life, that is, a primarily solitary life.Pachomius first started out as a hermit in the desert, like many of the other men and women in the third and fourth centuries who sought the most radical expression of Christian life. There he developed a very strong bond of friendship with the hermit Palemon. One day during prayer, he had a vision in which he was called to build a monastery, and was told in the vision that many people who were eager to live an ascetic life in the desert, but were not inclined to the solitary life of a hermit, would come and join him.  His hermit friend, Palemon, helped him to build the monastery and Pachomius insisted that his cenobites were to aspire to the austerity of the hermits.However, Pchomius knew that his idea was a radical one, because most of the men who came to live in his monastery had only ever conceived of the eremitic lifestyle. His great accomplishment was to reconcile this desire for austere perfection with an openness to fulfilling the mundane requirements of community life as an expression of Christian love and service. He spent most of his first years as a cenobitic doing all the menial work on his own, knowing that his brother monks needed to be gently inducted into serving their brothers in the same manner.  He therefore allowed them to devote all their time to spiritual exercises in those first years.  At his death, there were eleven Pachomian monasteries: nine for men and two for women.The rule that Pachomius drew up was said to have been dictated to him by an angel, and it is this rule that both St. Benedict in the west and St. Basil in the east drew upon to develop their better known rules of cenobitic life. St. Pachomius died in the year 346.

The provisional schedule for the June 2021 finals has been released, with co-hosts Hungary and Slovenia in action on the opening day.

Switzerland, England, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and France extended their 100% starts.

Spain and Germany dominate the U21 EURO Team of the Tournament, supplying ten of the 11 players.

A record 78 goals were scored in 21 games as Spain won their fifth U21 title: watch them all now.

Fabián Ruiz has been chosen as the SOCAR Player of the Tournament at the 2019 UEFA Under 21 Championship.

Fabián Ruiz and Dani Olmo got the goals as Spain overcame Germany 2-1 in the 2019 UEFA Under 21 EURO final.

See the full story of the 2019 Under-21 EURO after Spain turned the tables on 2017 winners Germany.

Spain's Dani Olmo was man of the match in the final against Germany: see every winner of that honour in 2019.

Two weeks of thrilling football in Italy ended with Spain clinching their fifth Under-21 title.

Spain meet Germany in Sunday's U21 EURO final, a rerun of the 2017 showpiece – here's all you need to know.

"This is the moment of truth," says the Spain midfielder ahead of his second U21 EURO final against Germany.

Holders Germany face Spain in Udine, Italy in a repeat of the 2017 final.

Spain take on France in a heavyweight semi-final – here's all you need to know.

Team news, coaches' views, form guide and key stats as Germany meet Romania.

Spain are a familiar presence in the U21 semi-finals, while France have not featured in the last four since 2006.

UEFA EURO 2016 dominated the UEFA.com landscape for much of the year, but how much do you remember? Allow us to recap the headline news from a memorable summer in France.

France forward Antoine Griezmann has received his award as the Player of the Tournament for UEFA EURO 2016 in the run-up to Les Bleus' European Qualifier against Bulgaria.

In the last extract from the new UEFA EURO 2016 technical report, the expert panel examine whether having the majority of possession was really much use at all.

In the four extract from the new UEFA EURO 2016 technical report, the expert panel examine why there were such low scoring in the group stage and where the goals came from.

In the third extract from the new UEFA EURO 2016 technical report, the expert panel look at how crosses have become increasing important sources of goals.

In the second extract from the new UEFA EURO 2016 technical report, the expert panel look at which teams relied on long passing and when it proved effective.

In this first extract from the new UEFA EURO 2016 technical report, the expert panel reflect on the decreasing proportion of goals scored from counterattacks.

The official UEFA EURO 2016 website has been nominated for two categories in the sixth Annual Lovie Awards which honour the best of the European internet.

Gábor Király, 40, has won UEFA.com Save of the Season for his stop to keep out Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick during Hungary's UEFA EURO 2016 game against Belgium.

"We have a key word from day one: 'winning'. We are going to keep fighting hard to keep doing that," said Fernando Santos as he prepared for four more years as Portugal coach.

With the dust now settling on UEFA EURO 2016, we looked back at the 51 matches that took place in France and tried to pick out the best five. What do you think?

The biggest UEFA European Championship ever was mirrored on UEFA's digital platforms, with almost 300 million visits to EURO2016.com and the official apps during the tournament.

"You won with courage, determination, fighting spirit and humility," said the president of Portugal, as Fernando Santos, Cristiano Ronaldo and the team brought the Henri Delaunay Trophy home.

Members of EURO2016.com's crack reporting team in France named their highlights of the past month, including their favourite match, moment and song.