Author: Saqr el-Attar

Synopsis Israel’s recent killing of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders and missile attacks on Tehran have made Iran’s dialogue with the West problematic and forced Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to seek closer relations with Russia, China and the Gulf States. The failure of Iran’s strategy of forward defence, as shown in its inability to fend off the Israeli attacks, may compel Iran to acquire a nuclear arsenal earlier. This could derail its hard-won relations with the Gulf States and complicate its desired rapprochement with the West. Commentary Since July 2024, Iran’s policy community has experienced unprecedented events, including the assassinations of…

Washington 9 November (30). Whatever feelings about Trump, and you’re not alone in your view that he’s been a polarizing figure. Whether people support or oppose him, there’s no denying that he’s left a lasting imprint on American politics, often evoking comparisons to historical figures like Hitler but more like Mussolini, sometimes for his strongman persona and authoritarian rhetoric, rather than direct parallels to Hitler. This is a leftist narrative. From a policy standpoint, many critics, argue that Trump’s approach has often seemed shallow or reactionary, with an emphasis on rhetoric over substantive, long-term solutions. His style, which can be…

After Tajiks were charged with a deadly attack in Moscow, the country has cracked down on signs of Islam. But experts say it’s not addressing the causes of terrorism. People in Tajikistan were expecting a government crackdown after Tajik men were arrested and charged with a terrorist attack on a Moscow concert hall in March. But it still seemed excessive to Nilufar, a 27-year-old education professional, when she saw local authorities with scissors outside a K.F.C. in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, trimming beards that were deemed too long. Excessive, but not so surprising. In the span of a month, Nilufar herself…

SINGAPORE – The Chinese embassy in Singapore on March 18 asked its citizens in the Republic to “stay away” from gambling, adding that cross-border gambling violates Chinese laws. The embassy, in a statement on its official WeChat account, “solemnly reminded” Chinese citizens in Singapore to steer clear of gambling, which is strictly prohibited by law in China. “Even if overseas casinos are opened legally, cross-border gambling by Chinese citizens is suspected of violating the laws of our country and face the risk of punitive actions,” said the embassy, warning that embassies may not be able to provide consular protection for…

SYDNEY, Dec 13 (Reuters) – Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Wednesday the country had supported a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza out of concern for civilians in the besieged enclave, in a rare split with close ally the United States. After dire warnings by U.N. officials over a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza in the two month long war between Israel and Hamas militants, the 193-member U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire with 153 countries including Australia voting in favour and 23 abstaining. Ten countries voted against including the U.S. and Israel,…

A third wave of Russian forces is attacking the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka and systematically shelling the center of the industrial hub, its Ukrainian head said Friday. The nearly-encircled town near the Russian-held regional stronghold of Donetsk has faced a fierce onslaught for more than a month. “The third wave (of assaults) began. They are attacking from all directions, from the flanks of the south and north, as they did before. They are attacking the industrial zone,” Vitaly Barabash, the head of the town, said. Avdiivka has been on the front line since 2014 and is part of the…

China, Saudi Arabia and Iran on Friday urged for the “immediate cessation of military operations in Gaza” and the flow of “sustainable relief” to Palestinians in the tiny enclave. The call was made in a joint statement after a meeting for the deputy foreign ministers of the three countries in the Chinese capital Beijing held to follow up on the reconciliation agreement, known as the Beijing Agreement, between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The statement also said the three officials “expressed concern about the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip as a threat to regional and international peace and security.” They…

Brussels (3/12) Governments may be doing great while the people suffer. Bombing of the Nordstream 2 pipeline, carrying cheap Russian natural gas to industry and consumers in Europe, is exerting a cascading effect on companies and employment, eventually to be reflected in rising places and sharpening inflation. Russia is steadily experiencing price increases for a variety of goods and services, Russian media report. Is there obviously not a link to the sanctions placed on Russia and the seizure of Russian funds and savings abroad? Punishment for Russia’s “Special Military Operation” to purportedly protect Russian-speaking citizens in eastern Ukraine from state…

LVIV, Ukraine, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s defence minister ordered on Saturday an investigation into an alleged Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukrainian assault brigade, after reports that more than 20 soldiers were killed during an awards ceremony. “My condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers from the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade,” Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said in a social media statement, adding that he had ordered a “full investigation.” In a separate statement on the Telegram messaging app, Ukraine’s Armed Forces said that Russia attacked the Zaporizhzhia region with the Iskander ballistic missile. “Servicemen were…

Doha, Qatar: Qatar has solidified its standing as a global tourism hotspot, said a top official during the opening of the second edition of the Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) yesterday. Chairman of Qatar Tourism, H E Saad bin Ali bin Saad Al Kharji said in his welcoming address that the country has firmly positioned itself as a world-class destination for tourism. Notably, the country has witnessed a remarkable surge in visitors, with nearly three million individuals exploring its attractions, surpassing figures from the last five years, he explained. Qatar Tourism’s data show the…