Syria’s drugs trade won’t be stopped overnight
Undoubtedly, Syria is a changed country. To take just one example, last week interim President Ahmad Al Shara…
The Afghanistan-Pakistan violence could still spiral into a regional conflict
Over the past fortnight, Indians and Pakistanis experienced something that was at once both familiar and unexpected. Pakistan’s…
Economic growth and environmental protection are allies, not adversaries
During this week’s gathering of the conservation community at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, we…
How Estonia and the UAE are measuring ambition with precision
When the UAE unveiled its campaign last month to become the “startup capital of the world”, it did…
Is there enough bite to the snapback sanctions on Iran?
Iran’s diplomacy suffered another setback on September 27, when France, Germany and the UK triggered the snapback mechanism…
Friends reunited: how the Gulf became a trusted global trade partner
Rising geopolitical rivalry and collapsing international law are together threatening global supply chains. This is pushing countries toward…
With Iran in retreat, who is going to fill the vacuum in the Middle East?
A defining feature of the Middle East today is the geopolitical retreat of a once-imperial Iran. It is…
How natural gas can energise diplomacy and mutual progress
Recently, Egypt and Turkey signed a significant natural gas and liquefied natural gas agreement to deploy a Turkish…
Despite US pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, Tehran alone has the leverage to make it happen
The US ambassador to Turkey and envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, returned to Beirut on Monday to hear…
Israel and Iran have a common goal in Syria
Iran and Israel are sworn enemies who, after decades of a covert shadow war, have finally taken their…
Cartoon for February 21, 2025
The Sand Castle Director: Matty Brown Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea Rating:…
Ireland’s Palestine stance was good electoral politics for its establishment parties
Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris, centre, and Foreign Minister Micheal Martin, right, announce that Ireland has recognised…