OPINION

James Lunt As tensions rise between Iran, Israel and the United States, Gulf states are scrambling to prevent a regional confrontation from becoming an economic and security catastrophe. The most dangerous moment in a geopolitical crisis is not always when the first missile is launched. Sometimes it comes …

Dan Steinbock        The Ebola crisis in Central Africa has crossed another dangerous threshold. What began as an outbreak in DR Congo has spread across national borders, exposed weaknesses in international preparedness, and the management of emergency assistance. On October 20, Nigeria confirmed an imported case in Abuja. …

Ian MacDonald Turkey’s military presence in Syria and Iraq is entering a new phase. For years, Ankara has justified its cross-border deployments primarily through the fight against Kurdish armed groups and the need to prevent threats from spilling across its borders. But as political arrangements in Damascus and …

Sarah Viceroy As Israel approaches its 27 October 2026 election, Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque have become more than religious and territorial flashpoints. They are also instruments in a fierce contest for political influence, particularly within Israel’s nationalist and religious right. Politicians are competing to demonstrate who can …

 Cynthia Jacobs The Eastern Mediterranean is becoming an increasingly important arena in the contest over maritime boundaries, energy security and regional influence. Turkey’s growing naval presence and its strategic partnership with Libya have strengthened Ankara’s position in this competition, giving it additional leverage over future gas projects, undersea …

Alexis Nexus The next frontier of military competition may not be found only in hypersonic missiles, autonomous drones or artificial intelligence. It may lie within the human body itself—in the vast microbial ecosystem that helps regulate digestion, immunity and metabolism. As synthetic biology advances, researchers are exploring ways …

James Ross The history of extremism in the Arab world cannot be understood through security failures and the rise of armed groups alone. It must also be examined through the political ideas, organizational networks and historical circumstances that allowed radical movements to emerge, adapt and cross national borders. …

Maysa Al-Rifai The meeting in Tehran between senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan and Iran was more than another security gathering in a region accustomed to managing crises on the brink of disaster. Its significance lies in a strategic paradox: the three countries that signed the Mecca …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh The attack in Karak was more than an act of terrorism. It was an assault on the social compact that holds Jordan together—and a reminder that national unity must be defended through security, justice, and an uncompromising commitment to equal citizenship. From the church in …