Middle East

By Shehab Al Makahleh • The agreement between the Syrian government and the armed opposition to cease hostilities in certain locations in Syria is seen as a principled success of the deal reached late June, that went into effect in July, on establishment of de-escalation zones in Eastern Ghouta …

The UAE, not an old state and not even a state in every sense of the word, was founded in the 1970s with the British support for small sheikhdoms and immigration of people from other parts of the Arab Peninsula. The 47-year-old state lies on the southern coasts …

Abdel Bari Atwan • As a deadly cholera epidemic compounds the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the Saudi-led war on Yemen, the military and political situation in the country is in stalemate. Other than the occasional Houthi missile strike into Saudi territory and sporadic fighting on the Saudi-Yemen border that …

As expected, the intra-Syrian agreement on a cessation of hostilities between the Syrian army and the armed factions in what was seen as a principled success of the deal could lead to ending the six-year war in Syria. Moscow explained that it was in contact with the American …

Polina Tikhonova • As Turkey turns its back on the West and seeks rapprochement with Russia, Pakistan has formally asked Moscow to help stabilize Afghanistan. Turkey, Pakistan and Russia are pushing toward a peaceful world with Turkey backing Moscow’s diplomatic initiative to resolve the Syrian conflict. Meanwhile, Pakistan, China and Russia working …

Egyptian expert says Russia is ‘excellent candidate’ to mediate in crisis around Qatar CAIRO, July 31. /TASS/. Doha’s crisis with Arab states was imposed on the Arab states from outside. It is dangerous not only because of a possible military confrontation of Arab states with Iran, but also …

Regardless of our ethnicity, we Muslims are usually full of pride to belong to our faith. Yet, the clear majority of us live a tense life that is obviously of a lower quality than that of other societies. Irrespective of profession or social status, being recognized as a …

The leading oil producer within OPEC, Saudi Arabia, seems to be suffering from low oil prices and instability within the country. RIA Novosti political observer Igor Gashkov analyzed how the country, in fact, might ruin itself from within, and what external factors might play a certain role. Saudi …

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraqi Vice President Nuri al-Maliki discussed supplies of Russian T-90 battle tanks at a meeting in St Petersburg on Tuesday, according to a Russian military official present at the meeting. Russia’s Izvestia newspaper cited the Kremlin last week …