An Outbreak Anywhere Is an Outbreak Everywhere
New York governor Andrew Cuomo has become the articulate, compassionate political face of government competence in fighting a pandemic. That’s quite an achievement for a man who as late as…
Middle Powers and the US-Iran Conflict – Op-Ed
The Trump Administration’s decision to use a drone to carry out a targeted assassination of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Al-Quds Commander General Qassem Soleimani – along with his Iraqi confederates that…
Chart Explains the Entire World Economy
A map by HowMuch.net provides a perspective of the worldwide economy. The map represents each country relative to the size of its nominal gross domestic product. The higher the percentage…
Syria Safe-Zones-Plan Takes Effect
RUSSIA, IRAN AND TURKEY have agreed to a memorandum establishing four safe zones across the north, central, and southern parts of Syria. This plan took effect on 05 May at 21:00…
Assad in the Ascendant?
Back in the glory days of the so-called “Arab Spring”, when Middle Eastern dictators were falling like ninepins, it seemed that the overthrow of Ben Ali of Tunisia, Mubarak of…
China Maneuverers Between Saudi Arabia and Iran
This week’s sanctioning of one of China’s largest telecom equipment manufacturers, ZTE, by the US Commerce Department, and an investigation of Huawei, ZTE’s foremost Chinese competitor, could not have come at a…
Trump’s Middle East Policy Takes Shape Op-Ed
Never mind the traditional first hundred days. Within US President Trump’s first twenty days in office the broad outlines of his policy for the Middle East had emerged. It clearly…
The state of Lebanon
Uniquely among the 50 Muslim-majority nations of the world, Lebanon has a Christian president. The inauguration of Michel Aoun on 1 November 2016 ended a 29-month power vacuum and a…
Breathtaking: Farsi Album by Israeli Singer
Maureen Nehedar’s transition from Hebrew to Farsi allows her to express additional sensibilities and hues of her amazing vocal talent. Can a breathtaking experience last for six and a half…
Men Wear Headscarf in Iran in Solidarity With Women
Men in Iran are wearing hijabs in solidarity with their wives who are forced to cover their hair The campaign against enforced hijab in Iran has seen women defying morality…