Israel’s bombing of Doha has escalated the Gaza war, pulling Qatar—a key mediator—directly into the conflict. The strikes, reportedly aimed at senior Hamas leaders, killed five Hamas members and shattered hopes for a ceasefire with Gaza, raising fears for Israeli hostages. The attack drew widespread regional condemnation, uniting Arab states in outrage and exposing Israel’s boldness under US backing. Qatar, home to the largest US base in the region, warned of grave risks to regional security. The incident marks a dangerous shift: Doha, once a hub for peace talks, is now a new front in a widening Middle East war.

At a CISS AJK seminar, experts argued that U.S. involvement in Kashmir reflects geopolitical interests rather than a genuine push for self-determination. While Donald Trump’s offer to mediate highlighted the dispute, analysts note Washington historically prioritizes stability and alliances over human rights. India rejects outside mediation, while Pakistan remains open to international solutions. Kashmir, the world’s most militarized region, continues to face grave abuses, underscoring the need for stronger global action.

Fresh off a costly war with Israel, Iran faces a worsening economic crisis marked by soaring inflation, a plunging rial, shrinking production, and a budget deficit exceeding $10.5 billion. The IMF now projects near-stagnant growth of just 0.3% in 2025, a sharp decline from earlier forecasts. Sanctions, corruption, smuggling, and collapsing oil revenues have left the regime scrambling to maintain services amid strikes, protests, and rising poverty. Observers warn that Tehran’s economic fragility—exposed by the war—could trigger deeper instability at home and weaken its ability to confront external threats.

This opinion piece looks at how human suffering by the Gazans has become normalised. "The normalisation of Palestinian suffering did not happen overnight. It is the product of decades of dispossession, war, and occupation, met largely with diplomatic handwringing and vague calls for restraint," it reads.

Egypt topped North Africa in tourism revenues for 2025, generating $8.05 billion in the first half of the year, a 22% increase, with tourist arrivals up 25%. The country aims to reach $18.3 billion in total revenues by year-end and attract 30 million tourists annually by 2030 through major infrastructure investments, hotel expansion, and incentives. Egypt also plans to boost yacht tourism, targeting $3 billion in revenues and a 30% share of Mediterranean and Red Sea yacht traffic within five years.

Syria’s new government, led by Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, took power peacefully after Bashar al-Assad’s exit, but faces deep sectarian tensions, economic hardship, and threats from both Assad loyalists and hostile armed groups. While Sharaa has pledged unity and moderation, rebuilding trust, improving living conditions, and preventing Syria’s fragmentation remain daunting tasks in a volatile regional environment.