Last week, Al Majalla covered an array of important stories from around the world. For his part, Con Coughlin wrote on the latest push by US President Donald Trump to silence the guns in Ukraine, opining that after a 28-point plan was first floated and then revised, the fate of the Ukraine war lies firmly now in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hands. Similarly, Saudi Arabia also pushed for renewed efforts to end the war in Sudan. Ibrahim Hamidi writes, “At Riyadh's behest, Trump brought the conflict back into the global spotlight when he pledged he would work to end the fighting at the Saudi-US investment forum in Washington.” 

For his part, Abdullah F. Alrebh comments on Trump’s decision to designate some chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorists. To survive, he opines, the group will need to shapeshift. Read the article to understand more about the organisation and the impact of Trump’s decision. Meanwhile, Kamal Alam highlights the plight of Arab Christians in the Middle East and how conservative American journalists like Tucker Carlson have put this often-forgotten group back on the US map, much to Israel’s chagrin.

And Michael Horowitz looks at the shadow network moving Palestinians out of Gaza. In his piece, he says, “A plane carrying Palestinian refugees from Gaza arrived in Johannesburg earlier this month, exposing a systematic pattern of organised transfers that had Israeli military coordination.” And El-Sayed Hussein interviews Arabic Booker Prize winner Basem Khandakji, who won in 2023 for a novel he penned while behind Israeli bars. After his release and exile to Cairo, Al Majalla speaks to the Palestinian writer about his extraordinary experience and his literary purpose. For her part, Alia Mansour says that Benjamin Netanyahu is the greatest obstacle to Syria’s stability, highlighting Israel’s many provocations in the country.

Meanwhile, Thuraya Shahin explains how Hezbollah money laundering risks sanctions on Lebanon. In her piece, she says, “Media reports show pro-Hezbollah charities using online platforms to solicit donations via digital wallets to circumvent sanctions,” she says, adding that “In Lebanon’s cash economy, that is a dangerous game to play.”

Switching gears, Khattar Abu Diab explains how a rising far right is reshaping Europe’s political landscape, while Amer Ziab Al-Tamimi explains why Gulf non-oil exports are doing more but have more to do. In Science, Mohammed Mansour explains how Alzheimer’s doesn’t just erode memory, but erodes time itself. And last but not least, Shadi Alaa Aldin celebrates 50 years of the timeless cartoon that stole Arab hearts: Grendizer. In his piece, he explains why the comic cartoon still resonates with Arab audiences after so long.