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النسخة العربية
  • Politics
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  • Tag
  • world chess champion

Hard-line religious jurists wanted chess banned, but they lost the argument, not least because it was played and enjoyed by caliphs, ministers and sultans Shutterstock

A thousand years ago, Muslims gave Europe the game of chess

Caliph Harun al-Rashid sent Emperor Charlemagne a beautifully crafted chessboard showing how shared pastimes can be a bridge between peoples

Abdullah Al-Rashid 07 August 2024
  • Popular
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A collage of Israel's policy of destruction and starvation in Gaza. Eduardo Ramon
Politics

Unpacking Israel's decisive turn towards savagery

23 April 2026

Israel's gloves-off approach since 2023 didn't emerge out of the blue; it is deeply rooted in Zionist and Israeli military thought.

Majed Kayali
Axel Rangel Garcia
Business & Economy

Test of wills: Iran’s ability to outlast the US blockade

26 April 2026

The standoff in the Hormuz is not simply a question of whether Tehran can survive economic pressure, but whether Washington can sustain the pressure at an acceptable cost.

Alex Vatanka
Sara Padovan
Science & Technology

Iran’s 'mosquito fleet' presents a pesky problem

28 April 2026

The Strait of Hormuz is now poised to become the primary arena of confrontation, with Iran relying on speedboat-driven guerrilla warfare to confront the US navy.

Marco Mossad
A Syrian army soldier holds a national flag featuring Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in front of a building left in ruins on 5 June 2013 in the city of Qusayr in the Homs province. AFP
Politics

Syria's taswiya slow roll creates a host of problems

28 April 2026

Former regime soldiers are stuck in limbo, as their undocumented status prevents them from working, travelling, and curbs family members' access to education, healthcare and social services

Haid Haid
Culture & Social Affairs

The Arab women raising the bar in travel literature

28 April 2026

In recent years, travel writing has witnessed a striking revival, though along a different path, one now charted by Arab women's voices.

Ibrahim Adel

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OPINIONS

Russia mulls Mali strategy after failed coup attempt

Anton Mardasov
Anton Mardasov

In a divided Lebanon, middle ground is largely illusory

Houssam Itani
Houssam Itani

The UAE’s departure from OPEC may not break the cartel

The Economist
The Economist

The Arab women raising the bar in travel literature

Ibrahim Adel
Ibrahim Adel
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