Turkey's famous 'zero problems' abroad has run up against the realities of a region in crisis
In the mire of the Iraqi-Turkish disagreement, which escalated to the point of exchanging accusations and threats, Tehran issued gleeful statements that celebrated the "new" Iraq as it acceded to a different standing and assumed a new role. The praise extended to the government and its prime minister, Nouri Al Maliki, and went as far as to call for a complete union between the two countries.
It was an obvious expression of the heated struggle over the Arab region between two rising regional poles, said the columnist Areeb Al Rantawi in the Jordanian newspaper Addustour.
"Whether willingly or not, Turkey found itself in the same ditch with Sunni states, kingdoms and movements," said the writer. "On its part, Iran would never deviate from its 'fate' that put it at the forefront of a cross-border regional Shiite axis."
The conflict in the region is taking on the aspect of a Sunni-Shia struggle, thus, both countries, Iran and Turkey, suddenly became leaders of two diverging blocs.
Turkey's famous "zero problems" foreign policy theory disintegrated. In fact, Turkey is embroiled in a cold war with almost all of its neighbours, from Syria to Iran, Iraq and even Greece.
As for Iran, it is no secret that it has been in a state of perpetual conflict with its surroundings at least since the prevalence of the Islamic Revolution, which came with ideas of exporting the revolution and leading the camp of the underprivileged against global imperialism.
"The coexistence that lasted between both regional powers for years so far is facing its most difficult test nowadays on the grounds of the Syrian crisis that is inching ever so closely to Iraq," added the writer.
Iraqi prime minister Al Maliki faces a broad front of local and regional adversaries. Internally, he confronts a coalition of rivals who are "fed up" with his egocentricity and his dictatorial tendencies. Regionally, the man is up against an alliance that extends from Ankara to Riyadh and on to Doha. These are the capitals that publicly denounce his regime and his bias to Iran, and to the Assad regime in Syria, and that despise his marginalisation of the Sunni component in the Iraqi national equation.
By defending Bashar Al Assad and his regime, Mr Al Maliki blatantly defied Turkey and the Arab Gulf states, which now see his toppling as a necessary requirement if they are ever to bring Al Assad down.
It is for this reason precisely, and because the battle over Syria is a matter of life and death for Iran's power in the region, that Mr Al Maliki's head has become a precious taboo that Tehran would fight anyone to defend.
The developments of the Syrian crisis and its Iraqi repercussions promise to pit the two main regional powers further against each other in the near future.
Imam case is a prelude to Islamist revenge
A misdemeanours court in Giza upheld on Tuesday a ruling against Adel Imam, one of Egypt's and the Arab world's most iconic comedians, on charges of deriding Islam in some of his movies and stage comedies, reported the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al Awsat yesterday.
The verdict orders Mr Imam to three months in prison and hard labour, in addition to a 1,000 Egyptian pound fine (Dh600).
"I will appeal," the comedian told the paper. "I trust Egyptian justice," he added.
The case was filed against Mr Imam in February 2011 by a "Salafist lawyer" named Asran Mansour, the paper said. In his plea, Mr Mansour accused the comedian of poking fun at characters in loose-fitting robes and women wearing niqab with such disdain as to constitute an affront to Islam.
Online journalist Ilham Nagib wrote in the news website Masreat: "This looks like a prelude to a war between intellectuals and artists on one side, and the advocates of political Islam on the other. The latter seem to be getting ready to settle old scores with all those who have stood against them once in the past."
Mr Imam's lawyer, Khaled Abu Bakr, described the verdict as a form of censorship and the whole case as an over-the-top move by some hard-line Islamist forces. The Egyptian film industry is said to be outraged.
Israel is never at ease with a strong Egypt
What worries Israel most and forces it to revisit its policies is seeing Egypt restore its sovereignty and pre-Camp David weight lost since the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, wrote the Emirati newspaper Al Khaleej yesterday.
A powerful Egypt makes a big difference regionally. "Decades have elapsed and Israel's plotting against Egypt shows no sign of abating." Backed by the US, Israel has always been bent on undermining Egypt through espionage, plotting and masquerades, with the objective of "hollowing it out", the editorial went on. The gas crisis that re-emerged this week between the two countries is only a "drop in the ocean".
Since the revolution, Israel has shown its neighbour its true colours. Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, notoriously called for the re-establishment of the Israeli Southern Command, an army corps that fought various major wars against Egypt and was dismantled after Camp David.
But such threats won't fly any more. "If anyone comes near Egypt's border, we will break their legs" was the response of the Egyptian army chief. Equally expressive is the statement of Major General Mohamed Hegazy, Commander of the Second Field Army, when he warned that potential aggressors should "reconsider before thinking of attacking Egypt."
* Digest compiled by The Translation Desk
[ translation@thenational.ae ]
MO
Creators: Mohammed Amer, Ramy Youssef
Stars: Mohammed Amer, Teresa Ruiz, Omar Elba
Rating: 4/5
CREW
Director: Rajesh A Krishnan
Starring: Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti Sanon
Rating: 3.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company Profile
Company name: Namara
Started: June 2022
Founder: Mohammed Alnamara
Based: Dubai
Sector: Microfinance
Current number of staff: 16
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Family offices
The Mother
Director: Niki Caro
Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Gael Garcia Bernal, Omari Hardwick and Lucy Paez
Rating: 3/5
Australia men's Test cricket fixtures 2021/22
One-off Test v Afghanistan:
Nov 27-Dec 1: Blundstone Arena, Hobart
The Ashes v England:
Dec 8-12: 1st Test, Gabba, Brisbane
Dec 16-20: 2nd Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (day/night)
Dec 26-30: 3rd Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Jan 5-9, 2022: 4th Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Jan 14-18: 5th Test, Optus Stadium, Perth
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: PlanRadar
Started: 2013
Co-founders: Ibrahim Imam, Sander van de Rijdt, Constantin Köck, Clemens Hammerl, Domagoj Dolinsek
Based: Vienna, Austria
Sector: Construction and real estate
Current number of staff: 400+
Investment stage: Series B
Investors: Headline, Berliner Volksbank Ventures, aws Gründerfonds, Cavalry Ventures, Proptech1, Russmedia, GR Capital
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qureos
Based: UAE
Launch year: 2021
Number of employees: 33
Sector: Software and technology
Funding: $3 million
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 445bhp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh474,600
On Sale: Now
How Beautiful this world is!
Company profile
Company name: Fasset
Started: 2019
Founders: Mohammad Raafi Hossain, Daniel Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $2.45 million
Current number of staff: 86
Investment stage: Pre-series B
Investors: Investcorp, Liberty City Ventures, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Primal Capital, Wealthwell Ventures, FHS Capital, VN2 Capital, local family offices
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
STAY, DAUGHTER
Author: Yasmin Azad
Publisher: Swift Press
Available: Now
World Food Day
Celebrated on October 16, to coincide with the founding date of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Food Day aims to tackle issues such as hunger, food security, food waste and the environmental impact of food production.
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 299hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 420Nm at 2,750rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 12.4L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh157,395 (XLS); Dh199,395 (Limited)
WWE Evolution results
- Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
- Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
- Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
- Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match
- Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
- Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
- Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
- And then copy into this box
- It can be as long as you link
- But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
- Or try to keep the word count down
- Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into
- That's about it
Final round
25 under - Antoine Rozner (FRA)
23 - Francesco Laporta (ITA), Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG)
21 - Grant Forrest (SCO)
20 - Ross Fisher (ENG)
19 - Steven Brown (ENG), Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Niklas Lemke (SWE), Marc Warren (SCO), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
BACK TO ALEXANDRIA
Director: Tamer Ruggli
Starring: Nadine Labaki, Fanny Ardant
Rating: 3.5/5
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
TOP 10 MOST POLLUTED CITIES
1. Bhiwadi, India
2. Ghaziabad, India
3. Hotan, China
4. Delhi, India
5. Jaunpur, India
6. Faisalabad, Pakistan
7. Noida, India
8. Bahawalpur, Pakistan
9. Peshawar, Pakistan
10. Bagpat, India
Source: IQAir
Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray
ROUTE TO TITLE
Round 1: Beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-2
Round 2: Beat Naomi Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
Round 3: Beat Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2
Round 4: Beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0
Quarter-final: Beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2
Semi-final: Beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4
Final: Beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company profile
Company name: Letswork
Started: 2018
Based: Dubai
Founders: Omar Almheiri, Hamza Khan
Sector: co-working spaces
Investment stage: $2.1 million in a seed round with investors including 500 Global, The Space, DTEC Ventures and other angel investors
Number of employees: about 20
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Results
Stage 5:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Team Jumbo-Visma 04:19:08
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 00:00:03
3. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Sergio Higuita (COL) EF Education-Nippo 00:00:05
5. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:06
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 17:09:26
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:45
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:01:12
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Team Jumbo-Visma 00:01:54
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo 00:01:56
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
The Specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 118hp
Torque: 149Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Price: From Dh61,500
On sale: Now
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London