Search results

Gulf prime ministers’ roles will ensure the status quo

Location:

GULF STATES

Prime ministers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are part of the ruling families. They often combine the role with that of crown prince or sovereign ministerial…

Despite political headwinds, Qatar’s economy will grow

Location:

QATAR

The fall, which is likely to prove temporary, broke a rising trend. Despite the freeze in relations between Doha and its neighbours, sizeable foreign assets have alleviated…

Japan-Malaysia defence ties may estrange Beijing

Location:

JAPAN/MALAYSIA

The outlook for deepening defence links between Japan and Malaysia.

Nawaz Sharif will hold the edge in Pakistan polls

Location:

PAKISTAN

Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) or PML(N) party and a three-time former prime minister, appears to have the backing of the politically powerful…

Nawaz Sharif return to power appears close in Pakistan

Location:

PAKISTAN

The National Assembly was dissolved in August to pave the way for the polls. Shehbaz Sharif, president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) or PML(N) party, was prime minister at…

Israeli-Arab normalisation will freeze, not reverse

Location:

ISRAEL/MIDDLE EAST

Deepening Gulf-Israel normalisation -- and particularly heavy US-backed efforts to advance a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia -- set the context for the Hamas attack against…

Bahrain’s new premier faces difficult fiscal choices

Location:

BAHRAIN

Manama is seeking multiple means to adjust to the impact of the pandemic, publishing a two-year budget in November that targets a steady decline in the fiscal deficit. Although…

Sadr will dominate Iraqi post-election politics

Location:

IRAQ

Unpredictable populist Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr again emerged as the de facto leader of the largest single party. Kurdish and Sunni factions also saw significant shifts.

Kuwait’s government may seek to centralise power

Location:

KUWAIT

The government is also curtailing legislators’ right to cross-question ministers, especially the prime minister -- a distinctive feature of the Kuwaiti system that has long given…

Floods give a new focus to Pakistan’s foreign policy

Location:

PAKISTAN

Islamabad, which provisionally estimates the economic cost of the disaster at USD10bn, continues to call on external players to provide financial and humanitarian assistance…