Coronavirus or not, Europe uses Albania to show it’s business as usual
by Rashmee
Posted on March 25, 2020
The European Union (EU) is trying business as usual, pandemic or not, and it’s using a hot-button issue – accession talks for Albania and North Macedonia – to do so. On Tuesday (March 24), EU foreign and Europe ministers discussed (by videoconference) a proposal to open talks with the two Balkan countries. It was an … Continue reading “Coronavirus or not, Europe uses Albania to show it’s business as usual”
Read MoreSix decades after independence, Middle East still looking for growth model
by Rashmee
Posted on March 8, 2020 / The Arab Weekly
Though a large youthful population would normally be regarded an economic blessing, it’s become the bane of the MENA region. It’s been 75 years since World War II ended and the idea of decolonising the Middle East and North Africa began to gain ground but, while formal colonisation ended about six decades ago, the region … Continue reading “Six decades after independence, Middle East still looking for growth model”
Read MoreTrump’s invisible wall is not just for Muslims
by Rashmee
Posted on February 15, 2020 / The Arab Weekly
The virtual wall takes the United States back to a century ago, when being white was key to acquiring US citizenship. The battle to replace Donald Trump in the White House got properly under way with the Democratic Party primary election in New Hampshire, so it’s worth examining the state of Trump’s signature campaign promise … Continue reading “Trump’s invisible wall is not just for Muslims”
Read MoreHow Suleimani’s death will affect India and Pakistan
by Rashmee
Posted on January 6, 2020 / The National
To properly consider the possible fallout of Friday’s targeted US strike on Qassem Suleimani, of Iran’s elite Quds Force, disregard the tub-thumping rhetoric from Washington and the ominous rumblings from Tehran. Listen instead for the sound of silences within disparate countries’ statements on the situation. Consider the responses offered by South Asia’s nuclear-armed neighbours, India … Continue reading “How Suleimani’s death will affect India and Pakistan”
Read MoreIn Bethlehem, a Christmas story with a modern message-and Jingle Bells in Arabic
by Rashmee
Posted on December 25, 2019 / Quartz
At the newly-renovated Church of the Nativity where, the story goes, Jesus, the Prince of Peace was born, pilgrims from around the world are gathering for midnight mass. But for some, the real celebration of peace happened last week, a 10-minute drive away from the church, in as humble a place as the stable where Christ was born. At Canary … Continue reading “In Bethlehem, a Christmas story with a modern message-and Jingle Bells in Arabic”
Read MoreGambia’s case on behalf of the Rohingyas underlines shared humanity not just Muslim concerns
by Rashmee
Posted on December 19, 2019 / The Arab Weekly
Gambia’s attempt to hold Myanmar accountable for the Rohingyas’ suffering tells an exhilarating story about multilateralism and international rule of law. The past few days brought one of the more moving examples of the interconnectedness of our world and the irreducible core of the eternal human quest for justice, Gambia’s case accusing Myanmar of genocide … Continue reading “Gambia’s case on behalf of the Rohingyas underlines shared humanity not just Muslim concerns”
Read MoreDoes Britain believe in deradicalisation anymore?
by Rashmee
Posted on December 9, 2019 / The Arab Weekly
The real question should be the effectiveness of the British model of deradicalisation. Thus far, it has largely revolved around challenging extremists’ religious ideology. The truly tragic fallout of the November 29 London Bridge knife attack by Usman Khan, a man who had served time in prison for terrorist offences, must be considered in two … Continue reading “Does Britain believe in deradicalisation anymore?”
Read MoreRussia has fair-weather friends and allies in the Middle East
by Rashmee
Posted on November 30, 2019
Former Israeli foreign minister Shlomo Ben-Ami recently attempted to set everyone right on a crucial question: Is Russia the Middle East’s new hegemon? His answer was somewhat surprising. Russia is not the region’s new hegemon, he concluded. Never forget that its economy is the size of South Korea’s and its military capabilities significantly less that … Continue reading “Russia has fair-weather friends and allies in the Middle East”
Read MoreTrump claims the US knows ‘exactly who’ the new ISIS leader is. Really?
by Rashmee
Posted on November 6, 2019
Donald Trump said the US knows “exactly who” the new ISIS leader is. If so, it’s not letting on. In fact, when the extremist group named Abu Ibrahim Al Hashemi Al Quraishi as Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi’s successor, security experts across the world had just one question: who is he? The announcement, on Halloween, threw … Continue reading “Trump claims the US knows ‘exactly who’ the new ISIS leader is. Really?”
Read MoreWhat to make of Russia’s fake news jibe about supporting US op that Trump says killed Baghdadi
by Rashmee
Posted on October 28, 2019
The Russians disputed Donald Trump’s account four hours after his triumphalist October 27 announcement of the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. No thanks due to us, the Russian Ministry of Defence said tersely, after Mr Trump’s announcement – dripping with vulgar self-satisfaction, larded with inappropriate language, and fulsome praise for “Russia, Turkey, Iraq, … Continue reading “What to make of Russia’s fake news jibe about supporting US op that Trump says killed Baghdadi”
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Rashmee has lived and worked in several countries in the past decade, including Afghanistan, India, Haiti, Tunisia, the UAE, US and UK