Media Center

In late 2012, just as President Obama and his aides began secretly sketching out a diplomatic opening to Iran, American intelligence agencies were busy with a parallel initiative: The latest spy-vs.-spy move in the decade-long effort to sabotage Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure. 

According to data by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, military spending increased by 49 percent worldwide during the period from 2001 to 2013. During the same timeframe, expenditure grew by 277 percent in China, 152 percent in Russia, 72 percent in India, 99 percent in East Asia, 114 percent in Africa, and 59 percent in the Middle East. 

Difficult though it may be to believe, Iran presents more important challenges than whether a nuclear deal negotiated with the regime in the teeth of congressional opposition would be legally binding. Nuclear weapons are scary, and they do matter, but in the long run, geopolitical reality matters more.

Bahraini security forces have seized bomb-making equipment being smuggled from Iraq aboard a passenger bus for use in attacks in the Gulf Arab kingdom, the public prosecutor said. 

A senior member of the Saudi royal family has warned that a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme could prompt other regional states to develop atomic fuel. 

Sales of weapons to Gulf states have increased by more than 70% over the past five years, according to research that also pointed out that global sales of military drones are rising. 

United States intelligence agencies detected the deployments in the past few weeks as Iraq was marshaling a force of 30,000 troops — two-thirds of them Shiite militias largely trained and equipped by Iran, according to three American officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence reports on Iran. 

Bahrain Strategic, International and Energy Studies Centre (DERASAT)’s Chairman, Major-General Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Fadhala received here today Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Kiyoshi Asako. 

As the Islamic State continues to metastasize in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter warned lawmakers Wednesday that cutting the Pentagon’s budget could lead to serious threats to the nation’s homeland and urged members to find a solution to sequestration for the entire government. 

Few cities can evoke the same sense of promise as Shanghai can. For more than a century, the sprawling metropolis, now teeming with more than 25 million people and home to the world’s busiest transport hub, has been the crucible of modern China.