The Burana Tower: A fascinating history of grandeur in Kyrgyzstan
By Habib Toumi BISHKEK: In the interpretation of dreams, climbing spiral stairs is a sign that you are on the right path to spiritual growth and that good things that are coming your way. That hopeful interpretation may be great, but right now I am in a dark place, trying to climb incredibly steep stairs […]
The not so-discreet charm of Bishkek’s Osh Bazaar
By Habib Toumi BISHKEK: The Roman Emperor Julius Caesar may have said “Veni, vidi, vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered), but I can say “I came, I saw, I loved” when talking about my visit to Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan. My latest “love” was the Osh Bazaar, as no visit to Bishkek, the bustling capital […]
Fact checking … Finding a vaccine for misinformation
A fake picture of Former First Lady Michele Obama walking a rhinoceros at the White House. Several newspapers were tricked into publishing it. Speech delivered by Habib Toumi, Media Advisor, Bahrain, at the World Journalists Conference (WJC2022) By Habib Toumi Fact checking? Do we really need fact-checking? We most certainly do. A few minutes ago, […]
Climate change: Appreciating Ban-Ki moon’s warning as he calls for protecting Earth
Ban-Ki moon warning against complacency, calling for action to protect Earth By Habib Toumi Bahrain: Ban-Ki moon’s stern warning that there is only one earth and as such, people have no alternative but to protect it and preserve it should be taken very seriously. In his keynote speech at the forum commemorating the 10th anniversary […]
Created 30 years ago, CSTO steps out for the first time in Kazakhstan
By Habib Toumi Manama: As the events were unfolding dramatically in Kazakhstan, a new actor with a major role made its first appearance since it was created 30 years ago: The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). It was the first time that the CSTO agreed to send “peacekeepers”, a clear departure from its stance since […]
Visiting Expo 2020 Dubai: The flamboyant charm of connecting cultures, minds
By Habib Toumi DUBAI: Wading through the large avenues and alleys in the huge Dubai EXPO 2020, I can sense the excitement and enthusiasm among the thousands of people coming from around the world for a unique experience of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.” It is the United Nations in motion and the togetherness of […]
NATO recommendations should be used to save lives
With Anders Fogh Rasmussen NATO Secretary General (2009 – 2014) and Nicola de Santis By Habib Toumi BAHRAIN: Going through the recent assessment of NATO’s engagement in Afghanistan and the ensuing recommendations, I had an eerie feeling of déjà-vu. One recommendation read: “When planning and conducting future operations, Allies should continuously assess strategic interests, remain […]
Lessons learned: A divided world will continue to struggle in 2022
Bu Habib Toumi BAHRAIN: Although 2021 cannot be really described as “annus mirabilis” compared with 2020, a dramatic “annus horribilis”, I will always recall it as the year of renewed hope even though new tragedies have struck a world that has lamentably remained divided and lacking in general care. No matter how many books and […]
Bahrain tops Nikkei’s COVID-19 Recovery Index for November
By Habib Toumi MANAMA: Bahrain topped the list of the countries on the Nikkei’s COVID-19 Recovery Index for November as the Kingdom consolidate its achievements in confronting the pandemic and returning to a normal way of life. The index, first published in July, assesses 122 countries and regions in terms of COVID recovery by calculating […]
Recalling an interview with Yasser Arafat on the anniversary of his death
By Habib Toumi MANAMA: It was around midnight when we got the much-awaited call announcing that the “Chairman” would meet us within a couple of hours at an hotel transformed into the temporary headquarters of the Palestinian authority in Tunisia. We immediately leapt into action, rushed our cameras, stands and microphones and headed towards Borj […]
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Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
