Trump visiting Gulf Arab states while crises flare in Gaza, Iran
Dubai (AP): On his trip this week to the Middle East, US President Donald Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, though his most pressing regional challenges concern two other countries: Israel and Iran.
After ending a ceasefire two months ago, Israel is intensifying the war in the Gaza Strip, where a blockade on food, medicine and other supplies is worsening a humanitarian crisis. And Iran, an enemy of Israel and a rival of Saudi Arabia, stands on the cusp of being able to develop nuclear weapons.
Yet Trump will focus his attention on three energy-rich nations home to existing or planned Trump-branded real estate projects — places where he aims to leverage American economic interests to do what he personally revels in: making business deals.
“This is his happy place,” said Jon B Alterman, a senior vice president at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies. “His hosts will be generous and hospitable. They'll be keen to make deals. They'll flatter him and not criticize him. And they'll treat his family members as past and future business partners.”
But Trump won't be able to avoid altogether diplomacy on Gaza or Iran: The Gulf countries hosting him are also interested in easing the regional tensions that emanate from these two places.
“Trump can easily score a win by reassuring them of America's strategic commitment to the region, demonstrating consistent messaging and generally rising above the fray,” analysts Elizabeth Dent and Simon Henderson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy wrote.
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Speaker asks govt to educate MPs on crop insurance scheme
New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday asked the government to form groups of MPs to guide them on the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna to enhance their understanding of the key scheme.
When Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was responding to supplementaries during the Question Hour, Birla proposed creation of such groups.
The minister agreed with the idea.
The scheme provides farmers with affordable insurance coverage against crop losses due to natural disasters.
