Saad Hasan

Why has Turkey banned rentals in foreign currency?

The government is trying to remove a currency distortion created by firms that earned in liras but accumulated debts in foreign currency.

Talks in Tehran are a last-ditch effort to avoid another Syrian bloodbath

Humanitarian workers are calling for a negotiated settlement to the Idlib crisis but will the Assad regime call off the military assault?

Does US care more about its evangelical voter base than global markets?

Donald Trump’s use of sanctions and tariffs without an economic rationale has reversed US' role of acting as a bulwark against market uncertainty. Experts say the move is aimed at pleasing conservative Christians ahead of mid-term elections.

The rise and fall of Altaf Hussain, Pakistan’s controversial politician

The once-charismatic leader who could amass tens of thousands with one phone call has been completely sidelined in the 2018 elections.

Is the boycott of Israel working?

The activists who managed to keep the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement alive are now facing difficult times under the Trump presidency.

What drove Istanbulites to the ballot box

As the country witnessed the unprecedented 87 percent voter turnout, we spoke to young and old, single and married people of Istanbul soon after they cast their votes.

Can Iraq’s next government tackle deep-rooted corruption?

For the first time in many years, Iraqis have voted for politicians who campaigned not on sectarian or ethnic fault-lines but salient issues such as the country’s economy.

What happened to Iraq's economy post-US invasion?

The post-invasion Iraq was supposed to be a land of opportunity but what followed were years of political bickering, violence and corruption. Iraqis are waiting for an unwinding.

Q&A: Six things you need to know about Syria’s chemical weapons programme

The US missile strikes offer no guarantee if they will cause serious damage to Bashar al Assad’s chemical weapons infrastructure.

Does poisoning people strengthen Assad's grip on Syria?

Bashar al Assad’s regime has once again shown to both its allies and detractors that it operates with impunity.

Can Pakistan’s controversial envoy fix ties between Islamabad and DC?

The outgoing administration’s decision to nominate a young businessman as the country's top diplomat in Washington has angered the country's powerful military.

Uber holds its ground as Istanbul's yellow cabs charge

Istanbul’s rough and tough taxi drivers, notorious for their bad behaviour, have taken on the ride-hailing app, which is accused of skirting local regulations to connect passengers with the closest rides available.