KOMMERSANT (RUSSIA): После трехлетнего перерыва Турция готовится принять 15 мая в Стамбуле новые прямые переговоры России и Украины. О решимости вернуть стране лидирующую роль в запуске диалога Москвы и Киева заявил представитель правящей Партии справедливости и развития Омер Челик. Как пояснил помощник Владимира Путина Юрий Ушаков, переговоры в Стамбуле должны проходить с учетом договоренностей, достигнутых в 2022 году, и ситуации “на земле”. Подготовка к переговорам обнулила требования Киева и его европейских союзников о введении немедленного 30-дневного перемирия до начала диалога России и Украины. Как заявил президент Трамп, он считает намеченную встречу “очень важной”, настаивает на ее проведении и, возможно, даже сам приедет в Стамбул.

DAILY SABAH (TURKEY): Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is engaging in intensive phone diplomacy ahead of the upcoming Russia–Ukraine cease-fire discussions set to take place in Istanbul, holding talks with his counterparts from the United States, Russia, and France. According to diplomatic sources, Fidan’s first call was with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The two officials discussed bilateral issues as well as regional developments, including Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine. During the conversation, minister Fidan emphasized the importance of lifting sanctions on Syria to support the country’s stability and prosperity. He also highlighted the significance of the recent release of American citizen Edan Alexander by Hamas. The two ministers also exchanged views on the planned Russia–Ukraine talks and discussed preparations for Secretary Rubio’s upcoming visit to Türkiye as part of the Informal Meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers to be held in Antalya on May 14–15. Following his conversation with Rubio, Fidan held separate talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. Both discussions focused on efforts to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

THE GUARDIAN (GB): Setback for Europe after Trump insists Ukraine has “immediate” peace talks with Russia. Donald Trump’s social media post insisting Ukraine must immediately start peace talks with Russia has set back, and possibly jeopardised, Europe’s carefully laid plans to persuade the US to impose sanctions on Moscow for refusing the US president’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, European diplomats have said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy had no choice but to accept Vladimir Putin’s invitation to talks in Istanbul on Thursday for fear of offending Trump, diplomats said. Putin made the offer in a bid not to alienate the US president, and avoid the growing European pressure on Trump to impose harsher sanctions. Western diplomats say they have no reason to believe that Trump acted in collusion with the Russian leader. The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland had for the first time gone together to Kyiv at the weekend to underline the call for a 30-day ceasefire that they said should start on Monday.

LE FIGARO (FRANCE): Retour à la case Istanbul? C’est un moment que Recep Tayyip Erdogan attendait depuis trois ans, après l’échec au printemps 2022 de négociations directes entre la Russie et l’Ukraine sur le sol turc. “Les pourparlers de paix entre la Russie et l’Ukraine se poursuivront à Istanbul là où ils s’étaient arrêtés et la Turquie est prête à accueillir des négociations qui conduiraient à une solution permanente” au conflit, a déclaré ce dimanche le reis d’Ankara lors d’un entretien téléphonique avec son homologue russe, selon un communiqué de la présidence turque. Quelques heures plus tôt, il s’empressait d’évoquer un “tournant historique” au cours d’un appel avec le président français Emmanuel Macron, en réaction à la proposition de Vladimir Poutine de reprendre les discussions. La Turquie, membre de l’Otan, avait à l’époque joué les médiateurs en vue d’un règlement rapide de la guerre en Ukraine quelques semaines après son déclenchement.

LA LIBRE (BELGIUM): Les négociations menées depuis des mois entre l’Ukraine et la Russie sous l’égide des États-Unis ont accouché d’une souris. Compte tenu de l’absence manifeste de volonté russe de transiger, cet échec était prévisible. Ce qui l’était moins, c’est la possibilité que les dirigeants des deux pays ennemis se rencontrent désormais en Turquie ce jeudi pour entamer des négociations directes. Rien n’est encore fait, la proposition mise dimanche sur la table par la Russie ponctuant une succession de gesticulations diplomatiques de la part des deux camps et leurs alliés respectifs. Moscou a commencé par imposer mercredi dernier une trêve de trois jours, largement violée, pour célébrer les 80 ans de la victoire sur l’Allemagne nazie. Réunis samedi à Kiev, les dirigeants français, allemand, britannique et polonais – soutenus pour l’occasion par Donald Trump – ont exigé un cessez-le-feu “complet, inconditionnel” et immédiat de trente jours, comme le demande l’Ukraine depuis des semaines. Demande rejetée par Moscou qui jugeait l’opération trop favorable à Kiev, mais a proposé en contrepartie et à la surprise générale d’ouvrir “des négociations sans aucune condition préalable” avec l’Ukraine “le 15 mai, à Istanbul”.

ASHARQ AL-AWSAT (GB): US President Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday on his first official visit abroad since his reelection. The visit aims to deepen the strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia. He is also set to visit the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Prior to his departure, Trump had described his visit to the Gulf as “historic”. Saudi Arabia was the destination of Trump’s first foreign visit during his first term in office in 2017.

THE JERUSALEM POST (ISRAEL): US President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to begin a four-day tour of the Gulf region, with a focus on economic agreements rather than regional security crises, including the war in Gaza and the growing tension over Iran’s nuclear program. The US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are expected to announce joint investments that could reach into the trillions of dollars. In January, Saudi Arabia pledged $600 billion in investments in the US over the next four years, but Trump has stated he will request a full trillion. The topic of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel is expected to be avoided during this visit, sources said, despite Trump viewing such an agreement as a key regional objective.

GULF TIMES (QATAR): The armed wing of Palestinian resistance group Hamas handed over a US-Israeli hostage held in Gaza since October 2023 on Monday, ahead of a regional visit by US President Donald Trump. Egypt and Qatar, which along with the United States have mediated talks between Hamas and Israel, called it “an encouraging step toward a return to the negotiating table” in a joint statement.

INDEPENDENT (GB): The release of American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander – the last American held captive in Gaza – was not hammered out in a deal between Hamas militants and Israel. Instead, somewhat surprisingly – and perhaps even embarrassingly for Benjamin Netanyahu – Israel appears not to have been involved. The release was allegedly negotiated during direct talks between the White House and the militants themselves, with the assistance of countries including Qatar and Egypt. This would be something of a first, and it comes amid swirling rumours that relations between Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his most powerful ally, US President Donald Trump, are at an all-time low.

NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA (RUSSIA): Персидский залив ждет Трампа на деловой разговор, Война в секторе Газа осложнила турне американского лидера. Дональд Трамп начинает 13 мая турне по Ближнему Востоку. Его официальная часть рассчитана на несколько дней. В ходе визитов в Саудовскую Аравию, Катар и Объединенные Арабские Эмираты (ОАЭ) Трамп рассчитывает заключить масштабные инвестиционные сделки. Израиля в графике главы Белого дома нет: Трамп, по слухам, разочарован премьер-министром Биньямином Нетаньяху из-за его неготовности прекратить войну в секторе Газа. Шанс на разрядку появился 12 мая: движение ХАМАС после переговоров с США согласилось освободить одного израильского заложника.

O GLOBO (BRASIL): Viagem de Trump ao Oriente Médio expõe fusão entre interesses da Casa Branca e contratos bilionários de sua família. Enquanto negocia temas como Gaza, Ucrânia e Irã, presidente americano sela acordos econômicos com monarquias do Golfo que beneficiam seus parentes e aliados. Quando o presidente dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, pousar na Arábia Saudita na madrugada desta terça-feira, para dar início ao que descreve como uma “viagem histórica” ao Oriente Médio, ele levará na bagagem mais do que pautas de interesse nacional. Ao mesmo tempo em que busca avanços diplomáticos em conflitos como Gaza, Ucrânia e Irã, o republicano chega à região envolto em uma teia crescente de interesses privados que ligam sua família, aliados políticos e monarquias do Golfo — um entrelaçamento de negócios e política que levanta suspeitas sobre conflitos de interesse e o uso da máquina pública em benefício pessoal. Durante sua viagem, que inclui ainda os Emirados Árabes Unidos e o Catar — os mesmos países que visitou em sua primeira excursão presidencial em 2017 — Trump não esconde que busca investimentos bilionários para os EUA. Mas, paralelamente, os negócios privados de sua família avançam com velocidade inédita na região.

ARAB NEWS (SAUDI ARABIA): As President Donald Trump embarks on the first and, arguably, the most significant overseas tour of his second term, both the US and Saudi Arabia are eyeing investments worth billions of dollars. In a call in January immediately after Trump was sworn in, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told the president that the Kingdom planned to increase the value of its trade and investments with the US by $600 billion over the coming four years. This suggested that the value of mutually beneficial deals between the two countries might potentially reach $1 trillion, indicating that the bilateral relationship was entering a bold new phase.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (USA): Trump’s family is rapidly striking business deals in the Mideast. Golf resorts, crypto deals and financial investments blur line between private business and public policy. When President Trump tours the Middle East this week, he will be looking to secure investments in the U.S. from the world’s richest petrostates. His family businesses and close associates already have been striking deals in the region at a rapid clip. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, the three countries on the president’s itinerary, stand out for their warm embrace of Trump Inc.

HINDUSTAN TIMES (INDIA): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a top meeting to review border security, hours before the Indian and Pakistani directors general of military operations spoke over hotline to discuss steps to uphold the May 10 understanding to stop military actions against each other, officials said. “We have only paused our retaliatory action against terror and military bases in Pakistan. In the coming days, every step taken by Pakistan will be monitored ... .any terror attack will get a befitting response, on our terms, in our way”, Modi said in his address to the nation. The meeting was attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, national security adviser Ajit Doval, chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan, the three service chiefs and the foreign secretary. In the address to the nation later in the evening, Modi said that the cessation of hostilities, announced on Saturday, came about after Pakistan was decimated militarily and came begging for a ceasefire. But he categorically stated that Operation Sindoor was not yet over.

THE WASHINGTON POST (USA): When India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday, stepping back from the precipice of all-out war, the rival powers both declared victory. But in Pakistan, analysts said Monday, the enthusiasm may be clouding a clearheaded assessment of how the latest aerial combat — the most serious since both countries developed nuclear weapons — has upended the regional status quo. India has made no secret of its plans to change the rules of the game, and in some ways already has with its airstrikes Wednesday deep inside Pakistan, which killed more than 20 people. It has declared publicly that the next time militants attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, Pakistan should expect a similar, if not more muscular, military response. With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi already facing some domestic backlash for agreeing to the truce — which has largely held so far — he may feel pressured to pursue escalation the next time tensions spike, analysts said. The fragility of the current calm appeared not to register in Pakistan, where newspaper editorials and politicians remained jubilant through the weekend. During a military news conference Sunday night, Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed said that by “reestablishing deterrence”, Pakistan had prevented India from “setting a new normal”.

DAWN (PAKISTAN): Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan could be threatened if the “water issue is not resolved” in the upcoming talks between the neighbours. Failure to resolve the water issue “will amount to an act of war”, he said in an interview with CNN. He pointed to Kashmir as “the root cause of this regional instability” and called for the region’s “future self-determination”.

THE HINDU (INDIA): Indus Waters Treaty to be kept in abeyance as Pakistan resorted to cross-border terror. The Indus Waters Treaty has to be modified to “make it suitable for the 21st century requirements of the Indian state”, the senior official said, adding there would be rapid infrastructure development works in the rivers that were a part of the treaty. India will keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance as Pakistan had resorted to cross-border terrorism, a highly placed government official told The Hindu here on Sunday (May 11, 2025). Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror camps inside Pakistan, had created a “new normal” under which India will hit “harder, bigger, stronger” inside Pakistan if cross-border terror attacks continued, the source said. The source, who was part of the decision-making process behind Operation Sindoor, said that despite the “understanding” of May 10, the Indian counter-terror campaign had not ended, and New Delhi was unwilling to engage in a dialogue with Pakistan as, “There is nothing to discuss at the moment even at a neutral location”.

USA TODAY: The United States and China said on May 12 they have agreed to a deal to slash reciprocal tariffs for now as the world’s two biggest economies seek to end a trade war that has disrupted the global outlook and set financial markets on edge. Speaking after talks with Chinese officials in Geneva, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters the two sides had agreed on a 90 day pause on measures and that tariffs would come down by over 100 percentage points to 10%. “Both countries represented their national interest very well”, Bessent said. “We both have an interest in balanced trade, the U.S. will continue moving towards that”.

THE NEW YORK TIMES (USA): President Trump’s decision to impose, and then walk back, triple-digit tariffs on Chinese products over the past month demonstrated the power and global reach of U.S. trade policy. But it was also another illustration of the limitations of Mr. Trump’s aggressive approach. The tariffs ultimately proved too painful to American businesses for Mr. Trump to sustain. Within weeks, Trump officials were saying that the tariffs the president had chosen to impose on one of America’s largest trading partners were unsustainable, and that they were angling to reduce them. Trade talks between the world’s largest economies in Geneva this weekend concluded with an agreement to reduce stiff levies on each other’s products by more than many analysts had anticipated.

THE WASHINGTON TIMES (USA): Global stocks surged Monday after the U.S. and China agreed to de-escalate tariffs that had effectively frozen trade between the world’s largest economies. “I would imagine in the next few weeks we will be meeting again to get rolling on a more fulsome agreement”, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC’s “Squawk Box”. The agreement said both sides recognize “the importance of a sustainable, long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship,” and set up a mechanism for future talks between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Mr. Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (HONG KONG, CHINA): Landmark China-US talks, having yielded a major de-escalation in what was shaping up to be an economically crippling trade war, stand to ease uncertainties for the business community and consumers while giving both powers interim political relief at home without appearing weak, according to analysts, with one hailing China for “a particular victory”. “This was a larger-than-expected de-escalation and represents an upgrade to the outlook,” said Lynn Song, chief Greater China economist at ING. “It is particularly encouraging that the agreement was reached quickly, indicating that neither side was comfortable with full trade decoupling,” said Su Yue, principal economist for China at the Economist Intelligence Unit, noting that it eases some economic pressures, especially for the US, where inflationary concerns remain prominent. “Although the de-escalation of the trade war benefits both economies, the agreement, which significantly lowers tariffs without any concessions, is likely to be viewed as a particular victory for China,” Song added. “China had previously demanded a reduction in tariffs before negotiations, and this now seems to have been achieved”.

THE ECONOMIC TIMES (INDIA): A US-China trade deal, featuring tariff reductions, presents both challenges and opportunities for India. While it could intensify competition in some markets, India can leverage its strengths in sectors like pharmaceuticals and IT. Exporters emphasize the need for proactive engagement with the US to secure preferential trade access, especially with ongoing BTA negotiations. The issue could be discussed during Indian trade negotiators’ visit to Washington next week for holding further talks on the BTA as the tariff advantage to Indian exporters, because of the earlier higher duties on Chinese goods, could get hit.

GLOBAL TIMES (CHINA): China is willing to strengthen solidarity with Latin American and Caribbean countries and continue to support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday. Xi made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing. In the next three years, China will invite 300 leading officials of political parties from the member states of the CELAC to visit China every year for the exchange of governance experience, Xi said.

THE STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE): Voters dealt President Ferdinand Marcos Jr a stinging blow in the Philippines’ midterm elections that weakened his grip on the Senate, while boosting Vice-President Sara Duterte’s allies just weeks before an impeachment trial against his deputy. Early results also showed independent opposition candidates performing stronger than expected in the May 12 polls. Unofficial results as at 5.02am on May 13, covering 80.26% of the votes, showed Mr Marcos’ Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines) slate winning only six of the 12 contested Senate seats – well below the nine predicted in pre-election surveys.

NIKKEI (JAPAN): Sri Lanka’s left-leaning National People’s Power party government is basking in another glow of electoral triumphs following last week’s local council elections, as voters ensured the ruling party of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won majorities in 265 of the 339 local authorities up for grabs in the South Asian nation. The electoral map on the morning after voting on Tuesday revealed a tide of deep red, the colors of the NPP, across most of the South Asian island. It mirrored a trend reflected in the presidential and general elections in late 2024. In those two landmark elections, voters chose the anti-corruption and pro-reformist NPP in an unprecedented backlash against the entrenched, family-run political dynasties.

LA VANGUARDIA (SPAIN): Si fuera actor, el primer ministro británico, Keir Starmer, tendría un amplísimo repertorio. Empezó en el ala izquierda del Labour como escudero de Jeremy Corbyn, se regeneró en socialdemócrata proeuropeo clásico cuando se deshizo de él, adoptó el Brexit, asumió el papel de tecnócrata pragmático de centro para ganar las elecciones, y ahora ha hecho suyo un lenguaje populista antiinmigración próximo a la extrema derecha. “Hay que recuperar el control de nuestras fronteras”, proclamó imitando el eslogan de Johnson y Farage, con la misma convicción que Hamlet su “ser o no ser”. Starmer ha presentado “la mayor reforma del sistema migratorio británico en varias décadas” con la promesa de reducir la llegada neta de extranjeros en cien mil este año, y 300.000 para el 2029. En los últimos doce meses se han instalado en el país 728.000, una cifra a su juicio inaceptable porque reduce las oportunidades de obtener trabajo a los jóvenes británicos, fomenta el abuso de las empresas interesadas en pagar sueldos lo más bajos posibles, y no incrementa (sobre esto hay todo tipo de opiniones) el crecimiento del producto interior bruto.

HURRIYET (TURKEY): With PKK announcing its dissolution following a recent congress, attention has shifted to the next steps in a peace initiative between Türkiye and the terror group. The move follows renewed dialogue involving the organization’s jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan. PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and officials from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have long said the initiative will proceed in gradual stages, while no official roadmap has been made public. According to a report by private broadcaster CNN Türk, the disarmament phase will be carried out in three stages and under the supervision of U.N. representatives and other international observers. The handover of arms will reportedly take place in several towns in Iraq’s north, including Amedi and Kani Masi in Duhok, Binar and Koy Sanjaq in Erbil, and Ranya and Said Sadiq in Sulaymaniyah. Mediators, non-governmental groups or international organizations are expected to play a role in in managing the withdrawal of PKK members from mountain strongholds, local media said.

TEHRAN TIMES (IRAN): Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani) has embarked on a controversial diplomatic campaign to secure U.S. sanctions relief, proposing a Trump Tower in Damascus and détente with Israel. After nearly 14 years of civil war, this strategy shows a desperate attempt to stabilize Syria’s collapsing economy and shattered society. However, Sharaa’s actions reveal his leadership’s weakness and represent a humiliating capitulation, especially his willingness to engage with Israel and court U.S. President Donald Trump in the face of ongoing Israeli airstrikes. The severe economic situation in Syria, which is made worse by American sanctions that cut off Damascus from international financial systems, is the basis of Sharaa’s approaches to Trump. In keeping with Trump’s business-minded image, his plan for a Trump Tower in Damascus is a symbolic act that shows Syria is receptive to American influence and investment.

THE CITIZEN (SOUTH AFRICA): Trump’s asylum offer now open to all South African minorities facing “persecution”. Critics in the US are questioning why Afrikaners are being fast-tracked while thousands of vetted refugees remain stranded. As the first plane load of South African “refugees” headed towards their new home in America yesterday, the US embassy in South Africa confirmed that President Donald Trump’s offer of asylum is now open to all minorities in this country who have been “persecuted” or feel they may be persecuted.

AL-AHRAM (EGYPT): Violent clashes between rival armed groups rocked the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Monday night, with media reporting that the leader of an armed faction was killed. AFP reporters heard heavy arms fire and explosions in several areas of the capital from 9:00 pm (1900 GMT), and authorities urged residents to stay indoors. Libyan television channel Al-Ahrar and news site Al-Wasat reported the death of Abdelghani al-Kikli, leader of the Support and Stability Apparatus, an influential armed group based in south Tripoli. Local media said clashes broke out in the southern suburbs between armed groups from Tripoli and rivals from Misrata, a major port city 200 km (125 miles) east of the capital. Libya is struggling to recover from years of unrest following a 2011 revolt that led to the fall of the late dictator Moamer Kadhafi. It is currently divided between a UN-recognised government in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east.

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN (JAPAN): Defense contractors are reaping the benefits through increased profits from the government’s plan to sharply increase related expenditures in the five years through fiscal 2027. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. posted nearly 100 billion yen ($689 million) in business profits in its aircraft, defense and space division in fiscal 2024, up about 38% from the previous year. At a news conference to announce the company’s financial results on May 9, Chief Financial Officer Hisato Kozawa said orders have been piling up for defense equipment.

RENMIN RIBAO (CHINA): China’s State Council Information Office on Monday released a white paper on the country’s national security in the new era. The move aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of the innovative concepts, practices, and achievements in China’s national security efforts, and enhance the international community’s understanding of China’s national security. The white paper emphasized China’s pursuit of national rejuvenation strategy amid global changes of a scale unseen in a century, noting that the country has maintained overall stability and steady progress in national security. China works together with Asia-Pacific countries to uphold regional peace and development. These inject reliable stability into a volatile and unstable world.

THE MAINICHI SHIMBUN (JAPAN): Japan is seeing a boom in gold investment amid heightening concerns over a global economic slowdown caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s hefty tariffs, as investors seek a safe asset seen as unlikely to plummet in the event of turbulence. Products linked to gold price movements have also become popular among investment trusts covered by Japan’s tax exemption program for private investors, known as NISA, while more people have started monthly investments in pure gold.

LE PATRIOTE (IVORY COAST): Plus que jamais, l’intégration économique et commerciale entre les pays africains se présente comme une réponse aux chocs multiples, aux tensions géopolitiques et autres incertitudes qui impactent fortement les économies du continent. Procédant à l’ouverture de la 12ème édition de l’Africa CEO Forum, le lundi 12 mai au Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire, le Président de la République Alassane Ouattara a appelé au renforcement des échanges intra-africains à travers la poursuite des efforts de transformation des produits et des matières premières.

THE TIMES (GB): Cats and dogs “more comforting than spouses in times of stress”. After a hard day most pet owners find their furry friends a greater source of solace than their partner, a study suggests. A kind word from a loved one may soothe the emotional bruises of a taxing day. But it seems many of us would choose another source of comfort — one that sheds and drools, but never chips in with unsolicited advice. Most cat and dog owners would rather spend time with their pet than their partner when they feel stressed, a large international study has indicated. The survey of more than 30,000 people across 20 countries, including the UK, found that pets outranked not only spouses, but also children, friends and extended family as the preferred source of emotional support in hard times.

LA TERCERA (CHILE): Talibanes prohíben el ajedrez en Afganistán porque “viola leyes de la moral”. Un portavoz del Comité Olímpico de ese país señaló que para el régimen talibán el deporte-ciencia se utiliza para apostar dinero, lo que está prohibido por la ley de Propagación de la Virtud y Prevención del Vicio. El gobierno talibán añadió el ajedrez a su lista de actividades culturales y deportivas prohibidas, al considerarlo como un juego que se utiliza para apuestas, lo que viola las leyes de la moral. La decisión fue confirmada por Atal Mashwani, portavoz del Comité Olímpico Nacional de Afganistán. “Debido a preocupaciones religiosas con respecto al juego, el ajedrez ha sido suspendido en el país por un período indefinido”, señaló.