Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian deepened military ties between their countries yesterday by signing a 20-year strategic partnership that is likely to worry the West.Under the agreement, Russia and Iran will boost co-operation in a range of areas including their security services, military drills, warship port visits and joint officer training.Neither will allow their territory to be used for any action that threatens the other and will provide no help to an aggressor attacking either nation, according to the text, which also said they would work together to counter military threats.But it did not include a mutual defence clause of the kind included in a treaty between Russia and North Korea, which the West says has seen North Korean troops deployed to fight in Ukraine, something Moscow has neither confirmed nor denied.Nor was there specific mention of arms transfers, a topic of particular concern to the US and its allies, though the two sides said they would develop “military-technical co-operation”.Pezeshkian, on his first Kremlin visit since winning the presidency last July, hailed the treaty as an important new chapter in bilateral relations, while Putin said Moscow and Tehran shared many views on international affairs.“This (treaty) creates better conditions for bilateral co-operation in all areas,” said Putin, emphasising the upside for economic ties and trade, which he said was mostly carried out in the two countries’ own currencies.“We need less bureaucracy and more concrete action. Whatever difficulties are created by others, we will be able to overcome them and move forward,” Putin added, referring to Western sanctions on both countries. Putin said Russia regularly informed Iran about what was going on in the Ukraine conflict and that they closely consulted on events in the Middle East and the South Caucasus region.Russia and Iran were the main military allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Moscow after being toppled last month.The West also accuses Iran of providing missiles and drones for Russian attacks on Ukraine. Moscow and Tehran say their increasingly close ties are not directed against other countries.Putin said work on a potential gas pipeline to carry Russian gas to Iran via Azerbaijan was progressing despite difficulties. He added that, despite delays in building new nuclear reactors for Iran, Moscow was also open to potentially taking on more nuclear projects.Pezeshkian, whose words were translated by Russian state TV, said the treaty showed that Moscow and Tehran did not need to heed the opinion of what he called “countries over the ocean”.“The agreements we reached today are another stimulus when it comes to the creation of a multi-polar world,” he said, adding that he hoped the war in Ukraine could be ended at the negotiating table.“War is not a good solution to resolve problems and we would welcome talks and achieving peace between... Russia and Ukraine,” Pezeshkian said.Moscow has cultivated closer ties with Iran and other nations hostile towards the US since the start of the Ukraine war. It already has strategic pacts with North Korea and close ally Belarus, as well as a partnership agreement with China.Moscow has made extensive use of Iranian drones during the war in Ukraine. The US accused Tehran in September of delivering close-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine. Tehran denies supplying drones or missiles.The Kremlin has declined to confirm it has received Iranian missiles, but has acknowledged that its co-operation with Iran includes “the most sensitive areas”.Russia has supplied Iran with S-300 air defence missile systems in the past and there have been reports in Iranian media of potential interest in buying more advanced systems such as the S-400 and of acquiring advanced Russianfighter jets.

Donald Trump confirmed that his inauguration as US president on Monday will move indoors due to expected freezing weather, undercutting the Republican’s hopes for a grandiose spectacle to kick off his second term.“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform yesterday. “Therefore, I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda.”The dramatic change of plan means Trump will not stand on the Capitol steps overlooking the National Mall, which traditionally hosts a large crowd to welcome new presidents.Preparations have already been made in Washington for a huge influx of visitors, but many will now have to watch on television.The last time an inauguration was moved indoors because of the bitter cold was in 1985 for former Republican president Ronald Reagan’s second swearing-in when the afternoon wind chill fell into the range of -10° to -20° Fahrenheit (-23° to -29° Celsius).The weather forecast for Washington on Monday predicts temperatures at the time of Trump’s swearing-in to be around 19F (-7C), but will feel even colder with wind chill.In his post, Trump said that “various Dignitaries and Guests” will attend the events inside the Capitol, including prayers, the inaugural address, and the singing of the anthem.However, the Republican, who has built a political brand around his staging of large rallies, said supporters could watch the event on a live feed in Washington’s Capital One sports arena – and that he would go there after.Trump – who at 78 will be the oldest person ever to assume the presidency – said that the ceremonies in the Rotunda “will be a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience!”“We will open Capital One Arena on Monday for LIVE viewing of this Historic event, and to host the Presidential Parade,” he wrote. “I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In.”After his first inauguration in 2017, Trump was notably infuriated by reports that his crowd on the Mall was distinctly smaller than the number turning out for Barack Obama in 2009.The switch this time means he will miss out on much of the time-honoured pageantry. This includes delivering the inaugural address to a sea of people stretching towards the soaring Washington Memorial.However, as a former reality TV performer, Trump will likely embrace the potential for television-friendly theatrics, both in the elegant Rotunda and afterward in the arena.“This will be a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience!” Trump posted.Capital One Arena, where the Washington Wizards basketball team and Washington Capitals ice hockey team play, has a seating capacity of around 20,000.Before the decision to scrap the outdoors event, more than 220,000 tickets were distributed to the public via lawmakers’ offices.People braving the cold will still be able to catch a glimpse of the newly sworn-in president as he travels down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.The White House, Capitol, and parts of the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route are already ringed by the eight-foot (2.4m) metal barriers.And around 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel are converging on Washington, according to US Secret Service special agent Matt McCool.Bitter cold has had an impact on several past inaugurations.William Henry Harrison, the ninth US president, delivered the longest inaugural address on March 4, 1841, in wet and cold conditions without a hat or overcoat.That event and speech were thought to have contributed to his later succumbing to pneumonia. He died one month after taking office, making his presidency the shortest in American history.During the second swearing-in ceremony for President Ulysses S Grant on March 4, 1873, several cadets and midshipmen standing outside without overcoats collapsed and gusting winds made Grant’s address inaudible to even those close to him on the platform, according to a history published by the National Weather Service.The morning low temperature of 4F (-15C) on that day remains Washington’s coldest March day on record.

The two-day Gulf Cybersecurity Forum 2025 concluded in Doha Friday after extensive discussions and participation from experts, university faculty members, students, and enthusiasts across GCC.The forum provided a platform for exchanging expertise and exploring the latest developments in educational cybersecurity, featuring presentations and academic papers from experts in the region.On its second day, a panel discussion titled "Cyber Legislation" brought together experts and academics from GCC to discuss recent legal developments and strategies to strengthen data and information protection frameworks.Participants also presented research papers on advanced cybersecurity topics, showcasing innovation and depth in the field. The event concluded with a dialogue session chaired by HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi, and attended by heads of delegations from GCC countries. The session focused on the future of cybersecurity and strategies for enhancing regional co-operation to achieve shared strategic objectives.The forum also included training workshops tailored for university students, culminating in a cybersecurity simulation competition that highlighted the exceptional talent and competitiveness of teams from across the GCC. The first-place team included Abdullah Khalid al-Nuaimi (UAE), Zain Ismail (Bahrain), Sami Hazzazi (Saudi Arabia), Al Zahraa Hamad (Oman), Abdullah Al Dosari (Qatar), and Issa Al Ayyoub (Kuwait).The second-place team featured Hamed Marwan al-Ajmani (UAE), Hayat al-Nuaimi (Bahrain), Omar al-Khowaiter (Saudi Arabia), Reem Khalid al-Sanani (Oman), Mohammed al-Naama (Qatar), and Mariam al-Mutairi (Kuwait).The third-place team included Abdullah al-Asmawi (UAE), Alaa Munther (Bahrain), Lama al-Shaheel (Saudi Arabia), Nasri Hammoud al-Tamimiya (Oman), Hessa Ibrahim al-Kuwari (Qatar), and Ali Al Jedi (Kuwait).Awards were also presented for the research poster competition, recognizing outstanding contributions by Nada Nasser Badr Nasser (UAE), Mohammed Ibrahim Sharif (Bahrain), Hayat Al Zahrani (Saudi Arabia), Noah Al Qasmi (Oman), Ali Issa Al Muhaizaa (Qatar), and Abdullah Al Makhyal (Kuwait).Participants praised the forum's organization and highlighted the importance of fostering collaboration among GCC countries to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities, develop training and educational environments, and equip future generations to address growing digital challenges, ensuring a secure and resilient future for the region.