David Blair's Blog, page 46

British Embassy in Iran will re-open after mob attack, says William Hague

No agreement has been reached on compensation for the looting of the embassy by pro-regime demonstrators in 2011

Analysis: After months of threats, Russia uses gas weapon against Ukraine

By cutting off gas for Ukraine, Russia may end up embargoing Europe as well - but summer is the best time of year for a gas war

Holy City where Iraq is doing battle against Sunni radicals

Iraqi soldiers are unwilling to die for their leaders - but many Shias will fight to the bitter end to protect Samarra and its sacred mosque from destruction by Sunni foes

Ukraine crisis: Putin is playing mind games with the West

Commentary: The Russian president continues to bamboozle as his tanks are sent to Ukraine and the rebels he supports shoot a plane from the sky

Ukraine: rebels shoot down plane carrying 49

Armed forces suffer heaviest loss since rebellion began when Ilyushin-76 transport plane is destroyed near the eastern city of Luhansk

Ukraine must correct its chaotic response

A heavy-handed military operation is alienating the very people Kiev should be winning over, writes David Blair

Ukraine's forces will be driven from Donetsk vows new 'prime minister'

Alexander Borodai, the new leader of 'Donetsk People's Republic', tells The Telegraph how he is preparing to defend the city against 'extreme' danger of a Ukrainian attack

Gunmen kill 11 in raid on church in Central African Republic

Capital of CAR suffers more religious violence after the bloodiest attack on Christians since January

Barack Obama follows in footsteps of predecessors on foreign policy pledges

President's promise to show restraint abroad and replace guns with aid echoes every president since 1945

This isn’t about gas – Vladimir Putin craves his own 'Nixon in China’ moment

The Russian leader believes he and President Xi think alike, but he's mistaken, says David Blair