Fragile Iran-Israel ceasefire strains markets as peace talks stall over Lebanon offensive
Global markets came under renewed pressure after reports that US-Iran peace talks in Switzerland had stalled, with Israel's renewed offensive in Lebanon cited as the trigger. The latest development has added to concern over the durability of the fragile ceasefire environment that has been shaping regional risk sentiment. Traders were also watching renewed threats around the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global energy supplies.The supplied material says the talks broke down on Friday and that futures pointed to a 0.2% fall on the ASX at the open. It also says markets in Europe had already weakened as... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Trump attacks Starmer and Meloni on social media over Iran, migration and energy
Donald Trump has used social media to launch fresh attacks on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, sharpening tensions with two of Washington's closest European partners. In posts published on Sunday, June 21, the US president said Starmer would leave office and urged Meloni to support action against Iran. The comments were posted on Truth Social and focused on migration, energy and Iran policy.Trump said Starmer had "failed badly" to deal with migration and energy issues in the United Kingdom, and predicted that the British leader would soon be out of office. He then turned... [Continue Reading]
France on red alert as Europe heatwave pushes temperatures above 40C
France has placed half the country under red alert as a severe heatwave drives temperatures above 40C across mainland Europe. The warning comes as authorities across several countries respond to rising risks linked to extreme heat, including reports of drownings in France, Germany and Italy. In France, emergency services and military forces have been put on bushfire alert, while officials have also restricted public alcohol consumption and cancelled some outdoor sports events.Temperatures in parts of France topped 40C on Sunday, and forecasters expect the heat to intensify further on Monday. The national rail authority has cancelled some trains and sent... [Continue Reading]
Syria frees activist Hassan Akkad after four days in Damascus detention
British Syrian activist Hassan Akkad has been released from a prison in Damascus after four days in detention linked to complaints over his online criticism and public comments. His release came after journalist and presenter Mousa al-Omar withdrew a complaint that had been filed in relation to Akkad's social media activity. The case has drawn attention because it involved a prominent activist, allegations of defamation, and the use of cybercrime procedures in a politically sensitive setting.Akkad was taken into custody from a cafe in the al-Maliki neighbourhood of Damascus on Wednesday at about 9:45pm local time, according to a statement... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Trump threatens renewed strikes on Iran as U.S.-Iran talks open in Zurich
United States and Iranian officials have begun a new round of talks in Zurich on Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief, even as Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran again if Tehran does not stop Hezbollah from carrying out further attacks on Israel. The negotiations are taking place on Sunday, 21 June, and are being held in Switzerland under a 60-day framework for a final agreement. The simultaneous pressure and diplomacy underline how quickly the situation remains fluid.The talks are being led on the US side by Vice President JD Vance, who said Washington wanted to "turn the page" and... [Continue Reading]
Meloni rebukes Trump after he questions her popularity
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly pushed back after US President Donald Trump questioned her popularity and repeated claims that she had sought a photograph with him at the G7 summit. In a social media post, Meloni described Trump's comments as "constant, unprovoked attacks" and said they were senseless. She also told him to focus on his own popularity instead.Meloni said her standing in Italy depended on her ability to defend the country's national interest, not on her relationship with Trump. She added that being his friend had not helped her popularity and said her popularity was "none of... [Continue Reading]
Zelensky returns Poland's top honour amid UPA row
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he has returned Poland's highest honour after Polish President Karol Nawrocki said he was stripping him of the award. The move deepens a diplomatic dispute between Warsaw and Kyiv over Ukraine's decision to rename a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, or UPA. It also keeps attention on a long-running argument over wartime history that has again spilled into present-day relations.The Order of the White Eagle was awarded to Zelensky in 2023 by then-President Andrzej Duda. Nawrocki said last month that the Ukrainian naming decision was "outrageous", "incomprehensible" and "deeply disappointing", and argued... [Continue Reading]
Zelenskyy gives Belarus one-week ultimatum over alleged drone-guidance equipment
Ukraine's president has given Belarus one week to shut down relay equipment on the border that Kyiv says is helping guide Russian drone attacks. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the equipment should be removed immediately and warned that Ukraine would act if Minsk does not comply. He made the remarks during a media briefing in Kyiv on Friday.Zelenskyy said there are relay stations on towers along the border and questioned why Belarusian leader Aliaksandr Lukashenka had not taken them down. He said a week would be enough time to deal with the issue and linked the demand to civilian harm in Ukraine.... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline restarts in Algeria after years of delays
Construction work on the Algerian section of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline has restarted, bringing a long-delayed energy project back into focus after more than two decades of setbacks. The pipeline is intended to carry Nigerian gas through Niger and Algeria before reaching European markets across the Mediterranean. The latest work began in early June in Algeria's Adrar region, following an initial construction phase there in early April.The project was officially restarted amid a recent thaw in relations between Niger and Algeria, according to the supplied material. It is more than 4,000 kilometres long and is designed to move gas from... [Continue Reading]
Oil prices ease after Middle East peace deal as Strait of Hormuz disruption lingers
Oil prices have fallen after a shaky peace deal was announced in the Middle East, easing some of the immediate pressure on consumers and markets. The move comes after months of disruption linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes. Shipping is expected to resume only gradually, and the effects of the disruption are still being felt across fuel and utility costs.At the start of this year, oil was priced at about $60 per barrel, before the outbreak of war pushed it to $118 on 31 March. Since mid-May, repeated... [Continue Reading]
US to end South Africa HIV funding over Afrikaner persecution claims
The United States says it will stop funding HIV and AIDS programmes in South Africa, in a move tied to allegations that Pretoria has failed to protect the white-minority Afrikaner community. The decision affects support that has been central to South Africa's response to HIV, a virus that still affects more than eight million people in the country. South Africa's health ministry said it had not been informed of the move and said it had long been working on a self-reliance plan.The funding had been provided through the President's Emergency Fund for Aids Relief, known as Pepfar, at an estimated... [Continue Reading]
Europe closes mixed as DAX and Euro Stoxx 50 extend gains while FTSE 100 slips, metals and Brent retreat
Executive summary: European equities finished mixed, with Germany and the broader euro area higher while the UK lagged. The DAX rose 1.584% and the Euro Stoxx 50 gained 1.176%, but the FTSE 100 fell 1.096%. The sharpest moves came in commodities, where gold, silver, platinum and palladium all dropped hard, while Brent crude also weakened. FX moves showed a softer euro and pound against the dollar, alongside a stronger USD/JPY. [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Europe Opens Mixed as DAX and CAC Outperform While FTSE Lags, Gold and Oil Ease, Dollar Firms
Executive summary: European equities opened with a clear split, Germany and France advanced while the UK’s FTSE 100 slipped. The DAX rose 1.589% and the CAC 40 gained 1.002%, while the FTSE 100 fell 0.68%. In commodities, gold, silver, platinum, palladium and Brent crude all moved lower, while natural gas edged higher. FX also pointed to a firmer dollar, with EUR/USD and GBP/USD both weaker and USD/JPY higher. The move set suggests investors are rotating toward cyclicals and autos while trimming exposure to defensive metals and energy. [Continue Reading]
US reviews force presence in Europe as NATO tensions deepen in Brussels
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a six-month Pentagon review of the American force posture in Europe, sharpening pressure on NATO allies during a meeting in Brussels. He told counterparts the review would test whether Europe is moving quickly enough to take primary responsibility for its own defence. The remarks came as Washington continues to send mixed signals about the future size of its military footprint on the continent.Hegseth said the review would be a "real review" and suggested that some countries would "fail" while others would "pass with flying colours". He also criticised allies for not giving US... [Continue Reading]
US launches Section 301 probe into Germany's pharma pricing policies
The United States has opened a trade investigation into Germany's pharmaceutical pricing policies, raising the prospect of new tariffs on a major European economy. The move was announced on Thursday and is being carried out under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. It focuses on whether Germany's pricing practices for innovative medicines unfairly burden US commerce.According to the US Trade Representative's office, the probe will examine whether Germany's approach amounts to persistent underpayment for innovative pharmaceutical products that is unreasonable or discriminatory. The notice said evidence indicates Germany uses unfair pricing policies and practices in relation to innovative... [Continue Reading]
EU leaders back stronger trade defences amid Chinese export surge
EU leaders have agreed to strengthen the bloc's trade defences in response to a surge of Chinese exports, while also calling for continued constructive dialogue with Beijing. The decision was taken during talks in Brussels and reflects growing concern in the European Union about industrial vulnerability and supply-chain dependence. Leaders said the bloc must be better equipped to defend its interests and reduce risk.The move comes as the EU's goods trade deficit reached about 360 billion euros last year, underlining the scale of the imbalance with China. According to an EU official, leaders asked the European Commission to continue engaging... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Zelensky urges fast-track EU membership for Ukraine at summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the European Union to put Ukraine on a fast-track path to membership, telling an EU summit that Europe's future security is being shaped by the defence of his country. He said Ukraine deserved a place in the bloc and argued that the best guarantee for Europe's future would be to grant Kyiv accelerated accession. His remarks were delivered in a video message posted on X and addressed to leaders gathered for the summit.Zelensky said every democratic nation in Europe deserved to be in the EU and argued that Ukraine had paid a higher price... [Continue Reading]
Cuba approves unprecedented opening of economy amid severe strain
Cuba's Communist Party has approved an emergency economic package that would open parts of the island's state-dominated system to more private activity. The plan was submitted to the National Assembly on Thursday and is expected to pass, according to the supporting material. It marks a significant shift for a country that has been governed by the Communist Party since 1965.The package would expand opportunities for private enterprise and seek to attract more foreign investment, including from Cubans living abroad. It could also pave the way for private real-estate development and the transformation of state-owned businesses into private commercial ventures with... [Continue Reading]
Israel cuts contact with EU foreign policy chief over reported apartheid remarks
Israel has said it is suspending contact with the European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, after reports that she compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians with apartheid. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he had "no choice" but to sever contact unless Kallas retracts the reported remarks. The dispute has quickly become a public diplomatic row between Israel and one of the EU's most senior foreign policy figures.The row was triggered by a report that Kallas made the comments during high-level talks with Mexican officials in May. According to the report, she drew a comparison between Israel's policies in Gaza and... [Continue Reading]
Colombia heads to run-off as Abelardo de la Espriella and Ivan Cepeda vie for presidency
Colombia is heading to a presidential run-off on Sunday, with far-right outsider Abelardo de la Espriella facing left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda in a contest that has sharpened the choice between continuity and change. The vote comes less than a month after the first round, in which neither candidate won the majority needed to avoid a second round. The result will determine who succeeds outgoing President Gustavo Petro.De la Espriella took the lead in the first round on May 31 with 43.7 percent of the vote, while Cepeda followed with 40.9 percent. The gap was narrower in the earlier summary of... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Ireland to announce 30-point financial crime action plan
The Irish government is due to launch a new action plan later on Thursday aimed at strengthening the state's response to financial crime, money laundering and terrorist financing. Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan are expected to set out 30 new actions as part of the package. The measures are intended to improve how agencies share intelligence, tighten oversight of crypto-assets and gambling, and increase transparency around company ownership and control.The plan will be published alongside the latest National Risk Assessment on money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. That assessment says the money-laundering risk faced by... [Continue Reading]
EU and India move to sign free trade agreement by end-2026 after G7 talks
The European Union and India have moved closer to signing a free trade agreement after talks on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc will sign the deal by the end of 2026, following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two sides also said they would accelerate work on an investment agreement and deepen cooperation on security, defence and connectivity.According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, Modi held bilateral meetings with von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa at the summit. The ministry said the... [Continue Reading]
Macron says G7, including US, aligned on Ukraine support at summit in Canada
Emmanuel Macron has said the G7, including the United States, now recognises Ukraine's territorial integrity and shares a commitment to increasing pressure on Russia. Speaking at the summit in Évian-les-Bains, the French president described what he called a "very deep change" in Washington's approach to the war. He said the leaders present understood that Vladimir Putin was not interested in peace.Macron said Donald Trump, like the other G7 leaders, had acknowledged that there was no serious willingness on Russia's part to discuss peace. He described the shift as a "re-synchronisation" of positions and a "very profound shift and remobilisation of... [Continue Reading]
Belarus opposition urges EU to stop alumina exports to Russia
The exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called on the European Union to end alumina exports to Russia, saying raw materials that could help Moscow build weapons should be stopped. She made the appeal in remarks ahead of a debate at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels. Her comments were linked to allegations that alumina from Ireland's Aughinish refinery may be reaching Russian weapons systems.Tsikhanouskaya said she was grateful for the work of investigative media that had raised the allegations, and argued that the EU should close loopholes that allow resources to reach Russia. She said the... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Russian warship warning shots near UK-flagged yacht in Channel as Starmer calls incident reckless
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described as "reckless" the firing of warning shots by a Russian frigate near a UK-flagged civilian yacht in the English Channel. The incident took place on Tuesday about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters, according to statements from the British and Russian defence ministries. Starmer said the episode was "deeply concerning" but did not amount to anything more sinister, while stressing that Russia remains aggressive across Europe.The Russian Ministry of Defence said the frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots after its crew spotted the yacht Bright Future... [Continue Reading]
G7 in France backs more air defence and long-range support for Ukraine as sanctions tighten
G7 leaders meeting in France have agreed to step up military support for Ukraine, including more air defence systems, interceptors and long-range capabilities. The statement says the group remains committed to what it called "unwavering support" for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also says the leaders are ready to consider extending licences to help increase Ukraine's own military production.The new language adds detail to the summit's Ukraine discussions and follows earlier signs of concern about Donald Trump's position. The statement also says the G7 will increase pressure on the Russian war economy and strengthen sanctions,... [Continue Reading]
Ghana hosts major reparatory justice conference in Accra
Ghana has opened a three-day conference in Accra aimed at advancing reparatory justice and restitution, bringing together participants from more than 80 countries. The gathering, billed as Next Steps, is the first major meeting on the issue since a landmark United Nations resolution on the trafficking of enslaved Africans was adopted. Heads of state and government, ministers, civil society representatives, historians, researchers and legal experts are among those taking part.The conference began on Wednesday and is focused on turning political momentum into practical commitments. Organisers say participants are working around five objectives, including creating a framework to advance the resolution's... [Continue Reading]
G7 summit in Evian turns to AI and social media security on final day
On the final day of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, leaders are set to focus on the security risks posed by artificial intelligence and social media. The discussions come as the three-day meeting draws to a close, with French President Emmanuel Macron due to host US President Donald Trump for dinner at the Palace of Versailles after the summit. Final statements are also expected on the Middle East and Ukraine, adding to an already crowded agenda.The technology session is expected to bring together senior figures from the AI sector, including Sam Altman of OpenAI, Dario Amodei of Anthropic and Arthur... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
The Unspoken Stats: Who is Raping Europe?
Answering this question requires a direct look at the empirical data so, below is the comprehensive, data-verified draft for my article, formatted to analyse the relationship between immigration demographics and police-recorded sexual offense figures across Europe. Data vs. Perception: An Asymmetric Analysis of Migration and Sexual Offence Statistics in Europe While my primary field of research is rooted in macro-geopolitics, the responsibilities of independent journalism often demand transitioning from international balance-of-power metrics to domestic social realities. A recent high-profile criminal incident in England involving the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl by four Afghani nationals where one of them is... [Continue Reading]
European Parliament gives final approval to Trump tariff deal
The European Parliament has given its final approval to implement last July's tariff agreement with Donald Trump, moving the deal a step closer to formal adoption by EU leaders. The vote in Brussels came just days before a US deadline threat to raise tariffs if the agreement was not sanctioned by 4 July. Lawmakers backed the text with two main provisos, including a sunset clause that would make the deal expire on 31 December 2029 unless renewed.Under the agreement, the US applies 15% tariffs on most EU exports, while the EU has cut import duties on some US goods, some... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
France and Britain ready military mission to help reopen Strait of Hormuz as deployment nears
France says a military mission assembled with Britain and other partners is ready to deploy to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the US-Iran deal ending the Middle East war. The plan is focused on restoring shipping through the narrow waterway, which carries around 20 percent of the world's oil, and on reassuring commercial operators that traffic can resume safely. French officials say the coalition has been built since March and now has enough resources to move from planning to deployment.French President Emmanuel Macron said about 20 countries have made concrete contributions, with four already present in the region.... [Continue Reading]
Ireland probe into Aughinish Alumina shipments to Russia to continue beyond EU presidency start
Ireland's enterprise minister has said the investigation into Aughinish Alumina will not be tied to the start of the country's EU presidency on 1 July. Peter Burke said the review into allegations that alumina shipments from the Shannon Estuary plant may be ending up in Russian weapons systems used against Ukraine must take time to establish the facts. He said the process is "very complex" and that the government wants to clarify where the site's product ends up and whether the information already provided by the company is accurate.The probe was ordered by Taoiseach Micheál Martin after media reports raised... [Continue Reading]
Trump touts US-Iran ceasefire framework at G7 as Geneva signing nears
US President Donald Trump has said the conflict with Iran is now "finished" and warned that Tehran would face severe consequences if it tries to obtain a nuclear weapon. Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, he said the ceasefire framework with Iran was a "wall to a nuclear weapon" and that the only issue that mattered to him was ensuring Iran never gets one. He also said the focus of US diplomacy would now shift to Ukraine, signalling that the Iran file is moving into a new phase.Trump said a memorandum of understanding between the US... [Continue Reading]
US-Iran deal moves ahead as war toll and global disruption mount
The planned US-Iran agreement has now been described as a real ceasefire and memorandum of understanding, marking a further step in a conflict that has already had wide-reaching consequences. The latest reporting says the deal is intended to halt the war after a fragile ceasefire period, rather than simply signal another diplomatic announcement. It comes after earlier confusion over whether the agreement would be signed in person or electronically.The new account says the war has killed more than 3,400 people and damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of homes. It also says the fighting has caused disruption to food and... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Irish Cabinet to consider first-ever research security guidelines to protect universities from espionage
Ireland's Cabinet is due to discuss new proposals aimed at protecting universities and other educational institutions from espionage and foreign interference. Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless is seeking government approval for what would be the country's first National Research Security Guidelines. The plan is intended to help institutions manage risks linked to sensitive research, intellectual property theft and exposure in strategically important technology areas.The proposed framework would cover areas including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and biotechnology. According to the supporting material, the guidelines would place primary responsibility on universities and research organisations to assess risks and... [Continue Reading]
Hungary passes term-limit reform to block Orban comeback
Hungarian members of parliament have approved a constitutional amendment limiting prime ministerial terms to eight years, in a move that effectively blocks Viktor Orban from a potential return to power. The vote took place in Budapest on Monday and passed overwhelmingly, despite opposition from Orban's Fidesz party. It is one of the first major reforms introduced by Prime Minister Peter Magyar since his Tisza party won April's parliamentary elections.Lawmakers voted 150 in favour, 50 against and six abstained. The reform uses Tisza's constitutional majority in parliament and is described as a major campaign promise of Magyar's party. Magyar has said... [Continue Reading]
EU formally launches accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova amid long reform path
The European Union has formally launched accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, marking the start of a process that could take years to complete. The opening was marked by an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg, where Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka took part as the first stage of negotiations began. The move is a significant diplomatic step for both countries, but it does not by itself guarantee eventual membership.The talks begin with the opening of five key chapters in the accession process, which requires candidate countries to align their laws and institutions with EU rules across 35 policy areas. Kachka... [Continue Reading]
EU still lacks unanimity to sanction Itamar Ben-Gvir as trade measures are discussed
The European Union has still not reached unanimity on proposals to sanction Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, according to the bloc's foreign policy chief. Kaja Kallas said after talks with EU foreign ministers that "many" member states had backed economic restrictions, but that no consensus had been reached. The issue remains under discussion as some capitals also push for possible trade measures linked to goods from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.Kallas said unanimity is required for EU sanctions on an individual, which means the proposal cannot move forward without full agreement. She did not name the countries... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Russia's shadow fleet used to evade sanctions and support hybrid operations
Russia is using a so-called shadow fleet of tankers to keep oil moving by sea despite Western sanctions, according to the supplied material. The vessels are described as carrying millions of barrels of crude to buyers seeking lower prices while avoiding restrictions linked to Moscow's war in Ukraine. The same network is also said to be connected to espionage and sabotage activity against NATO countries and undersea infrastructure.The row says the Kremlin has claimed Russia is "imune" to sanctions imposed by Donald Trump on two of the country's largest oil companies. It adds that the shadow fleet has expanded sharply... [Continue Reading]
Trump threatens 100% tariff on French wine as G7 summit opens in Évian-les-Bains
US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 100% tariff on French wines and champagnes unless France scraps its digital services tax on American technology companies. The warning comes as he arrives in Évian-les-Bains for the G7 summit, where he is expected to meet French President Emmanuel Macron. The row adds a fresh trade dispute to an already crowded summit agenda.Trump said he had delivered the warning directly to Macron and told him that Washington would have "no choice" but to act if Paris kept the 3% tax. He said the tariff would apply to "all champagnes and all... [Continue Reading]
KNDS unveils new Franco-German battle tank at Eurosatory near Paris
Franco-German defence group KNDS has unveiled a new battle tank at the Eurosatory defence exhibition near Paris. The vehicle, called CAPINT, was presented as a stopgap option for the French army's ageing Leclerc fleet. The launch comes a week after France and Germany dropped their joint FCAS fighter jet programme, underlining fresh strain in European defence cooperation.KNDS said CAPINT combines a German-produced chassis with a French-made gun. The company described the name as standing for "intermediary capability" and said the tank is intended to strengthen French Army capabilities while also helping to pave the way for the Franco-German Main Ground... [Continue Reading]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
GAS, GOD, AND GUNS: The Secret Agenda Behind the Washington Talks and the Death of the Maritime Border
The mahogany tables of the U.S. State Department are hosting a ghost today. As official delegations from Israel and Lebanon convene for a third round of high-stakes negotiations this Friday, May 8, 2026, the air in Washington is thick with the scent of a "peace" that looks increasingly like a strategic ambush. While the world watches the diplomatic theatre, the reality on the ground in Southern Lebanon tells a story of a predatory recalibration. Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t just looking for a ceasefire; he is aiming to hit three birds with one single, devastating stone: the annexation of land, the... [Continue Reading]
The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
When Deterrence Becomes Reality
Yesterday the war crossed a line! For years the Sejjil ballistic missile existed mostly as a symbol. A weapon paraded in military videos, discussed in defense briefings, whispered about in strategic circles as one of Iran’s most serious capabilities. A weapon that analysts described as deterrence, not something meant to be used. But on March 15, 2026, that line disappeared. Iran reportedly launched the Sejjil (also known as Ashoura) as part of what Tehran called the 54th wave of Operation True Promise 4, a massive strike package that also included the Fattah hypersonic missile and the Qadr ballistic missile system.... [Continue Reading]
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
The role of community policing in nurturing acceptance
In a highly polarized world and a highly volatile situation, many wars are perturbing the lives of many, forcing governments to take real measures to protect their citizens. Away from the geopolitical analysis and speculation, I would like to highlight one of many important aspects related to war preparation, which is the protocol of living in community shelters, historically comparable to the use of air raid shelters during major conflicts. During the war in Lebanon in the mid-eighties, I published an article about this protocol, and it seems very relevant to these days. 1- This is not your house: A... [Continue Reading]
Navigating the Perils of Information in a Global Age
Navigating the Perils of Information in a Global Age In today’s world, where information flows ceaselessly and unchecked, the stakes for migrants have never been higher. Critical thinking is not just a skill, it’s a lifeline. The ability to sift fact from fiction, especially in matters as consequential as migration, is essential for individuals, communities, and the institutions that serve them. The migration landscape is uniquely vulnerable to the hazards of mis-, dis-, and mal-information, collectively known as MDM. The consequences of inaccurate or misleading information can ripple far beyond the individual, affecting entire communities and the systems that govern... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored



