Trump says he will create AI Force and appoint new AI czar
United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to create an "AI Force" and appoint a new "AI czar" to oversee the country's artificial intelligence industry. He made the announcement in a lengthy social media post on Saturday, saying the move was intended to protect and advance AI development. Trump described artificial intelligence as "the next Industrial Revolution" and said it would be central to US economic growth.He did not give details about how the new group would operate or when the adviser would be appointed. In the same post, Trump said the government would not "hinder or stifle" the... [Continue Reading]
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Inside Putin's world of bunkers, body doubles and growing paranoia
As Russians go to the polls this weekend, a new account has described the private world surrounding Vladimir Putin, focusing on his security, his habits and the sense of secrecy that shapes his movements. The report centres on Valdai, a wooded area between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where the president is said to have a holiday home across the water from the town. It also points to claims of a wider network of bunkers, a special train and body doubles, all presented as part of the security culture around him.The article says the area around Valdai is home to about... [Continue Reading]
Turkiye revokes Bank Mellat's Istanbul operating licence amid financial stability concerns
Turkiye has revoked the operating licence of Bank Mellat's central branch in Istanbul, according to a decision published in the country's Official Gazette. The move affects the Iranian lender's Istanbul operation and was announced by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, known as the BDDK. The regulator said the branch's continued operation was judged to pose a risk to depositors' rights and to the security and stability of the financial system.The decision was published on Saturday and states that the licence of "Bank Mellat, Head Office in Tehran, Istanbul Turkey Central Branch" has been withdrawn. No operational problems were cited... [Continue Reading]
Bolivia ratifies $1.9bn IMF deal and ends diesel subsidies amid protest threats
Just hours after Bolivia's Congress ratified a $1.9 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund, President Rodrigo Paz announced an immediate end to diesel subsidies. The move affects fuel used by trucks, buses and tractors, and is part of the government's effort to stabilise an economy under strain. Gasoline subsidies for private cars will remain in place for now, although Paz has already reduced that support in recent months.The Senate's approval on Friday completed the final legislative step for the three-year financing programme, after the lower house backed it a day earlier. The IMF first announced a staff-level agreement... [Continue Reading]
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Germany receives first F-35 fighter jet amid NATO rearmament
Germany has received its first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet, marking the start of deliveries under a 35-aircraft order placed in 2022. The aircraft was formally presented to the German government at Lockheed Martin's production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, during a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. The delivery comes as Germany accelerates military modernisation and raises defence spending alongside other European NATO members.Pistorius said the arrival of the aircraft represents the beginning of a new era for the German Air Force. He described the F-35A as the world's most advanced combat aircraft, citing its stealth features, integration... [Continue Reading]
JP Morgan says it cannot model oil-price endgame from US-Iran war
JP Morgan has said it is struggling to forecast how oil prices will move as the US-Iran war continues, telling investors that it "simply don't know how to model the endgame". The bank said it had initially assumed the conflict would be constrained by economic limits and that a deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane by June. Instead, it said the conflict has extended beyond those expectations, leaving its baseline view uncertain.In its note, the bank pointed to a set of thresholds it had expected would act as red lines for the Trump administration. Those included oil... [Continue Reading]
Canada applies to join Europe-led Joint Expeditionary Force amid closer security ties
Canada has formally applied to join the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force as an associate member, marking a further step in Ottawa's effort to deepen security links with Europe. Prime Minister Mark Carney made the request during an official visit to the United Kingdom on Wednesday, after meeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. The move comes as Canada seeks to diversify its diplomatic and defence relationships at a time of strained ties with the United States.Von der Leyen had invited Canada to become the first-ever associate member of the force, according to the material provided. Carney described... [Continue Reading]
Houthis tighten grip on Bab al-Mandeb as US officials hold talks in Muscat
United States officials have met Houthi representatives in the Omani capital, Muscat, after the group seized thousands of square kilometres of territory in Yemen and tightened its control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The talks took place over the weekend at the US embassy in Muscat, according to the supplied material. The development raises fresh concern over one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints.The Bab al-Mandeb Strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a key route for global shipping and energy supplies. The supplied report says the Houthis now control strategically important islands and... [Continue Reading]
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Iran says it struck tanker in the Strait of Hormuz as UK agency reports separate ship fire
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck and detained the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement carried by state media. The claim came as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency separately reported that a ship in the same area had been hit by an unknown projectile and caught fire. It was not immediately clear whether the two reports referred to the same vessel or to two different incidents.The Guards said the tanker had been targeted after what they described as an illegal passage, and said a fire broke out on board late on... [Continue Reading]
Saudi oil rerouted through Oman as Hormuz blockade disrupts shipping
Saudi Arabia is increasingly moving crude through ship-to-ship transfers off Oman's Sohar port as disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz blockade continues to reshape regional oil shipping. The arrangement is being used to get exports out after commercial vessels began avoiding the waterway, which has become effectively closed in the current conflict. Sohar, just outside the strait, has emerged as one of the main bypass points for the flow of crude.The supporting material says Saudi exports were disrupted after Iran-aligned Houthis damaged a key East-West pipeline that had helped bypass the Strait of Hormuz. It also says Iran closed... [Continue Reading]
Italy to deploy warships to protect shipping through Bab al-Mandeb
Italy says it will deploy warships to protect commercial vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a move its defence minister says is needed to avoid severe economic fallout if the route becomes impassable. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Rome will not wait for a joint European Union decision before acting. He said Italy has the capabilities to protect the passage and should not allow bureaucratic delays to worsen an already complex situation.Bab al-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world's busiest shipping corridors between Europe and Asia. The narrow waterway is a... [Continue Reading]
US approves up to $414 million financing for Niger uranium project
The United States has approved as much as $414 million in financing for a uranium project in Niger, in a move that could reshape ties between Washington and Niamey. The debt facility was approved by the US Development Finance Corp for Global Atomic's Dasa project, according to the company. The decision comes two years after the United States agreed to withdraw troops from Niger and at a time when the country is seeking to balance relations with several outside powers.Global Atomic says the Dasa project contains what it describes as the highest-grade uranium deposit in Africa. The company said the... [Continue Reading]
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Canada deepens EU ties amid US tariff pressure
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Ottawa wants stronger ties with the European Union as trade pressure from the United States pushes Canada to look for alternative allies and markets. In remarks to the European Parliament, Carney said closer links with the bloc would help ensure that no outside power could control Canada's markets or undermine its sovereignty. The comments add fresh momentum to a debate about whether middle powers can coordinate more closely in response to coercive economic measures.Carney linked the discussion to Canada's wider trade response to US tariffs and threats, saying the country is seeking to... [Continue Reading]
US allows Iranian delegation to attend UN General Assembly as war enters seventh month
The United States will allow an Iranian delegation to travel to New York for the UN General Assembly, according to a State Department spokesman. The core delegation is understood to include President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The decision comes as the annual high-level week is underway and the war between the two countries enters its seventh month.The spokesman said the delegation will be subject to travel restrictions and will be barred from purchasing certain American goods. He said the move was consistent with US host country obligations and added that the delegation would be smaller than last... [Continue Reading]
Trump signals farm bill push, rural aid, and GOP momentum on agricultural legislation
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "I was proud to be the President that got our last Farm Bill done, in December of 2018, after the previous President, Barack Hussein Obama, was unable to get it passed (Or didn't want to!). Now I look forward to being the President who again, along with our Great Republican Senators and Congressmen/women will get it done, for a second time but, even more conclusively, and an even better Bill. Yesterday our Farm Bill passed along strict Party Lines, 12 Republican "YEAS, " to 11 Dumocrat... [Continue Reading]
Middle East conflict drives diesel and crude price spike for farmers and refiners
Crude oil prices have climbed above US$105 a barrel as the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt energy flows and push up costs for diesel, fertiliser and shipping. The price shock is being felt far beyond the region, including by farmers in Australia who say the higher costs are squeezing already thin margins. The disruption has also lifted refining profits, highlighting how quickly supply shocks can ripple through global fuel markets.A grain farmer in regional New South Wales said the cost of diesel, pesticides, herbicides and shipping to his property near Wagga Wagga had all increased. He said the higher... [Continue Reading]
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Day News Recap: Ukraine under fresh fire as Hormuz tensions, sanctions and diplomacy ripple worldwide
Russia intensified its assault on Ukraine overnight, with missile and drone strikes injuring at least 19 people and causing damage in Kyiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia regions, while separate attacks on Odesa and Sumy brought fresh fires, deaths and injuries according to local officials and emergency services. 🔗 🔗Kyiv also moved to replace its top prosecutor after a corruption scandal, appointing Anton Kovalskyi as acting prosecutor general following Ruslan Kravchenko’s resignation. At the same time, Ukrainian and US diplomatic teams were working to arrange a Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump meeting at the UN as the country faced the latest Russian strike.... [Continue Reading]
New US sanctions on Iran add to already extensive restrictions
Iran is facing a fresh round of US sanctions this month, adding to an already wide-ranging web of international restrictions on the country. The new measures were described as part of Washington's effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran. They come against the backdrop of overlapping sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United Nations.The supplied material says the latest US sanctions were enforced by the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. It does not identify the specific targets of the new measures, but says they are part of... [Continue Reading]
Rising energy prices push inflation higher again as Hormuz disruption continues
Rising energy prices are pushing inflation higher again, with major central banks now under pressure to consider interest rate rises. The development comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted six months into the Iran war, while Houthi advances are also threatening Saudi oil supplies. The combination is feeding through into household and business bills and adding to concern over the outlook for growth.The report says policymakers are being forced to revisit an older assumption that oil shocks can simply be waited out. For decades, central banks treated energy spikes as temporary and avoided responding with tighter monetary policy. The... [Continue Reading]
Saudi East-West pipeline disruption deepens as exports shift through alternative routes
Saudi Arabia is rerouting crude through dark shipments and ship-to-ship transfers off Oman after drone attacks knocked out part of the East-West pipeline, halting oil flow and removing an estimated 4 million to 5 million barrels per day from global supply. The disruption affects one of the kingdom's most important export corridors and comes as repairs are expected to take three to five weeks, according to regional officials cited in the supplied material. The pipeline links eastern oil fields to Yanbu on the Red Sea coast and is designed to let Saudi crude bypass the Strait of Hormuz.The latest reporting... [Continue Reading]
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US extends visa sanctions on Palestinian officials ahead of UN General Assembly
The United States has extended visa sanctions on officials linked to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority ahead of next week's United Nations General Assembly in New York. The move means Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will again be unable to travel to the United States for the annual gathering in person. It also keeps the dispute over Palestinian representation at the UN at the centre of a wider diplomatic confrontation.In its statement, the State Department said the measures were being taken because of what it described as a failure to meet commitments and actions that undermine prospects for... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Russia strikes Kyiv and Odesa as US pressure builds on Moscow and markets turn lower
Russian airstrikes hit Kyiv and Odesa overnight, with officials reporting explosions in the capital and the Black Sea port city as Ukraine faced another wave of attacks. At the same time, Ukrainian and US diplomatic teams were working to arrange a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump at the UN, even as fresh strikes underscored the urgency. 🔗 🔗In Washington, the House of Representatives passed a sweeping sanctions and tariff bill aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia, while Donald Trump also renewed his own pressure on interest rates, saying they should be 1% or less. Separately, the Federal... [Continue Reading]
Scientists link Nepal-China Himalayan flood disaster to climate change
A new scientific report has concluded that climate change played a significant role in last month's deadly Himalayan disaster near Nepal's border with China. The collapse on 26 August triggered a torrent of water, ice, boulders and sediment that swept through communities along the Trishuli River corridor. The event killed more than 1,300 people and left over 5,000 missing.The report, released on Thursday by the World Weather Attribution group, said warming temperatures had thinned glaciers and thawed mountain permafrost in ways that likely destabilised the slope before it failed. A climate researcher at Imperial College London who contributed to the... [Continue Reading]
Bangladesh measles outbreak kills more than 1,000 children as vaccination drive expands
Bangladesh is facing its worst measles outbreak in decades, with more than 1,000 children reported dead as infections continue to rise across the country. The outbreak has persisted despite an emergency vaccination campaign that has already reached more than 19.8 million children. Health officials are still reporting about 1,000 new suspected cases every day, underscoring the scale of the public health emergency.The latest government figures show more than 194,000 cases since March, according to the supplied report. On Tuesday alone, eight more people died with suspected measles. The World Health Organisation had said Bangladesh had made substantial progress towards eliminating... [Continue Reading]
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Ebola cases surge in North Kivu as WHO warns outbreak is far from over
The World Health Organization says Ebola transmission is rising sharply in North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, even as some other affected areas show signs of improvement. In an online news conference, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the fight against the outbreak is "far from over". He said the situation in the east remains complex, with multiple outbreaks in multiple places.Tedros said weekly cases in North Kivu had doubled over the past two weeks, rising from 100 to more than 200. He said the area is so large that it is difficult to describe... [Continue Reading]
Djibouti seeks urgent aid as Yemen arrivals rise beyond national capacity
Djibouti has appealed for urgent international assistance after officials said the number of people arriving from Yemen has already exceeded the country's capacity. Interior Minister Omar Abdi Said said more than 2,500 Yemenis had arrived since Thursday last week, with the total expected to rise to about 10,000 in the coming weeks. The arrivals are linked to heavy fighting in western Yemen, where civilians are continuing to flee across the Red Sea to Djibouti.Said said the influx of migrants has already exceeded national capacity and that the country is facing increasing pressure as international funding declines. He called on the... [Continue Reading]
US accuses Russia-linked network of plotting killings of Ukraine allies overseas
The US Department of Justice has accused five men of taking part in an alleged Russian intelligence-linked plot to murder people aligned, or perceived to be aligned, with Ukraine in the United States and Europe. The announcement says the men were charged in connection with a conspiracy that involved paying, or trying to pay, people to target those individuals. All five accused remain at large, and it is not clear from the supplied material where they are located.According to the Justice Department, three of the defendants are described as high-ranking members of the Russian intelligence network. They include Yuri Khrameev,... [Continue Reading]
US war with Iran costs more than $38 billion as munitions shortfalls deepen, CBO says
The US war with Iran has cost more than $38 billion by the beginning of August, according to a new estimate from the Congressional Budget Office. The figure covers spending by the Department of Defense from 28 February to 1 August, a little more than five months into the conflict. The CBO said the estimate was based on government databases and public reporting because the Pentagon did not provide information for the assessment.The report said the largest single cost was $21.7 billion for replacing munitions. It also warned that the US has probably used between half and two-thirds of its... [Continue Reading]
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Sahel jihadist violence set to hit record levels this year
Islamist extremist violence in Africa's Sahel region is on track to reach historic highs this year, according to new figures compiled by a conflict monitor. The data point to a sharp escalation across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which together form the main centre of jihadist militancy in the region. The figures come as armed groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State continue to expand their reach in parts of the central Sahel.The monitor said incidents of violence involving jihadist groups in the three countries have risen from 63 in 2016 to 2,845 in 2025. So far this year, 2,145... [Continue Reading]
China defence chief opens Xiangshan Forum with warning against coercion and historical revisionism
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun has opened the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum with a call for shared security governance and deeper military cooperation. In remarks delivered in Beijing on Wednesday, he urged countries to stop provocative acts and resist what he described as the return of regressive historical trends. He also warned against coercion, hegemony, militarism and historical revisionism.Dong did not directly name the United States or Japan in his speech, but his comments were widely framed as a veiled criticism of regional rivals. He said the lessons of history should be remembered and that the international community should remain... [Continue Reading]
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Houthis advance near Bab al-Mandeb as Qatar warns of wider shipping disruption
Qatar has warned that losing access to Bab al-Mandeb while the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked would be catastrophic, as Houthi forces consolidate gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast. In remarks in Doha, Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, director of media and communication at Qatar's foreign ministry, said the world could not afford to add Bab al-Mandeb to the disruption already caused by the Hormuz blockade. He said blocking international waterways could not become the new normal and urged countries to work together to prevent further escalation.The warning follows reports that the Houthis seized the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands... [Continue Reading]
Venezuela to join G20 energy meetings in Houston amid oil-price shock
A Venezuelan delegation is due to take part in G20 energy talks in Houston this week, as global oil and gas markets remain under pressure from war-related disruption in the Middle East. The meetings are being held in Texas, a major centre of the US energy industry, and are scheduled to continue through Wednesday. US officials said the gathering will include representatives of G20 countries as well as Venezuela.Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the talks reflect a shift in the global energy balance and the growing importance of supply outside the Middle East. He said the aim was to move... [Continue Reading]
UN warns Sudan aid network could collapse within weeks as funding runs short
Sudan's emergency relief network is at risk of collapse within weeks, the International Organization for Migration has warned, as fighting, heavy rains and continued displacement strain an already overstretched response. The agency said its Common Humanitarian Pipeline could face an imminent end if new donations do not arrive quickly. It said shelter and aid relief supplies could be depleted by the end of the month.The warning comes as the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, continues to drive mass displacement and deepen hunger across the country. The IOM said the conflict,... [Continue Reading]
US-China AI tensions intensify after calls to slow frontier models
A new dispute over artificial intelligence has sharpened tensions between the United States and China after Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei called for the development of the most powerful AI systems to be slowed. He also urged Washington to keep restrictions on advanced chips and chipmaking equipment going to China. Beijing responded by accusing the United States of using AI safety as a pretext to preserve technological dominance.Amodei made the case in an essay published over the weekend, warning that AI capabilities are advancing rapidly and that governments and researchers need more time to manage the risks. He said that... [Continue Reading]
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Strait of Hormuz talks postponed amid Yemen escalation
Iran says a planned meeting with officials from Gulf states on the Strait of Hormuz has been postponed because of events unfolding in Yemen. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the decision was taken jointly by Iran and Oman, and that the meeting in Oman would have been an opportunity to discuss what he described as a responsible approach to managing the waterway. He also said Saudi Arabia requested the postponement.Baghaei told a news conference that Iran has no involvement in Yemen and does not interfere in Yemeni affairs. He said the talks would have been a chance to show... [Continue Reading]
China Rejects US-Led AI Threat Narrative Amid Intensifying Rivalry
China has pushed back against what it calls threat narratives around artificial intelligence, warning against confrontation and malicious competition. The comments came as the United States and China continue to frame AI development as a strategic race with major national security implications. The dispute adds to wider tensions over how the technology should be governed and who should set the rules.Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters that narratives of threat, confrontation and malicious competition only disrupt the process of global AI governance. He said such approaches are not in anyone's interest. Guo added that all parties should work together... [Continue Reading]
Brent crude tops $107 as Hormuz shipping disruption deepens
Brent crude has climbed above $107 a barrel as disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and shutdowns at Saudi energy infrastructure continue to unsettle global oil markets. The benchmark rose by $3.21 to $107.82, according to the supplied report, after recent attacks on shipping in the waterway and on Saudi energy facilities. The developments have raised fresh concern about the security of one of the world's most important energy chokepoints.US officials say traffic through the strait is improving, but their assessment is at odds with the market reaction and with other reporting on vessel movements. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright... [Continue Reading]
Swedish election remains too close to call as opposition edges ahead in partial count
Sweden's national election remained unresolved on Monday as a partial count gave the opposition centre-left bloc a narrow lead over Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's governing right-wing alliance. The election authority said votes from 6,195 of the country's 6,312 districts pointed to 176 seats for the bloc led by Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson, against 173 for the governing bloc in the 349-seat Riksdag. Final confirmation was still pending as overseas ballots and remaining districts were counted.The result leaves the country without a clear winner for now, despite the opposition's three-seat advantage in the latest tally. Officials said the final outcome... [Continue Reading]
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Guyana says oil revenues are rising as Iran conflict reshapes energy markets
Guyana's president says the country has seen a sharp rise in oil revenue in recent months as the conflict involving Iran continues to reshape global energy markets. Mohamed Irfaan Ali said the increase has come as disruptions to energy supplies have helped push up crude prices. He made the comments in an interview about Guyana's oil boom and the challenges that have followed it.Ali said the country's oil revenues have increased sharply while the wider conflict grinds on. He linked the rise to the effect of the war on global supply and pricing, saying the market disruption has lifted the... [Continue Reading]
BRICS summit in New Delhi adopts declaration amid divisions over Iran, Ukraine and tariffs
BRICS leaders have adopted a joint declaration on the first day of their two-day summit in New Delhi, despite visible divisions over the wars in Iran and Ukraine. The New Delhi Declaration called for restraint in the Middle East and criticised unilateral tariffs, but it avoided naming the United States, Israel or Iran. The agreement was reached as leaders from the expanded 11-member bloc gathered in the Indian capital for talks on war, trade and global economic pressure.The declaration was adopted on Saturday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin among those attending the summit. According to... [Continue Reading]
One killed in Strait of Hormuz ship strike as authorities report injuries
Iranian authorities say one person has been killed and three others injured after a merchant vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz early on Sunday. Qeshm city governor Amir Teymouri said the ship was hit around 5:00 am local time off the coasts of Hengam and Qeshm islands. The authorities did not say what caused the strike or identify who was responsible.The incident took place in one of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints, where a large share of global oil and gas shipments passes through a narrow channel between Iran and Oman. The Strait of Hormuz has long... [Continue Reading]
THE GROWTH ILLUSION: HOW GDP TRICKERY MASKED THE DEATH OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
We are fed a daily diet of triumphant economic headlines. The S&P 500 hits record highs, corporate earnings smash forecasts, and central bankers beam at GDP charts pointing up and to the right. Politicians line up to remind us how much "wealthier" we are compared to our parents or grandparents. On paper, they are right. The average worker makes vastly more dollars today than at any point in human history. But step outside the spreadsheet and into the street, and the math fails the reality test. If we are so undeniably prosperous, why does buying a modest home feel like... [Continue Reading]
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Dubai Property Market Faces Litmus Test as Nakheel Waterfront Investors Await Final Judicial Verdict
Hundreds of international and local investors who purchased land plots in Nakheel’s massive "Waterfront" project nearly two decades ago are holding their breath. Following the official cancellation of the project by the Dubai Land Department and its integration under Dubai Holding, a special judicial committee appointed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been tasked with resolving the liquidation and settling investor claims. Because the decisions of this specialized committee are legally binding and final, with no avenue for appeal, the upcoming rulings are being viewed as a critical turning point for the regulatory reputation of Dubai's... [Continue Reading]
The Ghosn Paradox The Imperial Savior, His Cinematic Escape, and the Desperate Call to Salvage a Crumbling Nissan
The Man Who Defied Corporate Gravity Few corporate sagas in modern history possess the cinematic drama, geopolitical friction, and sheer psychological tension as the rise and fall of Carlos Ghosn. Once lauded as the ultimate transnational executive, a multi-lingual titan capable of bridging disparate business cultures, Ghosn became the absolute center of a global firestorm. His story cuts through the pristine facade of global corporate governance to reveal a messy underbelly of nationalism, legal vulnerability, and strategic failure. Rebuilding an Empire from the Ashes of Bankruptcy The mythos of Carlos Ghosn began in 1999. Nissan, one of Japan's proudest manufacturing... [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]
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 Great Uncoupling: Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Gambit
The UAE’s decision to cut ties with OPEC is far more than a mere adjustment of energy policy, for it functions as a political telegram written in barrels and sent directly to the heart of the global order. For nearly six decades, Abu Dhabi operated within the rigid architecture of producer discipline, where it accepted the rituals of quotas, the formality of communiqués, and the heavy burden of collective restraint. It played the long game of oil diplomacy with a patient hand, balancing its own massive national ambitions against the gravity of cartel discipline and the delicate logic of Gulf... [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]
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The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trump’s 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]
Lessons learned from Dubai … or not?
It might be early to assess the impact of war on Dubai, the self-declared crisis proof planet, but some lessons can be drawn from its magic well, right now. First and foremost, I remember a saying about fairness: No, not the boomerang, and that what goes around comes around (the dark tales related to Lebanon and Gaza), but about a simple rule of thumb. If you expect the world to be fair with you because you are fair, you’re fooling yourself: that’s like expecting the lion not to eat you because you didn’t eat it. It applies to humans and... [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 Proving Ground, When “Decent” Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Today’s incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]
WAR CRIMES OR HUMANITY ON LIFE SUPPORT?
The Thin, Bloody Line Between Justice and Jungle Rule IS KILLING WITHOUT MERCY NOW LEGAL? By Anthony Sterling In September 2025, the United States military launched what became known as Operation Southern Spear, a lethal campaign targeting suspected drug smuggling vessels in international waters. The stated objective was to combat narco trafficking networks operating beyond territorial jurisdiction. The ethical shock came on 2 September 2025, when a double strike in the Caribbean left survivors clinging to wreckage for nearly an hour. Drone footage reportedly showed two individuals waving from debris after the first impact. Instead of rescue, three additional munitions... [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]
There Is Good in Every Bad
Power, Greed, Oil, and the Theater of Modern Geopolitics The Business Model of Power Donald Trump does not govern like a traditional politician. He governs like a negotiator who believes every geopolitical crisis is leverage, every war threat is a bargaining chip, and every market panic is an opportunity. When markets tremble, someone profits. The question is, who? Global markets react instantly to political tension. Gold rises when conflict looms. Oil spikes when instability threatens production. Stock markets collapse on fear, then rebound on reassurance. Volatility is not chaos, it is opportunity. Historically, gold has surged during major geopolitical crises,... [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]





