Assad

Moscow’s Syria Deal Hints at Wider War Theatre

A renewed Mediterranean bases deal for Moscow and Baghdad's unproven claim of Ukrainian cells both hint at a Middle East drawn into Europe's distant war.

Syria’s New State Looks Alarmingly Rural

Post-Assad Syria is not settling into a new national centre. It is hardening into a patchwork of rural power bases, clan ties, and competing local loyalties.

Deraa First Trial Puts Syrian Justice on the Stand

This week's public trial of Atef Najib returned Deraa to the centre of Syrian politics, with the first courtroom reckoning for the crackdown that helped ignite the uprising.

Syria: Latest Visit Hints at Russia’s Return to Syria

Syria’s new president Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Putin in Moscow, signalling a pragmatic reset as Russia seeks to rebuild influence in the Middle East.

Lebanon Teeters on Default: Europe Opts Out of Pushing Disarmament

Lebanon faces $11bn recovery costs, looming default, and stalled IMF bailout as France and the EU weigh aid against real reform demands.

Popular

Armenia’s EU Turn is Russia’s Own Making

Armenia's parliament has embraced a European future which Russia's own inertia made almost inevitable.

Ukraine Postpones Elections as Brussels Holds the Line

Zelenskyy brands snap wartime elections a tsunami that would split Ukraine apart, leaving Brussels holding the sharpest check left on Kyiv's power.

Macron Deepens France’s Strategic Partnership with Saudi Arabia

France's embrace of Saudi Arabia argues that strategic and economic interests now outweigh the human-rights concerns that once made the relationship toxic.

Como Bans Bicycles After Mayor Hit

A mayor's collision with an electric bicycle produced a citywide ban. Can personal misfortune justify policy for everyone else?

EU Cybersecurity Rules Create a New Kind of Cyber Slop

EU cybersecurity rules are expanding just as artificial intelligence multiplies digital threats, leaving companies with more alerts and obligations to process.