Assad

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.

A Tug of War: Türkiye and its Rivals in Syria

Türkiye emerges as Syria’s dominant power post-Assad, rejecting federalism to block Kurdish autonomy and rival regional influence.

The Vacuum Narrative: A Tool of Subjugation or Security?

The myth of post-regime chaos fuels authoritarian survival: fear of a vacuum blocks real democratic change in Syria, Yemen, and beyond.

Popular

Europe’s Circular Economy Still Struggles to Become Real

Europe's circular economy promises lower emissions, more jobs, and less waste, but it still looks more convincing in briefings than in everyday markets.

Pentagon Freeze Warms Canada-Europe Ties

Washington paused its oldest military partnership with Canada last week, its clearest nudge yet toward Europe.

Congo: Rebel Resurgence Disrupts India’s Africa Plans

An Ebola outbreak in rebel-held Congo shows how dormant wars can spill into wider crises, pulling diplomatic summits and energy security off track.

EU Sanctions Talk Tests Europe’s Red Lines

Europe's latest sanctions talk over an Israeli minister is less about one video than about whether the bloc still acts when its outrage is public and specific.

Mistral Leads Europe and Reveals Its Limits

Mistral has become Europe's clearest AI champion, but its rise also shows how far the continent still is from matching the American frontier on scale, compute, and control.