Central Asia

The Real Test of the Abraham Accords: Ceremony vs. Reality

As Washington celebrates a diplomatic photo-op, with the Abraham Accords, middle powers are redefining the Middle East map on their own terms.

West Hunts Russian Crypto Laundering as Networks Shift to Kyrgyzstan

Moscow's crypto networks turn sanctions into mere speed bumps on the road to financial sovereignty.

Suez on Rails: China is Changing the Map

China’s “Suez Canal on Rails” aims to speed Asia-Europe trade via Chongqing, bypassing sea chokepoints and reshaping global logistics.

Tourism in Afghanistan: Between Reality and Taliban Propaganda

Afghanistan tourism rises under Taliban rule, drawing visitors from Europe & Gulf while masking human rights abuses and women’s repression.

EU Looks to the Silk Road: First EU-Central Asia Summit

EU launches new Silk Road at Samarkand Summit, boosting green investment and strategic ties across Central Asia amid U.S. retreat.

Popular

Timbuktu Manuscripts Return as Museums Raise Prices

As 28,000 manuscripts arrived back at the Timbuktu Ahmed Baba Institute in August 2025 after 13 years in Bamako, Paris's Louvre raised standard admission to €22, marking the latest divergence in how access to Africa's written past is being rearranged.

Houthi Payroll Politics and Riyadh’s Bet to Secure Yemen Peace

Yemen’s government workers wait for paychecks as Riyadh bets that money will buy the peace that ten years of war was unable to secure.

Africa on Stream: IShowSpeed and a New Online Map of the Continent

As American streamer IShowSpeed's "Speed Does Africa" tour averaged 80,000 concurrent viewers across 20 countries between 29 December 2025 and 26 January 2026, the 28-day broadcast raised old questions about who gets to show the continent and how.

Netanyahu Aide Bypasses Military Censors via German Tabloid

Behind the headlines of a German tabloid lies a high-stakes effort to bypass Israeli military censors.

Washington Challenges the Sovereignty of Smaller Partners

A superpower’s casual rhetoric regarding its neighbours hints at a new global order where small-state sovereignty acts as the currency for military security.