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

Venice Festival Turns Screens into Political Battlegrounds

Cultural festivals now face demands for political alignment that test how far artistic freedom can stretch.

How Eiffel Tower Went On Strike Over Religion

Religious accommodation is supposed to make room for someone's own beliefs, not require somebody else to disappear from view.

The Arms Race Heats Up Around a Divided Island

As Ankara triples its arms budget and Athens leans on Israeli firepower, the Aegean standoff risks pulling Cyprus into a wider Mediterranean clash.

Estonia’s Budget Woes Might Outweigh Its Ukraine Zeal

A botched €70 million shell deal took Estonia's defence minister down, as debt, scandal and a hardening European mood question Tallinn's Ukraine loyalty.

LVMH Pandemic Luxury Boom Loses Its Aspirational Shoppers

LVMH's slide from its pandemic-era peak shows what happens when a brand's own success prices out the customers who made it aspirational.