KSA
BUSINESS
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.
BUSINESS
Riyadh Weighs a Yemen Offensive Against a Shrinking Economy
Saudi Arabia speaks of a naval and land offensive against Yemen's Houthis, but its own shrinking economy and calls for calm with Iran hint at hesitation.
WORLD
The Iran War Outlives Its Architects
With Khamenei dead and Graham gone, the Iran war is spreading through runways, courts, and homemade drone fleets.
BUSINESS
Private Capital Steps Up as Gulf Water Risks Mount
As missiles menace Gulf desalination plants and temperatures climb, Saudi Arabia's water contractor gambles on investor appetite for strategic water survival.
Film
SRMG Deepens Bet on Thmanyah, Increasing Stake to 75%
Saudi Arabia's most recognisable podcast brand is being drawn deeper into the state media apparatus, and the deal that makes it happen tells you something about where Vision 2030 has arrived.
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.


