Russia
EUROPE
Freeriders: Spain and Italy Opt Out of NATO Hike
Nordic states arm up as Finland exits landmine treaty, while Spain and Italy resist NATO defence hikes, deepening EU security rift.
EUROPE
Transition to “Blue” Passports in Russia: Reasons and Prospects
Russia considers a unified blue passport in 2025, merging domestic and international IDs to simplify travel and boost security.
EUROPE
EU-NATO: Brussels Summit and New Baltic Security
Baltic states push NATO on mine ban review as defense spending tops 2.5% of GDP amid rising Russian threats and EU security shifts.
WORLD
Poker Face: Russia’s Transactional Game
Putin promised partnership to Iran, friendship to Israel, and mediation to Trump; Moscow's Middle East strategy is beautifully duplicitous.
BUSINESS
Logistical Connections: Russia and North Korea are Building New Routes
Russia and North Korea revive rail and air routes, boosting strategic ties and challenging sanctions with new Moscow–Pyongyang links.
Popular
Scientology’s Public Relations Push: Community Service as Strategy in Europe
Scientology-backed volunteers boost drug-prevention across France, using community outreach to reshape the group’s public image.
On the Defence: The Militarisation of the Assembly Line
Economic shifts push skilled workers from closing civilian plants to defense factories as Europe ramps spending amid labor shifts.
Trafficked Antiquities: Where Southern Europe’s Treasures Actually Go
Global police dismantle a long-running antiquities trafficking network, seizing 3,000 looted artefacts worth over €100 million.
British Virgin Islands Hit by FATF Grey List
The British Virgin Islands, a tiny territory where businesses outnumber residents ten to one, holding billions in wealth within a system designed for silence.
EU Perception Shift: Albania Gains Ground While Croatia Appears Unsettled
No headline about European enlargement ever mentions temperament, yet it often shapes perceptions behind closed doors.
