Sanctions
BUSINESS
China Clamps Down in Lithuania as Vilnius Allows Taiwan Consulate
Beijing's sanctions on two Lithuanian banks expose how economic power becomes a political tool when smaller states stand up to giants like China.
BUSINESS
U.S. Sanctions Derailed as China and Iran Go Full Steam Ahead
China and Iran have unveiled a new railway corridor that bypasses the U.S.-controlled sea lanes, deepening their strategic partnership and undermining American efforts to isolate Tehran.
Ukraine War
Ukraine: Putin’s Dead End With No Route Out
Germany, UK, and U.S. lift weapon limits for Ukraine, enabling deep strikes into Russia as Western support shifts from survival to victory.
EUROPE
Franco-German Pivot: EU Shifts Gear on Bosnia’s Serb Challenge
Franco-German non-paper urges EU sanctions on Republika Srpska, raising fears of deeper Balkan divides and Russian exploitation, of the Serb question.
WORLD
Relief or Risk: Trump Lifts Syria Sanctions
Trump lifts Syria sanctions in deal-driven pivot, empowering Gulf allies and raising questions on U.S. leverage, security, and oversight.
Popular
Caught in the Crosshairs: Gulf Countries Court a Multipolar Order
As American strikes set the region on fire, the Gulf found that massive wealth bought no seat at the table and its survival called for a whole new orbit.
Sánchez Says No to War. Washington Says Pay for It Anyway.
When Trump threatened to cut all trade with Spain this week for refusing to open its bases for strikes on Iran, Sánchez replied in three words: No to war.
Qatar’s LNG Shock: When Energy Security Meets Physical Reality
Iranian drones struck Ras Laffan last week, QatarEnergy halted a fifth of global LNG supply, and European gas prices jumped 52% by morning.
Baalbek Clans and the Return of the State
After Salam banned Hezbollah military activities this week, clans across Baalbek-Hermel backed the Lebanese state in terms Beirut rarely hears from that region.
Qatar’s Art Storage Signals Cultural Maturity
In November 2025, Qatar announced the Gulf's largest museum-grade art storage facility, marking a shift from spectacle to stewardship.
