Sanctions
Trade
With Love From Russia: Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend
Facing sanctions, Russian investors turn to diamonds for asset protection, using re-exports and domestic cutting strategies.
EUROPE
Thirty Years In Power: Lukashenko Enters His Seventh Term
Belarus handed Alexander Lukashenko another term as president while Hungary blocked European efforts to condemn the controversial election.
BUSINESS
Moscow Leads on Investment Despite Sanctions
Moscow continues to lead on investment attractiveness as Russia advances business across the Eurasian Economic Community.
BUSINESS
China and India Refuse Russian Oil Under U.S. Sanctions
U.S. sanctions on Russia's energy sector are starting to bite as Beijing and Delhi consider other sources of oil and gas.
BUSINESS
Shadow Fleet Stranded off the Coast of Germany
The stranding of a Russian oil tanker near Germany highlights the environmental and political risks posed by shadow fleets that operate clandestinely to bypass international sanctions.
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.
