West

AfDB Turns to Gulf as Western Funders Step Back

The African Development Bank has installed a president with ingrained Gulf experience as Washington pulls back hundreds of millions

Religion as Tradition: Romania and the CEE Defy Europe’s Secular Turn

On 26 October 2025, Romania completed the world's largest Orthodox church in Bucharest, revealing how religion and politics still intertwine where tradition remains public.

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.

MENA-Asia Tourism Boom: Europeans Want Sophistication, Not Just Bling

Global trade tensions are reshaping tourism as Asia and the Middle East pivot to attract high-spending, experience-driven Europeans.

New Sahel Alliance Tariffs Threaten ECOWAS and AfCFTA Goals

West Africa faces rising trade tensions as Sahel states impose new tariffs, disrupting regional unity and sparking economic instability.

Popular

Gulf Sports Investments and Regional Security 

Qatar's world-famous sports infrastructure sat empty as airspace closures grounded the Finalissima, leaving decades of Gulf investment in suspension.

France: The End of Macron’s Middle Ground

The tallies from the municipal ballots gave the political fringes a triumph that the French establishment had not planned for.

Gulf War Dismantles the West’s Russia Sanctions Regime

The Iran war gave Moscow oil revenues, diplomatic standing, and the quiet satisfaction of watching Washington undo four years of sanctions.

Three Forgotten Islands Could Decide the Strait of Hormuz

Iran warned this week that any attack on its Hormuz islands would turn the Gulf bloody, as the UAE signalled it now sees a chance to reclaim them.

Stuttgart Voters Punish Merz as Energy Prices Surge

In the industrial heart of Germany, rising energy costs and a sudden war have triggered a surprise election win that hints voters are reaching a breaking point.