Photo by Yuriy Vinnicov on Unsplash MEPs have greeted the outcome of elections in Moldova which saw the pro-European party of Moldovan President Maia Sandu claim victory and a new majority in parliament. She had warned of massive Russian interference after voting, saying the future of Moldova, flanked by Ukraine and Romania, was on the line.Igor…
Photo by Sasha Pleshco on Unsplash On 28 September 2025, Moldova arrives at a critical crossroad, not only electing a new parliament but also determining its geopolitical future. These elections will either reinforce the country’s commitment to European integration or lead to its transformation into a grey zone of instability along the borders of the…
Photo by the blowup on Unsplash Who knows if Sudan’s General Abdel Fatteh al-Burhan will be heading off to New York to address the UN General Assembly this week, but if he does, it will probably with his civilian prime minister, former UN official Kamil Idris, in tow. Will they have anything different to say…
Photo by Martin Krchnacek on Unsplash As the Czech Republic prepares for parliamentary elections on 3–4 October 2025, the country faces a pivotal moment in both foreign and domestic policy. Andrej Babiš, former prime minister and leader of the right-wing populist ANO party, which currently tops the polls, has declared his intention to halt a…
Photo by Sergei A on Unsplash Calls are intensifying for the US, UK and EU to extend sanctions to Russia’s titanium industry, as Western policymakers face renewed scrutiny over lingering gaps in their response to Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Despite sweeping restrictions on Russian hydrocarbons and other commodities since the invasion in 2022, titanium,…
Photo by Elize Bezuidenhout on Unsplash In the last days of August, Sudan’s two rival governments both held cabinet meetings which, in their different symbolisms, reflected very different visions for the future of their benighted country. Those different visions were best captured in the redesigned state coat of arms that hung on the wall behind…
Photo by MW on Unsplash Today, the world faces mounting uncertainties and challenges from prolonged conflicts and democratic backsliding to economic coercion and disinformation campaigns. Authoritarian regimes increasingly employ gray-zone tactics that undermine the rules-based international order. In this fragile global environment, peace cannot be taken for granted. Democracies must unite to bolster resilience and…
Photo by sander traa on Unsplash The conflict in Sudan, which has been raging for well over two years, is no closer to a peace deal, and the humanitarian crisis deepens on a weekly basis, with famine, disease and displacement. One name comes up, often as a stumbling block, in any article that speculates on…
Photo by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine On the night of 28 August, Russia launched another large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s capital. Several waves of strikes included drones, hypersonic weapons, ballistic and cruise missiles. Air defence systems intercepted many threats, but multiple direct hits struck Kyiv, causing fires, destruction, and civilian casualties….
Photo by Roman Skrypnyk on Unsplash Europe and the United States are now succeeding where Russia has long tried and failed: maintaining steadfast unity in support of Ukraine, alongside a cool, pragmatic scepticism towards any so-called guarantees that Moscow tries to use to position itself as both aggressor and arbiter. Following diplomatic musical chairs in…
