NEWS

With Astana’s entry, the Abraham Accords have entered into a new phase. Today, in a monumental step, Kazakhstan joined Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, and Sudan as the sixth member of the Abraham Accords. The decision may come as a surprise to many observers, who have …

Mohammed Ayoob Israeli maximalism and wavering US support do not bode well for a lasting Israel-Palestine settlement. After less than a month, the ceasefire in Gaza is already under immense pressure. In fact, one wonders if it is already irremediable. The trio of American mediators—Vice President JD Vance, …

Desmond Lachman President Trump’s management of the US economy is setting his party up for failure in the 2026 midterms. James Carville, Bill Clinton’s political advisor, famously said that when it came to elections, “it’s the economy, stupid.” This week’s convincing Democratic Party triumph at the polls in …

Graham Allison President Trump’s statements about nuclear testing affirm his determination to ensure that the United States maintains the most powerful nuclear arsenal in the world. Last week, President Trump announced that “because of other countries[’] testing programs,” he had “instructed the Department of War to begin testing …

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a set of 17 metallic elements that have become indispensable to modern technology and defense industries. Although they are not truly “rare” in the Earth’s crust, they are difficult to find in concentrated deposits and are expensive to separate and refine. The group …

Iraqis will vote for a new parliament on November 11, which is important for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and reflects the views of the young population that sees the political system as benefiting only those in power. Many voters feel disillusioned with democracy in Iraq, believing it …

Almost a decade ago, I would have wagered my entire wealth on the defeat of candidate Donald Trump in the primaries of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. My premises were clear: presidential elections should be contests among politicians, of which the U.S. has an abundance, making it unlikely …

Yang Xite The “plenary sessions” of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee play a crucial role in determining the country’s future policy direction, and if one wishes to know where China is heading, it would be indispensable to understand these plenums. From October 20 to 23, the Fourth …

When Ethiopia’s prime minister revived his call for sea access in early 2024, regional headlines lit up overnight. It was not just about trade or logistics, at least not entirely. It reopened a decades-old wound, the kind that never really heals in the Horn of Africa: who controls …