Nicholas Oakes Madagascar has become the latest flashpoint in a growing wave of youth-driven revolts sweeping across continents. What began as protests over blackouts and water shortages quickly escalated into a generational uprising that forced President Andry Rajoelina to flee the country, a stunning collapse that underscores how …

The U.S. dollar edged lower on Monday as investors bet on a potential cooling of U.S.-China trade tensions, following President Donald Trump’s abrupt shift from tough talk to reassurance over the weekend. The dollar index =USD, which measures the greenback against six major currencies, slipped 0.1% to 98.908, …

Washington’s diplomatic and policy stakeholders have been in full motion in Africa this quarter—from Senate hearings shaping ambassadorial leadership to high-level visits in Benin, Cameroon, and Mali. The rhythm of these engagements suggests an evolving U.S. foreign policy, one that fuses civilian and military instruments of statecraft to …

Ahmad al Sharaa’s new parliament is seated. The urgent question is simple and immediate. Will this body be a genuine forum for Syrians or a carefully staged reassurance for foreign capitals and investors? On October 5, 2025, local electoral college delegates elected 119 deputies to a 210-seat People’s …

Beijing Tightens Grip on Critical Minerals: As Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping prepare for a landmark meeting later this month, China has announced comprehensive export controls on rare earth minerals, strengthening an already tight hold over materials essential to global technology, defense, and green energy production. Beijing’s …

Gold has always been more than just a metal. It’s been a story—one that people keep telling themselves about safety, wealth, and permanence. Empires have risen on it, wars have been fought over it, and currencies have been backed by it. Yet, like every story people overbelieve, gold …

Madagascar’s president has fled the country, as confirmed by the leader of the opposition and other officials. Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko stated that President Rajoelina left on Sunday after army units joined the protesters. His current location is unknown. The president’s office, which had announced a national address for Monday, …

It was thought that after the US declared a ceasefire, halting their bombing of Houthi rebels in return for a halt to attacks on US ships, this would see a curtailment of the Houthi threat and disruption in the Red Sea. Yet civilian commercial ships in the Red …

On October 12, 2025, President Donald Trump began his visit to the Middle East. This marks his second trip to the region, following his first visit in May, which took place shortly before he ordered airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. This time, Trump’s itinerary includes Israel—a long-standing ally …