Global Watch

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Global Issues

Putin accelerates Russia's digital isolation

The Kremlin is testing the mechanics of a fully sovereign internet, a decisive step that would sever ordinary Russians from the open web and hand the regime total command over information flows.

Ukraine war accelerates Russian timber exports with devastating consequences

As the Kremlin searches for revenue to sustain its war in Ukraine, Russia's forests are becoming part of the war economy, creating deep environmental damage with global consequences.

NATO's Strategic Resolve ensures global stability

As China, Russia, North Korea and Iran deepen their partnerships and military capabilities, NATO's collective strength and modernized forces remain the cornerstone of global stability.

German-Australian defense pact signals global shift

Berlin and Canberra have signed landmark agreements to boost military industry ties and space security, directly responding to the threats posed by Russia's war in Ukraine.

Domestic brutality, external adventurism reinforce each other in Iran, Russia

Nationwide protests in Iran revealed not only Tehran's vulnerability but also how domestic repression helps sustain its partnership with Russia. The relationship is mutually reinforcing.

How did Pakistan broker a temporary truce between Iran and the US?

Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary between Iran and the United States to secure a temporary ceasefire and host negotiations to end the war in the Middle East.

Dependence on West discredits China's self-reliance myth

Beijing preaches self-reliance and 'national rejuvenation', yet China's economy is still powered by Western markets, U.S. dollars, and foreign capital.

True cost of Putin's war hits Russian families hard

Behind battlefield headlines, Russia's war is quietly reshaping daily life at home—draining resources, straining healthcare, and deepening long-term instability.

Middle East influencers advance regime narratives

Middle Eastern regimes are increasingly using influencers to disguise state messaging as authentic content, blurring the line between entertainment and propaganda.

Latin American regimes turn to influencers to peddle policies

From Venezuela to Nicaragua, singers and online personalities are helping repackage propaganda as entertainment--blurring the line between lifestyle content and political manipulation.

China's influencers advance party rhetoric

Beijing is quietly mobilizing celebrities and opinion leaders to weave patriotic messaging into lifestyle content, making it feel personal -- and not like propaganda.

Russia's local influencers advance Kremlin narratives

Bypassing EU bans on RT and Sputnik, Moscow now pays and grooms seemingly grassroots voices to erode support for Ukraine and deepen Western divisions.

Russian aggression fuels European rearmament

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has triggered Europe's fastest military rearmament since the Cold War: factories are expanding at record speed, defense budgets are soaring, and this surge, while strengthening deterrence, is raising fresh concerns about long-term global security.

Poland reels from row over EU loans to fend off Russia

Poland's broad defence consensus has fractured into a bitter power struggle, as President Karol Nawrocki challenges the government’s bid to secure billions in EU military loans. With war on its doorstep, the clash is exposing deeper tensions over sovereignty, debt and who gets credit for strengthening the country’s defenses.

Russia's race for the Arctic

As the Arctic melts, the Nordic Arctic becomes a dangerous battleground. Russia fortifies its nuclear submarine bastion while China pursues resources and routes. Full access by both would undermine global security.

Energy security after Hormuz

As diplomats debate whether gas belongs in the clean-energy transition, the Strait of Hormuz crisis is exposing how fragile the world’s fossil-fuel system still is.