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Feeling the Crunch
Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are disrupting Iranian pistachio exports, sending prices of Dubai chocolate soaring and threatening the wider Middle Eastern sweets industry. As Gulf traders scramble for alternatives, Turkish and Syrian producers are emerging as unexpected beneficiaries of the crisis.
Friend, Rival, Trap
In his recent summit with Donald Trump, Xi Jinping invoked the “Thucydides trap,” framing China’s rivalry with the United States in terms that serve Beijing — and laying an actual trap for the U.S. president.
How Israel-Backed Sweida Became Syria’s Narcotics Capital
Since Druze militias took control of Syria's Sweida province in 2025, the region has become a Captagon hub run by former Assad officers and internationally sanctioned crime figures, and shielded by Israel.
Drake, DJ Khaled and Palestine’s Authenticity Test
By invoking Palestine to criticize DJ Khaled, Drake unintentionally exposed more than celebrity hypocrisy. The moment also revealed how Palestine has become a public measure of authenticity, morality and credibility — often at the risk of eclipsing Palestinians themselves.
How Armed Groups in Colombia Use Social Media To Recruit Children
Children in Colombia are being recruited by armed groups through TikTok and other social media platforms, lured by content that promises belonging, wealth and adventure.
When Is a Revolution Actually Over?
Writer Robin Yassin-Kassab joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss his new book “The Blood Between Us” and Syria one year after revolution.
UFOs Are Going Mainstream
Following the UAP story reveals more about human behaviors — and the inner workings of the U.S. government — than about anything that is potentially extraterrestrial. Grappling with the high strangeness that surrounds this topic, one comes to appreciate the need for humility.