When cards stop working: the fragility of Iran's banking system
What started as problems with card payments turned into an 18-day disruption that exposed the hidden fragility of one of Iran's most critical civilian infrastructures.
Topics
🇮🇷 Iran
In-depth coverage of domestic politics, nuclear negotiations, sanctions dynamics and regional posture.
All in 🇮🇷 Iran
🇱🇾 Libya
Monitoring political fragmentation, militia dynamics and energy sector volatility.
All in 🇱🇾 Libya
The expansion of the Khalifa Foundation
Looking to address a gap in Libya's south, the Foundation is continuing to grow its capabilities.
Exclusives
Exclusive geopolitical reporting based on scoops, original sources and previously unpublished insights.
All in Exclusives
Agreement reached to reshuffle Libya's NOC
Libya's oil sector may soon undergo its most significant leadership reshuffle in years.
Oil & Gas
Market-moving intelligence on production risks, regulatory shifts, supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions across key producer states.
All in Oil & Gas
Iraq's anti-corruption drive: reckoning or cosmetic fix?
The high-profile arrests of Iraqi political and energy officials drew international attention and fuelled claims that Baghad was targeting Iranian influence. However, the situation is more nuanced than it appears, and reveals Iraq's continuing political complexity.
Mining & Critical Minerals
Analysis of critical mineral supply chains across frontier markets, with a focus on strategic competition, resource security and implications for global energy and technology sectors.
All in Mining & Critical Minerals
How Washington is redefining Pakistan’s critical minerals value chain
Pakistan offers a node between Gulf capital, American technology, and the resource-hungry Indo-Pacific for the world’s few most critical minerals
Israel-Iran-US War
Expert reporting on the Israel-Iran conflict and U.S. involvement, from the June 2025 Twelve-Day War to ongoing military escalation, strategic signalling, regional spillover risks and great power implications across the Middle East.
All in Israel-Iran-US War
Joint talks on Hormuz expose diverging interests between Oman and Iran
Often overlooked, Oman also has a voice in how traffic flows through the Strait, and both Oman and Iran will have to reconcile their opposing visions for the future of Hormuz.
West Asia
Political risk updates, business intelligence and strategic insights across the Gulf, Levant and Iran.
All in West Asia
Iraq's anti-corruption drive: reckoning or cosmetic fix?
The high-profile arrests of Iraqi political and energy officials drew international attention and fuelled claims that Baghad was targeting Iranian influence. However, the situation is more nuanced than it appears, and reveals Iraq's continuing political complexity.
North Africa
Regional coverage across Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Sudan.
All in North Africa
Mali's slow crumbling under jihadist attacks
For the second time this year, the Malian military faced a major assault by a coalition of Tuareg separatists and al-Qaeda jihadist forces in the vast desert expanses of the north. Is Mali on track to become the first Sahel state to fall to resurgent jihadism?
🇺🇸 United States
Analysis of U.S. political dynamics, foreign-policy priorities and regulatory shifts.
All in 🇺🇸 United States
Trump City and his vision for America
The U.S. President sees D.C. as his own backyard, and has sought to build his own version of America. However, he has stumbled into Washington's long and complicated history, adding another chapter into D.C.'s fight for determination.
International Affairs
Analysis of global power shifts, major diplomatic developments and external actors shaping outcomes in MENA and other frontier markets.
All in International Affairs
Iraq's anti-corruption drive: reckoning or cosmetic fix?
The high-profile arrests of Iraqi political and energy officials drew international attention and fuelled claims that Baghad was targeting Iranian influence. However, the situation is more nuanced than it appears, and reveals Iraq's continuing political complexity.
Defense & Security
No-nonsense analysis on conflict zones, armed groups, foreign military activity, and security sector shifts across volatile theatres.
All in Defense & Security
Mali's slow crumbling under jihadist attacks
For the second time this year, the Malian military faced a major assault by a coalition of Tuareg separatists and al-Qaeda jihadist forces in the vast desert expanses of the north. Is Mali on track to become the first Sahel state to fall to resurgent jihadism?
Economy & Trade
Analysis of fiscal policy, sanctions, investment flows and trade dynamics shaping regional markets.
All in Economy & Trade
A closed deal doesn’t mean an open strait
While many hope the U.S. and Iran are now aligned in regards to opening the strait, the reality is both countries have created two different realities that they refuse to compromise.
Politics & Governance
Insight how political decisions, governance structures and elite incentives shape stability, reform prospects and operational risk across the region.
All in Politics & Governance
Trump City and his vision for America
The U.S. President sees D.C. as his own backyard, and has sought to build his own version of America. However, he has stumbled into Washington's long and complicated history, adding another chapter into D.C.'s fight for determination.
