(Analysis) Yemen: New Prospects After January 2026
After months on international headlines following Houthi attacks on shipping, Yemen underwent new reassessments in January 2026, leading to a new relevance on the regional landscape.
After months on international headlines following Houthi attacks on shipping, Yemen underwent new reassessments in January 2026, leading to a new relevance on the regional landscape.
The challenges Prevost will face include repositioning the Church as a serious global player, providing a valid alternative for the masses seeking spiritual refuge in evangelical movements, and presenting the Church as an institution able to meet the needs of the younger generations. The first months of papacy have made clear the pontiff’s global positions.
The article analyzes the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack as part of a recurring cycle of surprise assaults, Israeli military responses, and long-term instability. It argues that lasting peace requires addressing the root causes of radicalization, not just restoring military dominance.
North Korea’s reported deployment of troops to support Russia in the Ukraine war marks a significant shift in its global posture. What does this reveal about Pyongyang’s intentions, and how should the international community respond?
Beijing’s recent use of soft power to influence Taiwan has evolved to include a strategic focus on Taiwanese influencers, particularly those with a significant youth audience. While leveraging cultural events and celebrities for propaganda is not new, this approach represents a shift towards subtler, more pervasive tactics aimed at shaping the perceptions of Taiwan’s younger generation.
Will Hong Kong retain its status as an international financial hub following the passing of the national security law? This article examines China’s economic goals, recent geopolitical shifts, and initiatives like the Belt and Road and Greater Bay Area, while assessing Hong Kong’s unique financial strengths and future.
The BRP Sierra Madre acts as the Philippines’ stronghold over the Second Thomas Shoal against Chinese advances in the South China Sea. In the past year, tensions in the region have escalated, with both nations’ coast guard services engaged in heated confrontations. Due to the shoal’s strategic location, both countries employed risky strategies to pursue their goals of controlling this location. Hence, turning the shoal and the BRP Sierra Madre into the South China Sea’s new geopolitical flashpoint towards the boundaries of a possible conflict.
Central Asia is a vast and resource-rich region situated between three major centers of influence. Formerly part of both the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union, its nations have only recently gained independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. They continue to be influenced by Moscow, although they have made some significant strides towards autonomy in their own right. The Russian military’s actions in Ukraine have continuously eroded the credibility of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russian-led military alliance. This, coupled with a significant loss of soft power in the countries of the post- Soviet space, which traditionally formed part of its sphere of influence, could create an opening for other influential actors to emerge as real alternative partners. The European Union wishes to consider an even more proactive role in Central Asia, given the young nations’ of Central Asia newfound pragmatism in foreign policy and its potential to enhance EU interests.
Italy’s BRI engagement economic promises fell short. Italy’s reassessing aligns with US priorities. Taiwan’s ties could help distancing from China but strain relations. Balancing interests, alliances, and economics, Italy navigates a complex situation. Exiting the BRI may offer security assurances while maintaining diplomatic and economic hedging with the US and China.
The BRICS – a loose association of developing nations – have been the focus of global attention in recent weeks, for the 15th BRICS Leaders’ Summit. While the goal is to establish a more multipolar economic order, the existing geostrategic differences between India and China risk hampering the organisation’s ability to reach its full potential over the medium and long term.