Public Trust Erodes as Epstein Disclosures Reinforce Belief That Power Shields Accountability

A broad majority of Americans believe that the release of records connected to Jeffrey Epstein confirms a long-standing suspicion: that wealth and political influence often insulate elites from meaningful consequences. The findings of a national Reuters/Ipsos poll reflect not only reactions to the latest disclosures but also a deeper crisis of confidence in institutions that…

Digital Lifelines and Sanctions Pressure: Why Iran’s Crypto Surge Is Triggering U.S. Alarm

Iran’s accelerating use of cryptocurrencies has moved from the margins of global finance to the centre of U.S. strategic scrutiny. What was once viewed primarily as a retail phenomenon driven by currency collapse is now being examined as a systemic channel through which sanctioned actors may be accessing hard currency, moving value across borders, and…

Transparency, Power, and the Limits of Disclosure in the Epstein File Release

The release of millions of documents linked to **Jeffrey Epstein** represents one of the most expansive transparency exercises ever undertaken by the U.S. justice system. In sheer scale—millions of pages, images, and videos—the disclosure is unprecedented. Yet the true significance of the release lies less in its volume than in what it reveals about the…

Europe’s Financial Firewall Reimagined as a Strategic Backstop for Defence

For more than a decade, Europe’s largest crisis-response instrument has sat largely unused, a reminder of a past emergency rather than a tool for present challenges. Now, amid heightened geopolitical strain and mounting defence demands, senior policymakers are openly reconsidering its purpose. The suggestion that the **European Stability Mechanism** (ESM) could be mobilised to support…

Trade Optimism Lifts European Markets as India Pact Reframes Growth Outlook While Dr Martens Stumbles

European equity markets moved higher as investors digested the implications of a sweeping trade agreement between the European Union and India, an accord widely framed as transformational for global commerce and long-term corporate earnings. The deal injected fresh optimism into regional markets already navigating a delicate balance between trade opportunity, earnings season uncertainty, and lingering…

Tariff Ultimatum and Strategic Alignment Drive Washington’s Warning to Ottawa

The threat by Donald Trump to impose a 100% tariff on Canadian goods marks a sharp escalation in North America’s trade politics, rooted less in immediate commercial flows and more in long-term strategic alignment. While the warning was triggered by Canada’s engagement with China, it reflects a deeper U.S. concern about how allies position themselves…

Trade Diversification and Strategic Hedging Drive India–EU Push for a Landmark Agreement

India and the European Union are moving toward what both sides have described as the “mother of all deals” at a moment when global trade is increasingly shaped by volatility, tariffs, and strategic realignment. The renewed urgency behind the negotiations reflects less a sudden convergence of economic interests and more a shared response to uncertainty…

Why Venezuela’s Political Upheaval Is Unlikely to Jolt Oil Markets Anytime Soon

The overthrow of Nicolás Maduro in one of the world’s most oil-rich countries might ordinarily be expected to send shockwaves through global energy markets. Instead, traders and analysts are treating the event as largely neutral in the near term. Despite Venezuela’s vast reserves and its symbolic weight as a founding member of OPEC, the country’s…

Washington’s Gamble in Caracas Signals a New Phase of U.S. Power Projection

President Donald Trump’s declaration that the United States will temporarily run Venezuela following the capture of its president marks one of the most consequential assertions of American authority in the Western Hemisphere in decades. The statement goes far beyond the immediate drama of a high-risk raid and the detention of a foreign leader. It signals…

Europe’s Fiscal Pivot Signals a Strategic Recalibration on Ukraine Funding

European Union leaders’ decision to fund Ukraine through joint borrowing rather than directly mobilising frozen Russian central bank assets marks a significant shift in the bloc’s financial and political strategy. While the headline outcome is a €90 billion support package for 2026–27, the deeper story lies in how legal risk, internal divisions, and market credibility…