Opinion – Editorial

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Abkhazia has announced that Badra Gunba has won the presidential runoff election, securing 54.73% of the vote. His opponent, Adgur Ardzinba, received 41.54%, according to preliminary results.

When Badra Gunba declared victory in Abkhazia’s presidential election, one Telegram channel, RESPUBLICA, put it bluntly:

"We congratulate Abkhazia on the return of Aslan Bzhania."

The wording was no accident. For many in Abkhazia, Gunba’s presidency does not represent a new chapter, but rather a continuation of Bzhania’s rule under a different name. The question is not whether Gunba will follow in Bzhania’s footsteps, but rather whether he was ever anything but Bzhania’s chosen successor.

Opinion – Editorial

Global politics is undergoing a seismic shift. The order once defined by American primacy and liberal institutionalism is unraveling, giving way to transactional alliances and unapologetic realpolitik. At the heart of this transformation lies an unlikely axis: the United States and Russia, whose détente under Trump’s second term is redrawing strategic fault lines. From Europe’s marginalisation to China’s encirclement and the Global South’s precarious balancing acts, this realignment carries profound implications. This article dissects the forces driving this new era and maps its consequences for a world in flux.

Opinion – Editorial

In the long arc of history, the ambitions of great powers have often been inscribed upon the sea. From the maritime empires of Spain, Portugal, and Britain to the naval rivalries of the Cold War, control over strategic waterways has been a defining element of global supremacy. Now, as geopolitical tensions surge in an increasingly multipolar world, the United States finds itself at a critical juncture. Under the leadership of Donald Trump, Washington's renewed interest in Greenland and Panama is more than a diplomatic oddity, it is a calculated move in the great game of maritime dominance.

Opinion – Editorial

In October 1957, the launch of Sputnik 1 shattered America’s illusion of technological invincibility. Today, another shockwave has erupted, not from space, but from code. A Chinese AI model, DeepSeek, reportedly developed with a direct training cost of $5.6 million, has dethroned ChatGPT from the top of the U.S. app store and triggered a $600 billion plunge in NVIDIA’s valuation. More than just a disruptive innovation, this marks a tectonic rupture in the AI landscape, exposing the fragility of Western assumptions about money, might, and monopoly.

Opinion – Editorial

The ongoing war in Ukraine stands at a critical juncture, with potential resolutions hinging on high-stakes diplomacy and shifting global alliances. As the conflict reshapes international power dynamics, key players such as the United States, Russia, and Europe grapple with strategies to secure their interests. This article examines the intricate interplay of political manoeuvres, economic pressures, and the broader implications for regional stability, offering a detailed analysis of what the future may hold for Ukraine and the world.