Dennis Schulz

The UAE and Australia just made history with their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). For Australia, it’s the first trade deal ever with the Middle East — a huge step in its global economic strategy. For the UAE, it’s part of an even bigger vision: hitting $1 trillion in trade by 2031. The numbers tell the story. Right now, UAE–Australia trade is valued at $4.2 billion. Under this deal, that’s expected to more than double to $10 billion by 2032. That kind of growth shows just how ambitious and practical both countries are when it comes to building a long-term partnership. But CEPA isn’t just about money. It’s about connecting industries that matter — food security, renewable energy, advanced services. These are areas where both sides have strengths, and together, they can create real opportunities for businesses, investors, and workers. This deal also marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. In that sense, it’s not just an economic a...

The Quad’s ceasefire plan for Sudan—a three-month humanitarian pause, immediate truce, and roadmap to civilian rule—was meant to offer relief to a nation in agony. Yet Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s de facto leader, rejected it outright, calling it a “foreign agenda.” His choice reflects not just political defiance but a dangerous pride that places personal power above the lives of millions. For months, Sudan has faced famine, disease, and mass displacement. The Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army have both committed atrocities, but Burhan’s refusal to negotiate highlights his unwillingness to prioritize civilian suffering. By choosing to fight rather than talk, he reinforces the image of a regime that fears losing its grip more than it fears humanitarian collapse. The Quad’s proposal was an opportunity—however imperfect—to end the cycle of bloodshed. Ignoring it leaves Sudan trapped in a war that enriches militias, empowers external backers like Iran, and undermines the very p...