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Russia’s Gulf Pivot Fuels Surge in Arabic-Speaking Tourists

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Russia is witnessing a sharp rise in visitors from Gulf nations as closer diplomatic and economic ties translate into a tourism boom. From husky sledding near Moscow to hot air balloon rides over snow-covered landscapes, tourists from Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are embracing winter experiences unfamiliar in their desert homelands. Attractions around the capital have added Arabic signage and tailored services to cater to the growing influx.

The surge comes amid Moscow’s strategic pivot away from the West during its war in Ukraine, strengthening engagement with Gulf states that have played diplomatic roles in prisoner exchanges and humanitarian efforts. Increased direct flights, visa-free arrangements and warmer political ties have supported the growth. Saudi Arabia ranked second among foreign visitors last year with nearly 75,000 tourists — a 36% annual increase — while arrivals from the UAE exceeded 59,000. Tour operators say some markets, including Saudi Arabia, have expanded nearly fifteenfold compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Despite sanctions and logistical hurdles, including airport disruptions and cash payment limitations due to suspended Western card services, Gulf tourists are spending heavily on luxury hotels, shopping and premium experiences. Russia recorded 1.64 million foreign visitors in 2025, a modest increase from the previous year though still below pre-pandemic peaks. Industry leaders say demand from Arab countries continues to grow, even as security checks and geopolitical tensions present ongoing challenges.

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Italy’s Bonus-Seat Reform Could Hand Meloni Strong Majority

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A proposed reform of Italy’s electoral system could significantly boost Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s chances of securing a second term, according to new studies. The ruling centre-right coalition has agreed to shift to a fully proportional voting system that includes a seat bonus for any coalition winning more than 40% of the vote. The measure, which still requires parliamentary approval, is designed to ensure governing stability but has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition.

Analysis by polling firm YouTrend suggests that under the current mixed system, neither the centre-right nor the left would likely win an outright majority, raising the prospect of a hung parliament. However, under the proposed rules, Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party and its allies — the League and Forza Italia — would secure a clear majority. The winning coalition would receive a 70-seat bonus in the 400-member lower house and 35 extra seats in the 200-member Senate, capped at 60% of total seats.

The opposition Democratic Party has denounced the reform as an attempt to tilt the system in favour of the government, while Meloni’s allies argue it would prevent political gridlock after the 2027 election. A separate poll indicated the centre-right currently leads by about four percentage points, enough under the new rules to translate a narrow vote advantage into a commanding parliamentary majority.

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German Unemployment Remains Above 3 Million Amid Prolonged Slump

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Germany’s unemployment total remained above three million in February, underscoring persistent strain in Europe’s largest economy after two consecutive years of contraction. Labour office data showed 3.07 million people out of work, slightly down from the previous month but 81,000 higher than a year earlier. On a seasonally adjusted basis, unemployment rose by 1,000 to 2.977 million, while the jobless rate held steady at 6.3%, matching forecasts.

Labour office head Andrea Nahles said the market was still struggling to regain momentum following the winter period. The figures pose a challenge for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has pledged to revive growth through increased infrastructure and defence spending. Analysts said that with the economy stagnating for years and industry facing structural pressures, a gradual weakening in the labour market was largely unavoidable, with no clear turning point yet in sight.

Other data offered mixed signals. Inflation dipped below 2% in several German states in February, pointing to easing price pressures nationally, in line with a broader slowdown across the euro zone. Real wages continued to recover, rising 1.9% in 2025 and 2.9% in 2024, though they remain below pre-2019 levels after inflation shocks linked to the pandemic and Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine eroded purchasing power.

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Spain to Check Gibraltar Arrivals Under Post-Brexit Treaty

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The UK has agreed to allow Spanish border guards to conduct passport checks on travellers arriving in Gibraltar under a draft post-Brexit treaty with the EU. The 1,000-page agreement will introduce Spanish-run “second line” Schengen checks at Gibraltar’s airport and port, following initial controls by local authorities. The deal aims to secure an open land border with Spain and provide long-term certainty for the territory ahead of stricter EU border rules coming into force in April.

While Gibraltar will not formally join the passport-free Schengen zone, Spanish officials will be empowered to carry out searches, arrests and interviews when justified during border control procedures. Non-EU nationals, including British passport holders, will face biometric checks under the EU’s Entry Exit System. The arrangement is intended to eventually remove the 1.2km fence separating Gibraltar from Spain — a crossing used daily by thousands of workers — and streamline travel while avoiding disruption to the local economy.

The treaty also brings Gibraltar into the EU customs union, aligning import duties with Spain and introducing a phased “transaction tax” on goods sold locally, though its zero-VAT regime will remain. Fabian Picardo welcomed the agreement as providing certainty for businesses, while the UK government described it as part of a new era of cooperation with the European Union. The draft must still be ratified by both the UK and European Parliaments before taking effect.

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AI Boost No Cure-All for Soaring Public Debt

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An artificial intelligence-driven productivity surge could ease pressure on debt-laden advanced economies, but economists caution it will not solve deep-rooted fiscal challenges. With public debt already exceeding 100% of GDP across most wealthy nations and projected to climb further due to ageing populations, defence spending and climate costs, AI-fuelled growth may only buy governments time rather than repair strained public finances.

Early estimates shared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development suggest that stronger productivity and employment gains from AI could reduce debt levels across member economies by about 10 percentage points from projected levels by 2036. In the United States, some economists see debt rising more slowly — to around 120% of GDP over the next decade — if AI meaningfully lifts growth and tax revenues. However, ratings agency S&P Global Ratings is not yet factoring in a major improvement in public finances.

Demographics remain the biggest constraint. Ageing populations and entitlement spending continue to drive debt higher, and uncertainty surrounds whether AI-led gains will translate into higher wages, employment and tax revenues. Economists warn that without fiscal discipline, even a sustained productivity boom may not offset mounting borrowing costs or prevent market pressure if growth disappoints.

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Spain’s Migrant Amnesty Sparks Chaos Amid Bureaucratic Gaps

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Spain’s upcoming migrant regularisation drive, aimed at granting legal status to around half a million undocumented migrants, has already strained immigration offices and sparked anxiety among applicants. The government announced the programme last month, but a lack of detailed guidance, funding, and staffing has left both migrants and frontline workers uncertain about the process and timeline. Union leaders warn that without additional resources, the initiative could face significant delays or fail at launch.

The Spanish government plans to run the programme from April to June, allowing migrants with clean criminal records and at least five months of residence or prior asylum applications to qualify. However, essential details on required documentation and procedures remain unclear. As a result, migrants have been queuing at immigration offices for information and, in some cases, paying intermediaries illegally to secure appointments, reflecting widespread fear and confusion.

Experts note that Spain’s inclusive migration policies have fueled economic growth but chronic administrative backlogs leave hundreds of thousands working off the books. Union officials and NGOs emphasize the need for additional staff, technological support, and extended office hours to handle the surge in applications, while the government explores involving non-governmental organisations and trade unions to manage the expected influx efficiently.

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Greek Court Sentences Intellexa Founder Over Wiretapping

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A Greek court has found Intellexa founder Tal Dilian and three associates guilty of illegally accessing private data in 2020-2021, sentencing each to a cumulative 126 years and eight months, though the actual prison term is capped at eight years. The case stems from allegations that journalists, politicians, and business leaders were targeted using Predator spyware, developed by a surveillance company within the Intellexa consortium.

The Misdemeanour Court in Athens also referred the case for further investigation into potential espionage and other serious offenses. The defendants denied the charges and did not formally enter a plea, with legal representation present during the proceedings. The court’s ruling follows a 2024 Supreme Court decision that dismissed state intelligence agency involvement but allowed misdemeanor charges against the individuals.

The scandal has shaken Greece’s government, prompting the removal of key officials and a narrowly avoided vote of no confidence in 2023. Plaintiffs, including journalist Thanasis Koukakis, expressed satisfaction at the verdict while calling for further judicial investigation into the broader network of wiretapping crimes.

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German Court Halts AfD ‘Extremist’ Label

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Germany’s Cologne administrative court has granted an injunction preventing the domestic intelligence agency (BfV) from classifying the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as right-wing extremist, pending a full court ruling. The decision provides temporary relief to the far-right party ahead of five state elections scheduled for later this year.

The injunction was filed by the AfD to contest the 2025 BfV decision labeling the party as extremist, which would have allowed increased monitoring by the intelligence service. The court noted that it could not currently establish that the party as a whole is dominated by extremist positions, thereby suspending the agency’s classification until further review.

The BfV’s May 2025 classification had triggered political tensions in Germany, with calls from some lawmakers to ban the party and criticism from the AfD itself, which argued the move undermined democratic principles. The U.S. administration also expressed concern, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging German authorities to reconsider the designation.

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Antonio Tejero, Leader of Spain’s Failed 1981 Coup, Dies at 93

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Antonio Tejero, the former Civil Guard officer who led Spain’s failed coup attempt on February 23, 1981, has died at the age of 93. Tejero stormed the Spanish parliament armed with a pistol, ordering lawmakers to the floor and holding them hostage for nearly 17 hours in a bid to reverse the country’s transition to democracy. The dramatic episode, broadcast in part by national television, became one of the most defining moments in modern Spanish history. His death in Alzira, Valencia, was announced by his family through their law firm.

A staunch loyalist of dictator Francisco Franco, Tejero opposed Spain’s democratic reforms following Franco’s death in 1975. The 1981 coup attempt tested the young constitution adopted just three years earlier. Then-King Juan Carlos I played a crucial role in quelling the uprising by delivering a televised address backing the elected government, a move widely credited with safeguarding Spain’s democracy. Tejero was later sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the plot.

Born in Malaga in 1932, Tejero rose quickly through the ranks of the Civil Guard but grew increasingly disillusioned as Spain embraced democratic governance. After an earlier failed conspiracy known as “Operation Galaxia,” he became a central figure in far-right opposition to political reforms. Released from prison in 1996, he lived largely out of the public eye, remaining unapologetic about his actions. The bullet holes from the shots fired during the 1981 coup attempt still mark the ceiling of Spain’s parliament, a lasting reminder of the fragile moment in the nation’s democratic transition.

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French Government Survives Twin No-Confidence Votes Over Energy Law

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The French government has survived two no-confidence motions in the National Assembly after pushing through a new energy law by decree earlier this month. The motions were filed by the far-right National Rally (RN) and the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI), but neither secured the 289 votes required to topple the government. The RN-backed motion received 140 votes, while the LFI motion gathered 108, allowing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to remain in office.

The outcome offers temporary relief to Lecornu’s minority administration, which has faced repeated challenges since taking power. Earlier this year, the government also survived two no-confidence votes linked to the passage of a delayed budget. However, political uncertainty persists in France, with President Emmanuel Macron experiencing low approval ratings as he approaches the end of his second term.

The contested energy law outlines a revised national strategy that scales back renewable energy targets and eases operational pressure on state-owned utility Electricite de France (EDF), including reversing a previous mandate to shut down 14 nuclear reactors. The measure sparked intense debate between lawmakers advocating continued renewable subsidies and those favouring investment in nuclear power, amid concerns over the country’s high debt and long-term energy security.

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