Maliki ruled Iraq from 2006–2014. Mosul fell to ISIS in 2014 after army collapse.

Corruption allegations defined his tenure. $500 billion in public funds vanished between 2006 and 2014.

More than 50,000 “ghost soldiers,” and officials said 57,000 Interior Ministry salaries were paid to nonexistent employees.

Gulf states accused him of marginalizing Sunnis; Saudi Arabia said his “exclusionary policies” helped create the conditions for ISIS.

Relations with Türkiye deteriorated after 2012, when he accused Ankara of interference and labeled it a “hostile state.”

“Hey, big man… why don’t you stop the Russians from using Starlinks to target Ukrainian cities. Making money on war crimes may damage your brand.”

“This drooling imbecile doesn’t even realize that Starlink is the backbone of Ukraine military communications.”

Saudi Arabia is turning to its wealthiest families to help fund the next phase of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic overhaul as pressure grows on public finances.

The Public Investment Fund has met with prominent families to gauge interest in investing alongside the state, while government agencies are increasing outreach to family offices and local businesses.

With oil revenues weaker and banks tightening lending, Riyadh is seeking alternative sources of capital. Family-owned firms — which dominate the private sector — are being encouraged to invest in areas such as private credit, technology, mining and real estate, and to partner with global investors.

Officials hope this will unlock hundreds of billions of dollars in domestic wealth to support Vision 2030 projects.

Source: Bloomberg

Europe is no longer Washington’s primary center of gravity. The shift has been ongoing for a while. It is structural, not temporary.

No great power in history has ever outsourced its survival and survived.

The risk of a return to coercive power politics and a world where might makes right is very real.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney hit the nail on its head in his own speech in Davos: it's time also for Europe to take down its sign.

We are now dangerously close to the third bell.