Features
Azerbaijan casino push aligns with business plans of president’s former son-in-law
The Azerbaijani parliament is set to adopt legislation to legalise casinos on artificial islands — which would pave the way for Emin Agalarov’s ‘Absheron Las Vegas’ project.
Arrest of billionaire Karapetyan escalates Armenia’s church-state showdown
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is embroiled in a very public confrontation with the Armenian Apostolic Church after accusing its head of fathering an illegitimate child.
Exiled opposition leader Felix Maradiaga speaks out on Nicaragua's authoritarian turn
Nicaraguan dissident Félix Maradiaga speaks from exile about Ortega's escalating repression. As the country cuts UN ties and deepens Russia-China partnerships, he calls for international pressure to counter the regime's transnational persecution.
US moving military assets into striking range of Iran
US President Donald Trump has not committed himself to joining Israel in the war against Iran, but he is moving military assets to within striking range of Tehran to keep that option open.
Turkey's Koc in a sweet spot in Uzbekistan's burgeoning real estate sector
The Uzbekistan real estate market has entered a sweet spot. A burgeoning population, rising capital inflows, a growing expat community and strong economic growth have combined to lift everyone’s boat.
The Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Combine is the jewel in Uzbekistan's golden crown
The Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Combine is Uzbekistan’s crown jewel and the fourth largest gold mine in the world. It also epitomises the Central Asian republic’s efforts to modernise its economy.
India likely to maintain neutral stance in Iran-Israel conflict
While New Delhi supports non-proliferation, it does not favour unilateral military solutions. A full-scale Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities could lead to regional chaos and spike oil prices, directly hurting Indian economic interests.
Western unity collapses as G7 summit in June beaks up with no joint statement
Western unity to support Ukraine in its existential struggle with Russia has collapsedю The G7 summit of the world’s richest nations in Canada, broke up on June 17 without releasing a statement condemning Russia’s military occupation of Ukraine.
Żabka opens 100th Froo convenience store in Romania
Polish convenience store operator Żabka has opened its 100th Froo-branded store in Romania, one year after launching in the market, the company said on June 16.
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Malaysia backs Iran’s retaliation against Israel, markets in Asia react
In a bold diplomatic stance, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared Malaysia’s support for Iran’s retaliation against Israel, citing the country’s right to defend its national dignity.
Indonesia caught between a rock and a hard place on the Iran-Israel conflict
As open hostilities once again affect millions in the Middle East, 42 Indonesian citizens have found themselves stranded in Tel Aviv after Israel closed its main international airport.
Belarus sliding back into Soviet economy habits
Russia been transformed into a war economy, but it is still run on market lines. Belarus is going in the opposite direction, one that is increasingly mirrors Soviet-style economic management.
PANNIER: Central Asia’s space race
A satellite in orbit offers a nation prestige, essential data in handling natural disasters and, controversially, a blanket “kill switch” for the internet during unrest.
Russia slowly being squeezed out of Syria
The new Syrian authorities have gone a long way towards gaining full recognition by the international community and as these relations get better those with Russia are getting worse.
What the Iran-Israel war could mean for much of Asia
From energy security and trade disruptions to political polarisation and rising tensions among Muslim-majority nations such as Indonesia, Malaysia and nuclear armed Pakistan, the consequences for Asia could reshape regional dynamics.
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ISRAEL IRAN WAR: is the war good news for the Russian budget?
The outbreak of full-scale conflict between Israel and Iran caused oil prices to jump that will provide the Kremlin with a welcome fresh infusion of cash at a time when military spending continues to balloon.
China’s delicate dance in the Iran-Israel war
Beijing has long pursued a foreign policy of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of others, and multipolar diplomacy, particularly in the Middle East. But the deepening crisis between Iran and Israel has tested these principles.
Iranian mines in the Straits of Hormuz could shut down a fifth of oil flows in a week
Iran has somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 naval mines, according to US intelligence estimates, which it could use to block the Straits of Hormuz and halt the flow of a fifth of the world’s oil traffic in a week.
Kremlin in delicate position between Israel and Iran, but could play peacemaker
With its long-standing good relations with both Tel Aviv and Tehran, the outbreak of war in the Middle East has put Moscow in a delicate position, but it has also been presented it with the opportunity to act as peacemaker.
Falsehoods and fabrications: the flood of fake media in modern warfare
A close look by a German news agency reveals that a considerable volume of the content circulating online is fabricated, manipulated, or taken from unrelated events. Most was generated in Iran.