Features
Controversy over exorbitant housing allowances: Indonesian parliament's clarification proves nothing
As inequality persists and trust in institutions remains fragile, spending billions on allowances risks exacerbating the rift between political elites and the citizens they represent.
Serbia reportedly seeks foreign workers for Stellantis plant
Serbia is looking to bring in foreign workers from Nepal and Morocco to support operations at the Stellantis car factory in Kragujevac, amid labour shortages and limited local interest in factory jobs.
Are Ukraine's Flamingo cruise missiles really made in Ukraine?
Secret factory A camera crew from Associated Press was granted access to the Fire Point factory at an undisclosed location inside Ukraine to witness the production of Ukraine’s new Flamingo cruise missile.
Is India being forced closer to China and other BRICS nations by US tarrifs?
According to a new report, bilateral trade grew from $17bn in 2005 to nearly $120bn by 2024, with China becoming India’s largest trading partner and the trade deficit swelling to almost $100bn.
Chinese President Xi Jinping makes rare visit to Tibet
China’s President Xi Jinping has made an unannounced trip to Tibet, where he presided over a mass gathering in Lhasa to mark six decades since Beijing established the autonomous region.
Western Balkans gradually gaining on EU economies, but Ukraine falls further behind
Bruegel study finds all candidates and potential candidates except Ukraine have converged somewhat towards the EU average in GDP per capita terms.
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The Philippines pushes back against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea
Recent incidents, from naval collisions to dangerous aerial interceptions, illustrate the fraught nature of the region, and reveal the Philippines’ evolving strategy to defend its maritime rights.
South Korean exports under pressure from expanding US trade barriers
South Korea, one of the world’s most export-dependent economies, is entering a turbulent period as protectionist measures from the United States intensify.
How is Thailand’s latest political maelstrom affecting the monarchy?
Thailand’s monarchy remains the country’s most sacrosanct and enduring institution, buttressed by draconian lèse-majesté laws and the concept of the “network monarchy” - a web of royal proxies and conservative institutions.
More than 300,000 Syrians may have gone missing under Assad's rule, new investigations reveal
Syria's National Authority for the Missing estimates up to 300,000 people disappeared under Assad rule from 1970 onwards, with 63 documented mass graves mapped across the country.
Ukraine goes into production of Flamingo ICBM
Flamingo is part of Ukraine's broader push to develop independent strike capabilities, as it has been sorely lacking in missiles that can strike targets deep in Russia’s hinterland.
Turkey lavishes further fortunes on city hospital contractors
Officials ensure “custom” for giant complexes by shutting down more convenient local state facilities.
BEYOND THE BOSPOROS: Business as usual in Turkey as regime’s gangs get to work on “Bourse Ekrem”
For many targeted by judicial operations, there’s a going rate to buy freedom.
Protests enter a dangerous new phase in Serbia
Violent clashes between anti-government demonstrators, regime supporters and riot police have become a nightly occurrence.
How North Korea sees the South’s new president - and what lies ahead on the Korean Peninsula
Any real breakthroughs will hinge on trust, mutual recognition, and perhaps the intervention of external actors.
Has Turkey entered “arms race” with Saudi Arabia for football prestige?
Galatasaray’s €75mn deal for striker Osimhen latest example of debt-ridden top Turkish clubs paying out mega bucks for players.
Outrage in Indonesia as property tax soars by 250%
The policy swiftly met with public opposition. Protesters confronted authorities to retrieve the contributions, resulting in verbal clashes and physical scuffles.
Boost for event tourism as J.Lo concert showcases Tashkent’s ability to put on world-class entertainment
State coffers, meanwhile, get $3mn tax boost.
Four million pilgrims from 140 nations converge on Iraq for Arba'een
At least 4.1mn people have attended the 2025 Araba'een pilgrimage in Iraq, according to local officials.
Does Donald Trump deserve a Nobel Peace Prize?
After the White House dubbed Donald Trump the "president for peace", bne IntelliNews contributors assess how much substance there is behind the international diplomatic triumphs claimed by his administration.