Features
Syria receives IMF visit for first time since 2009
Conflict-torn country faces “enormous challenges”, says mission. Majority of GDP wiped out. Restoring power infrastructure alone could cost at least $40bn.
Can Kazakhstan deliver on the rare earth hype?
The expectation for the "new oil" is huge – but experts point out that it is still far too early to talk about the Central Asian country having massive, confirmed REE resources.
Drawing the line: Indonesia settles long-running Aceh–North Sumatra dispute
Aceh, located at the northern tip of Sumatra, is a special autonomous province with the right to implement Sharia law. It has a distinct political identity shaped by decades of conflict, which ended with the 2005 Helsinki peace agreement.
Asia’s fruit boom: how the continent is feeding the world’s sweet tooth
Asian growers are now tapping into global markets more aggressively than ever before.
LONG READ: Nato summit in The Hague is all about the money, not about Ukraine
The collected membership of Nato meets in The Hague on June 25 for a cutdown version of the annual gathering, where Ukraine has been dropped from the agenda and the only thing that will be discussed is increasing defence spending to 5% of GDP.
Peruvian restaurant Maido tops global rankings in latest World's 50 Best list
Peru shines again as Maido in Lima is named the world’s best restaurant in 2025, marking a major win for chef Micha Tsumura and cementing Peru’s place as a global culinary powerhouse.
Global uncertainty causes FDI to plummet in Emerging Europe
wiiw research blames crisis in German industry and the uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s second term as US president for sharp slowdown in FDI.
A Chinese invasion of Taiwan would cripple the global semiconductor supply chain - and the planet
Diplomacy, deterrence, and international cooperation are the only viable path forward. The alternative is not just a local war - it is a global tech blackout.
Proposed defence spending hike to 5% of GDP exposes divisions among Nato members
Russia hawks in Poland and the Baltic States are firmly behind plan to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, while other members question new target.
Iran strikes hollow victory for US
Trump’s air spectacle was undeniably impressive for American audiences late over the weekend, but all hell has now broken loose.
“Project 816”: China also has secret underground nuclear weapons facilities
China also maintains underground nuclear weapons facilities, similar to those found in Iran, according to defence analysts and intelligence agencies. The most famous is “project 816”, and other secret sites are thought to be working still.
Saudi Arabia-based power company ACWA Power plunges head first into Uzbekistan's green energy sector
Saudi Arabia-based utility developer ACWA Power plunged headfirst into the Uzbekistan green energy market. Since making its first investment in 2020 with a 1,500-MW plant in the Silk Road city of Bukhara, it has built $15bn worth of new capacity.
Iranian parliament decides to ‘close’ Strait of Hormuz following US strike
Tehran appears set to take steps to close the vital shipping lane, but it remains to be seen whether it can do it, and what impact this will have.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to attend a Nato summit in The Hague next week after all
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to attend a Nato summit in The Hague next week after all, the European Council confirmed on June 20, amid uncertainty over the US role in transatlantic security commitments.
Russian economy: cooling or recession?
One of the most closely watched sessions at the annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which is underway now, is the economic panel with the heavy hitters from the Kremlin’s economic team.
Minister’s denial of 1998 mass rapes in Indonesia sparks outcry
“What actually happened? We never truly know. Who said it was mass rape? It was all hearsay,” Fadli said in a recent podcast interview.
FIC head explains why Uzbekistan today is not the Uzbekistan of five years ago
As Uzbekistan continues its transition toward a more open and market-driven economy, there is progress in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and improving the overall business climate.
Uzbekistan investment story reaches critical mass as the first round of international capital arrives to invest into its burgeoning businesses
Uzbekistan sees surge in foreign investor interest as green energy and private capital drive momentum.
TBC Uzbekistan boss Hughes building a Central Asian digital-only banking giant with retail, SME lending and AI services
Since it arrived in Uzbekistan in 2020 by taking over a fintech payment system, Georgia’s TBC has taken the market by storm. The country’s only pure online bank has grown by leaps and bounds and today has 1mn customers.
EU sanctions Turkey’s jihadists in Syria for slaughtering Alawites
Militias designated by Council of Ministers represent a failure by Ankara to organise militant groups during the Syria War.