Features
COMMENT: China trumps Trump on soy
Beijing has used a third party – Argentina - as a bit-player of sorts with which to score points.
Pakistan’s agricultural sector and food security hit hard by flooding
Pakistan is grappling with the most severe flooding in over four decades in parts of Punjab, its agricultural heartland, with far-reaching consequences for food production, rural livelihoods, and the country’s export earnings
EBRD says geopolitics, tariffs and China competition weigh on Emerging Europe growth
Development bank downgrades 2025 forecasts for Central and Eastern Europe citing weak external demand, rising debt and the impact of US tariffs.
How India sees the Pakistan-Saudi defence pact
While the practicality of the pact is doubted in New Delhi’s policy circles, it adds a fresh layer of complexity to South Asia’s security environment and creates potential ripple effects across the Middle East and the Indian Ocean region.
Why India tops the World Bank debtors list in 2025
Through decades of external borrowing, fiscal crises and ambitious development programmes, India has emerged as a case study of both regional vulnerability and the complex promise of sustainable growth.
EU launches red-tape cutting reforms seeking to make Europe competitive again
Brussels will start cutting red tape with the so-called omnibus legislation this autumn as it sets out to make Europe competitive again, Politico reported on September 17.
Uzbekistan probing export options
Tashkent is finding there’s no easy path to the sea.
Argentina’s meltdown, Asia’s dilemma
Argentina has been here before - the country having endured multiple financial meltdowns over the last half-century - each one leaving scars on its once vibrant society and economy.
Funding the war: Ukraine and Russia's budgets side-by-side
Ukraine is teetering on the edge of a funding crisis that could cause its war effort to collapse. The pain for Russia's economy is also growing fast as it slides into stagnation or even stagflation.
COMMENT: The duplicity of Taiwan’s nationality regulations
As Taiwan stands, its nationality law reflects a divisive contradiction and one wrapped in the stigma of discrimination.
Iranian President could talk with Trump at UN
Iranian political figures urge bold diplomacy with President Pezeshkian's upcoming New York trip to the United Nations.
Trump eyes Bagram return, with China in his sights
In the years it was operational, 14 nations operated at, or through Bagram. In addition to the US, these included UK forces and elements from France, Germany, South Korea and more.
$23bn windfall for Kazakhstan as Beijing shifts up a gear on New Silk Road
Resource-rich Central Asian country emerges as a standout destination for Chinese investment.
US cancels Chabahar port sanctions exemption in blow to India's regional strategy
US terminates Iran Chabahar port sanctions waiver from September 29, jeopardising India's strategic trade operations and regional connectivity initiatives through the key facility.
INTERVIEW: Moldova seizes its moment
From rapid progress towards EU accession to the reconstruction of neighbouring Ukraine, factors have aligned to make Moldova an attractive FDI destination, says Invest Moldova head Natalia Bejan.
Polish border shutdown poses questions on Asia-Europe rail freight
The closure of Poland’s crossings with Belarus on September 12 has rattled transport and logistics companies, which warn that a prolonged halt could drive cargo away from the country, disrupt supply chains and inflate costs for businesses,
Europe remains Russia's number one biggest importer of gas, top five importer of oil in August
US President Donald Trump complained that the EU is still importing too much Russian oil and that the White House will not put sanctions on Russia unless the EU cuts back on this business.
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Indonesia’s Raja Ampat - tourism hub or den of corruption?
In recent years, Indonesia has doubled down on promoting Raja Ampat, a remote archipelago in West Papua famed for its biodiversity, as a global eco-tourism icon.
Flood corruption scandal shakes the Philippines
The Philippines is grappling with a widespread controversy surrounding its flood control programme, with allegations of billions of pesos being siphoned off from projects meant to protect vulnerable communities.
The European Commission proposes to “creatively” tap Russia’s $300bn of frozen assets with Reparation Loans
The European Commission is floating a new idea of how to “creatively” tap Russia’s $300bn of frozen assets without the need to appropriate, which is legally questionable, by replacing the money transferred to Kyiv with EU-backed bonds.