Features
EU-Central Asia: Preparing for first-of-its-kind summit aimed at bolstering trade
Caution evident in build-up to gathering.
INTERVIEW: "It's risky to invest in Ukraine now. But it's more risky not to invest" – AmCham Ukraine
An interview with the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine
Russian household well-being reaches highest level in a decade – BOFIT
The well-being of Russian households has reached its highest level in a decade, a survey carried out by the Bank of Finland institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT) found.
Indonesians push back as military enters civilian government
Student groups protested outside the Blitar DPRD office under a heavy police presence, demanding the law’s repeal and calling for press freedom. Activists pointed to past instances of media suppression, warning about potential threats to journalists
Revolution, resistance and regime collapse in Damascus
The end of the 54-year rule of Syria’s Assad regime came so quickly that many refused to believe it.
Democracy nosedives as authoritarian grip tightens on Georgia
Brutal police crackdowns on pro-EU street protesters have given way to a targeted campaign of repression seemingly intent on throttling every dimension of the Georgian civil resistance movement.
Putin’s upcoming India visit indicates deeper ties despite global shifts
Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to visit India in the near future, marking his first trip to the South Asian nation since December 2021
What exactly is Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision for the transactional multipolar world?
Did Russian President Vladimir Putin just endorse US President Donald Trump’s plan to annex Greenland? And what exactly is Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision for a multipolar world?
Trump's promises of Russian sanctions relief are easier said than done
Friedrich Nietzsche said: “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,” and Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly insisted that Western sanctions have only strengthened Russia’s economy. But he still wants to get them lifted.
Trump and Carthage: The end of history revisited
What has gone wrong with the world? Protests and wars have broken out across the globe. Analysts are warning that weak countries could face problems but the strong ones are suffering from a deeper long term rot that will change the world order.
Halyk pushes forward Kazakhstan’s digital banking revolution
Kazakhstan’s oldest financial institution has developed a digital ecosystem that integrates banking with government services and lifestyle features.
EU holds trump card in Rosselkhozbank sanctions delisting
The EU's jurisdiction over the SWIFT messaging service is a major obstacle to US-Russian proposals to lift sanctions on Russia’s Rosselkhozbank, according to Yuliia Pavytska, head of the sanctions programme at the KSE Institute.
Indian defence reforms stymied by lack of funds
India’s plans to modernise its military and strengthen domestic defence production are facing mounting challenges due to financial constraints, despite a net boost in the country’s defence budget.
Malaysian government under scrutiny over Sapura Energy financial crisis
The company’s debt started ballooning due to aggressive expansion strategies that started in 2018, when it sought external financing to sustain operations, taking on multi-currency loans from various financial institutions.
INTERVIEW: Kazakhstan’s capital market is constantly developing, says KASE chair
Kazakhstan’s economic expansion and the launch of new instruments on the KASE have fuelled continuous development of the country’s capital market.
The ‘Squad’ looks at adding two new members to counter China in the Indo-Pacific
The Philippines is seeking to expand the informal security alliance known as the ‘Squad’ by including India and South Korea, in an effort to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Rule of law in EU deteriorates, with decline concentrated in eastern members
Liberties report finds collapse of democratic standards in Hungary, and strong deteriorations in Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Romania and Slovakia.
COMMENT: Why Iran remains wary of Trump's negotiation overtures
The contemporary wellspring of Iranian scepticism derives from the collapse of the nuclear agreement, which Tehran views as the definitive proof of American diplomatic unreliability.
Is Ukraine heading towards Finlandisation?
A frustrated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for action, not protracted negotiations on March 22, ahead of the next round of US-Russia ceasefire talks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Indonesia’s military reforms leave millions on edge
The law’s ratification has sparked widespread anxiety across Indonesia and has served to revive memories of the authoritarian ‘New Order’ era of 1966 - 1998 under former President Suharto.