Features
India and Pakistan choose sides - in outer space
China and Pakistan have formalised an agreement to send a Pakistani astronaut to China's Tiangong space station, marking the first time a foreign national will visit the orbiting laboratory.
Shocked but defiant, Ukrainians react to dramatic shift in US policy
"I am shocked. I didn’t expect Trump to behave in such a vile way. There are no words. I just can’t understand how someone in Trump’s position can behave so shamelessly.”
INTERVIEW: Baseload Power Taiwan – the Swedish geothermal leader making inroads in East Asia
In a country so desperately short on natural resources as Taiwan, particularly those linked to power generation, there may just be a way out of its ongoing energy predicament, particularly with China looking intent on blocking LNG shipping lanes.
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From social media to the streets: how hashtags fuel Indonesian youth activism
Ever since the 2019 protests against efforts to weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission, social media has been crucial to organising protests in Indonesia.
Can Emerging European countries afford to rearm?
As European countries face a pressing need to rearm amid fears the US may pull back from its security commitments, an EBRD report shows higher defence spending is already putting pressure on public finances.
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Are Syria’s Druze about to break away with Israel’s help?
Syrian Druze are becoming increasingly concerned with the makeup of the new Damascus regime and are fighting back.
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White House press conference debacle: what does it mean and what happens next?
Things are moving incredibly fast. The world order appears to have been turned on its head by US President Donald Trump. Where does that leave Ukraine after his clash with Zelenskiy? And what will happen to the trans-Atlantic alliance?
PANNIER: China’s big push into Uzbekistan
Wave of projects in energy, mining, factories and construction and water conservation. Critical minerals could be next.
Rail link to supercharge Mongolia’s coal exports to China
Mongolian trade minister tells bne IntelliNews the mega-project is a “game-changer” due to his country’s historic reliance on trucking.
Lebanon's rail revival paves the way for economic growth and unity
Lebanon is seeking to revive its dormant railway network, aiming to reconnect with neighbouring Syria and Iraq while positioning itself as a potential link in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
EBRD lowers 2025 forecasts citing subdued global growth and trade fragmentation
Weaker external demand and potential impact of Trump tariffs weigh on Emerging Europe, Central Asia and Semed regions, with growth now projected at 3.2%.
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Indonesia at a tipping point: volatile policies and budget cuts drive frustration
Student-led protests in several Indonesian cities were triggered by frustration over spending cuts, the lack of policy stability and police censorship.
Ukraine’s public debt surges 60% since Russian invasion, debt could become a problem post-war
Ukraine had no debt following the fall of the Soviet Union and a healthy 35% of GDP before the war with Russia began three years ago, but as most international aid is in the form of loans, the debt-to-GDP ratio is now 64% and still rising.
Russia and China remain rivals in the Arctic, and now the US is knocking at the door
Russia and China’s “no limits” partnership has strengthened considerably over the past three years. They have been driven together by the geopolitical clash between East and West. But there is one place they remain rivals: the Arctic.
INTERVIEW: New growth drivers for Kazakhstan’s economy, says BCC Invest
BCC Invest head of research Sultan Zhumagali says trade and construction have emerged as engines of growth in an economy that is no longer purely resource-driven.
China’s stare-down of Trump’s energy tariffs will not end well – for the US
In a swift response to President Donald Trump's imposition of a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, Beijing has retaliated by levying tariffs on US energy exports. The Chinese government announced a 15% tariff on US coal and LNG, alongside 10% on crude.
Azerbaijan moves to erode media freedom
The suspension of BBC News Azerbaijani’s operations and the financial collapse of Turan Information Agency — within days of each other — signal an accelerating erosion of independent journalism.
Millions face longer wait to retire as Iran overhauls pensions
Iran has set maximum retirement ages of 62 for men and 55 for women as part of sweeping pension reforms announced by First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.
Ukraine doesn't have any rare earth metals, and the strategic minerals it does have are not worth trillions of dollars
US President Donald Trump wants a $500bn deal to gain control over Ukraine’s rare earth metals wealth. The problem is, Ukraine doesn’t have any. It does have "strategically important metals", but they are not worth trillions of dollars.
Trump puts Japan between a rock and a hard place on Ukraine
Ukraine's ambassador to Japan comes across as desperate to keep the war with Russia relevant to a nation losing interest.