Features
Indonesia targets rice fraud in multi-agency crackdown
At the heart of the probe are allegations that hundreds of rice brands, many operated by major producers, have been repackaging low-quality or subsidised rice and marketing it as premium-grade, often at inflated prices.
India’s refiners face pressure as EU sanctions hit $14bn fuel exports
India’s petroleum exports to the European Union—valued at $14–15bn annually—are under threat following the EU’s latest sanctions package targeting Russian crude and its derivatives.
Russia-Azerbaijan crisis continues to deepen
The diplomatic crisis between Russia and Azerbaijan has expanded into cultural warfare, with Moscow dismissing a senior TASS executive for attending an Azerbaijani event.
Who are the men linked to corruption allegations dogging Zelenskiy’s government?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is facing mounting scrutiny over his decision to curb the independence of the country’s top anti-corruption bodies – provoking the largest domestic protests since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said there are signs Russo-Ukraine war could stop soon as fatigue builds
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on July 30 that there are “many signs” that suggest the war in Ukraine may soon be at least temporarily halted but warned that even a ceasefire would not change Poland’s policy of building up its army.
The Asian take on recognition of a Palestinian State
Muslim-majority nations or those seeking to expand their influence in the Middle East will support or reaffirm recognition. Meanwhile, countries embedded in US frameworks or enjoying ties with Israel are are expected to remain cautious.
Papua New Guinea steps up renewable energy drive with global support
Currently, only around 13% of Papua New Guinea’s population has reliable access to electricity, with the majority of rural communities dependent on diesel generators or without power altogether.
Poland sees record life expectancy amid deepening demographic crisis
Life expectancy in Poland reached its highest recorded level in 2024, with men living on average 74.93 years and women 82.26 years, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) reported on July 30.
China’s carrot and stick game with the US
Beijing may continue to tighten the screw in some sectors while signalling openness to negotiation in others - a two-pronged approach of punishment alongside the offer of resolution - or as it is oftentimes labelled in the West, carrot and stick.
Venezuela democracy in tatters one year after rigged poll as Trump policies aid Maduro
Venezuela's democracy collapsed after Nicolás Maduro's disputed July 2024 election victory, despite clear evidence of fraud. A year later, systematic repression has crushed the opposition, while Trump's policies seem to help Maduro's survival.
Recent floods across Asia kill hundreds, leave devastation in their wake
From South and Southeast Asia to Central and East Asia, communities have been grappling with flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outbursts as warming temperatures and shifting monsoon dynamics fuel increasingly erratic weather.
Only two bidders left in the auction for HSBC’s Maltese operations
The auction for HSBC’s Maltese operations has attracted more interest than first expected with the number of bidders rising to five at its peak. However, three have dropped out and only Bank of Georgia and Armenia’s Ardshinbank remain in the race
KSE: Russia’s military-industrial expansion may be unsustainable
Russia’s wartime economy has delivered a dramatic expansion in defence production since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But according to KSE, this growth could prove both unsustainable and destabilising in the medium term.
Saudi Arabia launches second phase of Art Bank initiative
Saudi Arabia's Social Development Bank has launched the second phase of its "Art Bank" initiative to support visual artists and freelancers across the kingdom.
Putin worked as a stuntman in 1970s Soviet movie industry – report
Russian President Vladimir Putin is reported to have performed stunt work in Soviet war films during the 1970s, according to former colleagues and a recently resurfaced caption in a St Petersburg university exhibit.
Kazakhstan’s big-hearted poster girl of philanthropy jailed as perfect villain who even cheated stricken people of Gaza
Perizat Kairat turned out to be an embezzler funding a jet-setting lifestyle.
Taiwan’s president, ruling party hit hard by failure in anti-KMT recall vote
On July 26, Taiwan witnessed the culmination of an unprecedented political moment - the largest recall vote in its history, which ended in a decisive failure for the ruling DPP and delivered a measure of political humility for President William Lai.
Russia pulling ahead of Ukraine in optical fibre drone arms race edge
Ukraine’s early advantage in battlefield drone technology is eroding as Russian investment, industrial scaling, and technological innovation reshape the aerial landscape of the conflict, particularly in the deployment of fibre-optic UAVs.
Ukraine’s top general Zaluzhnyi warns war could last a decade without systemic Western support
Ukrainian former top general and current UK ambassador Valerii Zaluzhnyi has given another controversial interview accusing Nato allies of “strategic infantilism” that could drag out the fighting for another decade.
Russia central bank governor Nabiullina says economy coming back on track, but big problems remain
Russia’s Central Bank of Russia has started easing monetary policy with a 200bp rate cut to bring down the interest rate to 18% on July 25. That is welcome relief for companies that have been increasingly struggling to cope with high rates.