Features
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.
Bali’s tourism boom, a friend but also a dangerous foe
Known as the Island of the Gods, the island of a Thousand Temples, and the Lost Paradise, Bali’s beauty leaves visitors in awe—so much so that many keep coming back, and some even choose to call it home - but should they?
Sending EU peacekeepers to Ukraine is not going to work
The EU’s main plan for providing Ukraine with security from another Russian attack in a post-war set up is not going to work.
‘Perp walk’ pictures of businessmen who attacked Erdogan draw mocking response from opposition
Finance minister advised to hold up photo and say, “This is how favourable the investment environment in Turkey is.”
Myanmar military trainers extorting money from families of forcibly recruited soldiers
Families of individuals forcibly recruited into Myanmar's military junta told bno IntelliNews that so-called training instructors are extorting money from them.
Shrinking cloud cover may be driving record global temperatures, scientists warn
Scientists warn that fewer clouds could be triggering a feedback loop that accelerates warming, making it even harder to curb rising temperatures.
Romania's retail market expands despite economic slowdown, says Colliers
Growth reflects improved purchasing power, with Romania outpacing major economies in the region – and even some Western European countries – in per capita spending on clothing and footwear, says new Colliers report.
LONG READ: Can Ukraine go it alone (with a little help from the EU) if the US abandons it?
Now that Ukraine’s Nato membership hopes have been dashed and its Western allies are unlikely to offer binding bilateral security guarantees, can Ukraine continue to fight Russia on its own, given the EU continues to support it?
Trump could use Putin to talk to Iran
Russia's Putin is being floated as a possible "Iran whisperer" as part of the Trump administration's latest push to tackle the long-standing Iran problem.
Putin taking Trump talks seriously, appoints a heavy-weight team to lead the talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking the upcoming ceasefire talks with US President Donald Trump very seriously and has put together a heavyweight team of his top officials to conduct the negotiations.
Ukraine's position in ceasefire talks takes turn for the worst as the Munich Security Conference gets underway
Some analysts are claiming that Putin “won the war” after Trump held a phone conversation with Putin on February 12 going over the heads of Europe and without consulting Ukraine. The two leaders plan to meet in Riyadh for one-on-one talks.
Who is Russian sovereign wealth fund boss Kirill Dmitriev, whose Middle East connections helped broker the release of US prisoner Marc Fogel?
RDIF boss Kirill Dmitriev emerges as key broker in Fogel release deal.
The cost of survival in Myanmar: Sustainability vs deforestation in war-torn Chin State
How those on the ground in Myanmar are being forced to abandon sustainable living — just to survive.
The curious case of unsustainable energy funding in Indonesia
During the G20 Summit held in Bali in November 2022, then president of Indonesia Joko Widodo and the International Partners Group signed the landmark Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership agreement — but what happened to it?
Turkey, Germany strike arms deal to ramp up production of 155mm artillery shells
Move comes as US downgrades its role in Nato defence of Europe and concern grows over how Russia is racing ahead in weapons manufacturing.
Iran's birth rate falls below 1mn as population crisis deepens
Iran's annual birth rate will fall below 1mn for the first time, the deputy health minister announced as the country nears the end of its current calendar year.
What is on the table in Munich to bring the war in Ukraine to an end?
The world’s leaders meet in Munich this St Valentine’s day and ending the war in Ukraine will be top of the agenda. But what exactly is on the table for discussion to bring about an end to the conflict in Ukraine?
Russian holiday-makers return to Europe as demand for trips abroad surges
Russian tourists are increasingly booking trips to Europe, with a sharp rise in hotel reservations for Spain, France and Italy, according to leading online travel aggregators.