bne IntelliNews

Lebanese militant leader to be freed from French prison after 41 years #bne #bneEditorsPicks #Lebanon Lebanese sources report that a French court has issued a release order for septuagenarian Georges Abdullah, a Lebanese militant leader who has been imprisoned in France for 41 years. Jean-Louis Chalanset, Georges Abdullah's defence lawyer, confirmed the news to Al-Mayadeen television network, stating that Abdullah will be released on July 25.

Myanmar - four months on from the M7.7 earthquake #bne #bneEditorsPicks #Myanmar #earthquake Myanmar’s ongoing post-earthquake recovery has unfolded largely ignored by the outside world and amid a relentless civil war, severely complicating relief and reconstruction efforts across the country. In late March, a 7.7-magnitude quake struck central Myanmar - devastating regions such as Mandalay, Sagaing, Naypyidaw and Shan State - killing at least 3,700 people and injuring nearly 5,000, with thousands more missing multiple news agencies reported at the time.

Tourism sector booming in Vietnam #bne #bneEditorsPicks #Vietnam #tourism Vietnam’s tourism sector has seen a compelling resurgence since the pandemic, with international arrivals climbing sharply from 2022 onwards and 2025 shaping up to be a record-breaking year. Whole‑year figures illustrate the recovery: from just 3.4mn international arrivals in 2022, numbers surged to 12.6mn in 2023 - a nearly fourfold rise - and further to 17.5mn in 2024, almost matching the 2019 high of 18mn sources in the country report. These figures reveal not just recovery but resilience, as Vietnam outpaces regional peers, such as Thailand and Singapore, in returning to pre‑COVID tourism levels.

Racial profiling in Japan #bne #bneEditorsPicks #Ukraine #Russia #RussiaUkraineWar Japan’s foreign population continues to grow rapidly, reaching over 3.7mn by the end of 2024. But many individuals with foreign roots are raising their voices about discriminatory treatment, particularly racial profiling by the police. Recent lawsuits and public discussion are shedding light on long-standing practices that many feel contradict Japan’s need for a more inclusive society. Growing numbers, limited acceptance

Trio of Turkmen opposition activists face deportation from Turkey as Ankara “indulges” Ashgabat #bne #bneEditorsPicks #Turkmenistan Turkish authorities have detained three Turkmen opposition activists in recent months and say they will deport them to Turkmenistan where human rights defenders warn they will likely face imprisonment and mistreatment. The cases indicate once again Turkey’s diminished patience for critics of Turkmenistan’s regime as its cooperation with the insular and authoritarian Central Asian state has increased recently.

EU risks fuelling democratic decline in Balkans as reform credibility erodes, report warns #bne #bneEditorsPicks #BAlkans #EU The European Union’s credibility in the Western Balkans is being undermined by its own double standards, with the bloc prioritising short-term stability over genuine democratic reform, a new report from the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (Biepag) warned. The policy brief, authored by Jovana Marović, argues that while the EU continues to praise formal progress towards accession, it often overlooks democratic backsliding, sending mixed signals that have allowed entrenched elites to tighten their grip on power.

Armenia walking ‘tightrope’ as it shifts away from Russia, think-tank says #bne #bneEditorsPicks #Armenia #Azerbaijan #Russia Armenia is stepping up efforts to reduce its reliance on Russia, deepening ties with Europe and the United States after Moscow failed to protect it in recent conflicts with Azerbaijan, according to a new analysis by Dutch think-tank Clingendael. But Yerevan’s path to independence is constrained by geography, security threats and deep economic ties to Moscow, forcing the small South Caucasus nation to walk what the report calls a “tightrope balancing act”.

Hungarian farmers dump manure at EU headquarters in protest at planned cuts in CAP funds #bne #bneEditorsPicks #Hungary #EU #agriculture Hungarian farmers dumped piles of manure in front of the European Union’s headquarters in central Budapest in protest at the European Commission’s plans to overhaul the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) from 2028, leading to cuts in agricultural subsidies. The protest, backed by 70 farming organisations, coincided with similar demonstrations in Brussels. According to the main organisers, the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture (NAK) and the Hungarian Farmers' Association (Magosz), both loyal to the ruling Fidesz party, the draft budget proposal for the next MMF would boost spending on defence, innovation and industrial competitiveness, while streamlining funding for agricultural and regional development.

US YouTube star IShowSpeed stuns Lithuania in €30,000 visit, sniffs an official’s armpit #bne #bneEditorsPicks #Lithuania #IShowSpeed Internet personality Darren Jason Watkins, American – better known as IShowSpeed – arrived in Lithuania on July 15, ad was welcomed at the airport by the Minister of the Economy, Lukas Savickas, LRT.lt reported on July 16. “Welcome to Lithuania! We heard you enjoy speed – so here is a quick taste of our cold pink soup,” said the minister, handing him a glass of the country’s traditional beetroot dish, LRT.lt reported.

TBC Uzbekistan ranked one of world’s top fintechs #bne #bneEditorsPicks #bneTech #Uzbekistan #tech #fintech #TBC TBC Uzbekistan has been ranked as one of the World’s Top Fintech Companies in the neobanking category by CNBC and Statista. It is the first and only business from Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asia region to receive the accolade.