Russia accuses Washington of 'irresponsible escalation'

Russia accused Washington of irresponsible escalation on February 26 as US-Iran nuclear talks resumed in Geneva for a third round, with Oman mediating between delegations amid a major US military buildup in the Middle East.

Iran-US nuclear talks in Geneva pause for break as IAEA chief joins consultations

Iran-US nuclear talks in Geneva paused briefly on February 26 as IAEA chief Rafael Grossi joined consultations, with Omani mediator Badr Busaidi describing exchanges as "creative and positive" ahead of a resumed session.

IMF pledges continued support for Syria’s economic recovery amid structural reforms

Ukraine maintains stability but growth outlook cut as war drags on, EBRD says

Ukraine has preserved macroeconomic stability despite a fourth year of full-scale war, but its growth prospects for 2026 have been sharply downgraded as expectations of a ceasefire fade, according to the EBRD.

Latest Hungarian poll puts Tisza Party 20 points ahead of Fidesz

The opposition Tisza Party reached its largest lead over the governing party less than 50 days before Hungary's general election.

Uber and Joby Aviation launch in-app air taxi booking ahead of Dubai debut

Uber has integrated Joby Aviation's electric air taxis into its app ahead of a Dubai launch later in 2025, with one-tap booking connecting ground and air travel as Joby nears final FAA certification for US operations.

AIR Tashkent, US company Samson Sky want to see 300 Switchblade flying cars in Uzbekistan’s skies

Memo on making it happen signed at opening of Easy to Fly Academy in Central Asian country.

Russia moves to bring crypto market under full state control

Russia’s central bank and finance ministry are preparing legislation to establish a fully regulated domestic cryptocurrency market, four years after officials debated an outright ban on digital assets.

Loom Games claims “unicorn” crown in record time for Turkish startup

LA-based Scopely, owned by Saudi wealth fund company Savvy Games, to acquire video game developer.

Armenia breaks ground on €42.5mn EU-backed tech education complex near Yerevan

Officials said the EU Tumo Engineering and Applied Sciences Complex will boost Armenia’s standing as a centre for engineering and technology.

ASH: Hungarian elections as a read out to US midterms?

For me the two most important elections globally this year will be midterms in the US in November, and elections in Hungary on April 12. The first will shape the course of democracy in the US, and the latter democracy both in Hungary and the EU.

RAGOZIN: Rubio in Budapest, pulling Orban's puppet strings

When US state secretary Marco Rubio toured Hungary and Slovakia last weekend, American liberals were aghast. They were specifically flared up by Rubio openly endorsing the incumbent Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, in upcoming elections.

COMMENT: Cuba's friends have plenty to say and nothing to give

With its power grid collapsing and tankers turning back mid-ocean, the communist island faces a crisis its friends in Moscow, Beijing and across Latin America are unwilling — or unable — to prevent.

COMMENT: Why UK-Kazakhstan economic cooperation matters today

The current global environment calls for a more deliberate effort to strengthen and adapt the partnership between Kazakhstan and the UK for the years ahead, writes Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev.

MARINS: What happens if the Iran-US Geneva talks to stave off war fail?

After the first meeting in Oman this monthy, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi are meeting in Geneva to try to stop a new war.

Sharp port cargo decline signals industrial slowdown in Turkey

Academic says he “has never seen such a sharp downturn”. But finance minister says foreign investors like country’s “strong story”.

Not a single acquittal handed down by Tajikistan’s courts in two years

Situation should be subject of “serious analysis” as it affects fundamental principles of justice, says local lawyer.

Bangladesh election reduces political uncertainty but forthcoming reform execution remains critical

The referendum could, and should, facilitate constitutional changes to strengthen institutions, including a shift from a unicameral to a bicameral legislature, increased judicial independence and the introduction of new prime ministerial term limits.

Bank of Israel holds interest rate steady, citing risk of regional conflict

The Bank of Israel Monetary Committee maintained the interest rate at 4%, halting a streak of two consecutive 0.25% cuts implemented in November and January.

European Commission flags worsening debt path for Hungary

Short-term financing conditions remain manageable, but the country faces a steadily worsening debt trajectory over the medium and long term unless significant fiscal adjustments are made, European Commission report says.

Ukraine’s wartime grid offers ten lessons in energy resilience, IEA says

Ukraine’s struggle to keep the lights on under sustained Russian bombardment this winter has yielded ten core lessons for energy security that policymakers worldwide would be wise to study, according to a new report from the IEA.

Is Modi meeting with Israel's Netanyahu a turning point in relations?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Israel on February 26 for a two-day visit, his first since 2017, which could prove to be a defining moment in India-Israel trade relations.

IntelliNews Lambda: Germany slipping into gas crisis, EU will struggle to restock this summer

Europe’s gas market has been pushed back into a vulnerable position after a cold winter drained storage to well below seasonal norms, setting up a difficult test for summer refilling. Germany is already into crisis territory, but coping for now.

Russia's Kaspersky fights Western sanctions

Major Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky is trying to push back against Western sanctions, threatening to sue Germany’s BSI for discouraging local users from using its products.

Cuban fuel crisis: a Russian tanker is on route. Will Trump let it through?

A tanker widely believed to be carrying Russian fuel is heading towards Cuba, potentially setting the stage for a fresh confrontation between Moscow and Washington as the island struggles under a de facto US fuel embargo.

MOSCOW BLOG: Russia as a supermarket dressed up as a country

Russian Finance Minister Anton Sulianov was speaking to the Duma yesterday and announced a pretty radical new direction to move the budget away from its traditional addiction to oil and gas export revenue and make it more dependent on consumption.

KYIV BLOG: Ukraine, too little, too late

Today we go into the fifth year of the Ukraine war which has now been going on longer than the Second World War ( 3 years and 11 months).

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Role in attack on Iran or some golf course chitchat? Speculation in overdrive on Turkmen leader’s trip to US

Observers have little idea over what it was all about. Did Berdimuhamedov meet Trump?

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Should Kyrgyzstan’s Japarov fear a triumphant return of Tashiyev as his nemesis?

Analyst says president seems on brink of making country “personalist autocracy” after deciding man who always did his “dirty work” is no longer needed.

MOSCOW BLOG: Imperialism is back

The Geneva peace talks on ending the war in Ukraine broke up yesterday with no concrete results. There were no announcements nor any readout of what was discussed.

Samsung’s develops a solid-state silver-carbon battery breakthrough

Samsung’s development of a solid-state battery using silver as a core material could prove a disruptive moment for the electric vehicle industry, with potentially significant implications for global silver demand.

Taiwan urges drivers to shift to electric vehicles

Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment has called on motorists to move away from petrol and diesel vehicles, as more than 120,000 fossil fuel vehicles have already been swapped for electric alternatives under a scheme launched in 2022.

INTERVIEW: FeroInvest bets on battery storage as North Macedonia’s solar capacity grows

FeroInvest owner Kočo Angjušev talks to bne IntelliNews about North Macedonia’s first battery energy storage system, the country's growing renewables market, and his response to US sanctions.

Croatia unveils €1.68bn climate social plan targeting vulnerable households

Funding aimed at vulnerable households, energy-poor citizens and small businesses facing higher costs from the green transition.

Adani Power Limited enters nuclear segment as India opens sector

India’s leading power company, Adani Power Limited, has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, Adani Atomic Energy Limited, marking its formal entry into the country’s nuclear power generation industry