Latest Updates

Global oil inventories falling at record pace, critical storage threshold about to be breached - IEA

Global oil inventories are declining at a record rate as the market absorbs a major Middle East supply disruption, raising the risk of sharp price increases if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, according to the International Energy Agency.

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AfDB forecasts Africa growth slowdown to 4.2% in 2026 amid global tensions

Africa demonstrates resilience despite tighter global financial conditions and supply chain disruptions, supported by improved macroeconomic management, agricultural output, and higher commodities prices.

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How effective are Ukraine’s drone strikes at destroying Russian refinery production?

Wrangling over how effective Ukraine’s drone strikes of Russian refineries has broken out amidst conflicting reports of just how much damage is being done to Russia’s key oil infrastructure.

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Ukraine cuts tariffs in bid to incentivise gas storage

Ukraine has cut tariffs for gas storage services and introduced new incentives for long-term capacity bookings as Kyiv seeks to accelerate stockpiling ahead of a winter.

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A growing Balkan bloc objects to Ukraine's accelerated EU membership

Former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban was the most vocal opponent of Ukraine’s EU accession bid. However, behind the scenes several other EU members have opposed allowing the agricultural superpower to join.

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Asia’s coal comeback complicates energy transition across region

Taiwan has struggled to secure LNG supplies through May and finalised contracts covering roughly half of June demand, but additional procurement costs are expected to reach into the billions of US dollars to complete.

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COMMENT: Now there’s a thing – Deutsche Welle circulates Erdogan regime’s line in English but butters up opposition in Turkish

Core tenet of German foreign policy means a public veneer of democratic solidarity, but a reality of accommodating strongmen.

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Timur Turlov’s Freedom Holding Corp: From a niche broker to a global fintech player

The story of how a small brokerage firm transformed into a transnational financial ecosystem.

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Ukraine’s budget comes under strain as defence financing pressures build - KSE

Iran cleric says missile strike on US base shifted regional power balance

Russian state banks buy into e-commerce with Sber and Ozon deal next

Ukraine’s budget comes under strain as defence financing pressures build - KSE

Ukraine’s fiscal position remained broadly stable on the revenue side in the first quarter of 2026, but rising defence needs and delays in external financing increased pressure on public finances as the quarter progressed.

Iran cleric says missile strike on US base shifted regional power balance

Iran's interim Friday prayer leader said an IRGC strike on a US base shifted the regional balance of power, citing the Pentagon's account of the ceasefire holding despite the exchange.

Russian state banks buy into e-commerce with Sber and Ozon deal next

Sberbank negotiates purchase of Ozon stake, after VTB and fellow e-commerce platform Wildberries confirm partnership deal.

News

Shokhin appointed Russia's new business ombudsman as uncertainty over budget funding rises

The appointment of Alexander Shokhin as Russia's new business ombudsman is more significant than the title suggests. Shokhin is not merely another bureaucrat; he has spent almost two decades as president of the Russian Union of Industrialists .

Iran and Oman could legally charge for Hormuz passage against US wishes

A Yemeni journalist argues Iran and Oman could legally charge navigation service fees for Strait of Hormuz passage under UN maritime law, a prospect he says has angered Washington.

Peskov rules out Ukraine ceasefire talks with Europe as it is a party to the war

As Europe hunts for a suitable mediator to negotiate a Ukraine war ceasefire deal with Russia, the Kremlin has ruled out any talks as Europe is party to the conflict, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 29.

US extends licence for Lukoil foreign asset sales to June

The United States has extended by one month, to June 27, a licence allowing companies to continue discussions with Russia’s second-largest oil producer Lukoil (LKOH.MM) over the potential purchase of its overseas assets.

Drone strikes residential building in eastern Romania, injuring two

Incident is the most serious drone-related event on Romanian territory since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022.

Shokhin appointed Russia's new business ombudsman as uncertainty over budget funding rises

1 hour ago

Iran and Oman could legally charge for Hormuz passage against US wishes

2 hours ago

Peskov rules out Ukraine ceasefire talks with Europe as it is a party to the war

5 hours ago

US extends licence for Lukoil foreign asset sales to June

6 hours ago

Drone strikes residential building in eastern Romania, injuring two

9 hours ago

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Tech

From Soviet antihistamine to Alzheimer's breakthrough: a UK biotech bets on a molecule the world forgot

A small UK-registered biotech company believes it has found an Alzheimer's treatment that is safer, cheaper and more effective than anything currently on the market — and it has done so by revisiting a molecule first synthesised by Soviet chemists.

Japanese groups weigh backing SoftBank-led AI venture

According to people familiar with the matter cited by the agency, the companies are examining plans to invest tens of millions of yen each, equivalent to several hundred thousand US dollars.

From Soviet antihistamine to Alzheimer's breakthrough: a UK biotech bets on a molecule the world forgot

A small UK-registered biotech company believes it has found an Alzheimer's treatment that is safer, cheaper and more effective than anything currently on the market — and it has done so by revisiting a molecule first synthesised by Soviet chemists.

BC Partners faces legal challenge over United Media sale

United Group founder and former CEO have launched legal proceedings against private equity firm BC Partners, seeking to block the planned sale of United's Southeast European media assets.

Argentina unveils ‘Super RIGI’ bill to attract billion-dollar technology investments

Argentina's government has sent to Congress a new investment incentive bill dubbed "Super RIGI", targeting projects worth at least $1bn in sectors including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced biotechnology.

From Soviet antihistamine to Alzheimer's breakthrough: a UK biotech bets on a molecule the world forgot

27 minutes ago

Japanese groups weigh backing SoftBank-led AI venture

6 hours ago

From Soviet antihistamine to Alzheimer's breakthrough: a UK biotech bets on a molecule the world forgot

1 day ago

BC Partners faces legal challenge over United Media sale

1 day ago

Argentina unveils ‘Super RIGI’ bill to attract billion-dollar technology investments

2 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Defiant Ozel declares Erdogan will be ousted by 60% of voters in snap poll

Unfortunately, as per usual, the CHP does not appear to be living in the real world.

Millions of Ukrainians may remain in EU for years even after war ends

Ukrainian refugees are likely to remain in the European Union for years – and possibly permanently – even if the war with Russia ends, according to a new report by the Clingendael Institute.

COMMENT: Turkey’s opposition leader scales water cannon. Round of applause, but autocracy looks here to stay

Barring an exceptional turn of events, ‘Action man’ Ozel is too little too late. Democracy took a knife to the back long ago.

EU’s foreign policy boss Kallas is undermining Europe’s credibility

Kaja Kallas has done it again. The EU’s top foreign policy high representative called China a “cancer” that needs decisive treatment with chemotherapy rather than temporary relief with morphine.

COMMENT: Russia and China deepen strategic alignment as partnership reaches “highest level in history”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping set out an expansive vision for their bilateral relationship in a joint statement issued during a state visit to Beijing this week, marking 30 years of strategic partnership.

BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Defiant Ozel declares Erdogan will be ousted by 60% of voters in snap poll

2 days ago

Millions of Ukrainians may remain in EU for years even after war ends

4 days ago

COMMENT: Turkey’s opposition leader scales water cannon. Round of applause, but autocracy looks here to stay

4 days ago

EU’s foreign policy boss Kallas is undermining Europe’s credibility

7 days ago

COMMENT: Russia and China deepen strategic alignment as partnership reaches “highest level in history”

8 days ago

More Opinion

Data

North Macedonia retail sales growth slows to 2.1% in April

Data points to continued resilience in household consumption, although the pace of overall retail growth moderated significantly from the previous month.

Uzbekistan’s foreign trade grows 6% to $26bn in Jan to April

Exports of $10bn and imports of $16.4bn produce trade deficit of $6.4bn.

Hungarian central bank remains cautious, keeps base rate on hold at 6.25%

MNB says global risks remain elevated due to energy and commodity price volatility and disruption in global supply chains.

Romania’s banking system profitability falls to four-year low in Q1

The sector’s profitability indicators dropped to their lowest levels in four years, after remaining well above the average of other European banking systems in recent years.

Moldova’s trade deficit narrows 2.7% y/y in Q1 on stronger crop exports

Higher exports were partly offset by more expensive imports of natural gas and electricity, with the quarterly trade gap at 8.9% of GDP.

North Macedonia retail sales growth slows to 2.1% in April

1 day ago

Uzbekistan’s foreign trade grows 6% to $26bn in Jan to April

2 days ago

Hungarian central bank remains cautious, keeps base rate on hold at 6.25%

2 days ago

Romania’s banking system profitability falls to four-year low in Q1

3 days ago

Moldova’s trade deficit narrows 2.7% y/y in Q1 on stronger crop exports

3 days ago

More Data

Features

The EU's enlargement dilemma

Europe debates new shape of enlargement as Ukraine and Western Balkan candidates push EU to rethink membership.

USMCA to keep tariffs as US opens bilateral talks with Mexico, freezing out Canada

The United States intends to maintain tariffs on imports from both Mexico and Canada even after the USMCA is revamped, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed on May 26.

India’s Morbi ceramic cluster hit by supply chain disruptions linked to Middle East conflict

The Indian ceramic and tiles industry, which maintains a deep trade link with the countries in the Middle East region, has been severely affected by the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.

The return of the Silk Road as the “C6”, a key geopolitical link between Europe and Asia

There is a map that used to hang in the offices of Soviet central planners in Moscow, showing the five republics of Central Asia as a single administrative unit with all roads pointing to Moscow. Today the arrows point in all directions at once.

Three-way race tests Colombia's shifting political order

A leftist senator, a far-right flamboyant provocateur and a conservative dynast vie to define the country's next chapter as Colombians head to the polls on May 31.

The EU's enlargement dilemma

1 day ago

USMCA to keep tariffs as US opens bilateral talks with Mexico, freezing out Canada

1 day ago

India’s Morbi ceramic cluster hit by supply chain disruptions linked to Middle East conflict

2 days ago

The return of the Silk Road as the “C6”, a key geopolitical link between Europe and Asia

2 days ago

Three-way race tests Colombia's shifting political order

3 days ago

More Features

Blogs

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Water “insecurities” are rumbling under the surface of regional diplomacy

Kyrgyzstan wants more infrastructure maintenance funds. Afghanistan is preparing to divert river flows for irrigation. Disagreements could mount.

BALKAN BLOG: Is Serbia’s president really on his way out?

Is Aleksandar Vučić finally running out of road? In Serbia, it is the question that follows every large protest.

BALKAN BLOG: Great powers’ competing agendas for the Western Balkans

EU sidelined as Washington warns over China and Russia's influence in new strategy document, while Xi Jinping honours Serbia’s president in Beijing.

CAUCASUS BLOG: Russia's South Ossetia treaty edges toward annexation

New treaty amounts to de facto annexation of separatist Georgian republic, analysts and Georgian opposition figures say.

Venezuela unveils draft oil rules to guide foreign investment push, economy expands

Venezuela has begun circulating draft regulations linked to its newly approved hydrocarbons law.

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Water “insecurities” are rumbling under the surface of regional diplomacy

1 day ago

BALKAN BLOG: Is Serbia’s president really on his way out?

2 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: Great powers’ competing agendas for the Western Balkans

3 days ago

CAUCASUS BLOG: Russia's South Ossetia treaty edges toward annexation

7 days ago

Venezuela unveils draft oil rules to guide foreign investment push, economy expands

9 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

Ørsted completes cable works at Taiwan offshore wind farm

The developer said all 42 turbines at the project’s second phase, the 583-MW Greater Changhua 4 wind farm, are now connected to Taipower’s grid and generating electricity.

Estonian firm to invest €100mn in hybrid energy park in Latvia, partner with Rolls-Royce

Sunly has emerged as one of the Baltic region’s fastest-growing renewable energy developers, focusing on solar, wind and storage projects across the Baltics and Poland.

South Korea builds nuclear-solar supergrid to prevent blackouts

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power is building a multi-tiered power network to secure national electricity supplies, the Gyeongbuk-based utility has announced.

The Iberian blackout was a grid failure, not a renewables failure

When the lights went out across almost all of Spain and Portugal last year in one of the biggest blackouts since the war, experts quickly blamed the explosion of renewable generating capacity as the cause. They were partly right.

Output of Czech hydro plants drops by 30-50% amid continued drought

Fears this year’s drought could be the worst in 65 years, after Czechia registered only 32mm of rainfall in March and April.

Ørsted completes cable works at Taiwan offshore wind farm

15 hours ago

Estonian firm to invest €100mn in hybrid energy park in Latvia, partner with Rolls-Royce

18 hours ago

South Korea builds nuclear-solar supergrid to prevent blackouts

1 day ago

The Iberian blackout was a grid failure, not a renewables failure

2 days ago

Output of Czech hydro plants drops by 30-50% amid continued drought

2 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

The appointment of Alexander Shokhin as Russia's new business ombudsman is more significant than the title suggests. Shokhin is not merely another bureaucrat; he has spent almost two decades as president of the Russian Union of Industrialists .

A Yemeni journalist argues Iran and Oman could legally charge navigation service fees for Strait of Hormuz passage under UN maritime law, a prospect he says has angered Washington.

As Europe hunts for a suitable mediator to negotiate a Ukraine war ceasefire deal with Russia, the Kremlin has ruled out any talks as Europe is party to the conflict, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 29.

The United States has extended by one month, to June 27, a licence allowing companies to continue discussions with Russia’s second-largest oil producer Lukoil (LKOH.MM) over the potential purchase of its overseas assets.

Incident is the most serious drone-related event on Romanian territory since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022.

Tech

A small UK-registered biotech company believes it has found an Alzheimer's treatment that is safer, cheaper and more effective than anything currently on the market — and it has done so by revisiting a molecule first synthesised by Soviet chemists.

According to people familiar with the matter cited by the agency, the companies are examining plans to invest tens of millions of yen each, equivalent to several hundred thousand US dollars.

A small UK-registered biotech company believes it has found an Alzheimer's treatment that is safer, cheaper and more effective than anything currently on the market — and it has done so by revisiting a molecule first synthesised by Soviet chemists.

United Group founder and former CEO have launched legal proceedings against private equity firm BC Partners, seeking to block the planned sale of United's Southeast European media assets.

Argentina's government has sent to Congress a new investment incentive bill dubbed "Super RIGI", targeting projects worth at least $1bn in sectors including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced biotechnology.

Opinion

Unfortunately, as per usual, the CHP does not appear to be living in the real world.

Ukrainian refugees are likely to remain in the European Union for years – and possibly permanently – even if the war with Russia ends, according to a new report by the Clingendael Institute.

Barring an exceptional turn of events, ‘Action man’ Ozel is too little too late. Democracy took a knife to the back long ago.

Kaja Kallas has done it again. The EU’s top foreign policy high representative called China a “cancer” that needs decisive treatment with chemotherapy rather than temporary relief with morphine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping set out an expansive vision for their bilateral relationship in a joint statement issued during a state visit to Beijing this week, marking 30 years of strategic partnership.

Data

Data points to continued resilience in household consumption, although the pace of overall retail growth moderated significantly from the previous month.

Exports of $10bn and imports of $16.4bn produce trade deficit of $6.4bn.

MNB says global risks remain elevated due to energy and commodity price volatility and disruption in global supply chains.

The sector’s profitability indicators dropped to their lowest levels in four years, after remaining well above the average of other European banking systems in recent years.

Higher exports were partly offset by more expensive imports of natural gas and electricity, with the quarterly trade gap at 8.9% of GDP.

Features

Europe debates new shape of enlargement as Ukraine and Western Balkan candidates push EU to rethink membership.

The United States intends to maintain tariffs on imports from both Mexico and Canada even after the USMCA is revamped, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed on May 26.

The Indian ceramic and tiles industry, which maintains a deep trade link with the countries in the Middle East region, has been severely affected by the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.

There is a map that used to hang in the offices of Soviet central planners in Moscow, showing the five republics of Central Asia as a single administrative unit with all roads pointing to Moscow. Today the arrows point in all directions at once.

A leftist senator, a far-right flamboyant provocateur and a conservative dynast vie to define the country's next chapter as Colombians head to the polls on May 31.

Blogs

Kyrgyzstan wants more infrastructure maintenance funds. Afghanistan is preparing to divert river flows for irrigation. Disagreements could mount.

Is Aleksandar Vučić finally running out of road? In Serbia, it is the question that follows every large protest.

EU sidelined as Washington warns over China and Russia's influence in new strategy document, while Xi Jinping honours Serbia’s president in Beijing.

New treaty amounts to de facto annexation of separatist Georgian republic, analysts and Georgian opposition figures say.

Venezuela has begun circulating draft regulations linked to its newly approved hydrocarbons law.

bneGREEN

The developer said all 42 turbines at the project’s second phase, the 583-MW Greater Changhua 4 wind farm, are now connected to Taipower’s grid and generating electricity.

Sunly has emerged as one of the Baltic region’s fastest-growing renewable energy developers, focusing on solar, wind and storage projects across the Baltics and Poland.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power is building a multi-tiered power network to secure national electricity supplies, the Gyeongbuk-based utility has announced.

When the lights went out across almost all of Spain and Portugal last year in one of the biggest blackouts since the war, experts quickly blamed the explosion of renewable generating capacity as the cause. They were partly right.

Fears this year’s drought could be the worst in 65 years, after Czechia registered only 32mm of rainfall in March and April.

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Nato General Secretary Mark Rutte warned that the West needs to prepare of the possibility that Chinese President Xi Jinping will ....

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