Latest Updates

Towards a cashless Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s transition toward a cashless economy presents what the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) describes as a dual reality, marked by both clear opportunity and persistent structural constraints.

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Kyrgyzstan’s Japarov aims to “subjugate parliament” in Sunday snap poll prior to bid for presidential second term, says analyst

Speculation grows, meanwhile, power struggle between leader and “people’s general” Tashiyev is ahead.

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Zelenskiy accepts resignation of key aide Andriy Yermak amid expanding corruption probe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accepted the resignation of Andriy Yermak, his long-time chief of staff and the power behind the throne, after anti-corruption investigators raided his home and office on November 28.

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KYIV BLOG: Principles vs Pragmatism

This is the most concerted effort to end the war in Ukraine since the failed Istanbul peace deal in 2022. But after the initial optimism, the chance of a deal going through are fading.

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Russia corporate debt burden risks rise, 17 leading companies in trouble

Russia’s corporate debt crisis is rising faster than expected, with the number of leading companies that represent two fifths of GDP in increased danger of going bankrupt, according to the Central Bank of Russia (CBR).

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Elections in Moldova’s separatist Transnistria unlikely to bring clarity on region's future

Obnovlenie — the political vehicle of Sheriff holding — is expected to maintain its dominance in Transnistria's November 30 elections.

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Could Russia come to accept Turkish boots on the ground in Ukraine ceasefire?

As always with Moscow-Ankara relations, it’s complicated.

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RAGOZIN: Why opposition to Trump’s 28-point peace plan is endangering the very existence of Ukraine

Aggressive escapism might not be a legitimate psychological term, but it is the best way to describe the opposition to the 28-point peace plan for Ukraine pushed by Trump’s administration.

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Cambodia reaffirms one-China policy support amid Taiwan tensions

Putin admits he’s behind massive truck snarl-ups on Russia-Kazakhstan border

Trump says US to begin land operations against Venezuela "very soon"

Cambodia reaffirms one-China policy support amid Taiwan tensions

Cambodia has restated its support for the One-China Policy, declaring its opposition to any form of “Taiwan independence” as tensions rise between China and Japan.

Putin admits he’s behind massive truck snarl-ups on Russia-Kazakhstan border

Tells press conference he ordered random roadside checks in crackdown on illegal imports.

Trump says US to begin land operations against Venezuela "very soon"

US President Donald Trump has said that operations to combat Venezuelan drug trafficking "by land" would begin "very soon", escalating tensions with Caracas amid a major American military build-up in the Caribbean.

News

Iran boycotts World Cup draw after US denies visas to delegation

Iran confirms World Cup draw boycott after US denies visas to delegation members. Federation says FIFA pledged to pursue matter seriously as concerns mount over tournament participation.

Tusk hints top EU court ruling on same-sex couples must be adapted to conservative domestic regulations

Poland will respect the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union that granted same-sex married couples recognition across the bloc, but will do so “in accordance with Polish law”, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

Viktor Orban heads to Moscow to secure energy supplies for Hungary

Orban will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as he aims to guarantee Hungary’s energy supply for the winter and the coming year at affordable prices.

Bangladesh adds prison sentence for corruption to Hasina's death penalty

A special court in Bangladesh handed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and family members a combined 21 year prison term across three corruption cases involving plots of land in a state backed housing programme.

Beijing flags Malaysia–US trade pact, urges Kuala Lumpur to re-examine priorities

China has registered firm objections to unspecified elements within the Malaysia–US reciprocal trading accord, advising Malaysian policymakers to prioritise enduring economic advantages and assess strategic outcomes before moving forward.

Iran boycotts World Cup draw after US denies visas to delegation

1 day ago

Tusk hints top EU court ruling on same-sex couples must be adapted to conservative domestic regulations

1 day ago

Viktor Orban heads to Moscow to secure energy supplies for Hungary

1 day ago

Bangladesh adds prison sentence for corruption to Hasina's death penalty

1 day ago

Beijing flags Malaysia–US trade pact, urges Kuala Lumpur to re-examine priorities

1 day ago

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Tech

US-Russian crew arrives at International Space Station for eight-month mission

US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts dock at ISS for 242-day mission featuring 40 experiments and two spacewalks. Colleagues welcomed Expedition 74 crew with a homemade cake.

India approves domestic rare earth magnet scheme

India has authorised final approval for a programme to establish an integrated manufacturing base for sintered rare earth permanent magnets.

Mexico to build $327mn supercomputer as it races to close AI gap

Mexico has unveiled plans to construct what it claims will be Latin America's most powerful supercomputer, a project the government says will help the country capitalise on rapidly evolving AI uses.

Saudi Ninja delivery app founder says quick commerce platform plans stock market listing

Delivery app Ninja founder says Saudi quick commerce leader plans stock exchange listing in the coming years. Platform holds largest market share in digital groceries sector.

Latvia’s TestDevLab sold to global technology company Xoriant

Deal to give access to Xoriant sales network and multinational client base, allowing TestDevLab to scale far beyond what was possible as an independent Baltic company.

US-Russian crew arrives at International Space Station for eight-month mission

1 day ago

India approves domestic rare earth magnet scheme

1 day ago

Mexico to build $327mn supercomputer as it races to close AI gap

2 days ago

Saudi Ninja delivery app founder says quick commerce platform plans stock market listing

3 days ago

Latvia’s TestDevLab sold to global technology company Xoriant

3 days ago

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Opinion

COMMENT: China’s choreographed fury at Japan is backfiring

Beijing, with every threat pushes Japan further out of China’s orbit and deeper into a security posture Beijing will one day wish it had not provoked.

COMMENT: Iran’s twelve-day war with Israel has pushed Tehran deeper into Moscow’s arms

Iran’s twelve-day war with Israel has pushed Tehran even closer to Moscow and led to new cooperation agreements, including increased weapons supplies and closer cooperation in the nuclear sector.

COMMENT: Is the EU deliberately trying to scupper the US peace plan or is it just incompetent?

After the talks in Geneva the 28-point peace plan (28PPP) has been cut to 19 points. But the EU has come up with its own 24-point plan that contains several points that guarantee the Kremlin will reject it.

Economic pressures fuelling support for rightwing populists in Emerging Europe, says analyst

Recent elections show rightwing populism is “alive and kicking” in East European countries in 2025, says Mak Kasapovic, Eastern Europe analyst at Oxford Analytica.

MACRO ADVISORY: Will dark water take the shine off Kyrgyzstan’s golden growth?

The Kyrgyz Republic has reported average annual GDP growth of 9% for the past three years and will again be close to that growth in 2025. But while the economy is doing well, Kyrgyzstan and its neighbours are facing a major power and water crisis.

COMMENT: China’s choreographed fury at Japan is backfiring

2 days ago

COMMENT: Iran’s twelve-day war with Israel has pushed Tehran deeper into Moscow’s arms

3 days ago

COMMENT: Is the EU deliberately trying to scupper the US peace plan or is it just incompetent?

4 days ago

Economic pressures fuelling support for rightwing populists in Emerging Europe, says analyst

6 days ago

MACRO ADVISORY: Will dark water take the shine off Kyrgyzstan’s golden growth?

9 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Hungary’s demographic decline deepens in 2025

Hungary recorded a historic low in the number of births in October, with only 5,979 children born during the month.

Albania’s economy among fastest-growing in Europe, IMF says

Growth supported by strong tourism, contained inflation and declining public debt, but IMF warns structural challenges and rising external risks threaten medium-term outlook.

Iran’s annual inflation climbs to 40.4% in November as food costs bite

Iran's annual inflation jumps to 40.4% in November with vegetables up 7.8% and rural areas hit hardest at 42.6%. Poorest households face 41.7% price rises as cost-control measures falter.

Russian corporate profits down 8%, losses surged by a quarter in 9M25

Russian companies reported profits were down nearly 8% and losses have surged by a quarter in 3Q25 y/y. Financial stress across key sectors in the economy is rising over the first nine months of 2025, according to Rosstat,

Hungarian banking sector resilient, but housing overvaluation poses risks, central bank says

The Hungarian banking system was characterised by ample liquidity and a strong capital position in 1H25 but overvaluation in the housing market poses increasing risks, the MNB said.

Hungary’s demographic decline deepens in 2025

1 day ago

Albania’s economy among fastest-growing in Europe, IMF says

2 days ago

Iran’s annual inflation climbs to 40.4% in November as food costs bite

2 days ago

Russian corporate profits down 8%, losses surged by a quarter in 9M25

2 days ago

Hungarian banking sector resilient, but housing overvaluation poses risks, central bank says

3 days ago

More Data

Features

Russian middle-class investors have $14bn of frozen stocks abroad

Millions of Russian citizens who invested in foreign stocks and bonds before the war in Ukraine remain locked out of their assets, three years after sweeping Western sanctions froze Russian-linked holdings across global financial markets.

Georgia leads South Caucasus for banking and investment, but Armenia is rising star

New index from GlobalSource Partners compares the banking sectors and business environments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Baku pushes Middle Corridor and North-South projects at CIS railway summit

Azerbaijan Railways head says works on North-South corridor are reinforcing Azerbaijan’s position as a strategic link between northern and southern trade flows.

China's latest anti-India move focuses on transit travellers

China’s refusal to acknowledge the validity of an Indian passport held by a UK-based Arunachal Pradesh born traveller illustrates a widening pattern in which Beijing links territorial claims to the movement of ordinary Indian citizens.

Kazakhstan's critical minerals ambitions may still be a distant dream

So much remains mere speculation.

Russian middle-class investors have $14bn of frozen stocks abroad

1 day ago

Georgia leads South Caucasus for banking and investment, but Armenia is rising star

2 days ago

Baku pushes Middle Corridor and North-South projects at CIS railway summit

2 days ago

China's latest anti-India move focuses on transit travellers

2 days ago

Kazakhstan's critical minerals ambitions may still be a distant dream

3 days ago

More Features

Blogs

KYIV BLOG: Kremlin leaks phone conversations to refocus attention on original 28-point Ukraine peace plan

Bloomberg scored a major scoop yesterday, publishing transcripts of conversations between US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy advisor, and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev

ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan murders Turkish economy, asks ‘Why are there no children?’

President blames everything under the sun for crisis except for his long years of economic destruction.

KYIV BLOG: Zelenskiy should take the US peace deal

Most of the anglophone coverage of the US 28-point peace plan has been negative, suggesting it is nothing more than a capitulation to Russian aggression. But Russia did make some concessions. Zelenskiy should take the deal.

KYIV BLOG: Pokrovsk becomes a modern-day Stalingrad

The battle for Pokrovsk has become a modern-day Stalingrad. Some Russian troops are reportedly refusing to enter the city as that means almost certain death. The fighting is swinging back and forth, but there are no fixed positions.

KYIV BLOG: Ukrainian war sailing towards a crisis

Russia’s oil industry, long seen as the bedrock of the country’s economic strength, is being slowly degraded—not by sanctions or falling demand, but by the persistent and methodical pressure of Ukraine’s drone attacks.

KYIV BLOG: Kremlin leaks phone conversations to refocus attention on original 28-point Ukraine peace plan

3 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan murders Turkish economy, asks ‘Why are there no children?’

6 days ago

KYIV BLOG: Zelenskiy should take the US peace deal

8 days ago

KYIV BLOG: Pokrovsk becomes a modern-day Stalingrad

11 days ago

KYIV BLOG: Ukrainian war sailing towards a crisis

15 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

Renewables generate two thirds of Moldova’s local electricity output in January-September

Local electricity production in Moldova covered 43% of the 3.153 TWh delivered to end consumers in January-September, with 68% coming from renewable sources.

Middle East choked by severe pollution as stagnant weather hits Iran, Iraq, Syria and Kuwait

A major air-pollution wave has swept across parts of the Middle East in recent days, with Iran, Iraq, Syria and Kuwait all reporting hazardous or sharply deteriorating air quality

Tehran tops world pollution rankings as air quality reaches hazardous levels

Iran's capital Tehran ranks world's most polluted city with AQI of 233, ahead of Baghdad and Delhi. All 25 monitoring stations register critical red conditions as PM2.5 pollution affects the Iranian capital with no acceptable air quality readings.

Tashkent blanketed by haze as Uzbek capital chokes on world's worst air pollution

Urgent action ordered by government. City dwellers invited to special istisqa prayers for divine intervention that will bring rain.

COP30 didn’t go far enough to address the Climes Crisis – Carbon Brief

The UN climate summit in Belém concluded with delegates agreeing to a series of measures aimed at accelerating climate action, but the outcomes fell short of what many scientists and vulnerable countries had hoped for.

Renewables generate two thirds of Moldova’s local electricity output in January-September

1 day ago

Middle East choked by severe pollution as stagnant weather hits Iran, Iraq, Syria and Kuwait

2 days ago

Tehran tops world pollution rankings as air quality reaches hazardous levels

3 days ago

Tashkent blanketed by haze as Uzbek capital chokes on world's worst air pollution

3 days ago

COP30 didn’t go far enough to address the Climes Crisis – Carbon Brief

4 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

Iran confirms World Cup draw boycott after US denies visas to delegation members. Federation says FIFA pledged to pursue matter seriously as concerns mount over tournament participation.

Poland will respect the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union that granted same-sex married couples recognition across the bloc, but will do so “in accordance with Polish law”, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

Orban will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as he aims to guarantee Hungary’s energy supply for the winter and the coming year at affordable prices.

A special court in Bangladesh handed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and family members a combined 21 year prison term across three corruption cases involving plots of land in a state backed housing programme.

China has registered firm objections to unspecified elements within the Malaysia–US reciprocal trading accord, advising Malaysian policymakers to prioritise enduring economic advantages and assess strategic outcomes before moving forward.

Tech

US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts dock at ISS for 242-day mission featuring 40 experiments and two spacewalks. Colleagues welcomed Expedition 74 crew with a homemade cake.

India has authorised final approval for a programme to establish an integrated manufacturing base for sintered rare earth permanent magnets.

Mexico has unveiled plans to construct what it claims will be Latin America's most powerful supercomputer, a project the government says will help the country capitalise on rapidly evolving AI uses.

Delivery app Ninja founder says Saudi quick commerce leader plans stock exchange listing in the coming years. Platform holds largest market share in digital groceries sector.

Deal to give access to Xoriant sales network and multinational client base, allowing TestDevLab to scale far beyond what was possible as an independent Baltic company.

Opinion

Beijing, with every threat pushes Japan further out of China’s orbit and deeper into a security posture Beijing will one day wish it had not provoked.

Iran’s twelve-day war with Israel has pushed Tehran even closer to Moscow and led to new cooperation agreements, including increased weapons supplies and closer cooperation in the nuclear sector.

After the talks in Geneva the 28-point peace plan (28PPP) has been cut to 19 points. But the EU has come up with its own 24-point plan that contains several points that guarantee the Kremlin will reject it.

Recent elections show rightwing populism is “alive and kicking” in East European countries in 2025, says Mak Kasapovic, Eastern Europe analyst at Oxford Analytica.

The Kyrgyz Republic has reported average annual GDP growth of 9% for the past three years and will again be close to that growth in 2025. But while the economy is doing well, Kyrgyzstan and its neighbours are facing a major power and water crisis.

Data

Hungary recorded a historic low in the number of births in October, with only 5,979 children born during the month.

Growth supported by strong tourism, contained inflation and declining public debt, but IMF warns structural challenges and rising external risks threaten medium-term outlook.

Iran's annual inflation jumps to 40.4% in November with vegetables up 7.8% and rural areas hit hardest at 42.6%. Poorest households face 41.7% price rises as cost-control measures falter.

Russian companies reported profits were down nearly 8% and losses have surged by a quarter in 3Q25 y/y. Financial stress across key sectors in the economy is rising over the first nine months of 2025, according to Rosstat,

The Hungarian banking system was characterised by ample liquidity and a strong capital position in 1H25 but overvaluation in the housing market poses increasing risks, the MNB said.

Features

Millions of Russian citizens who invested in foreign stocks and bonds before the war in Ukraine remain locked out of their assets, three years after sweeping Western sanctions froze Russian-linked holdings across global financial markets.

New index from GlobalSource Partners compares the banking sectors and business environments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Azerbaijan Railways head says works on North-South corridor are reinforcing Azerbaijan’s position as a strategic link between northern and southern trade flows.

China’s refusal to acknowledge the validity of an Indian passport held by a UK-based Arunachal Pradesh born traveller illustrates a widening pattern in which Beijing links territorial claims to the movement of ordinary Indian citizens.

So much remains mere speculation.

Blogs

Bloomberg scored a major scoop yesterday, publishing transcripts of conversations between US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy advisor, and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev

President blames everything under the sun for crisis except for his long years of economic destruction.

Most of the anglophone coverage of the US 28-point peace plan has been negative, suggesting it is nothing more than a capitulation to Russian aggression. But Russia did make some concessions. Zelenskiy should take the deal.

The battle for Pokrovsk has become a modern-day Stalingrad. Some Russian troops are reportedly refusing to enter the city as that means almost certain death. The fighting is swinging back and forth, but there are no fixed positions.

Russia’s oil industry, long seen as the bedrock of the country’s economic strength, is being slowly degraded—not by sanctions or falling demand, but by the persistent and methodical pressure of Ukraine’s drone attacks.

bneGREEN

Local electricity production in Moldova covered 43% of the 3.153 TWh delivered to end consumers in January-September, with 68% coming from renewable sources.

A major air-pollution wave has swept across parts of the Middle East in recent days, with Iran, Iraq, Syria and Kuwait all reporting hazardous or sharply deteriorating air quality

Iran's capital Tehran ranks world's most polluted city with AQI of 233, ahead of Baghdad and Delhi. All 25 monitoring stations register critical red conditions as PM2.5 pollution affects the Iranian capital with no acceptable air quality readings.

Urgent action ordered by government. City dwellers invited to special istisqa prayers for divine intervention that will bring rain.

The UN climate summit in Belém concluded with delegates agreeing to a series of measures aimed at accelerating climate action, but the outcomes fell short of what many scientists and vulnerable countries had hoped for.

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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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