UAE honours US President Trump with Order of Zayed, invests $1.4 trillion in AI companies

US President Donald Trump arrived in Abu Dhabi on May 15 on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates, marking the final stop of his three-country Gulf tour, with the country expected to sign $1.4 trillion in deals.

South Africa must develop its gas industry or face economic regression, says energy minister

South Africa expects a sharp decrease in natural gas supplies to industries in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces as imported gas from Pande and Temane fields in Mozambique runs low.

Trump says US very close to Iran nuclear deal during Gulf tour

US President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is "very close" to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, claiming Tehran had "sort of" agreed to the terms

Viktor Orban escalates crackdown on civil society and media with sweeping Russian-type foreign agents law legislation

Hungary's ruling Fidesz has unveiled a draft law that critics warn could cripple the country's remaining independent media outlets and civil society organisations, deepening fears over democratic backsliding and growing estrangement from the EU.

Colombia officially joins China's "Belt and Road" initiative amid private sector concerns

Colombia has formally joined China's Belt and Road Initiative despite strong opposition from the country's private sector, which warns the decision could severely damage domestic industries.

Malaysia’s chip sector navigates tariff turmoil and rising regional competition

The Southeast Asian nation, the world’s sixth-largest semiconductor exporter, faces mounting pressure to retain investment and relevance in a fast-evolving global tech landscape.

Iran, Russia launch second phase of banking payment system integration

Iran and Russia rolled out the second phase of their Shetab-Mir payment network integration, strengthening financial ties between the two nations

Saudi Crown Prince launches Humain AI company under PIF

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced the launch of Humain, a company owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Indonesia’s data centre industry: huge market, limited infrastructure

Under President Prabowo’s administration, the government has pledged support for the development of the data centre sector to accelerate digital transformation and drive a technology-based economy.

Amazon to build $4bn data centres and cloud infrastructure in Chile

Amazon's cloud computing division has announced plans to invest $4bn in Chile to build its first data centres and cloud infrastructure in the country.

COMMENT: Amid shrinking civic space, will the EBRD still uphold its democratic mandate?

As the global Democracy Index recorded a historic low in 2024, institutions tasked with upholding democratic values are under increasing pressure to adapt.

COMMENT: Taiwan is playing with darkness by abandoning nuclear power

Japan has restarted many of its nuclear reactors, recognising their role in energy security and climate targets. South Korea has also reinstated nuclear as a core component of its energy strategy. Taiwan, by contrast, is marching backwards.

In Kurdish peace moves, expect ailing founder Ocalan to get Turkish Riviera house arrest and “Real PKK” splinter to emerge, says analyst

Ankara thinks it can “mop up” those who continue fighting, adds Soner Cagaptay.

COMMENT: China’s quiet power play in Southeast Asia

BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Who's to say PKK guns won't be used under a different name?

And anyway, despite what you are reading, the militants' so-called name has not been in use since 2002.

Slovak inflation eases to 3.7% y/y in April

Czech unemployment stagnates at 4.3% in April

Czech unemployment remained at 4.3% in April, the same level as in March. Year on year, the unemployment increased by 0.6 percentage point, or by 38,462 persons.

Romania pays 8.45% on 14-month Treasury bonds as presidential elections damage investor sentiment

The landslide win by far-right presidential candidate George Simion in the first round of the presidential elections has rattled investors.

Slovak industry returns to growth of 3.5% y/y in March

Slovakia’s industrial output increased by 3.5% year on year and by 0.7% month on month in March, registering the first month of growth this year.

Turkish inflation still ballsing up OECD charts

Despite some progress in reining in prices, Turkey's headline figure is a bar graph section too far.

What next for Bangladesh in an undeclared India–China tug-of-war?

While India may hold historical and cultural sway, China’s presence in Bangladesh is growing in more visible ways. Beijing has poured billions into infrastructure, energy, and digital connectivity projects under its Belt and Road Initiative.

PANNIER: Will we ever see Kyrgyzstan's airlines back in EU skies?

Bishkek has spent nigh on 20 years trying to get off the bloc’s air safety blacklist. Officials say they are closer than ever to the breakthrough.

Afghanistan: Grappling with fall-out of dwindling foreign aid

Almost all US assistance terminated.

EBRD2025: Croatia seeks to build on decade of economic progress

Finance Minister Marko Primorac details Zagreb’s objectives including an overhaul of state owned enterprises, accession to the OECD and revitalisation of the local capital market.

Business only on Trump's first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia

President Donald Trump will arrive in Riyadh on May 13 for a four-day Middle East tour, with business deals and economic partnerships taking precedence over traditional diplomatic priorities.

ASIA BLOG: Beijing’s South China Sea strategy is about Taiwan — and the world needs to sit up and take notice

Even as Taiwan is described as potentially the most dangerous flashpoint in Asia, it is actually the fulcrum upon which the future of the Indo-Pacific — and by extension the global balance of power — may pivot.

MOSCOW BLOG: A muted V-day parade on Red Square

I have just been watching the Victory Day parade on Red Square. A few observations.

LATAM BLOG: Gold, murder and the collapse of the Peruvian State

The massacre of thirteen miners in Peru's Pataz exposes a state paralysed by its own laws, captured by criminal economies, and sustained by complicit politicians in the country's collapsing fight against illegal mining.

BLOG: The EU’s glacial push to eliminate Russian LNG

The EU is continuing to grapple with the complex challenge of eliminating its remaining oil and gas imports from Russia, as the European Commission prepares to unveil a roadmap this week outlining how to achieve that goal, hopefully by 2027.

LATAM BLOG: Mexico has changed – but for whom?

Under Mexico City's gentrified surface, the wounds of Tlatelolco and Ayotzinapa remain unhealed. After 11 years, the author finds a quieter nation with booming foreign investment, yet questions if democracy has truly triumphed over cartels.

Dust storm blankets Tehran after hitting Iraq

A severe dust storm, originating in southern Iraq, swept eastward on May 15 reaching as far north as Iran's capital city of Tehran.

Middle East braces for intense heatwave with temperatures set to surpass 50°C (122°F)

The Middle East is bracing for another intense heatwave set to grip the region from May 17, with temperatures likely to easily surpass 50 degrees Celsius in the next few days.

EBRD2025: EBRD backs Azerbaijan’s green transition with rising investments

Lender’s total investment in Azerbaijan now exceeds $4bn, as eyes hydrogen, connectivity and energy efficiency.

EBRD2025: What’s next for the Baltic energy sector after disconnecting from Russia?

Representatives of the energy sectors in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania outlined their plans for the coming years at the EBRD annual meeting in London.

Eurasia a significant source of methane emissions – report

Russia and Turkmenistan are primary offenders.