Latest Updates

Matcha shortage in Japan: tradition under strain as global demand soars

The issue is not simply one of popularity. Matcha production is a highly specialised and seasonal process. It begins with shade-grown tencha leaves, which are harvested only once a year in spring.

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India targets increase in edible oil refining sector by cutting import duties

India is one of the world’s major consumers of edible oil, with palm oil being the most popular. A significant portion of the country’s domestic demand is met through imports, primarily from Malaysia and Indonesia.

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Uzbekistan’s Mirziyoyev, Azerbaijan’s Aliyev chart new course for $1bn in trade and regional connectivity

The president of Uzbekistan is currently in Azerbaijan for a state visit that signals a deepening strategic alliance between the two countries, as Tashkent and Baku move to elevate annual trade to $1bn and expand cooperation across the board.

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Iranian hardline newspaper compares Zarif to Neville Chamberlain

Hardline Iranian newspaper Kayhan has compared former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who served from 1937 to 1940, criticising calls for renewed negotiations with the United States.

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Global banking’s new powerhouse: Asia

Asia's level of digital banking infrastructure has enabled it to challenge and even surpass traditional Western players such as Citi and HSBC in key regional markets.

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Ukraine, allies put on a brave face as US weapons supplies stop

Washington halted the delivery of missiles used in air defence and ammunition to Kyiv on July 1, claiming its own stocks were dwindling causing consternation in Kyiv which is battling to hold off massive Russian drone and missile barrages.

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KYIV BLOG: Never enough arms and ammo for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been calling for western arms from day-one of the war and has never received enough soon enough.

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Serbian police crack down on student protests

Serbian police intensified their crackdown on student-led protests late Tuesday and into the early hours of Wednesday, detaining several demonstrators and dismantling road blockades as a wave of civil disobedience entered its fourth day.

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Ecuador to receive $1bn in energy investments from China and Spain

Putin congratulates Belarusian President Lukashenko on Independence Day

Trump pressure pushes BYD out of Mexico

Ecuador to receive $1bn in energy investments from China and Spain

Ecuador has secured $1bn in energy sector investments from Spain and China through 2026, marking an early success from President Daniel Noboa's recent diplomatic tour.

Putin congratulates Belarusian President Lukashenko on Independence Day

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on Belarus’s Independence Day on July 3, highlighting their long-standing cultural ties and emphasising their common fight against the Nazis in WWII.

Trump pressure pushes BYD out of Mexico

China’s electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD has shelved plans to build a major manufacturing plant in Mexico, citing geopolitical volatility and the current trade stance of the United States under President Donald Trump.

News

UPDATE: Kurdish PKK announces plans to surrender fighters' weapons in northern Iraq

The Kurdistan Workers' Party announced on July 3 that its fighters in northern Iraq will begin surrendering weapons in the first concrete step toward disarmament as part of peace efforts

Serbia enters fifth day of protests, 79 arrested overnight

Serbian police detained 79 people overnight as student-led protests and acts of civil disobedience entered their fifth consecutive day.

Poland to invest $665mn to boost its domestic ammunition output to 1mn rounds a year

Poland will invest PLN2.6bn ($665mn) to increase its domestic ammunition output, the government announced on July 2, as it seeks to strengthen national defence capabilities and support Ukraine's military needs.

Iran rebuts German criticism over IAEA cooperation suspension

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed German criticism of Tehran's decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Saudi Arabia activates first Thaad missile defence system

Saudi Arabia has activated its inaugural Terminal High Altitude Area Defence missile battery, marking a significant enhancement to the kingdom's air protection capabilities.

UPDATE: Kurdish PKK announces plans to surrender fighters' weapons in northern Iraq

10 hours ago

Serbia enters fifth day of protests, 79 arrested overnight

11 hours ago

Poland to invest $665mn to boost its domestic ammunition output to 1mn rounds a year

11 hours ago

Iran rebuts German criticism over IAEA cooperation suspension

11 hours ago

Saudi Arabia activates first Thaad missile defence system

14 hours ago

More News

Tech

UAE aviation authority issues world's first hybrid operations regulations for flying taxis

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority has issued the world's first regulatory framework for hybrid operations, enabling electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Iran expert warns filtering policies enable espionage VPN proliferation

An Iranian communications expert has warned that the country's internet filtering policies have inadvertently led millions of users to install VPN applications that may serve as espionage tools for foreign intelligence services.

Uzbek venture capital outfit IT Park Ventures enters into strategic partnership with Startup Garage

Companies link up to expand potential in turning bold ideas into smart business.

North Macedonia's streaming platform Gley launches IPO on Skopje stock exchange

Funds raised to be directed toward original content production and expanding Gley’s catalogue of children’s and international programming.

Crypto token launched in Kyrgyzstan by Moldovan oligarch facilitates sanctions-dodging billions for Russia, says report

“A7A5” said to be first stablecoin pegged to ruble. Russian defence sector bank also behind it.

UAE aviation authority issues world's first hybrid operations regulations for flying taxis

1 day ago

Iran expert warns filtering policies enable espionage VPN proliferation

3 days ago

Uzbek venture capital outfit IT Park Ventures enters into strategic partnership with Startup Garage

4 days ago

North Macedonia's streaming platform Gley launches IPO on Skopje stock exchange

7 days ago

Crypto token launched in Kyrgyzstan by Moldovan oligarch facilitates sanctions-dodging billions for Russia, says report

8 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

COMMENT: Iran new rail link to China played a role in provoking the 12-day war

Iran launched its first-ever direct railway connection to China in May, its first rail link to Asia that does not rely on transshipment through seaports or Russia, significantly improving its national security by avoiding the seaborne exports.

BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Turkey’s tourism minister holidays in Greece

Hold the indignation. Let the poor man explain.

COMMENT: Competing Trans-Afghan transport routes could split Central Asia

Central Asia is bottled up by an unstable Afghanistan. It would dearly love to open a southern corridor that leads to the huge and lucrative markets of Southeast Asia that could transform the economy of the region.

MACRO ADVISORY: Silk Roads for Gen Z and the fate of the Middle Corridor

Sanctions against Russia and the voluntary boycott of Russian ports and transit routes by major global transport and logistic companies, created the need for alternative routes to carry the growing volume of trade between China and Europe.

COMMENT: Why business needs steady captains in crisis

Iran’s business leaders now face a critical juncture. This moment of ceasefire gives us the space to pause, to evaluate, adjust course and prepare for multiple eventualities.

COMMENT: Iran new rail link to China played a role in provoking the 12-day war

4 days ago

BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Turkey’s tourism minister holidays in Greece

6 days ago

COMMENT: Competing Trans-Afghan transport routes could split Central Asia

6 days ago

MACRO ADVISORY: Silk Roads for Gen Z and the fate of the Middle Corridor

6 days ago

COMMENT: Why business needs steady captains in crisis

7 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Poland's public finance deficit seen rising to 6.8% of GDP by 2026, says Pekao

Poland’s public finance sector deficit is projected to reach 6.8% of GDP in 2026 and 5.7% in 2027, according to analysts at Bank Pekao, who cite sustained military spending, weaker tax revenues and looser European fiscal rules as the reason.

Turkey releases official June inflation at 35% y/y

Turkey’s consumer price index (CPI) inflation officially stood at 35.05% y/y in June versus 35.41% y/y in May and 44% y/y at end-2024.

Russia's service PMI falls back in the red in June for the first time in a year to 49.2

Russia’s service sector fell back into the red at the end of the second quarter as the S&P Global PMI index fell to 49.2 in June from 52.2 in May, below the 50 no-change benchmark.

Poland’s NBP cuts by 25bp, more cuts likely

The National Bank of Poland’s decision to cut its main policy rate by 25 basis points on July 3, bringing it to 5.00%, caught most analysts off guard. Yet for those watching closely, the signals were already there.

Hungary meets nearly entire annual financing plan by June

Hungarian Debt Management Agency (AKK) said the 2025 financing plan was fulfilled on a prorated basis in H1, with 96% of the full-year net issuance target completed by end-June.

Poland's public finance deficit seen rising to 6.8% of GDP by 2026, says Pekao

11 hours ago

Turkey releases official June inflation at 35% y/y

13 hours ago

Russia's service PMI falls back in the red in June for the first time in a year to 49.2

15 hours ago

Poland’s NBP cuts by 25bp, more cuts likely

21 hours ago

Hungary meets nearly entire annual financing plan by June

1 day ago

More Data

Features

Sofa-beds for victory: the furniture makers charting a new path on Ukraine's domestic front

Whilst enrolled on an MBA course at Kyiv Mogyla Business School in 2016, Volodymyr Patis, head of the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Producers, had a “light-bulb moment".

Despite robust international support, Ukraine “running out of space” to cope with additional economic stress – IMF

The International Monetary Fund has warned that Ukraine’s ability to absorb further economic shocks is rapidly diminishing as the war with Russia enters its fourth year and reform momentum in Parliament slows, says the IMF in a staff report.

A perfect storm as Israel’s war on Iran pushes the Taliban towards total collapse

The convergence of Israel’s military strikes on Tehran has created a catastrophic domino effect of potential regime collapse in Afghanistan, not Iran.

PANNIER: Strongman Rahmon’s actions towards Tajikistan’s Pamiri people nothing less than a cultural genocide

Yet hardly any outcry is heard from the international community.

INTERVIEW: Can Milei break Argentina's IMF doom loop?

Milei's radical reforms have won over the Fund, but currency controls and election risks cloud the path ahead, according to Professor Diego Crochi from UCA Buenos Aires.

Sofa-beds for victory: the furniture makers charting a new path on Ukraine's domestic front

4 hours ago

Despite robust international support, Ukraine “running out of space” to cope with additional economic stress – IMF

1 day ago

A perfect storm as Israel’s war on Iran pushes the Taliban towards total collapse

3 days ago

PANNIER: Strongman Rahmon’s actions towards Tajikistan’s Pamiri people nothing less than a cultural genocide

3 days ago

INTERVIEW: Can Milei break Argentina's IMF doom loop?

3 days ago

More Features

Blogs

ASIA BLOG: Southeast Asia should pivot away from Trump’s America and steer in the direction of Europe

Trump's confrontational approach to China, while superficially aligned with concerns within ASEAN, is neither strategic nor consultative. It is built more on spectacle than substance, more on division than dialogue.

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Kazakhstan’s uneven transformation

There have been dramatic changes in Kazakhstan over the last decade, with a thriving fintech sector and an embrace of green technologies, but the country is still grappling with familiar political and economic challenges.

CAUCASUS BLOG: Politicians take on Emerging Europe’s powerful churches at their peril 

Armenian PM offered to show the head of the church his penis to prove a point in their ongoing row. But past experience shows it’s difficult for politicians to win a church vs state standoff.

BALKAN BLOG: Western Balkans military build-up continues as the world looks elsewhere

As the world’s attention remains focused on the wars in Ukraine and, more recently, the Middle East, several countries in the Western Balkans are ramping up their military capacities.

TEHRAN BLOG: British nationals stranded in Iran criticise London's lack of support

British nationals remaining in Tehran have criticised the UK government for providing no assistance or instructions following Israeli attacks on Iran.

ASIA BLOG: Southeast Asia should pivot away from Trump’s America and steer in the direction of Europe

2 days ago

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Kazakhstan’s uneven transformation

3 days ago

CAUCASUS BLOG: Politicians take on Emerging Europe’s powerful churches at their peril 

6 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: Western Balkans military build-up continues as the world looks elsewhere

7 days ago

TEHRAN BLOG: British nationals stranded in Iran criticise London's lack of support

12 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

Private jets emitted more climate pollution than all Heathrow Airport flights in 2023

A new analysis from the International Council on Clean Transportation reveals that emissions from private jets reached up to 19.5mn tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2023 – marking a 25% rise over the past 10 years.

Short-term forecast for global offshore wind downgraded, says industry report

The Global Wind Energy Council has downgraded its short-term forecast by 24% for 2025-2029 compared with its prediction last year.

COMMENT: Critical minerals pose new test for global energy security

As the world’s energy system transforms at unprecedented speed, so too must our understanding of energy security. While governments continue to focus on securing supplies of traditional fuels, new critical mineral vulnerabilities are emerging.

Europe swelters in historic heatwave

Record-breaking temperatures for the time of year are likely to occur across a large part of western Europe in the coming days as a historically unprecedented heatwave intensifies.

East Asia’s regional embrace of nuclear power sees Taiwan sitting alone in the corner

In a baffling turn, Taiwan, long a technological and economic powerhouse, has allowed populist politics to sideline science and logic.

Private jets emitted more climate pollution than all Heathrow Airport flights in 2023

1 day ago

Short-term forecast for global offshore wind downgraded, says industry report

2 days ago

COMMENT: Critical minerals pose new test for global energy security

3 days ago

Europe swelters in historic heatwave

5 days ago

East Asia’s regional embrace of nuclear power sees Taiwan sitting alone in the corner

8 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

The Kurdistan Workers' Party announced on July 3 that its fighters in northern Iraq will begin surrendering weapons in the first concrete step toward disarmament as part of peace efforts

Serbian police detained 79 people overnight as student-led protests and acts of civil disobedience entered their fifth consecutive day.

Poland will invest PLN2.6bn ($665mn) to increase its domestic ammunition output, the government announced on July 2, as it seeks to strengthen national defence capabilities and support Ukraine's military needs.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed German criticism of Tehran's decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Saudi Arabia has activated its inaugural Terminal High Altitude Area Defence missile battery, marking a significant enhancement to the kingdom's air protection capabilities.

Tech

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority has issued the world's first regulatory framework for hybrid operations, enabling electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

An Iranian communications expert has warned that the country's internet filtering policies have inadvertently led millions of users to install VPN applications that may serve as espionage tools for foreign intelligence services.

Companies link up to expand potential in turning bold ideas into smart business.

Funds raised to be directed toward original content production and expanding Gley’s catalogue of children’s and international programming.

“A7A5” said to be first stablecoin pegged to ruble. Russian defence sector bank also behind it.

Opinion

Iran launched its first-ever direct railway connection to China in May, its first rail link to Asia that does not rely on transshipment through seaports or Russia, significantly improving its national security by avoiding the seaborne exports.

Hold the indignation. Let the poor man explain.

Central Asia is bottled up by an unstable Afghanistan. It would dearly love to open a southern corridor that leads to the huge and lucrative markets of Southeast Asia that could transform the economy of the region.

Sanctions against Russia and the voluntary boycott of Russian ports and transit routes by major global transport and logistic companies, created the need for alternative routes to carry the growing volume of trade between China and Europe.

Iran’s business leaders now face a critical juncture. This moment of ceasefire gives us the space to pause, to evaluate, adjust course and prepare for multiple eventualities.

Data

Poland’s public finance sector deficit is projected to reach 6.8% of GDP in 2026 and 5.7% in 2027, according to analysts at Bank Pekao, who cite sustained military spending, weaker tax revenues and looser European fiscal rules as the reason.

Turkey’s consumer price index (CPI) inflation officially stood at 35.05% y/y in June versus 35.41% y/y in May and 44% y/y at end-2024.

Russia’s service sector fell back into the red at the end of the second quarter as the S&P Global PMI index fell to 49.2 in June from 52.2 in May, below the 50 no-change benchmark.

The National Bank of Poland’s decision to cut its main policy rate by 25 basis points on July 3, bringing it to 5.00%, caught most analysts off guard. Yet for those watching closely, the signals were already there.

Hungarian Debt Management Agency (AKK) said the 2025 financing plan was fulfilled on a prorated basis in H1, with 96% of the full-year net issuance target completed by end-June.

Features

Whilst enrolled on an MBA course at Kyiv Mogyla Business School in 2016, Volodymyr Patis, head of the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Producers, had a “light-bulb moment".

The International Monetary Fund has warned that Ukraine’s ability to absorb further economic shocks is rapidly diminishing as the war with Russia enters its fourth year and reform momentum in Parliament slows, says the IMF in a staff report.

The convergence of Israel’s military strikes on Tehran has created a catastrophic domino effect of potential regime collapse in Afghanistan, not Iran.

Yet hardly any outcry is heard from the international community.

Milei's radical reforms have won over the Fund, but currency controls and election risks cloud the path ahead, according to Professor Diego Crochi from UCA Buenos Aires.

Blogs

Trump's confrontational approach to China, while superficially aligned with concerns within ASEAN, is neither strategic nor consultative. It is built more on spectacle than substance, more on division than dialogue.

There have been dramatic changes in Kazakhstan over the last decade, with a thriving fintech sector and an embrace of green technologies, but the country is still grappling with familiar political and economic challenges.

Armenian PM offered to show the head of the church his penis to prove a point in their ongoing row. But past experience shows it’s difficult for politicians to win a church vs state standoff.

As the world’s attention remains focused on the wars in Ukraine and, more recently, the Middle East, several countries in the Western Balkans are ramping up their military capacities.

British nationals remaining in Tehran have criticised the UK government for providing no assistance or instructions following Israeli attacks on Iran.

bneGREEN

A new analysis from the International Council on Clean Transportation reveals that emissions from private jets reached up to 19.5mn tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2023 – marking a 25% rise over the past 10 years.

The Global Wind Energy Council has downgraded its short-term forecast by 24% for 2025-2029 compared with its prediction last year.

As the world’s energy system transforms at unprecedented speed, so too must our understanding of energy security. While governments continue to focus on securing supplies of traditional fuels, new critical mineral vulnerabilities are emerging.

Record-breaking temperatures for the time of year are likely to occur across a large part of western Europe in the coming days as a historically unprecedented heatwave intensifies.

In a baffling turn, Taiwan, long a technological and economic powerhouse, has allowed populist politics to sideline science and logic.

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Adelle Nazarian is an international journalist, foreign policy analyst, and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience across m....

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