Latest Updates

Russia ready to start peace talks in January, willing to make some “limited” concessions – Reuters

The Kremlin is ready to start ceasefire talks and is willing to make some “limited” territorial concessions, Reuters reported on November 20, citing five senior current and former Kremlin sources.

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Southeast Asia expands pumped hydro to boost energy storage

As Southeast Asia rapidly transitions toward renewable energy, countries across the region are investing heavily in pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) to enhance grid stability and support sustainable growth

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A thousand days of Ukraine war

The war in Ukraine has reached its 1,000th day, marked by US permits missile strikes on Russia and North Korea deepening its involvement.

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PANNIER: Central Asia faces tough race against clock to prevent water crisis

Region in no doubt that climate change has arrived. Efforts to save critical resource taking on more urgency.

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Russia blocks UN Security Council resolution on Sudan humanitarian crisis

Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan on November 18 as the country continues to grapple with a deadly war that has displaced millions and spurred a desperate humanitarian crisis.

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PROFILE: Peter Magyar has a daunting task to scale up his party to challenge Orban in the 2026 elections

The Tisza leader has emerged as a credible challenger to Hungary's longest serving premier and is currently even polling ahead of the ruling Fidesz party.

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VISEGRAD BLOG: Is this Poland's moment?

The weight of expectation falls on Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as Poland prepares to take over the EU’s rotating presidency and meet the challenge of incoming US President Donald Trump.

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Georgia’s Armenians and Azerbaijanis: an easy target for Georgian Dream vote manipulation

Georgia’s minority areas tended – with the help of extensive vote-buying and intimidation, the opposition argues – to vote overwhelmingly in favour of Georgian Dream.

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Georgian academics stand with student protesters occupying Tbilisi State University

Award seen as Nobel Prize for human rights won by Kabul women’s rights activist and jailed Tajik lawyer

Nicaragua unveils new canal route in bid to rival Panama

Georgian academics stand with student protesters occupying Tbilisi State University

Activists and students say they will stay until university rector Jaba Samushia, accused of collaborating with the government, resigns.

Award seen as Nobel Prize for human rights won by Kabul women’s rights activist and jailed Tajik lawyer

Jury recognises “exceptional courage and determination” in “deeply repressive environments”.

Nicaragua unveils new canal route in bid to rival Panama

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has unveiled plans for a 445-kilometre interoceanic canal that would provide an alternative to the congested Panama Canal, presenting the proposal to Chinese investors at a regional business summit.

News

Venezuela faces fresh US pressure as Washington recognises opposition leader as president-elect

The US has ramped up pressure on Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro by formally recognising opposition candidate Edmundo González as the country's president-elect, marking the first time the Biden administration has used this designation.

Russia funding war in Ukraine via illegal gold mining in Africa – WGC report

"It is noteworthy how little concerted political will there has been to halt the illicit flow of profits from the exploitation of gold resources in Africa into the Russian war machine," the World Gold Council report says.

Hungary’s Masterplast in talks on refinancing debt after downgrade

Hungary's leading construction materials maker hit by Scope Ratings' downgrade, which was attributed to worsening credit metrics, driven by the prolonged weakness in the construction sector.

Romgaz lists €500mn bond on Bucharest Stock Exchange

Bond issue is part of Romgaz’s strategy to raise €1.5bn for projects including the Neptun Deep offshore gas field.

Finland’s Terveystalo reportedly eyeing €1bn acquisition of Romania’s Regina Maria

Romania's private healthcare market has garnered increasing attention from international investors.

Venezuela faces fresh US pressure as Washington recognises opposition leader as president-elect

5 hours ago

Russia funding war in Ukraine via illegal gold mining in Africa – WGC report

7 hours ago

Hungary’s Masterplast in talks on refinancing debt after downgrade

15 hours ago

Romgaz lists €500mn bond on Bucharest Stock Exchange

16 hours ago

Finland’s Terveystalo reportedly eyeing €1bn acquisition of Romania’s Regina Maria

16 hours ago

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Tech

Bulgaria’s INSAIT launches three new AI models

Institute develops new Bulgarian-language AI models it says deliver "unprecedented performance".

Top Uzbek e-commerce and fintech player Uzum posts $100mn in 9M24 net income

Express delivery service now significant revenue stream. Users represent third of Uzbekistan’s population.

Bitcoin mining in Georgia's Svaneti risks leaving households without power this winter

The mountainous Svaneti region has become a cryptocurrency haven in recent years after the Georgian government slashed electricity prices for highland areas.

Serbia to launch Tesla Venture studio in January 2025

Startup “factory” intended to position Belgrade as a regional centre for entrepreneurship and start-up growth, says Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Romanian intelligence service says bot farms active ahead of presidential election

SRI rules out role of “hostile foreign actors” after speculation Russia was behind disinformation campaigns.

Bulgaria’s INSAIT launches three new AI models

19 hours ago

Top Uzbek e-commerce and fintech player Uzum posts $100mn in 9M24 net income

6 days ago

Bitcoin mining in Georgia's Svaneti risks leaving households without power this winter

7 days ago

Serbia to launch Tesla Venture studio in January 2025

7 days ago

Romanian intelligence service says bot farms active ahead of presidential election

7 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

COMMENT: The Dalai Lama’s death and reincarnation will be a defining moment for Indian politics

At the heart of the Tibetan plateau lies a profound challenge for India’s foreign policy: the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. This event will ripple across Indian and Chinese domestic politics and affect their external relations as well.

IMF: How to awaken Europe's private sector and boost economic growth

In the European Union, income per person, one of the main gauges of living standards, is on average one-third less than in the United States, mostly because of lower productivity—as emphasised by Mario Draghi’s Sept. 9 competitiveness report.

RAGOZIN: What will a Trump-led peace deal in Ukraine look like?

For Ukraine conflict watchers, all eyes now are on President Donald Trump who famously promised to stop the war “within 24 hours”.

COMMENT: EU Anti-Deforestation Law challenges Brazilian exports and the future of the Mercosur-EU trade deal

The EU Anti-Deforestation Law significantly affects the Global South, particularly Brazilian exports to the European Union, and jeopardises the implementation of the Mercosur-EU Free Trade Agreement.

COMMENT: Political, economic and security headaches Trump Europe’s mounting problems

The re-election of Donald Trump as US President could become a major headache for Europe that is already struggling to keep its head above recessionary water.

COMMENT: The Dalai Lama’s death and reincarnation will be a defining moment for Indian politics

2 days ago

IMF: How to awaken Europe's private sector and boost economic growth

9 days ago

RAGOZIN: What will a Trump-led peace deal in Ukraine look like?

9 days ago

COMMENT: EU Anti-Deforestation Law challenges Brazilian exports and the future of the Mercosur-EU trade deal

10 days ago

COMMENT: Political, economic and security headaches Trump Europe’s mounting problems

12 days ago

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Data

What happens if aid to Ukraine collapses under Trump?

Researchers at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which has been tracking aid to Ukraine's war effort, have calculated hypothetical scenarios of what they believe Ukraine aid could look like in 2025, once Trump takes office in January.

Popular support for Ukraine falling amongst allies

Nato's most recent survey of its member country populations showed that even among those nations that are Ukraine's biggest supporters in terms of its war effort against Russia, many constituents disagree with continued support, Statista reports.

Slovak unemployment at historic low in October

Slovakia registered the lowest unemployment level of 5.88% for October since the splitting of Czechoslovakia in January 1993. The October figures also registered the lowest number of job applicants – 163,841 – since 1993.

Recycling lags for some green energy minerals

According to data released in a new report by the International Energy Agency, the recycling rates of many metals critical for green energy transitions are low and have only risen slowly over the last years.

Polish inflation’s October pick-up to 5% y/y confirmed

The Polish consumer price index (CPI) picked up its expansion rate slightly to 5% year on year in October (chart) from 4.9% y/y in September, data from Poland’s statistical office GUS showed on November 15.

What happens if aid to Ukraine collapses under Trump?

1 hour ago

Slovak unemployment at historic low in October

23 hours ago

Recycling lags for some green energy minerals

1 day ago

Polish inflation’s October pick-up to 5% y/y confirmed

1 day ago

More Data

Features

Kazakhstan: Officials resorting to press gangs to curb draft evasion

Widespread practice of hazing linked to draft difficulties.

Xi lays out the new rules of Global South Consensus to Biden

What has been portrayed as an economic clash between East and West is taking on an increasingly ideological nature. Chinese President Xi Jinping laid out new rules of the game for Sino-US relations in blunt terms to US President Joe Biden.

War for citizenship: Why Uzbeks fight for Russia

The Uzbek government is actively discouraging citizens from becoming mercenaries.

The East-West clash will fuel nuclear weapons proliferation

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shocked his Western allies last month at the EU summit by suggesting Ukraine needs to become a nuclear power again if it is not granted Nato membership soon.

Putin’s best weapon to pay for the Ukraine war is not oil; it's VAT

Sanctions on Russia are barking up the wrong tree. The Kremlin’s Achilles’ heel is not its dependence on oil export revenue. Russian President Vladimir Putin has a far more powerful tool to fund his war in Ukraine: VAT.

Kazakhstan: Officials resorting to press gangs to curb draft evasion

13 hours ago

Xi lays out the new rules of Global South Consensus to Biden

1 day ago

War for citizenship: Why Uzbeks fight for Russia

2 days ago

The East-West clash will fuel nuclear weapons proliferation

2 days ago

Putin’s best weapon to pay for the Ukraine war is not oil; it's VAT

2 days ago

More Features

Blogs

ISTANBUL BLOG: One in four law faculty deans at Turkey’s public universities have no law degree

It’s symptomatic of a higher education system that is on its knees.

KYIV BLOG: Trump 2.0 is good news for Putin, bad news for Zelenskiy

Trump is back. That is bad news for Zelenskiy but good news for Putin. It makes a ceasefire more likely as while Biden was dedicated to supporting Ukraine, Trump’s “America First” mantra means he is likely to disengage.

VISEGRAD BLOG: Central Europe's populists clamour to applaud Trump's victory

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is set to parade his support for Trump at the European Political Community meeting in Budapest on November 7-8.

MOSCOW BLOG: The EU loses its appeal

One of the salient points is that would-be members have never been interested in the “values” part of the deal and see the need to adhere to them simply as an annoyance that has to be tolerated if you want access to the transformation grants.

MOSCOW BLOG: The EU loses its appeal

After the collapse of the Soviet Union the only thing almost all the former republics and vassal states wanted to do was join the European Union. It was a no brainer. Not any more. A growing number of countries have cooled on joining the EU.

ISTANBUL BLOG: One in four law faculty deans at Turkey’s public universities have no law degree

7 days ago

KYIV BLOG: Trump 2.0 is good news for Putin, bad news for Zelenskiy

13 days ago

VISEGRAD BLOG: Central Europe's populists clamour to applaud Trump's victory

13 days ago

MOSCOW BLOG: The EU loses its appeal

14 days ago

MOSCOW BLOG: The EU loses its appeal

15 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

Carbon Brief releases sixth version of extreme weather event interactive map

As the planet warms and the Climate Crisis accelerates faster than scientists predicted, extreme weather events from floods to fires have turned into an annual disaster season that is only going to get worse.

Central European countries least likely in the EU to prioritise climate change

Stark contrast with Southern Europe, where around half of respondents from Bulgaria, Romania and other countries fear they will have to relocate to escape climate crisis, EIB survey shows.

COP29: Report reveals just 1% of 1,200 UNEP methane alerts triggered action

Governments and companies unresponsive even though emissions of the gas represent “low-hanging fruit” in climate crisis fight.

Oil sector lobbyists the forth largest delegation at COP29 climate summit

More than 1,770 oil sector lobbyists have travelled to the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, to try and slow or stop action to reduce the use of fossil fuels, making them the fourth largest delegation at the summit.

Aliyev roasts the West for double standards as COP29 goes off the rails

Azerbaijan is being slated for failing to lead the COP29 summit, which was expected to disappoint even before it started.

Carbon Brief releases sixth version of extreme weather event interactive map

1 day ago

Central European countries least likely in the EU to prioritise climate change

2 days ago

COP29: Report reveals just 1% of 1,200 UNEP methane alerts triggered action

3 days ago

Oil sector lobbyists the forth largest delegation at COP29 climate summit

4 days ago

Aliyev roasts the West for double standards as COP29 goes off the rails

4 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

The US has ramped up pressure on Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro by formally recognising opposition candidate Edmundo González as the country's president-elect, marking the first time the Biden administration has used this designation.

"It is noteworthy how little concerted political will there has been to halt the illicit flow of profits from the exploitation of gold resources in Africa into the Russian war machine," the World Gold Council report says.

Hungary's leading construction materials maker hit by Scope Ratings' downgrade, which was attributed to worsening credit metrics, driven by the prolonged weakness in the construction sector.

Bond issue is part of Romgaz’s strategy to raise €1.5bn for projects including the Neptun Deep offshore gas field.

Romania's private healthcare market has garnered increasing attention from international investors.

Tech

Institute develops new Bulgarian-language AI models it says deliver "unprecedented performance".

Express delivery service now significant revenue stream. Users represent third of Uzbekistan’s population.

The mountainous Svaneti region has become a cryptocurrency haven in recent years after the Georgian government slashed electricity prices for highland areas.

Startup “factory” intended to position Belgrade as a regional centre for entrepreneurship and start-up growth, says Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

SRI rules out role of “hostile foreign actors” after speculation Russia was behind disinformation campaigns.

Opinion

At the heart of the Tibetan plateau lies a profound challenge for India’s foreign policy: the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. This event will ripple across Indian and Chinese domestic politics and affect their external relations as well.

In the European Union, income per person, one of the main gauges of living standards, is on average one-third less than in the United States, mostly because of lower productivity—as emphasised by Mario Draghi’s Sept. 9 competitiveness report.

For Ukraine conflict watchers, all eyes now are on President Donald Trump who famously promised to stop the war “within 24 hours”.

The EU Anti-Deforestation Law significantly affects the Global South, particularly Brazilian exports to the European Union, and jeopardises the implementation of the Mercosur-EU Free Trade Agreement.

The re-election of Donald Trump as US President could become a major headache for Europe that is already struggling to keep its head above recessionary water.

Data

Researchers at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which has been tracking aid to Ukraine's war effort, have calculated hypothetical scenarios of what they believe Ukraine aid could look like in 2025, once Trump takes office in January.

Nato's most recent survey of its member country populations showed that even among those nations that are Ukraine's biggest supporters in terms of its war effort against Russia, many constituents disagree with continued support, Statista reports.

Slovakia registered the lowest unemployment level of 5.88% for October since the splitting of Czechoslovakia in January 1993. The October figures also registered the lowest number of job applicants – 163,841 – since 1993.

According to data released in a new report by the International Energy Agency, the recycling rates of many metals critical for green energy transitions are low and have only risen slowly over the last years.

The Polish consumer price index (CPI) picked up its expansion rate slightly to 5% year on year in October (chart) from 4.9% y/y in September, data from Poland’s statistical office GUS showed on November 15.

Features

Widespread practice of hazing linked to draft difficulties.

What has been portrayed as an economic clash between East and West is taking on an increasingly ideological nature. Chinese President Xi Jinping laid out new rules of the game for Sino-US relations in blunt terms to US President Joe Biden.

The Uzbek government is actively discouraging citizens from becoming mercenaries.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shocked his Western allies last month at the EU summit by suggesting Ukraine needs to become a nuclear power again if it is not granted Nato membership soon.

Sanctions on Russia are barking up the wrong tree. The Kremlin’s Achilles’ heel is not its dependence on oil export revenue. Russian President Vladimir Putin has a far more powerful tool to fund his war in Ukraine: VAT.

Blogs

It’s symptomatic of a higher education system that is on its knees.

Trump is back. That is bad news for Zelenskiy but good news for Putin. It makes a ceasefire more likely as while Biden was dedicated to supporting Ukraine, Trump’s “America First” mantra means he is likely to disengage.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is set to parade his support for Trump at the European Political Community meeting in Budapest on November 7-8.

One of the salient points is that would-be members have never been interested in the “values” part of the deal and see the need to adhere to them simply as an annoyance that has to be tolerated if you want access to the transformation grants.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union the only thing almost all the former republics and vassal states wanted to do was join the European Union. It was a no brainer. Not any more. A growing number of countries have cooled on joining the EU.

bneGREEN

As the planet warms and the Climate Crisis accelerates faster than scientists predicted, extreme weather events from floods to fires have turned into an annual disaster season that is only going to get worse.

Stark contrast with Southern Europe, where around half of respondents from Bulgaria, Romania and other countries fear they will have to relocate to escape climate crisis, EIB survey shows.

Governments and companies unresponsive even though emissions of the gas represent “low-hanging fruit” in climate crisis fight.

More than 1,770 oil sector lobbyists have travelled to the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, to try and slow or stop action to reduce the use of fossil fuels, making them the fourth largest delegation at the summit.

Azerbaijan is being slated for failing to lead the COP29 summit, which was expected to disappoint even before it started.

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In this episode of the Emerging Global podcast, South America correspondent Mathew Cohen provides an in-depth analysis of Presiden....

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