Latest Updates

Hormuz tensions raise inflation and energy security risks for Africa, says senior investment analyst

A senior investment analyst examines how the ongoing Middle East military conflict and rapidly climbing oil and gas prices are affecting African economies, supply chains and cost of living.

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"No oil, no money," Orban tells Ukraine

“No oil. No money.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban continues to take a hard line on dropping his veto on the disbursement of the €90bn EU loan agreed in December, as Brussels comes up with a face saving solution to end the impasse.

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Philippines down to its last three weeks of fuel reserves, turns to Russia for help

The Philippines is currently navigating a perilous and largely overlooked period of economic vulnerability: its national fuel supply could run out in around three to four weeks if international imports don't arrive soon.

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What has Iran hit so far?

A quick overview of what we know Iran has actually hit in this war — and the strategy that appears to be emerging.

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Straits of Hormuz partially open under the new friendly country permit system

Iran has reportedly mined the deeper waters in the southern stretch of the Straits of Hormuz to force traffic to sail close to the northern shore, as traffic partially resumes under an informal permit system.

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The US military running into trouble in Iran as it does not have the "Command of the Reload"

The war in Iran is quickly showing it’s not about firing more sophisticated weapons at your enemy. It’s about the “Command of the Reload:” being able to reload with the same weapons.

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Democratic decline deepens in Eastern Europe as global slide to autocracy accelerates

Democratic governance is under unprecedented strain worldwide, with Eastern Europe now a hotspot for backsliding, says V-Dem Institute Democracy Report.

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Is Benjamin Netanyahu in hiding? Missiles tell another story

Over the past few days, social media erupted with posts speculating that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had died in an Iranian strike, yet does one such theory hold up?

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Turkey emerges as revived route for Iraqi oil amid Hormuz crisis

India denies media reports of Iran tanker swap deal

Crisp crisis! Japan’s favourite snacks hit by 2026 oil shock

Turkey emerges as revived route for Iraqi oil amid Hormuz crisis

Baghdad accelerates revamp of long-idle pipeline puy out of action more than a decade ago by bomb attacks.

India denies media reports of Iran tanker swap deal

New Delhi is navigating a delicate balance between its energy dependence on Gulf suppliers.

Crisp crisis! Japan’s favourite snacks hit by 2026 oil shock

Japan’s snack lovers are facing a crunch - and not the good kind. Crisp maker Yamayoshi Seika has announced it is being forced to halt production of some of its best-selling potato chips as it cannot find enough of the fuel needed to cook them.

News

Iran holds mass funeral for Larijani, Basij commander and Dena crew in central Tehran

Tehran holds a mass funeral for security chief Ali Larijani, Basij commander Soleimani and 84 crew of destroyer Dena in one of the largest public gatherings since the war began on February 28.

Trump says US does not need NATO with Iran

Trump says the US does not need NATO or allied help with the Iran war after most allies declined to join the military operation, reversing his call just a day earlier for nations to send warships.

Colombia-Ecuador relations hit new low over border bombing row

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused Ecuador of bombing his country's territory, leaving 27 dead, as his Ecuadorean counterpart Daniel Noboa flatly denies any cross-border operations.

Russian power entities appear plagued by financing troubles in Central Asia

Chinese firms stepping in.

Albania declares Iran a state sponsor of terrorism

Albania’s parliament adopted a resolution declaring Iran a “terrorism sponsor state”, citing alleged support for armed groups and cyberattacks, but opposition boycott vote.

Iran holds mass funeral for Larijani, Basij commander and Dena crew in central Tehran

1 minute ago

Trump says US does not need NATO with Iran

2 hours ago

Colombia-Ecuador relations hit new low over border bombing row

12 hours ago

Russian power entities appear plagued by financing troubles in Central Asia

14 hours ago

Albania declares Iran a state sponsor of terrorism

17 hours ago

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Tech

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan entering crypto arena

Central Asian countries commit to multiple plans and investments. Some observers, however, say Russian sanctions dodgers are exploiting their cryptocurrency networks.

K&H focuses on digitalisation, AI as digital banking grows in Hungary

Hungarian lender K&H Group is deepening its push into integrated digital services and artificial intelligence as customers increasingly expect banking to match the speed and simplicity of major online platforms.

Iran-linked hackers reportedly targeted Albanian parliament email system

The email system of the Albanian parliament has been targeted by a cyberattack allegedly carried out by a hacking group linked to Iran, according to Albania’s National Cyber Security Authority.

Hacker group Handala claims cyber attack on US medical firm Stryker Corporation

Hacker group Handala claimed on March 11 it breached Stryker Corporation's systems, saying it extracted 50 terabytes of data and forced office closures in 79 countries in retaliation for attacks on Iranian infrastructure.

PAYSTRAX plans major hiring drive as Lithuanian fintech hub expands

International payments company PAYSTRAX is preparing a major recruitment drive in Lithuania, with plans to create up to 150 new fintech jobs over the next three years.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan entering crypto arena

2 days ago

K&H focuses on digitalisation, AI as digital banking grows in Hungary

4 days ago

Iran-linked hackers reportedly targeted Albanian parliament email system

6 days ago

Hacker group Handala claims cyber attack on US medical firm Stryker Corporation

6 days ago

PAYSTRAX plans major hiring drive as Lithuanian fintech hub expands

7 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

COMMENT: Georgia sees modest rebound in foreign investment as politics stabilise

FDI rose in 2025, signaling a tentative recovery in investor confidence following a period of domestic political uncertainty, according to a report from GlobalSource Partners.

COMMENT: War in Iran sends shockwaves across Armenia and Azerbaijan

Armenia and Azerbaijan facing growing economic, political and security risks, according to a report published by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

COMMENT: Escalating Middle East conflict raises risks of renewed European energy shock

After US President Donald Trump failed to deliver on his promise of a quick end to the conflict in Iran, the chances of a renewed European energy shock are rising quickly, says Oxford Economics.

COMMENT: Iran war brings Ukraine’s peace talks to a halt

The trump administration and Donald Trump personally have completely lost the ability to mediate negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, says The Bell in a commentary.

Warning of potential nuclear risk in Iran echoes Putin’s Ukraine war rhetoric

A senior adviser to US President Donald Trump has warned that escalating conflict between Israel and Iran could lead to “truly catastrophic” nuclear weapons use.

COMMENT: Georgia sees modest rebound in foreign investment as politics stabilise

15 hours ago

COMMENT: War in Iran sends shockwaves across Armenia and Azerbaijan

16 hours ago

COMMENT: Escalating Middle East conflict raises risks of renewed European energy shock

1 day ago

COMMENT: Iran war brings Ukraine’s peace talks to a halt

1 day ago

Warning of potential nuclear risk in Iran echoes Putin’s Ukraine war rhetoric

1 day ago

More Opinion

Data

Gulf disruption puts global fertilizer supply at risk – STATISTA

Since 28 February, 2026, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted amid the escalation of the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, Statista reports.

Saudi bank lending to private sector and government entities rises 10% in January

Saudi bank loans to the private sector and non-financial government entities rose 10% year on year to SAR3.43tn in January 2026, reflecting sustained credit growth across the kingdom's economy.

Dubai property sales spike as Middle East war wages on

Dubai property prices could fall up to 20% by 2028 as a record supply wave collides with weakening demand driven by the Gulf War.

Majority of Ukrainians back peace deal with territorial concessions if framed positively - KIIS

Ukrainians are getting tired of the war. In a change of heart, a majority would now support a peace agreement involving territorial concessions if presented alongside clear incentives such as European Union membership and security guarantees.

Wages in Romania post deep 5.5% y/y real contraction in January

Drop follows a period of strong wage expansion, with real net wages having surged by 11.1% over the two years leading up to January 2025 — a pace widely seen as unsustainable.

Gulf disruption puts global fertilizer supply at risk – STATISTA

42 minutes ago

Saudi bank lending to private sector and government entities rises 10% in January

21 hours ago

Dubai property sales spike as Middle East war wages on

23 hours ago

Majority of Ukrainians back peace deal with territorial concessions if framed positively - KIIS

1 day ago

Wages in Romania post deep 5.5% y/y real contraction in January

1 day ago

More Data

Features

BEIRUTER: India–Israel ties highlight a shifting Middle East order,

When Narendra Modi addressed the Knesset on February 26, 2026, the visit symbolized more than a diplomatic gesture between India and Israel. It revealed the contours of a shifting geopolitical landscape in the region.

Lebanon's Al-Qaa unveils 26-metre Christ statue on Syrian border as message of peace amid war

A 26-metre Christ statue has been unveiled in the Lebanese border village of Al-Qaa as a symbol of peace, as Israeli strikes have killed more than 850 and displaced over a million across Lebanon.

Despite an Iran war windfall, Russia’s MinFin still planning budget cuts

With Russian oil trading at over $100 and discount to Brent at zero or less, Russia's Ministry of Finance is anticipating a significant windfall this year that will reduce. However despite the good news, MinFin is still intending to cut at least 10%.

Why a Chinese invasion of Taiwan looks tempting, but would be ill-advised

If Beijing’s supporters are right that now is the time, they are also wrong to imagine success without substantial Taiwanese and wider regional blowback.

Zelenskiy facing growing domestic crisis as support in his own party melts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is facing a growing domestic political crisis as deputies in his own Servant of the People party start to rebel against his authority.

BEIRUTER: India–Israel ties highlight a shifting Middle East order,

15 hours ago

Lebanon's Al-Qaa unveils 26-metre Christ statue on Syrian border as message of peace amid war

22 hours ago

Despite an Iran war windfall, Russia’s MinFin still planning budget cuts

1 day ago

Why a Chinese invasion of Taiwan looks tempting, but would be ill-advised

1 day ago

Zelenskiy facing growing domestic crisis as support in his own party melts

1 day ago

More Features

Blogs

TEHRAN BLOG: Permits-for-passage system emerges as the US heads towards a strategic defeat in Iran

A “permits-for-passage" system emerges as the US heads towards a strategic defeat in Iran after the White House makes a string of strategic blunders.

LATAM BLOG: Iran war fuels Venezuela's oil comeback, but democracy lags behind

Caracas stands to gain from surging crude prices triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but Washington's control over its oil income means the bonanza may consolidate authoritarian rule rather than rebuild a broken state.

TEHRAN BLOG: A day of war in Iran

Life in wartime Tehran has shifted to a neighbourhood-centric pattern as residents stay put, unable to afford evacuation. Field reporting reveals how economic pressure, not defiance, keeps millions in a city under sustained air strikes.

MOSCOW BLOG: the shadow of Libya’s regime-change hangs over Moscow’s perception of the Iranian war

The Kremlin is looking on with concern as Operation Epic Fury unfolds in the Middle East. The US has gone in with its standard “shock and awe” strategy of attacking with overwhelming force. But Putin probably sees this as another Libya.

BALKAN BLOG: Why Albania is Europe’s biggest Iran hawk

Albanian PM Edi Rama has emerged as one of Europe’s most outspoken backers of the US-Israeli military action against "murderers in Tehran".

TEHRAN BLOG: Permits-for-passage system emerges as the US heads towards a strategic defeat in Iran

5 days ago

LATAM BLOG: Iran war fuels Venezuela's oil comeback, but democracy lags behind

7 days ago

TEHRAN BLOG: A day of war in Iran

12 days ago

MOSCOW BLOG: the shadow of Libya’s regime-change hangs over Moscow’s perception of the Iranian war

13 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: Why Albania is Europe’s biggest Iran hawk

15 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

INTERVIEW: Taiwan’s TSEC CORPORATION – mover and shaker in the nation’s solar sector

A leading name in the Taiwanese solar sector, TSEC has seen its valuation on the Taiwanese exchange skyrocket in recent months.

Climate group files complaint against OCBC over coal exposure in Indonesia

Under the complaint, OCBC is said to have failed to disclose its exposure to high-carbon assets fully. This put them in a position of potentially breaching disclosure rules set by the Singapore Exchange.

Extreme heat increasingly limiting daily activity for both old and young

The number of days where extreme heat makes it too dangerously hot to go outside or engage in ordinary activities has doubled over the past 75 years, according to according to a paper published in the journal Environmental Research: Health.

South Korea backs Philippines nuclear energy revival

South Korea has taken a formal step towards supporting the Philippines’ return to nuclear energy, with three major institutions signing an agreement to cooperate on future atomic power projects.

Scientists confirm 2025 as third-hottest year on record

Global temperatures in 2025 ranked as the third-highest on record, according to analyses released by three major climate monitoring agencies, highlighting the continued acceleration of human-driven warming despite cooling influences from La Nina.

INTERVIEW: Taiwan’s TSEC CORPORATION – mover and shaker in the nation’s solar sector

1 day ago

Climate group files complaint against OCBC over coal exposure in Indonesia

2 days ago

Extreme heat increasingly limiting daily activity for both old and young

7 days ago

South Korea backs Philippines nuclear energy revival

8 days ago

Scientists confirm 2025 as third-hottest year on record

8 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

Tehran holds a mass funeral for security chief Ali Larijani, Basij commander Soleimani and 84 crew of destroyer Dena in one of the largest public gatherings since the war began on February 28.

Trump says the US does not need NATO or allied help with the Iran war after most allies declined to join the military operation, reversing his call just a day earlier for nations to send warships.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused Ecuador of bombing his country's territory, leaving 27 dead, as his Ecuadorean counterpart Daniel Noboa flatly denies any cross-border operations.

Chinese firms stepping in.

Albania’s parliament adopted a resolution declaring Iran a “terrorism sponsor state”, citing alleged support for armed groups and cyberattacks, but opposition boycott vote.

Tech

Central Asian countries commit to multiple plans and investments. Some observers, however, say Russian sanctions dodgers are exploiting their cryptocurrency networks.

Hungarian lender K&H Group is deepening its push into integrated digital services and artificial intelligence as customers increasingly expect banking to match the speed and simplicity of major online platforms.

The email system of the Albanian parliament has been targeted by a cyberattack allegedly carried out by a hacking group linked to Iran, according to Albania’s National Cyber Security Authority.

Hacker group Handala claimed on March 11 it breached Stryker Corporation's systems, saying it extracted 50 terabytes of data and forced office closures in 79 countries in retaliation for attacks on Iranian infrastructure.

International payments company PAYSTRAX is preparing a major recruitment drive in Lithuania, with plans to create up to 150 new fintech jobs over the next three years.

Opinion

FDI rose in 2025, signaling a tentative recovery in investor confidence following a period of domestic political uncertainty, according to a report from GlobalSource Partners.

Armenia and Azerbaijan facing growing economic, political and security risks, according to a report published by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

After US President Donald Trump failed to deliver on his promise of a quick end to the conflict in Iran, the chances of a renewed European energy shock are rising quickly, says Oxford Economics.

The trump administration and Donald Trump personally have completely lost the ability to mediate negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, says The Bell in a commentary.

A senior adviser to US President Donald Trump has warned that escalating conflict between Israel and Iran could lead to “truly catastrophic” nuclear weapons use.

Data

Since 28 February, 2026, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted amid the escalation of the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, Statista reports.

Saudi bank loans to the private sector and non-financial government entities rose 10% year on year to SAR3.43tn in January 2026, reflecting sustained credit growth across the kingdom's economy.

Dubai property prices could fall up to 20% by 2028 as a record supply wave collides with weakening demand driven by the Gulf War.

Ukrainians are getting tired of the war. In a change of heart, a majority would now support a peace agreement involving territorial concessions if presented alongside clear incentives such as European Union membership and security guarantees.

Drop follows a period of strong wage expansion, with real net wages having surged by 11.1% over the two years leading up to January 2025 — a pace widely seen as unsustainable.

Features

When Narendra Modi addressed the Knesset on February 26, 2026, the visit symbolized more than a diplomatic gesture between India and Israel. It revealed the contours of a shifting geopolitical landscape in the region.

A 26-metre Christ statue has been unveiled in the Lebanese border village of Al-Qaa as a symbol of peace, as Israeli strikes have killed more than 850 and displaced over a million across Lebanon.

With Russian oil trading at over $100 and discount to Brent at zero or less, Russia's Ministry of Finance is anticipating a significant windfall this year that will reduce. However despite the good news, MinFin is still intending to cut at least 10%.

If Beijing’s supporters are right that now is the time, they are also wrong to imagine success without substantial Taiwanese and wider regional blowback.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is facing a growing domestic political crisis as deputies in his own Servant of the People party start to rebel against his authority.

Blogs

A “permits-for-passage" system emerges as the US heads towards a strategic defeat in Iran after the White House makes a string of strategic blunders.

Caracas stands to gain from surging crude prices triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but Washington's control over its oil income means the bonanza may consolidate authoritarian rule rather than rebuild a broken state.

Life in wartime Tehran has shifted to a neighbourhood-centric pattern as residents stay put, unable to afford evacuation. Field reporting reveals how economic pressure, not defiance, keeps millions in a city under sustained air strikes.

The Kremlin is looking on with concern as Operation Epic Fury unfolds in the Middle East. The US has gone in with its standard “shock and awe” strategy of attacking with overwhelming force. But Putin probably sees this as another Libya.

Albanian PM Edi Rama has emerged as one of Europe’s most outspoken backers of the US-Israeli military action against "murderers in Tehran".

bneGREEN

A leading name in the Taiwanese solar sector, TSEC has seen its valuation on the Taiwanese exchange skyrocket in recent months.

Under the complaint, OCBC is said to have failed to disclose its exposure to high-carbon assets fully. This put them in a position of potentially breaching disclosure rules set by the Singapore Exchange.

The number of days where extreme heat makes it too dangerously hot to go outside or engage in ordinary activities has doubled over the past 75 years, according to according to a paper published in the journal Environmental Research: Health.

South Korea has taken a formal step towards supporting the Philippines’ return to nuclear energy, with three major institutions signing an agreement to cooperate on future atomic power projects.

Global temperatures in 2025 ranked as the third-highest on record, according to analyses released by three major climate monitoring agencies, highlighting the continued acceleration of human-driven warming despite cooling influences from La Nina.

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