Belarus' Lukashenko is a shoo-in for his seventh election as president

Belarusians go to the polls this weekend to vote in a presidential election that is almost certain to see incumbent Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko returned to office for the seventh time.

Lukashenko mulls building a second nuclear power plant

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is mulling the idea of building a second nuclear power plant (NPP) to improve the country’s energy security and earn more money from exports to Russia.

India on the brink of a new oil shock

India is facing the very real threat of an oil shock as new US sanctions targeting Russian crude come into force.

Love in the Baltics in a time of war

The human twists of the war in Ukraine are gut-wrenching. For Lithuanian Aleksej Zanemanski it is an uphill battle for the right to live with his wife he loves unconditionally but who happens to be Russian.

Japan establishes diplomatic mission to NATO as ties to Russia, China deteriorate

Japan has formally launched an independent diplomatic mission to NATO, reflecting its growing collaboration with the alliance as tensions rise with Russia, China and North Korea.

What does Ukraine have to offer the deal-loving Trump to get his support?

Trump loves a deal and he won’t continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia unless he feels the US is going to get something out of it. What does Ukraine have to offer? Well, $11 trillion worth of strategic minerals to start with.

Ukraine's politicians are already getting ready for elections that must follow a ceasefire deal

If a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine is agreed after President-elect Donald Trump takes over, Ukraine will hold presidential elections and as the talk grows Kyiv’s elite are already starting to prepare their campaigns.

Mongolia revives traditional "Ghengis Khan" script bichig

13th century writing system created specifically for Mongolian language to appear alongside Cyrillic in official documents.

New US oil sanctions, attack on Turkstream shake up global energy markets

The Biden administration imposed the harshest ever oil sanctions ever on Russia on January 10, which immediately roiled the international energy markets. Kyiv's attempt to destroy Russia's last gas pipeline to Europe unsettled markets further.

Russia's hidden war debt and a looming credit crisis

Moscow has been quietly pursuing a two-pronged strategy to finance its escalating war costs. In addition to the publicly scrutinised defence budget, it has set up a system of state-directed off-budget soft loans to boost unofficial military spending.

TurkStream is now the only route for Russian gas to Europe

"Danish model" funded 500% increase in Ukraine's domestic arms production in 2024

With US supplies of weapons expected to fall in 2005 and European stockpiles running low, Kyiv’s arms supplies are shifting from international purchases to boosting domestic production.

OUTLOOK: Ukraine 2025

What is in store for Ukraine in 2025? bne IntelliNews’ annual OUTLOOK: Ukraine 2025

The war went badly for Ukraine in 2024

Ukraine lost more territory to the advancing Armed Forces of Russia (AFR) in the second half of 2024 than at any time since the initial invasion in 2024.

Slovakia faces cut-off of Russian gas pipeline supplies

Robert Fico’s attacks on Kyiv for ending gas transit have more to do with his close political ties with Orban and Putin, the cosy business links Slovakia has with Russia, and his domestic political problems, rather than energy security.

PANNIER: Why the Turkmenistan, Iran gas “friendship” is back on

In tough struggle to find new export markets, Turkmen even agree to Iranian contractors building infrastructure in tightly controlled Central Asian country.

Russia’s arms exports slump, Kremlin preparing for possible war with Nato

Russian arms exports have plummeted by 92% since 2021, according to defence policy expert Pavel Luzin, as the Kremlin redirects all its military production to supplying the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia reaps harvest of chaos in nearby democracies

Allegations of interference surround recent elections in Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova and Romania.

Russia's political repressions intensify in 2024

Political repression continued in Russia in 2024, as “justification of terrorism” overtook “discrediting the Russian army” as the most prosecuted “crime,” according to a detailed report by Russian civil rights groups.

FDI in Emerging Europe hit by geopolitical uncertainty and German slowdown

wiiw report warns lower investment trend could continue as Central and Eastern Europe's role as a production hub for Western companies is waning.