Features
NYT details institutional corruption in Zelenskiy’s government
In a damning report, the The New York Times (NYT) detailed institutional corruption in the Zelenskiy administration, where the government has systematically undermined checks and balances to appoint its placemen in charge of key companies.
MARTINS: The successes and failures of the Ukrainian drone industry
By mid-2014, after the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of war in Donbas, an industry emerged that would become the pillar of Ukrainian national defence, driving innovations that would influence modern warfare.
How Kazakhstan and Western oil major partners could take $27bn yearly hit from Ukraine’s drone attacks on Black Sea port
Moscow, on the other hand, might lose a mere $0.6bn annually, argues analyst.
Russian arms revenues rise 23% as domestic war demand offsets export collapse
Russia’s leading defence firms recorded strong revenue growth in 2024, driven by surging domestic demand for weapons to sustain the war in Ukraine, even as Western sanctions and falling arms exports weighed on international sales,
The Age of Electricity is here -IEA
Electricity is becoming the most important source of energy, but the International Energy Agency warned that the world is entering a period of heightened energy insecurity marked by geopolitical volatility, rising demand, and an oil glut.
2026 set to be a turbulent year as civil unrest risk climbs across CEE and Central Asia
Civil unrest risks have risen sharply amid mounting political instability, simmering corruption allegations and inflation-linked discontent, according to Verisk Maplecroft.
Iraq identifies attackers behind Khor Mor gas field drone strike as Iran-backed militias
Iraq identifies militia elements behind 11th drone attack on Khor Mor gas field, with $7.41mn daily losses as authorities issue arrest warrants but decline to publicly name responsible group.
PANNIER: Who’s killing Chinese workers on the Afghan-Tajik frontier?
Beijing, among others, wants answers.
LONG READ: De-dollarisation gathering momentum, driven by geopolitics and ballooning debt fears
De-dollarisation is gathering momentum, but the process of switching to settling global trade in multiple currencies is going at a glacial pace. The problem is that once glaciers start moving, they are impossible to stop.
Stopping dog meat sales in Indonesia is more about shuffling paperwork than morality
Just outside Jakarta’s regulatory lens, a viral video circulated in late 2025 showing dogs packed into sacks in an alleged dog meat supply chain in Bantul, Yogyakarta, sparking public outrage and new regional commitments.
Surging US and Russian LNG exports push gas prices to 18-month low
LNG prices in Europe have dropped to their lowest levels in 18 months, thanks to surging supply and subdued demand across the continent.
Poland emerges as regional gas hub on record 2025 transmission volumes
Poland is emerging as a regional gas hub after setting a new record for natural gas transmission in 2025. Gaz-System, the state-owned transmission system operator, is on track to deliver a record 20bcm this year.
IntelliNews Lambda: Europe’s gas storage is back to normal
LNG prices in Europe have dropped to their lowest levels in 18 months, thanks to surging supply and subdued demand across the continent. That has led to comfortably full gas tanks and the lowest deviation from the baseline in 15 years.
Public confidence in South Korean economy hits highest level since 2017
South Korea's consumer sentiment experienced a significant uplift in November, reflecting greater public optimism about the nation's economic trajectory. This positive shift led the key confidence index to its highest reading in eight years.
INTERVIEW: Cash Plus leads Kosovo’s shift to fully digital finance
Cash Plus, a fully digital lending platform, is among the countries pushing forward Kosovo's young but expanding fintech sector.
South Korea’s corporate giants shift focus to domestic investment
The Korea‑US framework establishes $200bn in cash direct equity investment, with an annual cap of $20bn for at least 10 years, paid in stepwise installments according to milestones. The US will lead investment destination decisions.
Towards a cashless Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s transition toward a cashless economy presents what the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) describes as a dual reality, marked by both clear opportunity and persistent structural constraints.
Russian middle-class investors have $14bn of frozen stocks abroad
Millions of Russian citizens who invested in foreign stocks and bonds before the war in Ukraine remain locked out of their assets, three years after sweeping Western sanctions froze Russian-linked holdings across global financial markets.
Georgia leads South Caucasus for banking and investment, but Armenia is rising star
New index from GlobalSource Partners compares the banking sectors and business environments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Baku pushes Middle Corridor and North-South projects at CIS railway summit
Azerbaijan Railways head says works on North-South corridor are reinforcing Azerbaijan’s position as a strategic link between northern and southern trade flows.