Opinion

IEA: Access to energy improving worldwide, driven by renewables

IEA Energy Snapshot December 19, 2024

Having a reliable electricity supply is something many of us take for granted – including for sending and reading emails like this one. But hundreds of millions of people around the world today don’t have access to electricity.

Valuation questions raised over Blackstone's $2.1bn IPO of India’s International Gemmologist Institute

Richard Chetwode in London December 18, 2024

In what looks like a very good deal for Blackrock, the private equity house has bought the diamond certification company IGI for $569mn and will likely monetised approximately $324mn from the IPO while still owning around 84% of a $2.1bn business.

COMMENT: Russia’s losses in Syria are Turkey’s gains

bnm Gulf bureau December 17, 2024

Russia’s hand in the Middle East has been dramatically weakened by the departure of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey’s has been strengthened.

IMF: The 2004 EU enlargement was a success story built on deep reform efforts

Sebastian Weber for the IMF December 16, 2024

New accession candidates will need to undertake equally ambitious reforms to make the next expansion a comparable success.

COMMENT: Russia and Syria will remain partners even after Assad

bnm Gulf bureau December 13, 2024

Russia looks to be staying put on Syria's coast despite efforts by its enemies to boot it out of the country.

COMMENT: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and China accelerate efforts to expand the Middle Corridor

Seymur Mammadov in Baku December 11, 2024

Pressing need for expanded infrastructure as freight traffic along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route increases.

IMF: Breaking Latin America’s cycle of low growth and violence

Ilan Goldfajn and Rodrigo Valdés December 11, 2024

Violent crime and insecurity cost Latin America 3.4% of GDP annually, fueling a vicious cycle of low growth, emigration and instability. Breaking this requires bold reforms, stronger institutions and regional cooperation to tackle organised crime.

RAGOZIN: Does the exiled Russian opposition have a future?

Leonid Ragozin in Riga December 11, 2024

One the eve of the Russian antiwar and anti-Putin march in Berlin held on November 17, Ukrainian ambassador to Germany Oleksiy Makeiev published an op-ed in Die Zeit in which he dubbed it as “a walk without dignity and consequences”.

COMMENT: Trump’s White House picks signal rocky start with Latin America

Ricardo Martins in Utrecht December 9, 2024

Trump's return to power sets up a confrontational start with Latin America, threatening tariffs and strict border controls. Mexico pushes back firmly against US pressure, while China quietly expands its regional influence challenging US dominance.

COMMENT: European countries plan hydrogen import infrastructure to achieve climate goals

Fuad Shahbazov in Durham December 6, 2024

Talks between Greece's DESFA and several Southeast and Central European countries aim to establish a new hydrogen corridor to Germany.

Is Georgia having its EuroMaidan?

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow December 4, 2024

As in Ukraine's EuroMaidan revolution, Georgia's protests are directed at a leader with links to Russia who was attempting to pull the country away from its pro-EU path.

CENUSA: The “Georgescu phenomenon” in Romania

Denis Cenusa in Germany November 28, 2024

Parallels drawn with Putin, Trump and Orban after Calin Georgescu’s surprise first round presidential election lead.

Who is investing in Ukraine?

Andrew Pryma of UBN in Kyiv November 26, 2024

New research shows both foreign and local investors are currently active in Ukraine.

INTERVIEW: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank financing Central Asia’s green future

bne IntelliNews November 25, 2024

The Chinese-owned multilateral development bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), has become a major player in Eurasia and a driving force between driving sustainable development in the region.

COMMENT: Trump 2.0 could be a blessing for Belarus

bne IntelliNews November 23, 2024

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko was quicker than many American news networks to pronounce Donald Trump the winner of the recent US presidential election. Lukashenko showered Trump with compliments as soon as the results were out.

INTERVIEW: Mobilising private finance for a greener future

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow November 22, 2024

EBRD director of sustainable business Gianpiero Nacci details how MDBs are bringing in private investment to help close the climate finance gap.

COMMENT: Will COP29 become a milestone in Azerbaijan’s long-term energy strategy?

Fuad Shahbazov in Durham November 21, 2024

After years of reliance on fossil fuel exports, Azerbaijan is steadily switching to renewable energy sources.

COMMENT: The EU’s Internal Security Framework is unfit for Cold War 2.0

Owen Walden-Harris November 21, 2024

Not only has Trump's re-election undermined the EU’s reliance on American security structures, but it is also facing unprecedented strain in the form of hybrid attacks from rogue states.

COMMENT: After a slow start, the Georgian protests are gathering momentum

Neil Hauer in Tbilisi November 21, 2024

The opposition initially appeared caught by surprise by Georgian Dream's election fraud, and lost all momentum and international media attention, but the protests are now visibly more energised.

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

Ben Aris in Berlin November 17, 2024

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.

Dismiss