Belarus tests new BUK missile system as a low-key arms race in Eastern Europe gathers momentum
CSTO states express serious concern over terrorist threat in Afghanistan
Armenia refuses to host Eurasian Economic Union summit
COMMENT: Trump 2.0 could be a blessing for Belarus
PANNIER: Why the Turkmenistan, Iran gas “friendship” is back on
Russia’s CBR keeps key rate at 21% under pressure
Russia’s arms exports slump, Kremlin preparing for possible war with Nato
North Korea’s missile support to Russia raises alarms at UN
Ukraine invasion was ‘spontaneous’ and unplanned, Putin claims
Bulgaria’s interim PM Glavchev refuses to sign 10-year military support deal with Ukraine
North Korean troops face heavy losses in Russia-Ukraine War as conflict intensifies
Telia willing to sell its Latvian operations back to government if price is right
The EU Council calls for a European geothermal action plan
FDI in Emerging Europe hit by geopolitical uncertainty and German slowdown
IMF: The 2004 EU enlargement was a success story built on deep reform efforts
Czech National Bank keeps interest rates at 4%
Czech EPH signs agreement with Italian Enel to buy its stake in Slovenske Elektrarne
Hungary grants political asylum to fugitive former PiS minister
Hungarian households have joint lowest consumption levels in EU
Polish industrial production disappoints in November as output falls 1.5% y/y
Polish producer price deflation eases further in November
Slovak, Hungarian, Austrian and Italian groups sign declaration backing continued gas transit through Ukraine
Slovenia sets up emergency alert system after devastating floods
Athens conditions support for Albania’s EU accession on protection for Greek minority
EU Council says enlargement is a "geo-strategic investment in peace"
Bureks vs. Big Macs
BALKAN BLOG: What Grenell’s return means for US diplomacy in the Balkans
International highway tears through Bosnia’s rural heartlands
Russia reaps harvest of chaos in nearby democracies
Croatian Bosqar Invest acquires bakery Mlinar in €100mn deal
TikTok says it has stepped up moderation ahead of Croatian presidential election
Kosovo's population down 12% since 2011
Kosovo’s president slams EU’s “unfair” treatment
Moldova's economy shrinks by 1.9% y/y in Q3
Serbia faces backlash over controversial foreign agents bill
North Macedonia's central bank lowers key interest rate by 0.25 pp to 5.55%
North Macedonia’s ex-deputy PM Grubi reportedly flees to Kosovo to avoid detention in corruption case
Formation of ruling coalition in Romania faces deadlock as Social Democrats suspend talks
Syrian-Kurdish SDF’s fighters from outside Syria will leave if Turkey agrees ceasefire, says commander
Istanbul cruise port debt “re-restructured”, banks take 49% stake
Turkey launches Persian news media aimed at Iran
Growing Islamic finance in Central Asia to unlock GCC investment
INTERVIEW: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank financing Central Asia’s green future
Award seen as Nobel Prize for human rights won by Kabul women’s rights activist and jailed Tajik lawyer
Corruption probe launched into Armenian satellite project
EBRD warns of risks for emerging markets pursuing industrial policies
Several top Armenian officials resign amid political shake-up
Azerbaijan trades barbs with French and US diplomats in online "Twiplomacy"
Azerbaijan’s Aliyev lines up with Russia and Trump, admits Georgia interference
Trial of seven AbzasMedia journalists begins in Baku
COMMENT: Could Iran open new fronts against Israel and Azerbaijan?
PROFILE: Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili
World Bank approves $350mn as Tajikistan bids to fund completion of $6.3bn Rogun mega hydro project
Russia sells stakes in Kazakhstan uranium JVs to China
Freedom Holding Corp brings FIDE world rapid & blitz chess championships to Wall Street
Adylbek Kasymaliev appointed new chief of Kyrgyzstan’s cabinet ministers, predecessor dismissed amid tax corruption scandal
Decades-old Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan border dispute could be over
Kyrgyzstan: MPs seem willing to give police a free hand
Hit indirectly by sanctions, Mongolia struggles to find workarounds
HESS: Mongolia’s unique success story between rock and a hard place at risk
Mongolia copper-gold discovery hailed for “globally significant” prospects
Tajikistan: Officials announce discovery of major rare earth deposits
Tajikistan: Rogun Dam is a white elephant in the making – report
COP29: Central Asian states losing arable land
Uzbek national arrested in Moscow bombing that killed Russian chemical defence chief Kirillov
Uzbekistan’s Moscow embassy “clarifying” details on man detained after scooter-bomb assassination of Russian general
Russia's budget oil breakeven price world’s second lowest as oil revenues recover
Southeast European countries look to Algeria to diversify energy supplies
Slovenia turns back to Algerian gas after flirtation with Russian supplies
“Silent demise” of world’s vast rangelands threatens food supply of billions, warns UNCCD report
IEA: Access to energy improving worldwide, driven by renewables
The hurricane season in 2024 was weird
Global warming will increase crop yields in Global North, but reduce them in Global South
Hundreds of millions on verge of starvation, billions more undernourished as Climate Crisis droughts take their toll
Global access to energy starts to fall for the first time in a decade, says IEA
Saudi Arabia hosts kingdom's first Africa summit, to boost ties, promote stability
Putin at 2023 Africa-Russia summit: Wiping debts, donating grain and boosting co-operation
EBRD 2023: Bank to expand into the whole of Africa plus Iraq
Botswana throws the diamond industry a lifeline
Nelson Mandela worried about natural diamonds, Leonardo di Caprio defended them, makers of lab-grown stones demonise them
Botswana’s 2,492-carat diamond discovery is golden opportunity to replicate legendary Jonker diamond's global legacy
Kamikaze marketing: how the natural diamond industry could have reacted to the lab-grown threat
Russia’s Rosatom to support nuclear projects across Africa at AEW2024
JPMorgan, Chase and HSBC reportedly unwittingly processed payments for Wagner warlord Prigozhin
Burkina Faso the latest African country to enter nuclear power plant construction talks with Russia
IMF: China’s slowdown will hit sub-Saharan growth
Moscow unlikely to give up Niger toehold as threat of ECOWAS military action looms
Overcoming insecurity to unlock the Central African Republic’s mineral riches
Russia funding war in Ukraine via illegal gold mining in Africa – WGC report
Rain, rain go away
Africa, Asia most people living in extreme poverty
10 African countries to experience world’s fastest population growth to 2100
EM winners and losers from the global green transformation
Russia blocks UN Security Council resolution on Sudan humanitarian crisis
G20 summit wraps up with a joint statement strong on sentiment, but short on specifics
Malaysia seeks BRICS membership
SDS storms fed by sand and dust equal in weight to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza, says UNCCD
Southern Africa has 'enormous' potential for green hydrogen production, study finds
Kazakhstan has no plans to join BRICS, says Astana
Sri Lanka to apply for BRICS membership
How France is losing Africa
Gabon coup attempt after the re-election of President Ali Bongo
Guinea grants final approvals to Rio Tinto for $11.6bn Simandou iron-ore project
Kenya’s untapped mineral wealth holds the promise of economic transformation
US adds 17 Liberian-flagged bulk carriers and oil tankers to Russian sanctions-busting blacklist
Panama and Liberia vying for largest maritime registry
Force majeure at Libya’s Zawiya Refinery threatens exports and oil expansion plans
Russia, facing loss of Syrian base for Africa operations, seen turning to war-torn Sudan or divided Libya
Libya’s mineral riches: unlocking a future beyond oil
Ukraine claims it was behind massacre of Wagner Group mercenaries in Mali
Can Morocco's phosphate wealth put it at the centre of the global battery supply chain?
Hajj aftermath: deaths, disappearances and detentions spark investigations across world
Sri Lanka's LTL Holdings targets African power sector
Russia's nuclear diplomacy binding emerging markets to the Kremlin
Can Niger's military junta seize the country's uranium opportunity?
Disaster season: heat waves sweep the world – in charts and maps
AI will be a major source of GHGs by 2030, says Morgan Stanley
Niger and beyond: Francophone credit delivers coup de grâce
The world has passed peak per capital CO₂ emissions, but overall emissions are still rising
Trump threatens BRICS with tariffs if they dump the dollar
SITREP: Middle East rapidly destabilised by a week of missile strikes
Colombian mercenaries trapped in Sudan’s conflict
Air France diverts Red Sea flights after crew spots 'luminous object'
COMMENT: Tunisia on the brink of collapse
Tunisian President Kais Saied re-elected for second term
WHO declares "global public health emergency" owing to mpox outbreak in Central Africa, new virus strain
Climate crisis-driven global food security deteriorated between 2019 and 2022 and is even affecting the US
South Korea’s won slides as martial law crisis sparks market turmoil
Major bank’s service disruptions cause payment delays at fuel stations across Iran
China unveils $71bn swap facility to revitalise flagging economy
Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway makes waves with $1.9bn yen bond sale
Fukushima's forgotten victims as Japan shifts back to nuclear power
Balancing growth and sustainability: Southeast Asia’s energy dilemma
Where does nuclear power-use stand in post-COP29 Asia?
India’s second-largest clean energy company ReNew plans to go private
India's Competition Commission approves major steel industry acquisition
Trump vows to block Nippon Steel's $14bn bid for US Steel
China dismisses Trump's tariff threat, warns of 'no winners' in trade war
Iraq blocks IMDb website over 'immoral content' claims
Display unveils groundbreaking 50% stretchable screen: a game-changer for fashion and mobility
South Korean users flock to YouTube and Instagram as local platforms struggle
Bahrain and Iran to begin talks on normalising relations
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait set to offer Russians visa-free entry
Jaw-dropping discovery: 450,000-year-old tooth unearthed in Iran
China's COMAC eyes Saudi Arabia as launchpad for international expansion
Iranian ambassador claims US sets conditions on Syrian-Iranian relations
Syria's new leader al-Sharaa declares "end of Iranian project"
Iran to add 500MW solar capacity by year-end, targets 4GW expansion
ISTANBUL BLOG: After “conquering” Damascus, Erdogan turns his eye to the Kurds
SYRIA BLOG: Putin joins George W Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” club
Israeli settlers from extremist sect cross into Lebanon, IDF confirms
Trump keeping Erdogan “on his toes” over unfolding Syria events, says analyst
Iran's Khamenei gives Syria speech in front of women-only audience
Israel establishes “winter military positions” in Syrian territory
Qatar-Turkey-Europe gas pipeline ambition could be back on following fall of Assad
As jubilant Syrian refugees in Turkey celebrate Assad downfall, analysts wonder what comes next in power vacuum
Erdogan sets Damascus as final target for “rebels” advancing in Syria
Kuwait greenlights tax deal with Iraq to prevent double taxation
Iran demands 'equal footing' with Kuwaiti and Saudi plans to drill for gas in Gulf
Middle East power grid struggles as demand hits record high
Iraq braces for severe heatwave with temperatures to reach 49C
How Assad turned Syria into a narco-state
Lebanon may be at the dawn of a new economic era
So you want to get on the right side of Donald Trump? Try gift-wrapping a hotel
ANALYSIS: Regional escalation on the table following Israeli strike on Iran
Sea of Oman oil terminal boosts export resilience amid tensions with Israel
New Syrian authorities accuse Israel of unlawful attack on country
Israel attacks more than 250 military targets in Syria in 48 hours
COMMENT: A stable Syria could become a major energy hub
Saudi Arabia extracts lithium from oilfield runoff, plans commercial pilot
Saudi Arabia wins 2034 World Cup bid, beating Australia
Trump Organization expands Saudi presence with two new hotels
UPDATED: Syria's former president Assad arrives in Moscow
Israel launches biggest strike in Yemen, killing 40 people
TEHRAN BLOG: Pezeshkian's dilemma over Haniyeh's assassination
Iranian foreign ministry condemns Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran
Reactions to the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran
Latin America set for tepid growth as Trump tariff threat looms, ECLAC says
Latin America urged to boost tax take and private investment to close development gap
IMF: Breaking Latin America’s cycle of low growth and violence
COMMENT: Trump’s White House picks signal rocky start with Latin America
Latin America trapped in low growth cycle, ECLAC warns
Bolivian ex-president Evo Morales faces formal charges of human trafficking
Geothermal energy poised for major global expansion, says IEA chief Fatih Birol
US-Cuba rum war spills over as Biden law stirs Havana Club row
Brutal gang violence over failed voodoo spell claims nearly 200 lives in Haiti's capital
Mexican cartel boss who created fearsome Zetas returns to face justice after US deportation
Paraguay stands firm with Taiwan amid growing Chinese pressure
Murder exposes secret prostitution ring in Peruvian Congress
Protests in Bangladesh escalate, demanding president leave office
Bangladesh tribunal issues arrest warrant against ousted PM Sheikh Hasina
World Bank says Bangladesh GDP growth to shrink in FY25
US imposes preliminary duties on Southeast Asian solar imports
COMMENT: From Globalisation to “slowbalisation” as FDIs decline on trade and geopolitical woes
Angkor Archaeological Park attracts nearly 700,000 foreign tourists in nine months
Blinken warns Taiwan crisis could trigger global economic turmoil
Iran boosts oil, gas output amid US crackdown on sales
Peru's APEC summit exposes trade tug-of-war between Beijing and Washington
Rising gold ETF inflows set to drive global bullion prices
Russian exports of diamonds to Hong Kong up 18-fold in 5M24
Gazli Gas responds to reports on Uzbekistan project, refutes any suggestion sanctioned individuals are involved
Valuation questions raised over Blackstone's $2.1bn IPO of India’s International Gemmologist Institute
INTERVIEW: Jeet Chandan, co-founder of Indian investment platform BizDateUp
Boldly brewing where no one has brewed before: Japanese sake to be made in space
South Korean president impeached, Constitutional Court to sit December 16
Japan plans tax hike to fund $280bn military buildup
BCPG to invest $945mn in power projects, prioritising clean energy
Malaysia’s industrial growth slows in October following mixed sector performance
Myanmar junta to allow observers for controversial 2025 election amid ongoing conflict
Nepal floods - death toll rises to 209
Kolkata hospital rape and murder case sparks international outcry, raises questions
South Asia hit by floods and landslides after heavy rainfall
Russian pivot to the Global South includes unscrupulous army recruiting practices
North Korean troops suffer casualties in Ukraine conflict
South Korea intensifies military drills to bolster defences against North Korean drone threat
Security personnel dead as Imran Khan’s supporters breach Islamabad lockdown
Pakistan could quit TAPI as India now “extremely lukewarm” on gas pipeline project, says report
Papua New Guinea tribal conflict leaves 30 dead amid gold mine dispute
Thousands evacuated as Mt. Kanlaon erupts, threatening more explosive activity
South Korea's acting president rejects six controversial bills amid growing tensions
Korean won dips to crisis levels amid US rate cuts and market volatility
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports in October up 18.22%
Taiwan boosts defence with advanced Abrams tanks amid rising Chinese tensions
Vietnam faces challenges in meeting carbon emission targets
German Prosecutors Confirm Termination of Money Laundering Investigation Against Alisher Usmanov
Comments by President of the Russian Fertilizers Producers Association Andrey Guryev on bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin
PhosAgro/UNESCO/IUPAC green chemistry research grants awarded for the 8th time to world's best young scientists
PhosAgro Tops RAEX ESG Ranking
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Russia’s second-largest state-controlled bank VTB posted RUB41bn and RUB339bn net profit for August and 8M24 respectively, making a return on equity of 19% and 22%.
As followed by bne IntelliNews, VTB Group posted record profit under IFRS of RUB432bn (€4.4bn) for 2023, with net profit of RUB56bn in 4Q23 alone. The group has also revised upwards its record loss for 2022, from RUB613bn to RUB668bn (€6.8bn). Despite record profit of 2023, VTB’s management still has no plans to offer shareholders dividends.
In August, “the tangible growth in profit compared to July was due to an increase in the contribution of other income, including currency revaluation,” Renaissance Capital analysts commented on September 30.
VTB Bank maintains its profit forecast for 2024 at RUB550bn, a substantial part of which (RUB 108bn) is expected to come from continued work with frozen and sanctioned assets. In March 2024, VTB announced its medium-term strategy with a profitability target of 19%-20% and focus on the retail segment.
The bank is also preparing a major merger deal with the Postal Bank.
The possibility of deploying a European peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine during a potential ceasefire is shifting from being an unthinkable idea to one that is being actively discussed, according ... more
An air bridge between Russia and Libya was established earlier this week with two Ilyushin-76TD aircraft (RA-76841 and RA-76845) operating shuttle flights between Russia and Al-Khadim Airbase near ... more
Russia’s largest bank, state-controlled Sberbank (Sber), posted RUB117bn net profit in 11M24 under Russian Accounting Standards (RAS) and RUB1.4 trillion for 11M24 overall, making a return on ... more
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