Latest Updates

COMMENT: EU’s foreign policy chief Kallas’ releases a white paper on European Defence sector plans

EU foreign policy chief and former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas recently unveiled a controversial White Paper on the “Future of European Defence: Readiness 2030”, but it received a very mixed reception from EU member states.

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India’s energy growth to follow unique low-carbon path

India is expected to become an important player in global energy markets, following a distinct growth path marked by lower energy intensity, a diverse energy mix and expanding commodity imports, according to Wood Mackenzie's latest Horizons report.

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Russian cult leader nabbed in Argentine human-trafficking swoop

Argentine authorities have dismantled a notorious Russian cult, arresting 15 individuals in a joint operation across two airports that has exposed a sinister network of alleged human exploitation.

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Beijing blocks BlackRock's Panama port deal amid US-China tensions

The proposed sale of two key Panamanian ports by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to a consortium led by BlackRock has hit a roadblock, as China exerts pressure to halt the deal.

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Russia offers to mediate US-Iran dialogue on nuclear programme

Russia has expressed willingness to facilitate constructive dialogue between the United States and Iran regarding the latter's nuclear programme

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COMMENT: Brazil’s Lula builds economic bridges across the Pacific

Brazil's President Lula boosted ties with Japan and Vietnam during his Asian tour last week, securing aircraft deals, beef markets and partnerships.

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INTERVIEW: "It's risky to invest in Ukraine now. But it's more risky not to invest" – AmCham Ukraine

An interview with the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine

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Russian household well-being reaches highest level in a decade – BOFIT

The well-being of Russian households has reached its highest level in a decade, a survey carried out by the Bank of Finland institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT) found.

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Indonesians push back as military enters civilian government

Student groups protested outside the Blitar DPRD office under a heavy police presence, demanding the law’s repeal and calling for press freedom. Activists pointed to past instances of media suppression, warning about potential threats to journalists

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Russia rushes Iran partnership treaty ratification ahead of US military build-up against Tehran

Trump threatens extreme secondary sanctions on countries dealing with Russia if Putin doesn’t do ceasefire deal

Israel eliminates all tariffs on US products ahead of Trump's Liberation Day plan

Russia rushes Iran partnership treaty ratification ahead of US military build-up against Tehran

Russia expedites defence pact with Iran ahead of US military manoeuvres in the Indian Ocean.

Trump threatens extreme secondary sanctions on countries dealing with Russia if Putin doesn’t do ceasefire deal

President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind a sweeping bipartisan bill that could impose 500% secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t do a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.

Israel eliminates all tariffs on US products ahead of Trump's Liberation Day plan

Israel has removed all remaining tariffs on products imported from the United States, according to a joint statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, Finance Ministry, and Economy and Industry Ministry.

News

US deploys six B-2 bombers to Indian Ocean ahead of Iran standoff

Newly analysed satellite images show the deployment of at least six nuclear-capable B-2 bombers to Camp Thunder Bay on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Myanmar junta fires at Chinese Red Cross convoy during earthquake aid mission

Myanmar's military junta attempted to stop a Chinese Red Cross convoy carrying aid for earthquake recovery by firing warning shots, a spokesperson said on April 2.

Thailand’s economy faces quake losses, US tariff risks

Thailand’s economic outlook for 2025 is under pressure from earthquake-related losses and the threat of US tariff hikes, with potential financial damage estimated at $820mn and GDP growth at risk of a 1% decline.

MOL AGM approves massive dividend payout, equating to 9% dividend yield

Hungary’s MOL has announced plans for a HUF220.4bn (€560mn) dividend payout for 2025, as the oil and gas giant seeks to maintain shareholder returns despite earnings cooling from their 2022 peak.

Bangkok suspends use of four government buildings after earthquake damage

Thai authorities have ordered the temporary closure of four government buildings in Bangkok due to structural damage caused by last week’s powerful earthquake.

US deploys six B-2 bombers to Indian Ocean ahead of Iran standoff

3 hours ago

Myanmar junta fires at Chinese Red Cross convoy during earthquake aid mission

4 hours ago

Thailand’s economy faces quake losses, US tariff risks

6 hours ago

MOL AGM approves massive dividend payout, equating to 9% dividend yield

6 hours ago

Bangkok suspends use of four government buildings after earthquake damage

7 hours ago

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Tech

TikTok reports intense fraudulent activity related to elections in Romania

Video sharing network reveals the scale of online manipulation around Romania's cancelled 2024 presidential election, with nearly 100,000 fake accounts blocked.

Tether breaks record, surpasses dollar in Tehran crypto market

Tether cryptocurrency has reached a new record high of IRR 1.04mn, surpassing Ferdowsi Street's hard dollar exchange rate on March 30 as people dump the rial further weakening the national currency.

Kazakhstan has emerged as one of world’s fastest-growing technology hubs, says report

Value of country's startup ecosystem soared to $26bn in 2024, up 18-fold since 2019, says Dealroom.co and Astana Hub analysis.

SplxAI raises €6.45mn backed by Bulgaria-based LAUNCHub

Funding to be used to further develop SplxAI’s platform, which provides automated security testing, remediation and monitoring for AI agents and applications.

Russia's VK Plans to launch a copycat of China's WeChat

Russian tech giant VK, which has recently disclosed significant losses, is planning to introduce a “super-app” in an effort to replicate the functionalities of China’s widely used WeChat app.

TikTok reports intense fraudulent activity related to elections in Romania

7 hours ago

Tether breaks record, surpasses dollar in Tehran crypto market

2 days ago

Kazakhstan has emerged as one of world’s fastest-growing technology hubs, says report

6 days ago

SplxAI raises €6.45mn backed by Bulgaria-based LAUNCHub

6 days ago

Russia's VK Plans to launch a copycat of China's WeChat

6 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

COMMENT: South Caucasus offers a potential diplomatic triumph for Trump

The new US administration wants to become the political team that ends the longstanding conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Emerging Europe risks being “cast adrift” from the West, think-tank warns

Ongoing geopolitical realignment accelerated by Trump’s return to office could plunge Emerging Europe into a cycle of instability and regional conflict, says a paper published by the ECFR.

BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Damp squib

Turkey’s opposition seriously lacks imagination, as it showed today by moving the Free Imamoglu, Give Us Democracy street campaign to the periphery, much to the regime’s delight.

Istanbul under unprecedented siege, says Turkey’s Nobel prize-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk in Guardian op-ed

Notes: “In my 50 years living in Istanbul, I have not seen as many so-called security measures on the streets as I have over the past few days.”

COMMENT: Jailed Istanbul mayor Imamoglu writes op-ed for The New York Times

“Democracy’s fate depends on the courage of those who refuse to remain silent when institutions crumble,” he writes from his prison cell.

COMMENT: South Caucasus offers a potential diplomatic triumph for Trump

1 day ago

Emerging Europe risks being “cast adrift” from the West, think-tank warns

1 day ago

BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Damp squib

3 days ago

Istanbul under unprecedented siege, says Turkey’s Nobel prize-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk in Guardian op-ed

4 days ago

COMMENT: Jailed Istanbul mayor Imamoglu writes op-ed for The New York Times

5 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Myanmar earthquake triggers 264 aftershocks, impacts Thailand

At least 264 aftershocks have been recorded following last week’s powerful earthquake in Myanmar, the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division said on April 2nd.

Polish manufacturers continue in recovery mode in March, latest PMI reading shows

Poland's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) inched up 0.1 points to 50.7 in March, the economic intelligence company S&P Global said on April 1.

Romania’s PMI negative for ninth consecutive month

Despite decline in PMI, Erste analysts say there has been an improvement in the external environment thanks to fiscal stimulus programmes adopted by Romania's trading partners.

Serbia's growth hampered by political unrest in first quarter of 2025

Serbia’s economic growth is projected to slow to around 3% in the first quarter of 2025, as political unrest and ongoing protests continue to disrupt the country, according to a flash estimate cited by President Aleksandar Vucic.

Bosnia’s GDP growth slows to 2.5% y/y in 4Q24

Growth is expected at 2.5-2.6% in 2025 according to Bosnia's central bank and IFI projections.

Myanmar earthquake triggers 264 aftershocks, impacts Thailand

6 hours ago

Polish manufacturers continue in recovery mode in March, latest PMI reading shows

7 hours ago

Romania’s PMI negative for ninth consecutive month

7 hours ago

Serbia's growth hampered by political unrest in first quarter of 2025

19 hours ago

Bosnia’s GDP growth slows to 2.5% y/y in 4Q24

20 hours ago

More Data

Features

EU-Central Asia: Preparing for first-of-its-kind summit aimed at bolstering trade

Caution evident in build-up to gathering.

Revolution, resistance and regime collapse in Damascus

The end of the 54-year rule of Syria’s Assad regime came so quickly that many refused to believe it.

Democracy nosedives as authoritarian grip tightens on Georgia

Brutal police crackdowns on pro-EU street protesters have given way to a targeted campaign of repression seemingly intent on throttling every dimension of the Georgian civil resistance movement.

Putin’s upcoming India visit indicates deeper ties despite global shifts

Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to visit India in the near future, marking his first trip to the South Asian nation since December 2021

What exactly is Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision for the transactional multipolar world?

Did Russian President Vladimir Putin just endorse US President Donald Trump’s plan to annex Greenland? And what exactly is Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision for a multipolar world?

EU-Central Asia: Preparing for first-of-its-kind summit aimed at bolstering trade

22 hours ago

Revolution, resistance and regime collapse in Damascus

1 day ago

Democracy nosedives as authoritarian grip tightens on Georgia

2 days ago

Putin’s upcoming India visit indicates deeper ties despite global shifts

2 days ago

What exactly is Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision for the transactional multipolar world?

2 days ago

More Features

Blogs

ISTANBUL BLOG: Macron calls Erdogan to wish Eid Mubarak to Islamic world

Days earlier, French leader took aim at Turkish government for carrying out "systematic attacks" on freedoms. And referred to some mysterious "democratic path".

ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey deports BBC correspondent over Imamoglu protest reports

Reporter Mark Lowen has talked about press freedom and democracy. His comments in the context of the realities of the Erdogan regime are laughable.

LATAM BLOG: Mass graves and denial in Mexico as families seek justice

The discovery of human remains at Rancho Izaguirre in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, has once again highlighted the brutal violence that dominates parts of Mexico.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Imamoglu protest police knock undercover colleague to ground, attempt to detain him

Main opposition party continues to play the fool, acting like some laws are still in effect in the country.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Make no mistake, if this regime feels threatened it is ready to kill

So far, however, the response mounted by the opposition to the jailing of its challenger Imamoglu to Erdogan has not engendered fear.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Macron calls Erdogan to wish Eid Mubarak to Islamic world

2 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey deports BBC correspondent over Imamoglu protest reports

5 days ago

LATAM BLOG: Mass graves and denial in Mexico as families seek justice

6 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Imamoglu protest police knock undercover colleague to ground, attempt to detain him

6 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Make no mistake, if this regime feels threatened it is ready to kill

9 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

Desertification drives thousands of families from their homes in Iraq’s Dhi Qar

Dhi Qar Province has recorded the highest displacement rate due to desertification and drought in Iraq, with more than 1,000 people officially registered.

Indian solar firm Prozeal Green Energy plans to raise $82mn via IPO

Indian solar EPC company Prozeal Green Energy plans to raise INR7bn ($82mn) through an initial public offering (IPO)

Bosnia hit by flooding after heavy rains

Authorities in Banda Luka and Prijedor declared a state of emergency as they tackle the impact of floods and landslides.

Toxic mine spill in North Macedonia threatens health, food safety

An accident at the Toranica lead-zinc mine leaked heavy metals and cyanide into the Kriva River.

Saudi national afforestation programme to launch digital monitoring platform

Saudi Arabia's National Afforestation Programme will soon launch an electronic platform to monitor projects interactively and provide accurate, real-time reports to officials and stakeholders.

Desertification drives thousands of families from their homes in Iraq’s Dhi Qar

12 minutes ago

Indian solar firm Prozeal Green Energy plans to raise $82mn via IPO

8 hours ago

Bosnia hit by flooding after heavy rains

1 day ago

Toxic mine spill in North Macedonia threatens health, food safety

2 days ago

Saudi national afforestation programme to launch digital monitoring platform

4 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

Newly analysed satellite images show the deployment of at least six nuclear-capable B-2 bombers to Camp Thunder Bay on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Myanmar's military junta attempted to stop a Chinese Red Cross convoy carrying aid for earthquake recovery by firing warning shots, a spokesperson said on April 2.

Thailand’s economic outlook for 2025 is under pressure from earthquake-related losses and the threat of US tariff hikes, with potential financial damage estimated at $820mn and GDP growth at risk of a 1% decline.

Hungary’s MOL has announced plans for a HUF220.4bn (€560mn) dividend payout for 2025, as the oil and gas giant seeks to maintain shareholder returns despite earnings cooling from their 2022 peak.

Thai authorities have ordered the temporary closure of four government buildings in Bangkok due to structural damage caused by last week’s powerful earthquake.

Tech

Video sharing network reveals the scale of online manipulation around Romania's cancelled 2024 presidential election, with nearly 100,000 fake accounts blocked.

Tether cryptocurrency has reached a new record high of IRR 1.04mn, surpassing Ferdowsi Street's hard dollar exchange rate on March 30 as people dump the rial further weakening the national currency.

Value of country's startup ecosystem soared to $26bn in 2024, up 18-fold since 2019, says Dealroom.co and Astana Hub analysis.

Funding to be used to further develop SplxAI’s platform, which provides automated security testing, remediation and monitoring for AI agents and applications.

Russian tech giant VK, which has recently disclosed significant losses, is planning to introduce a “super-app” in an effort to replicate the functionalities of China’s widely used WeChat app.

Opinion

The new US administration wants to become the political team that ends the longstanding conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Ongoing geopolitical realignment accelerated by Trump’s return to office could plunge Emerging Europe into a cycle of instability and regional conflict, says a paper published by the ECFR.

Turkey’s opposition seriously lacks imagination, as it showed today by moving the Free Imamoglu, Give Us Democracy street campaign to the periphery, much to the regime’s delight.

Notes: “In my 50 years living in Istanbul, I have not seen as many so-called security measures on the streets as I have over the past few days.”

“Democracy’s fate depends on the courage of those who refuse to remain silent when institutions crumble,” he writes from his prison cell.

Data

At least 264 aftershocks have been recorded following last week’s powerful earthquake in Myanmar, the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division said on April 2nd.

Poland's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) inched up 0.1 points to 50.7 in March, the economic intelligence company S&P Global said on April 1.

Despite decline in PMI, Erste analysts say there has been an improvement in the external environment thanks to fiscal stimulus programmes adopted by Romania's trading partners.

Serbia’s economic growth is projected to slow to around 3% in the first quarter of 2025, as political unrest and ongoing protests continue to disrupt the country, according to a flash estimate cited by President Aleksandar Vucic.

Growth is expected at 2.5-2.6% in 2025 according to Bosnia's central bank and IFI projections.

Features

Caution evident in build-up to gathering.

The end of the 54-year rule of Syria’s Assad regime came so quickly that many refused to believe it.

Brutal police crackdowns on pro-EU street protesters have given way to a targeted campaign of repression seemingly intent on throttling every dimension of the Georgian civil resistance movement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to visit India in the near future, marking his first trip to the South Asian nation since December 2021

Did Russian President Vladimir Putin just endorse US President Donald Trump’s plan to annex Greenland? And what exactly is Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision for a multipolar world?

Blogs

Days earlier, French leader took aim at Turkish government for carrying out "systematic attacks" on freedoms. And referred to some mysterious "democratic path".

Reporter Mark Lowen has talked about press freedom and democracy. His comments in the context of the realities of the Erdogan regime are laughable.

The discovery of human remains at Rancho Izaguirre in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, has once again highlighted the brutal violence that dominates parts of Mexico.

Main opposition party continues to play the fool, acting like some laws are still in effect in the country.

So far, however, the response mounted by the opposition to the jailing of its challenger Imamoglu to Erdogan has not engendered fear.

bneGREEN

Dhi Qar Province has recorded the highest displacement rate due to desertification and drought in Iraq, with more than 1,000 people officially registered.

Indian solar EPC company Prozeal Green Energy plans to raise INR7bn ($82mn) through an initial public offering (IPO)

Authorities in Banda Luka and Prijedor declared a state of emergency as they tackle the impact of floods and landslides.

An accident at the Toranica lead-zinc mine leaked heavy metals and cyanide into the Kriva River.

Saudi Arabia's National Afforestation Programme will soon launch an electronic platform to monitor projects interactively and provide accurate, real-time reports to officials and stakeholders.

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In this episode of the Emerging Global Podcast, Ruthie Blum, former advisor to the Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan....

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