Europe's gas crisis is back with a vengeance

A year ago, many market watchers were warning that it was premature to say Europe’s gas crisis was over. Now it seems it is back with a vengeance.

EU sanctions envoy takes on delicate “compliance” issues on visit to Kazakhstan

Given Russian-Kazakh economic integration, Europe cannot hope to stop every illicit shipment from the Central Asian country to Moscow’s war economy, but there are some notable successes.

KSE assumes the war in Ukraine will end this year, lifting growth

Ukraine's economic resilience continues to be tested but if the war ends in 2025, economic growth should rise to 6% per year.

Moscow Exchange, SPBX report record trading volumes in 2024 amid market volatility

Russia’s leading stock exchanges reported record increases in total trading volumes in 2024, which saw a Russian IPO boom that is expected to continue this year.

Will the Nord Steam gas pipelines be turned back on soon?

The idea of restarting Russian gas deliveries to Europe via the damaged Nord Stream 1 & 2 pipelines has been introduced as a possible bargaining chip in the mooted Russo-Ukraine ceasefire talks. If it happens it would solve many of Europe's problems.

Expect no sanctions relief for Russian LNG

Preventing more Russian LNG entering the fast-growing gas markets of Asia over the coming years will help ensure extra US supply has a home.

OUTLOOK Russia 2025

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

No rosy prospects for Russia's IT sector in 2025

When major Western IT vendors left Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many saw it as a window of opportunity for local IT companies that would step in to satisfy the economy's need for tech solutions.

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.