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
Absent Slovak premier traced to luxury hotel in Vietnam
The war went badly for Ukraine in 2024
Serbia braces for possible US sanctions on Russian-owned oil company NIS
RIDDLE: Is Russia in a stagflation crisis?
CENUSA: Polish EU Presidency puts Russian hybrid threats in the spotlight
MOSCOW BLOG: Putin 25 years in office - has he been a boon or a bane for Russia?
airBaltic CEO and IPO under pressure after flight cancellations
COMMENT: The EU’s Green Deal is a “policy disaster”
Damage of key infrastructure on the seabed of the Baltic raises security concerns, calls for Nato involvement
Telia willing to sell its Latvian operations back to government if price is right
Czech PMI drops to 44.8 amid weakening automotive industry
Czech National Bank keeps interest rates at 4%
The EU Council calls for a European geothermal action plan
PROFILE: Lorinc Meszaros, Hungary's most powerful oligarch
Hungary grants political asylum to fugitive former PiS minister
Polish manufacturers go deeper in downturn mode in December
Slovakia faces cut-off of Russian gas pipeline supplies
Slovakia’s Fico in surprise visit to Putin in Moscow
FDI in Emerging Europe hit by geopolitical uncertainty and German slowdown
Slovenia sets up emergency alert system after devastating floods
Italy eyes restart of Albania migrant processing scheme despite legal hurdles
Albania imposes one-year TikTok ban
Athens conditions support for Albania’s EU accession on protection for Greek minority
BALKAN BLOG: What Grenell’s return means for US diplomacy in the Balkans
International highway tears through Bosnia’s rural heartlands
EU Council says enlargement is a "geo-strategic investment in peace"
Bulgaria heading towards new general election as Gerb ends coalition talks
Sales of superluxury cars in Bulgaria reach new record in 2024
Bulgaria’s interim PM Glavchev refuses to sign 10-year military support deal with Ukraine
Milanovic exploits healthcare scandal in struggle to hold on to Croatian presidency
Incumbent Milanovic to face Primorac in Croatian presidential election runoff
Croatian incumbent Milanovic scores first round presidential election victory, exit polls show
Kosovo bans main Serb party from running in general election
Kosovo's population down 12% since 2011
Kosovo’s president slams EU’s “unfair” treatment
Moldova's breakaway Transnistria region opts for self-imposed energy blockade
Moldova’s separatist Transnistria region hit by blackouts and industrial shutdowns after gas cut off
Russia cuts gas deliveries to Moldova in attempt to undermine political stability
Moldova announces emergency measures as Gazprom to halt gas supplies
Gunman kills 12 in Montenegro mass shooting
Bureks vs. Big Macs
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
Romania's ruling coalition survives elections
Romanian liberals orchestrated Georgescu campaign funding, investigation reveals
Formation of ruling coalition in Romania faces deadlock as Social Democrats suspend talks
Tens of thousands rally in Belgrade demanding accountability over Novi Sad railway station disaster
Bangladesh explores tank purchase from Turkey as India receives request for Hasina’s extradition
Turkey’s 44% y/y official end-2024 inflation release suggests another 250bp rate cut in late January
Turkish manufacturing nearing stabilisation, PMI shows
Russia seeks to expand its nuclear energy dominance with new international projects
Central Asia emerges as new e-commerce hub
Growing Islamic finance in Central Asia to unlock GCC investment
INTERVIEW: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank financing Central Asia’s green future
Former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan faces life in prison
Corruption probe launched into Armenian satellite project
EBRD warns of risks for emerging markets pursuing industrial policies
Putin apologises for Azerbaijan Airlines disaster amid missile speculation
Russian missiles blamed for downing of Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet
Did Russia shoot down the Azal passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan?
OSCE PA president cancels trip to Tbilisi amid huge backlash
Georgian workers to hold countrywide strike demanding new elections
Georgia’s outgoing President Zourabichvili to leave presidency, join protesters
Georgians gather outside presidency ahead of Kavelashvili’s disputed inauguration
PMI registers record acceleration in Kazakh manufacturing growth in December
Iran gains observer status in Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union
Kyrgyzstan’s President Japarov demotes liberal democracy in favour of a “traditionalist” ideology
Adylbek Kasymaliev appointed new chief of Kyrgyzstan’s cabinet ministers, predecessor dismissed amid tax corruption scandal
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
World Bank approves $350mn as Tajikistan bids to fund completion of $6.3bn Rogun mega hydro project
Tajikistan: Officials announce discovery of major rare earth deposits
PANNIER: Why the Turkmenistan, Iran gas “friendship” is back on
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
Sanctioned Russian cargo ship sinks in Mediterranean after explosion
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
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
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Malaysia seeks BRICS membership
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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
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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
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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
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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
BRICS bank chief touts Uruguay membership in Montevideo talks
Iran central bank blocks crypto payments amid industry backlash
Turkey, Syria tandem could mean piped Qatari gas for Europe and a supercharged Middle East clean energy transition
South Korea’s won slides as martial law crisis sparks market turmoil
China unveils $71bn swap facility to revitalise flagging economy
Controversial 10-GW hydropower project in Tibet greenlit by Beijing
Taiwanese semiconductor maker expresses interest in Canadian LNG
Nozomi Energy snaps up major solar portfolio in Japan
Balancing growth and sustainability: Southeast Asia’s energy dilemma
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
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Russia sells stakes in Kazakhstan uranium JVs to China
Iraq blocks IMDb website over 'immoral content' claims
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Lebanon seizes alleged Iranian cash transfer to Hezbollah from diplomat
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Iraq halts oil exports to Syria amid regional instability
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Israel's Mossad chief calls for direct Iran strike after missile hits Tel Aviv
PODCAST: Emerging Global's Mathew Cohen talks with Ruthie Blum
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Iranian ambassador claims US sets conditions on Syrian-Iranian relations
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Qatar joins regional powers in Damascus diplomatic outreach
COMMENT: A stable Syria could become a major energy hub
Iran's former foreign minister proposes new MWADA regional security framework
Germany ignored multiple warnings by Saudi Arabia before Magdeburg attack
Syrian think tank plans new crypto-backed pound
French and German Foreign Ministers meet Syria's new leader al-Sharaa
ISTANBUL BLOG: After “conquering” Damascus, Erdogan turns his eye to the Kurds
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
Argentina announces ambitious nuclear programme linked to AI development
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IMF: Breaking Latin America’s cycle of low growth and violence
COMMENT: Trump’s White House picks signal rocky start with Latin America
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Geothermal energy poised for major global expansion, says IEA chief Fatih Birol
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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
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Polar vortex brings Arctic weather to eastern US
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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
India’s space research agency launches innovative payload
BRICS expands membership, adding Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand
ING: India is likely to remain the region's fastest growing country in 2025
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BYD sales soar signalling a shift in global EV market dynamics
Japan targets US Steel takeover ahead of Trump inauguration
Iran announces withdrawal from Japan’s Expo 2025
BCPG to invest $945mn in power projects, prioritising clean energy
Almost two-thirds of Malaysians favourable towards China
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 Korea’s missile support to Russia raises alarms at UN
North Korean troops face heavy losses in Russia-Ukraine War as conflict intensifies
North Korean troops suffer casualties in Ukraine conflict
South Korea intensifies military drills to bolster defences against North Korean drone threat
Russia’s arms exports slump, Kremlin preparing for possible war with Nato
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
Extreme weather surges in 2024
Asia’s shipbuilding renaissance: record orders and rising prices
Where does nuclear power-use stand in post-COP29 Asia?
Korean authorities fail to arrest suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol
Seoul court issues arrest warrant for suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol
South Korea in mourning as Jeju Air crash investigators look for answers
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports in October up 18.22%
Blinken warns Taiwan crisis could trigger global economic turmoil
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
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Sparkling wine production in Russia increased by 28% year-on-year (y/y)in 9M24 to 11.15 decaliters, Tass reported citing the data by the Federal Service for Control over Alcohol and Tobacco Markets (Rosalkogoltabakkontrol).
As reported in detail by bne IntelliNews, once known for their vodka affinity, rising incomes and changing consumer preferences have caused Russians to increasingly embrace wine as their alcoholic beverage of choice.
State subsidies and a complex geopolitical climate have moved domestic producers to the forefront, but a turbulent history and concurrent antialcohol campaign are hindering their potential. Russia’s $3bn domestic wine industry is projected to see an explosion in the coming years.
In 9M24 grape wine production increased by 8% y/y to 24mn decaliters. Vodka distillation inched up by 1.6% to 55.74mn decaliters, brandy production added 17% to 6,900 decaliters. The output of low-alcohol beverages plummeted by 40.5% to 9.3mn decaliters.
Overall, Russia produced 132.8mn decaliters of alcoholic beverages in 9M24 (not accounting for beer, beer-based beverages, cider, perry and mead) up by 0.6% y/y. Distillation of alcoholic beverages with the strength above 9% increased by 7.5% y/y to 82mn decaliters.
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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