Members of the UN overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions on October 12, with some of Russia’s earlier supporters also joining the motion to censure the move. A total of 143 counties voted in favour of the motion, …
Iran establishment figure breaks with regime’s response to unrest
By bne IntelIiNews Islamic Republic establishment figure Ali Larijani has broken with the uncompromising line shown by the regime towards the month-long protests that have swept Iran by warning that a “rigid response” to the unrest “is not the cure”. L…
Commission recommends EU grant Bosnia candidate status despite slow progress
By Denitsa Koseva in Sofia The European Commission decided on October 12 to recommend that the EU grant Bosnia & Herzegovina candidate status despite its slow progress, in an attempt to strengthen Western influence and weaken the Russian one in the pol…
Czech President Milos Zeman can’t resist a strongman
By Albin Sybera The meeting of Visegrad Group presidents on October 11 marked what is likely to be one of the last major diplomatic meetings of Czech President Milos Zeman before he leaves office in March after completing the maximum allowed two five-y…
Minsk’s “tricks” to circumvent the Western sanctions regime
By bne IntelliNews On Monday, the EU warned Belarus of more sanctions if it chooses to send Belarusian troops into Ukraine. As the sanctions pressure mounts, more private and state actors are looking for loopholes to circumvent them. New trade routes O…
Russia nationalises Nissan plant in St Petersburg, other Japanese carmakers could follow
All of the Russian assets of Japanese carmaker Nissan, including its plant in St. Petersburg, will be taken over by the state, RBC business portal reported citing an announcement from the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The deal will be structured the …
Ukraine’s inflation rises to 24.6% y/y in September
Ukraine’s inflation accelerated to 1.9% in September 2022 month on month from 1.1% in August and 0.7% in July, Ukrstat reported on October 9. A year earlier inflation was 1.3% in September 2021, bringing the year-on-year inflation rate to 24.6% from 23…
PANNIER: Russia’s two centuries of Central Asia dominance are over
By Bruce Pannier The war Russia launched on Ukraine in late February has caused a geopolitical tectonic shift, the shockwaves of which are being felt in many countries around the world. The countries of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan…
Kenyan president aims to facilitate IPOs of up to 10 state firms over coming 12 months
Kenyan President William Ruto has announced plans to sell shares in up to 10 state-owned companies on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) within the next 12 months while acknowledging a number of legal hurdles must first be removed. “In the next 12 m…
Lagos announces new airport to be built in 2023
By Jonny Tickle Work on the long-delayed New Lagos Airport is to begin in 2023, the regional government has revealed. In a post on the Lagos State government’s official Instagram account, it said planning for the project has been completed, and work on…