Russian President Vladimir Putin is pulling his punches in the bombing campaign of Ukraine’s power system. The country is plagued by rolling blackouts after Russia destroyed half of its generation capacity, but Russia could turn out the lights overnight and plunge the whole county into total darkne»»»

Russia’s federal budget deficit reached RUB4.3 trillion ($47.6bn), or 2% of GDP, in the first 11 months of 2025, according to the latest government data published last week. The shortfall is expected to grow to RUB5.7 trillion ($63.1bn), or 2.6% of GDP, by year-end, the Finance Ministry said. »»»

Russia's federal budget will remain in deficit through at least 2042, according to a long-term forecast from the Ministry of Economic Development, reviewed by Vedomosti on December 16, as falling oil and gas revenues, rising debt, and persistent war-related spending push public finances f»»»

Russia’s annual inflation rate fell to 6.6% in November, down from 7.7% in October, according to a commentary published by the Bank of Russia on December 12. The central bank said the decline was driven by easing food and energy prices, although underlying inflation pressures remain elevated. »»»

The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) resolved to cut the key interest rate by 50 basis points (bp) to 16% at the policy board meeting on December 19, according to the regulator's press release. A cautious key interes»»»

Ahead of the European Council meeting on 18-19 December, KSE Institute, together with the Centre for Liberal Modernity (LibMod) and a group of international legal and economic experts, has released a new legal analysis of the reparations loan for Ukraine — a Europ»»»

An Emirati national in Abu Dhabi is joyfully celebrating a stroke of luck after winning Dh100,000 in Big Ticket’s weekly e-draw. Ali Al Kaabi hit the cash prize with ticket number 260840, and his excitement was palpable when show host Richard called with the good news. “Yes, with you. I have been w»»»

The Santa Claus float makes its way down the parade route during the 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Thursday, November 27, 2025. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Americans are not in a jolly mood when it comes to spending for the holidays,»»»

Mark Zuckerberg-controlled Meta Platforms immediately must stop giving preference to Meta AI on the WhatsApp platform and enable competing AI services to access it, Italian regulators ordered on Wednesday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Italy's antitrust authority ac»»»

Tunis, Dec 24 (TAP) - A total of 202 tonnes of e-waste recovered from the Borj Chekir landfill had been treated by November 30, 2025, according to data presented Wednesday at a working session chaired by Environment Minister Habib Abid, focused...»»»

Rabat: Captain Riyad Mahrez scored in each half as 2019 Champions Algeria eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday. Mahrez got the opener after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans who made up the vast majority of the 16,115»»»

E-commerce sales in Saudi Arabia via "mada" cards soared to an all-time monthly high in October 2025, surpassing SAR30.7 billion. The surge in sales represents a 68% year-on-year increase, totaling about SAR12.4 billion more than the SAR18.3 billion recorded in October 2024, according to the Saudi »»»

China is expanding its digital yuan, or e-CNY, into ASEAN trade routes. Recent People’s Bank of China (PBOC) pledges include cross-border pilots with Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, all tied to the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. This builds on 2020 pilots, current»»»

MANSCAPED, the global men’s grooming company known for redefining modern self-care, has officially appointed Dubai-based Monster Middle East (MME) as its exclusive distributor for the GCC. The partnership marks MANSCAPED’s entry into physical retail in the region and establishes the United Arab Emi»»»

Dubai: e& UAE has rolled out a major upgrade to its live 5.5G mobile network by deploying four-carrier aggregation on commercially available smartphones. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.What is four-carrier aggregation? It is a mobile network technology that enables yo»»»

The Governor of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL), Naji Issa, has authorised banks, exchange companies, and offices to begin taking the necessary steps to activate the operational mechanism for implementing rapid money transfers through the MoneyGram and Western Union systems, in accordance with the »»»

Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed details of the latest US-led plan to end the war in Ukraine, saying it had been agreed between negotiators from Kyiv and Washington and sent to Moscow for feedback. The document will be supplemented by additional bilateral agreement»»»

Dubai: British buyers arriving in the UAE property market often bring expectations shaped by the UK’s predictable mortgage system, slower price cycles and uniform ownership structures. Those assumptions can lead to costly mistakes when they try to move quickly in a market that functions differently»»»

Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of the Congo H E Therese Kayikwamba Wagner received a copy of the credentials of H E Hamad bin Dhaen Al Kuwari as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to the Democratic R»»»

Doha, Qatar: Director General of the Katara Cultural Village Foundation Prof Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti yesterday inaugurated the mural “Rawda in the Comfort of the South” on the facade of Building 46 in Katara Cultural Village. The inauguration was attended by Ambassador of the Kingdom of S»»»

Baku: The State of Qatar has taken part in an international conference in Azerbaijan focused on protecting children from harmful content in the digital environment, as concerns grow globally over online risks facing young people. The conference was held in the capital, Baku, and brought together of»»»

Doha: Speaker of the Shura Council H E Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim has affirmed Qatar’s strong commitment to supporting parliamentary work at both the regional and international levels, and its continued keenness to provide effective platforms for dialogue, consultation, and the exchange of exper»»»

Tashkent Interdistrict Economic Court has declared fintech company Humans LLC bankrupt. The move was made at the request of Octobank. Liquidation proceedings have been initiated. The court order permits the consu»»»

Panoro Energy ASA has named longtime Perenco executive Eric d’Argentré as its new chief operating officer and president. The appointment comes as the independent Africa-focused exploration and production (E&P) company seeks to build on recent output gains and advance upcoming development projec»»»

Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner has announced February 12 2026 as the date for the country’s upcoming polls. The polls will see elected representatives take over office from the interim government which has ruled the country ever since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh »»»

Brussels is set to hold a decisive vote on its trade agreement with Mercosur this week, as France lobbies for a postponement and the outcome hangs in the balance, according to Denmark, which holds the EU's rotating presidency. »»»

Brussels is set to hold a decisive vote on its trade agreement with Mercosur this week, as France lobbies for a postponement and the outcome hangs in the balance, according to Denmark, which holds the EU's rotating presidency. »»»

The long-negotiated EU-Mercosur agreement, which would establish a free-trade area encompassing nearly 800mn people, is set to enter a decisive phase amid French opposition and broader tensions within the South American bloc. »»»

India’s latest wave of tech and consumer internet listings has drawn strong interest from domestic retail investors, with several newly listed companies delivering sharp gains. As Barron’s highlights, shares of education technology pioneer PhysicsWallah(NSE: PWL) jumped by a third after its debut r»»»

India is witnessing an acceleration in data centre investments as the country’s largest business groups and global technology players ramp up capacity to support the next phase of digital growth. From cloud computing and artificial intelligence to 5G-enabled applications, demand for reliable, large»»»

India is witnessing an acceleration in data centre investments as the country’s largest business groups and global technology players ramp up capacity to support the next phase of digital growth. From cloud computing and artificial intelligence to 5G-enabled applications, demand for reliable, large»»»

India is witnessing an acceleration in data centre investments as the country’s largest business groups and global technology players ramp up capacity to support the next phase of digital growth. From cloud computing and artificial intelligence to 5G-enabled applications, demand for reliable, large»»»

India’s credit card spending soared to a record in September 2025, marking a 23% year-on-year rise and a 13% sequential increase—the highest level in five years—according to CareEdge. The surge was fuelled by bank-led festive promotions, increased consumer appetite for discretionary spending, and t»»»

India’s credit card spending soared to a record in September 2025, marking a 23% year-on-year rise and a 13% sequential increase—the highest level in five years—according to CareEdge. The surge was fuelled by bank-led festive promotions, increased consumer appetite for discretionary spending, and t»»»

Bangladesh’s transition toward a cashless economy presents what the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) describes as a dual reality, marked by both clear opportunity and persistent structural constraints. While digital infrastructure, fintech innovation and smartphone pene»»»

Sosthène Nguema Nguema, Gabon’s recently appointed Minister of Oil and Gas, has launched a strong drive to attract investment in deepwater oil and gas exploration. The minister was appointed by President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema on May 5, following the formation of the first government of Gabon»»»

Panoro Energy ASA has named longtime Perenco executive Eric d’Argentré as its new chief operating officer and president. The appointment comes as the independent Africa-focused exploration and production (E&P) company seeks to build on recent output gains and advance upcoming development projec»»»

Famines are still a major global problem. From 2020 to 2023 alone, they caused over a million deaths, Our World in Data  (OWID) reports. Yet the long-term trend shows significant progress. In the late 1800s »»»

Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) provided crucial data on health, mortality, and development in many lower- and middle-income countries. They were primarily funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), reports Our World in Data  (OWID). The DHS brought crucial data f»»»

Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) provided crucial data on health, mortality, and development in many lower- and middle-income countries. They were primarily funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), reports Our World in Data  (OWID). The DHS brought crucial data f»»»

Angolan integrated energy company Etu Energias has signed a structured financing agreement with Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) and TotalEnergies Trading SA (TOTSA) to fund capital expenditure for the Block 17/06 offshore oil project, the company announced during the Africa Energy Week 2025 co»»»

Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) provided crucial data on health, mortality, and development in many lower- and middle-income countries. They were primarily funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), reports Our World in Data  (OWID). The DHS brought crucial data f»»»

The Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), which serves the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), has reached a record market capitalisation, reflecting rising investor activity and improving confidence in the region’s capital markets. »»»

The Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), which serves the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), has reached a record market capitalisation, reflecting rising investor activity and improving confidence in the region’s capital markets. »»»

The Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), which serves the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), has reached a record market capitalisation, reflecting rising investor activity and improving confidence in the region’s capital markets. »»»

The Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), which serves the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), has reached a record market capitalisation, reflecting rising investor activity and improving confidence in the region’s capital markets. »»»

The Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), which serves the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), has reached a record market capitalisation, reflecting rising investor activity and improving confidence in the region’s capital markets. »»»

The Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), which serves the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), has reached a record market capitalisation, reflecting rising investor activity and improving confidence in the region’s capital markets. »»»

China-Central Asia Monitor: Nov. 24-30, 2025.  Central Asia China’s trade with Central Asian states grew significantly during the first 10 months of 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, according to»»»

Kosovo’s harmonised consumer price index (HICP) rose by 5.3% in November 2025 compared with the same month in 2024, slightly above the 5.1% y/y increase recorded in October (chart), the Statistics Agency said on December 10. On a monthly basis, prices were up 0.4%. »»»