Europe
Nordic Defense Cooperation to counter Russian threat
The five Nordic defense ministers announced last week the beginning of extensive military cooperation between their countries, arguing that Russia is currently the biggest threat to European security. In a declaration published
Political risk looms over Russian IT sector
Information technology is a rare example of a globally competitive, non-natural resources sector in the Russian economy. Yet, government attention to this industry has led to clumsy regulations and higher political
Book Review: Putin’s Kleptocracy
Anyone interested in the development of capitalism in post-Soviet Russia, Putin’s rise to power, and the nexus between Russian oligarchic business and foreign policy will find this book to be
Limited prospects for EU to diversify natural gas imports
Russia will remain a major supplier of natural gas to the EU as projects to find alternative sources face headwinds from escalating costs and political meddling from Moscow. Whereas Europe
Is London’s insurance market losing its competitive edge?
“It is not that London is terrible in infrastructure and service, it is that the whole industry is terrible.” – European Risk Manager on the insurance industry in London, from
Big Data analytics will transform London insurance market
Evolutionary and revolutionary changes are aligned to restructure the global insurance industry, including the London Market Group. Can LMG and the industry “read the writing on the wall”? In his
Despite Minsk II agreement, fighting continues near Mariupol, Ukraine
In Ukraine, ongoing localized violence along Mariupol periphery highlights risk of conflict expansion via indirect attacks in southern coastal region. Since the enactment of the Minsk II agreements on February 12th
Crimea in painful transition one year after referendum
One year after Russia seized control of Crimea, the peninsula is going through a painful economic transition. The region has lost 76% of investments, and new ones are unlikely to
Will Germany build the next Silicon Valley?
While Germany has the economic and human capital to rival Silicon Valley, it is hindered by its laws and staid investment culture – yet changes are afoot. German Silicon Valley
Sweden-Saudi Arabia diplomatic row intensifies
Saudi Arabia reacted sharply after Sweden’s foreign minister criticised the imprisonment of activist Raif Badawi and the overall human rights situation in the country. Riyadh withdrew its ambassador and cancelled
