Latest Updates

Lukashenko's plans to acquire Russian military equipment

During a meeting with Russia’s defence minister Sergey Shoigu yesterday, Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus was planning to acquire the Russian military equipment in the near future, so how may he do this?

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CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Making sense of Kazakhstan’s ‘bloody January’ — Part 1

How was it that largely peaceful protests across the country descended into mob violence? The details don’t yet add up.

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Russian ‘soft influence’ in Serbia fuels media war against Ukraine

Russian officials are adept at tapping into the Serbian psyche with appeals to patriotism, religion and the loss of Kosovo, resulting in sympathetic treatment in almost all Serbian media.

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Russia expands China ties with new gas deal

Russia’s national gas company Gazprom announced on February 4 that it had agreed on the annual sale of 10 bcm per year of natural gas to China’s CNPC over a 30-year period.

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Hungarian opposition plans to repeal Orban's 'unconstitutional' laws, says Marki-Zay

Prime ministerial candidate says opposition does not need a two-thirds majority to declare current constitutional laws invalid.

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ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey awakes to inflation at 115%

Turks generally don’t, but you can alternatively choose to believe the official inflation figure of 49%. Cute.

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Montenegro’s doomed coalition is falling apart

Montenegro is heading towards its deepest political crisis of recent years as the no-confidence vote in Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic’s government approaches on February 4.

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Withdrawal of pandemic support could create ‘perfect storm’ for corporate distress

EBRD research finds wide variations in how supportive the legal rescue framework is across emerging Europe, with EU members plus Kosovo having the most progressive legislation.

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RIMMER: War in Ukraine? Take it seriously, but not literally

The Russian president likes to set the geopolitical weather and his preferred setting on the barometer needle is ‘stormy’.

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ECHR finds against Poland in rule of law case that could lead to wave of civil appeals

Poland and Czechia strike deal on compensation for Turow mine expansion

Czech central bank once again hikes interest rates significantly

ECHR finds against Poland in rule of law case that could lead to wave of civil appeals

Poland ruled to have violated a company’s right to fair court proceedings by putting unlawfully appointed judges on a Supreme Court panel that reviewed the company’s case.

Poland and Czechia strike deal on compensation for Turow mine expansion

Poland agreed to pay Czechia a total of €45mn in compensation, build infrastructure to stop drainage of water as well as work towards reducing air pollution and noise.

Czech central bank once again hikes interest rates significantly

CNB increases the two-week repo rate by 0.75 percentage points.

News

USA claims Russia planning false flag operation

The USA has accused Russia of planning to stage a mock video depicting a Ukrainian attack in order to justify an invasion of Ukraine. The Pentagon was unable to provide evidence supporting its assertion, arguing that it had to protect its sources.

Macron discusses Donbas with Putin and Zelenskiy in French diplomacy drive

In his latest efforts to adopt the position of mediator in the attempts to negotiate peace in Ukraine, President Macron has called his Ukrainian and Russian counterparts.

US introduces new sanctions on Belarus

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced that individuals involved in “extraterritorial counter-dissident activities” will be banned from receiving American visas.

Russian S-400 air defence missile systems arrive in Belarus

State official Belarusian and Russian news sources report Russian S-400 air defence missile systems arriving in Belarus.

Ukraine accepts Turkey’s offer to host peace talks with Russia

Turkey is the latest country to express support for Ukraine after President Erodgan spent four hours discussing trade and defence agreements with President Zelenskiy during his visit to Kyiv on February 3.

USA claims Russia planning false flag operation

2 hours ago

Macron discusses Donbas with Putin and Zelenskiy in French diplomacy drive

3 hours ago

US introduces new sanctions on Belarus

3 hours ago

Russian S-400 air defence missile systems arrive in Belarus

2 days ago

Ukraine accepts Turkey’s offer to host peace talks with Russia

2 days ago

More News

Tech

Celebrities and politicians post videos to support folk-dancing Kosovan teacher

Ruling party MP's call for Lulzim Paci to be sacked over TikTok folk dance videos sparked a backlash.

Turkey’s Bitci to launch crypto exchange in Brazil

Company also aims to double its number of sports fan tokens by the end of the year.

Kazakhstan: Fintech revolution runs up against taxman’s demands

Central Asian nation is a regional leader in mobile banking. Could tax reforms derail this unusual success story?

Cyberattacks shut down Albanian online media

Media outlets say they wee targeted after they published a recording of Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj’s expletive-laden tirade against the Albanian Football Federation.

Croatian farm management software company AGRIVI opens office in US

Croatian company aims to strengthen its global position in farm management software.

Celebrities and politicians post videos to support folk-dancing Kosovan teacher

3 days ago

Turkey’s Bitci to launch crypto exchange in Brazil

4 days ago

Kazakhstan: Fintech revolution runs up against taxman’s demands

4 days ago

Cyberattacks shut down Albanian online media

7 days ago

Croatian farm management software company AGRIVI opens office in US

8 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

Ukraine – no war today, and probably none in future

The Ukraine Crisis is approaching its first birthday – since Russian troop movements north of the Ukrainian border in April 2021 there has been a long and strident chorus of invasion alarums.

Romanian savings and loans during the pandemic: Two years on (and still counting)

Savings have increased by a respectable amount since the start of the pandemic, while borrowing began to pick up in 2021.

RAGOZIN: Zelenskiy swimming in the shark infested waters of friends and foes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is swimming in waters infested with the sharks of geopolitics where everyone has a view on Ukraine, but don't always ask his opinion. And he is trying to keep his head above the surface.

NEMETHY: Is monetary tightening the cure for inflation?

The US Fed has not increased interest rates, just talked of increasing rates – not even by that much — and global stock exchanges lost $4.2 trillion in week. How can the Fed kill off the current high inflation without crashing the economy?

ASH: Russia escalation cost/benefit

Putin has moved to escalate tensions with Ukraine, putting a huge and unprecedented Russian military force on its Western border and also launching a concerted “coercive” diplomatic effort to sketch out new red lines for Nato.

Ukraine – no war today, and probably none in future

7 days ago

Romanian savings and loans during the pandemic: Two years on (and still counting)

8 days ago

RAGOZIN: Zelenskiy swimming in the shark infested waters of friends and foes

10 days ago

NEMETHY: Is monetary tightening the cure for inflation?

11 days ago

ASH: Russia escalation cost/benefit

13 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Headline inflation in Georgia stays high at 13.9% y/y in January

Core inflation reaches 5.6% y/y.

Romania’s retail sales mark new record, but “revenge shopping” is over

Romania’s retail sales increased by 10.1% y/y in 2021 and by 12.6% compared to 2019, but the big picture shows signs of fatigue and decreasing propensity for consumption among households as inflation rises.

Georgia’s central bank successful in de-dollarisation, responsible lending, says World Bank

Development of capital markets is seen as a target to be pursued in the future.

Headline PMI shows state of emergency amid unrest hit Kazakhstan's manufacturing industry

Index dropped to 43.9 in January from 48.9 in December. Sharp reductions in output and new orders.

Romania’s foreign exchange reserves up 8.2% in December-January

The increase in January was driven by transfers from the European Commission under the Resilience Facility and the $2.1bn net proceeds from two Eurobonds issued during the month.

Headline inflation in Georgia stays high at 13.9% y/y in January

2 days ago

Romania’s retail sales mark new record, but “revenge shopping” is over

2 days ago

Georgia’s central bank successful in de-dollarisation, responsible lending, says World Bank

4 days ago

Headline PMI shows state of emergency amid unrest hit Kazakhstan's manufacturing industry

4 days ago

Romania’s foreign exchange reserves up 8.2% in December-January

4 days ago

More Data

Features

Kazakhstan promises to smash smuggling rings on Chinese border

The corruption has long been common knowledge.

EU’s waste shipment regulations put steel plant in separatist Transnistria at risk

European companies have frozen deliveries of raw material to the Ribnita steel plant in the Moldovan separatist republic.

NEO: Russia’s Melon Fashion Group turns quarter of employees into shareholders

Russian fashion retailer will give shareholder status to nearly a quarter of its employees as part of a long-term incentive programme, according to a company announcement.

Crisis highlights weaknesses of North Macedonia’s energy system

The global energy crisis that hit North Macedonia has forced the country to import high-priced electricity from international markets, due to the lack of domestic production.

What’s behind the military build-up in Belarus?

Minsk's internal and external political aims are probably hiding behind the military build-up in Belarus.

Kazakhstan promises to smash smuggling rings on Chinese border

2 days ago

EU’s waste shipment regulations put steel plant in separatist Transnistria at risk

3 days ago

NEO: Russia’s Melon Fashion Group turns quarter of employees into shareholders

3 days ago

Crisis highlights weaknesses of North Macedonia’s energy system

5 days ago

What’s behind the military build-up in Belarus?

5 days ago

More Features

Blogs

Turkmenistan: A strong and stably economy

As the president readies the public for yet another year of shortages, he has taken money from an economic stabilisation fund to breed more horses. This and more in our weekly briefing.

BALKAN BLOG: Cancelled $2.4bn Rio Tinto project linked to Djokovic deportation

The Serbian government revoked licences for Rio Tinto’s massive lithium project just days after Australia deported Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic. But the reasons for cancelling the project have more to do with domestic politics.

MOSCOW BLOG: Nato showdown – Geneva III

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have just sat down for the third meeting in Geneva for what is probably the last round of meetings in the first phase of the Ukraine crisis.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan holds rates. Don’t get excited

The devil remains in the detail. Regime is not simply weak in the economics, it is also cold to the accounting.

BALKAN BLOG: Attempt to storm Bulgarian parliament by self-styled ‘nazguls’ inspires memes and mockery

Far-right anti-vaxxer party whose MPs got the jab gets social media pasting.

Turkmenistan: A strong and stably economy

12 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: Cancelled $2.4bn Rio Tinto project linked to Djokovic deportation

12 days ago

MOSCOW BLOG: Nato showdown – Geneva III

16 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan holds rates. Don’t get excited

17 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: Attempt to storm Bulgarian parliament by self-styled ‘nazguls’ inspires memes and mockery

22 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

bneGREEN: Gas and nuclear to be included in EU green taxonomy

EU has included gas and nuclear in the EU green taxonomy but denied that it was in fact promoting greenwashing.

bneGREEN: Meeting 1.5 °C could cost $75 trillion by 2050

Limiting global warming to 1.5 °C could reduce global GDP by 2%, or $75 trillion, by 2050 as spending must increase to accelerate the energy transition.

BioSense and NASA team up to help Serbia's agriculture sector adapt to climate change

Project intended to help Serbian agriculture cope with climate change and use water resources and land as rationally as possible.

Major Croatian energy companies turn to renewables

Oil and gas group INA and state oil pipeline operator Janaf have announced new commitments to renewable energy generation as the green transition gets underway in the country.

bneGREEN: Usmanov pushes sustainable copper for cleantech

Future demand for copper will increase greatly as new, greener technologies make use of the metal's unique properties. In an article published by the World Economic Forum, billionaire Alisher Usmanov made the case for increased investment in copper.

bneGREEN: Gas and nuclear to be included in EU green taxonomy

2 days ago

bneGREEN: Meeting 1.5 °C could cost $75 trillion by 2050

10 days ago

BioSense and NASA team up to help Serbia's agriculture sector adapt to climate change

11 days ago

Major Croatian energy companies turn to renewables

14 days ago

bneGREEN: Usmanov pushes sustainable copper for cleantech

17 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

The USA has accused Russia of planning to stage a mock video depicting a Ukrainian attack in order to justify an invasion of Ukraine. The Pentagon was unable to provide evidence supporting its assertion, arguing that it had to protect its sources.

In his latest efforts to adopt the position of mediator in the attempts to negotiate peace in Ukraine, President Macron has called his Ukrainian and Russian counterparts.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced that individuals involved in “extraterritorial counter-dissident activities” will be banned from receiving American visas.

State official Belarusian and Russian news sources report Russian S-400 air defence missile systems arriving in Belarus.

Turkey is the latest country to express support for Ukraine after President Erodgan spent four hours discussing trade and defence agreements with President Zelenskiy during his visit to Kyiv on February 3.

Tech

Ruling party MP's call for Lulzim Paci to be sacked over TikTok folk dance videos sparked a backlash.

Company also aims to double its number of sports fan tokens by the end of the year.

Central Asian nation is a regional leader in mobile banking. Could tax reforms derail this unusual success story?

Media outlets say they wee targeted after they published a recording of Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj’s expletive-laden tirade against the Albanian Football Federation.

Croatian company aims to strengthen its global position in farm management software.

Opinion

The Ukraine Crisis is approaching its first birthday – since Russian troop movements north of the Ukrainian border in April 2021 there has been a long and strident chorus of invasion alarums.

Savings have increased by a respectable amount since the start of the pandemic, while borrowing began to pick up in 2021.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is swimming in waters infested with the sharks of geopolitics where everyone has a view on Ukraine, but don't always ask his opinion. And he is trying to keep his head above the surface.

The US Fed has not increased interest rates, just talked of increasing rates – not even by that much — and global stock exchanges lost $4.2 trillion in week. How can the Fed kill off the current high inflation without crashing the economy?

Putin has moved to escalate tensions with Ukraine, putting a huge and unprecedented Russian military force on its Western border and also launching a concerted “coercive” diplomatic effort to sketch out new red lines for Nato.

Data

Core inflation reaches 5.6% y/y.

Romania’s retail sales increased by 10.1% y/y in 2021 and by 12.6% compared to 2019, but the big picture shows signs of fatigue and decreasing propensity for consumption among households as inflation rises.

Development of capital markets is seen as a target to be pursued in the future.

Index dropped to 43.9 in January from 48.9 in December. Sharp reductions in output and new orders.

The increase in January was driven by transfers from the European Commission under the Resilience Facility and the $2.1bn net proceeds from two Eurobonds issued during the month.

Features

The corruption has long been common knowledge.

European companies have frozen deliveries of raw material to the Ribnita steel plant in the Moldovan separatist republic.

Russian fashion retailer will give shareholder status to nearly a quarter of its employees as part of a long-term incentive programme, according to a company announcement.

The global energy crisis that hit North Macedonia has forced the country to import high-priced electricity from international markets, due to the lack of domestic production.

Minsk's internal and external political aims are probably hiding behind the military build-up in Belarus.

Blogs

As the president readies the public for yet another year of shortages, he has taken money from an economic stabilisation fund to breed more horses. This and more in our weekly briefing.

The Serbian government revoked licences for Rio Tinto’s massive lithium project just days after Australia deported Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic. But the reasons for cancelling the project have more to do with domestic politics.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have just sat down for the third meeting in Geneva for what is probably the last round of meetings in the first phase of the Ukraine crisis.

The devil remains in the detail. Regime is not simply weak in the economics, it is also cold to the accounting.

Far-right anti-vaxxer party whose MPs got the jab gets social media pasting.

bneGREEN

EU has included gas and nuclear in the EU green taxonomy but denied that it was in fact promoting greenwashing.

Limiting global warming to 1.5 °C could reduce global GDP by 2%, or $75 trillion, by 2050 as spending must increase to accelerate the energy transition.

Project intended to help Serbian agriculture cope with climate change and use water resources and land as rationally as possible.

Oil and gas group INA and state oil pipeline operator Janaf have announced new commitments to renewable energy generation as the green transition gets underway in the country.

Future demand for copper will increase greatly as new, greener technologies make use of the metal's unique properties. In an article published by the World Economic Forum, billionaire Alisher Usmanov made the case for increased investment in copper.

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