News
Slovenians back Koper-Divaca railway expansion in referendum
Slim majority backs €1bn project to expand line from Slovenian port of Koper in referendum seen as acid test of Prime Minister Miro Cerar's popularity ahead of 2018 general elect
Romania’s DNA starts criminal investigation into deputy prime minister
Sevil Shhaideh, a close ally of the leader of Romania's ruling PSD, is being probed over allegedly illegal land transfers, while the DNA has asked parliament's permission to also investigate European Funds Minister Rovana Plumb.
Central and Eastern Europe lags the world in social capital
The region has made little progress over the past decade in improving trust and civic engagement, says Legatum Institute.
Violence breaks out as Erdogan's New York hotel speech is interrupted by hecklers
Protesters punched by suited men and dragged from venue, but US State Department says that according to its present knowledge no security personnel of the Turkish president were involved.
Binbank owner can sell its share for RUB1, expected to repay RUB350bn
Russia’s Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has started work on cleaning up the ailing Binbank (also known as B&N Bank) and the lender's main owner is ready to sell his share for RUB1 as well as repay losses of up to RUB350bn ($6bn).
Russia's Alrosa boasts biggest pink diamond of all time
Russian uncut diamond major Alrosa mined a 27.85 carat pink diamond, the company said on August 21. The diamond is nearly seven times biggest than the previous record holder which had a weight of 3.86 carats.
US prosecutors say Sweden's Telia agrees $1bn Uzbek telecoms bribery settlement
New York-traded company and Uzbek subsidiary Coscom corruptly built lucrative business in Uzbekistan by making illicit payments to government official.
Moldova’s Liberal Party starts procedures to impeach president
Opposition Liberals accuse pro-Russian President Dodon of violating the constitution, but are unlikely to gain support from enough MPs to force a vote on impeachment.
Slovenians prepare to vote in referendum on Koper-Divaca railway expansion
Vote on Slovenia’s largest infrastructure project seen as indicator of PM Miro Cerar’s popularity ahead of 2018 general election.
Russian oligarch Prokhorov sells Snob, his last media asset
The Oneksim group that belongs to Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov sold 100% of Snob Media publisher to the head of the group Maria Gevorkyan, according to September 21 announcement.
Kazakhstan’s new stock exchange set for “test run” in December
Set in an free economic zone subject to English common law, the bourse in the capital will hope to do far better than the country's first exchange in largest Kazakh city Almaty.
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Row over Nazarbayev's “meddling” in Kyrgyz election worsens
Angry statement from Kyrgyzstan's foreign ministry accuses Kazakh president on interfering in country's internal affairs.
Makpetrol to seek redress over “unlawful” handling of hostile takeover bid
The owner of Macedonia’s largest fuel retailer says it suffered substantial damages after regulators failed to reject takeover bid by murky London-registered company.
Rouhani slams Trump UN speech as “ignorant, absurd and hateful”
Don’t let this “rogue newcomer to politics” destroy nuclear deal praised by all other major powers, says Iranian president.
Russia's Binbank asks central bank for help
Another “Garden Ring” bank may be about to go to the wall after the Central Bank of Russia said that leading commercial lender B&N Bank has asked for a bailout.
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Trump gives no quarter on Iran nuclear deal in bellicose UN address
Efforts led by France to convince US president of success of agreement with Tehran to no avail, Iranians condemn Trump for “ignorant hate speech that belongs in medieval times”.
Bulgaria turns to Russia to repair MiGs amid dispute over new fighter jet purchase
Bulgarian defence minister will start talks with Russian company on the repair of Soviet-made MiG-29s as officials in the Nato member state continue to squabble over plans to buy new fighter jets.
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New species discovered on Albania’s Vjosa give ammunition to campaign against hydroelectric plants
Two entirely new species — a fish and a stonefly — have been discovered along the river, on which a hydroelectric plant is planned.
Russia's MinFin confidently cuts domestic borrowing plan for 2018-2019 on bank of good economic performance
Russia’s economic recovery is going better than expected – so well that Russia's finance ministry has cut the net domestic borrowing programme from RUB1.05 trillion (€15bn) annually to RUB0.87 trillion, according to the draft federal budget
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Russian budget sees little if any privatisation revenues
The new Russian three-year 2018-2020 federal budget currently being drafted by the government has less than RUB10bn ($172mn) per year worth of privatisation revenues planned, Interfax said on September 18 citing the Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.