Latest Updates

MITTELEUROPEAN INSIGHTS: Hungary's surprise debt issuance demonstrates the EU's financial whip is not working

Hungary's big return to the international bond market shows it is expecting a lengthy spat with the EU but it also makes financial sense.

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BALKAN BLOG: Bulgaria’s Harvard-educated saviours-in-waiting

The interim government’s success in rooting out corruption turned its ministers into national heroes. Now two of the top technocrats are running for parliament.

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LONG READ: Russia's hybrid Duma elections

Russia goes to the polls this weekend to vote in a new Duma. There is little doubt that the ruling United Russia will win a majority. The elections are fixed. But in many regions the elections are fair and those are the smart voting targets.

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bneGREEN: Global coal plans collapse by 76%

The global pipeline of proposed coal power plants has collapsed by 76% since the Paris Agreement in 2015, bringing the end of new coal power construction into sight, new research by green think-tank E3G finds.

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SPB Exchange driving Russia's retail equity investment revolution

Russia is going through a retail investment revolution. Plunging interest rates at bank deposits – long the favoured store of wealth for the average person – have led to a boom in Russians investing into equities.

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Russia’s Communist Party to get a Navalny smart voting bump in the Duma elections

Russia’s Communist Party is likely to get a big bump in this weekend's Duma election after opposition activists Team Navalny threw its weight behind most of its candidates as part of its “smart voting” strategy.

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INTERVIEW: Benjamin Roll, Czech protest leader

Million Moments chairman says his protest movement is ready to take centre stage again as Prime Minister Andrej Babis chases re-election next month.

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Black soldier fly start-up Entoprotech starts first funding round

Bugs can become big business. Entoprotech, an Israeli biotech start-up has raised $2mn to develop its black soldier fly (BSF) to process organic waste that will reduce methane emissions from landfills and create animal feed as a byproduct.

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Russia's ultra-convenience shopping’s future isn’t just online

Europe’s largest retail market may see sales from small local shops offering low-price basic items more than double over the next five years. Russia's new "ultra-convenience" stores are the next big thing in retail.

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bneGreen: Serbia issued debut €1bn green Eurobond

Hundreds of Turkish medical company bosses and workers throw keys to ground in unpaid debts demo

Georgian tourism struggles to recover

bneGreen: Serbia issued debut €1bn green Eurobond

First green Eurobond from the Western Balkans to finance environmental protection and climate change mitigation projects as Serbia pursues green transition.

Hundreds of Turkish medical company bosses and workers throw keys to ground in unpaid debts demo

State hospitals said to owe firms hundreds of millions of dollars. Company bosses warn they are losing financial ability to sustain supply chain.

Georgian tourism struggles to recover

Once a key economic driver, the sector has been hard hit by COVID-19 and political turbulence.

News

Montenegro’s ruling coalition split over government reshuffle

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic's government again at risk of collapse as two of the formations behind it demand a reshuffle.

Bulgaria’s popular caretaker PM Yanev to head next interim cabinet

Yanev will remain in the PM position until the November general election after his ministers’ efforts to root out high-level corruption made it the most popular cabinet in decades.

US lawmakers make last ditch effort to kill off the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline

US lawmakers made a last ditch effort to kill off Russia’s recently completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which is now completed but not yet in operation.

Tens of millions of wealth fund dollars have ‘flowed to corporation linked to relative of Uzbekistan’s Mirziyoyev’

Media investigation raises curtain on Orient Group, founded by brother of president's son in-law.

Azerbaijan detains Iranian truck drivers as ‘land corridors’ dispute with Armenia worsens

Tactic may be designed to up pressure on Yerevan to permit a route that would enable Azerbaijanis to reach their Nakhchivan exclave via Armenian territory.

Montenegro’s ruling coalition split over government reshuffle

1 day ago

US lawmakers make last ditch effort to kill off the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline

1 day ago

Tens of millions of wealth fund dollars have ‘flowed to corporation linked to relative of Uzbekistan’s Mirziyoyev’

1 day ago

Azerbaijan detains Iranian truck drivers as ‘land corridors’ dispute with Armenia worsens

1 day ago

More News

Tech

Romanian online retailer Elefant reportedly plans November IPO

The company failed to capitalise on the e-commerce rally prompted by the coronavirus lockdowns in a market dominated by eMAG.

Sber considers listing digital subsidiaries in a few years

Sber, the state-controlled financial and digital giant, is considering having some of its digital subsidiaries listed, stated Sber president Herman Gref last week on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, reiterating previous statements.

Russia’s Yandex beats off the largest DDoS attack in history

The international listed Russian tech giant Yandex said it beat off the largest distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) hacker attack in the history of the internet.

Western-funded Russian online retailer KupiVIP shuts down after 13-year e-commerce story

On September 1 KupiVIP, once a top Russian fashion site, and its affiliate Mamsy.ru, wound up their operations September 1, unable to compete with Russia’s new generation of online retail giants, reports East-West Digital News (EWDN).

Russian tech exports up threefold since 2018

Russia’s earnings from tech exports have jumped more than threefold over the last two years, according to a new report from Moscow’s Higher School of Economics (HSE), reports East-West Digital News (EWDN).

Romanian online retailer Elefant reportedly plans November IPO

1 day ago

Sber considers listing digital subsidiaries in a few years

2 days ago

Russia’s Yandex beats off the largest DDoS attack in history

2 days ago

Western-funded Russian online retailer KupiVIP shuts down after 13-year e-commerce story

2 days ago

Russian tech exports up threefold since 2018

2 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

Chinese geneticists link Kyrgyz to Pakistanis, while raising thorny ethical questions

The DNA was collected in western China’s police state, Xinjiang. Could the subjects have said no without fearing retribution?

FPRI BMB Russia: Doppelgänger Duma Elections

Russia’s ruling party, United Russia, has been cracking down on opposition politicians and independent media in order to influence the fast-approaching Duma elections and has rolled out a number of dirty tricks.

GLOBSEC: No debt ratio is safe for small EU countries

Targeted EU fiscal rule reform is desirable but should consider the inherent risks for smaller member states.

FPRI BMB Russia: Kremlin sweetens the pot ahead of elections, but ready to play dirty too

With Russians set to vote in Duma elections on September 17-19, the government keeps finding ways to sweeten the pot, but it is also getting ready to play dirty.

FPRI BMB Ukraine: Zelenskiy meets Biden in Washington

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy finally had his first face-to-face meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden on Wednesday, September 1. The two leaders issued a joint statement afterwards laying out their agenda.

Chinese geneticists link Kyrgyz to Pakistanis, while raising thorny ethical questions

3 days ago

FPRI BMB Russia: Doppelgänger Duma Elections

4 days ago

GLOBSEC: No debt ratio is safe for small EU countries

7 days ago

FPRI BMB Russia: Kremlin sweetens the pot ahead of elections, but ready to play dirty too

11 days ago

FPRI BMB Ukraine: Zelenskiy meets Biden in Washington

15 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Kyrgyz consumer prices up 14% y/y in August

High inflation continued amid a visible path to economic recovery.

Polish CPI surges 5.5% y/y in August

Inflation rises 0.5pp versus the preceding month.

Romania’s public debt rises by €3.9bn in July, but stays below 50% of GDP

€3.5bn Eurobonds issued in July pushed debt up to RON545.3bn at the end of the month.

Slovak inflation at its highest level since October 2012

Inflation hits 3.8% in August, driven by higher prices in transport, construction materials and food.

Inflation in Moldova advances to 4.6% y/y as of August

Consumer price inflation was driven up by higher prices of fuel, construction materials and some food items.

Kyrgyz consumer prices up 14% y/y in August

1 day ago

Polish CPI surges 5.5% y/y in August

1 day ago

Romania’s public debt rises by €3.9bn in July, but stays below 50% of GDP

2 days ago

Slovak inflation at its highest level since October 2012

2 days ago

Inflation in Moldova advances to 4.6% y/y as of August

3 days ago

More Data

Features

DATACRUNCH: Serbia makes a strong recovery from a modest crisis

Serbia was one of the best performers in the entire emerging Europe region in 2020 and is now on track for rapid growth this year.

Memoir | 9/11 shifted the world. In Central Asia, diplomatic frenzy ensued

Behind the scenes with an American negotiator who helped forge a radical new level of US engagement in Central Asia after 9/11.

bneGreen: Green push comes to steel

The world got its first delivery of carbon-free steel last month, setting a pair of green goalposts for the industry’s future. Progress for the moment and future, all the same, will require changes in production processes, feed stock and fuels.

As Georgia rebuffs the West, investors reconsider

Country's image as a business haven seems to have reached its limits. Raft of scandals, major failed investment deals and a corrupt, unreformed judiciary have nearly ground investment to a halt.

Foreign companies dominate Hungary’s B2C scene

Last year sales jumped 45% to €2.5bn, fuelled by lockdowns and changing consumer patterns.

DATACRUNCH: Serbia makes a strong recovery from a modest crisis

2 days ago

Memoir | 9/11 shifted the world. In Central Asia, diplomatic frenzy ensued

6 days ago

bneGreen: Green push comes to steel

7 days ago

As Georgia rebuffs the West, investors reconsider

7 days ago

Foreign companies dominate Hungary’s B2C scene

8 days ago

More Features

Blogs

ISTANBUL BLOG: ‘Core’ blimey guvnor

Turkey’s monetary policy chaos has deepened following a strange presentation by the central bank chief. Analysts are scrambling to update their expectations.

BUCHAREST BLOG: Three days that plunged Romania into chaos

Romania moved from having a relatively stable and functioning centre-right ruling coalition to an explosive political situation with no credible mediator to defuse it.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey’s official inflation – nothing if not a head-scratcher

Erdogan ‘gets it wrong’ again. Statistical authority says inflation in August moved up to 19.25%. Work of academics implies rate is actually 49%.

KYIV BLOG: Zelenskiy goes to Washington but comes back with little of what he wanted

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy finally had his first face-to-face meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden on Wednesday, September 1. The talks went on for two hours, instead of the scheduled one and covered a long shopping list of wishes.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Latest monumental folly from Erdogan to deliver the ‘Turkish Pentagon’

Flat broke Turks will be thrilled to hear of mammoth defence HQ that will “instill fear in enemies and trust in allies”.

ISTANBUL BLOG: ‘Core’ blimey guvnor

4 days ago

BUCHAREST BLOG: Three days that plunged Romania into chaos

11 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey’s official inflation – nothing if not a head-scratcher

12 days ago

KYIV BLOG: Zelenskiy goes to Washington but comes back with little of what he wanted

14 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Latest monumental folly from Erdogan to deliver the ‘Turkish Pentagon’

15 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

bneGreen: Finland’s Betolar develops green cement as construction races to decarbonise

Finland’s Betolar is pioneering the production of low-carbon cement by using alternative industrial waste products in a process that could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80%.

bneGREEN: Turkey’s lakes and rivers drying up amid drought and climate change

Reports in the country’s press of severe water depletion becoming more and more frequent.

bneGREEN: Fertiliser, electricity producers count the cost of the EU’s CBAM

Emerging Europe's fertiliser and electricity exporters to the EU face a guessing game to estimate the costs of the EU's CBAM.

FPRI BMB Ukraine: Ukraine records one of its hottest summers ever

Summer 2020 was one of the hottest ever recorded in Ukraine. With the agriculture sector generating about a tenth of the country’s GDP and employing 22% of the population, experts suggest that Ukraine is more sensitive to climate change than many.

bneGREEN: CBAM to have less bite than bark

The cost of the EU’s proposed CBAM may turn out to be less than initially feared by exporters into the EU, a new report from Sandbag and E3G, two pro-green think-tanks, have found.

bneGreen: Finland’s Betolar develops green cement as construction races to decarbonise

2 days ago

bneGREEN: Turkey’s lakes and rivers drying up amid drought and climate change

2 days ago

bneGREEN: Fertiliser, electricity producers count the cost of the EU’s CBAM

11 days ago

FPRI BMB Ukraine: Ukraine records one of its hottest summers ever

15 days ago

bneGREEN: CBAM to have less bite than bark

15 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic's government again at risk of collapse as two of the formations behind it demand a reshuffle.

Yanev will remain in the PM position until the November general election after his ministers’ efforts to root out high-level corruption made it the most popular cabinet in decades.

US lawmakers made a last ditch effort to kill off Russia’s recently completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which is now completed but not yet in operation.

Media investigation raises curtain on Orient Group, founded by brother of president's son in-law.

Tactic may be designed to up pressure on Yerevan to permit a route that would enable Azerbaijanis to reach their Nakhchivan exclave via Armenian territory.

Tech

The company failed to capitalise on the e-commerce rally prompted by the coronavirus lockdowns in a market dominated by eMAG.

Sber, the state-controlled financial and digital giant, is considering having some of its digital subsidiaries listed, stated Sber president Herman Gref last week on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, reiterating previous statements.

The international listed Russian tech giant Yandex said it beat off the largest distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) hacker attack in the history of the internet.

On September 1 KupiVIP, once a top Russian fashion site, and its affiliate Mamsy.ru, wound up their operations September 1, unable to compete with Russia’s new generation of online retail giants, reports East-West Digital News (EWDN).

Russia’s earnings from tech exports have jumped more than threefold over the last two years, according to a new report from Moscow’s Higher School of Economics (HSE), reports East-West Digital News (EWDN).

Opinion

The DNA was collected in western China’s police state, Xinjiang. Could the subjects have said no without fearing retribution?

Russia’s ruling party, United Russia, has been cracking down on opposition politicians and independent media in order to influence the fast-approaching Duma elections and has rolled out a number of dirty tricks.

Targeted EU fiscal rule reform is desirable but should consider the inherent risks for smaller member states.

With Russians set to vote in Duma elections on September 17-19, the government keeps finding ways to sweeten the pot, but it is also getting ready to play dirty.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy finally had his first face-to-face meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden on Wednesday, September 1. The two leaders issued a joint statement afterwards laying out their agenda.

Data

High inflation continued amid a visible path to economic recovery.

Inflation rises 0.5pp versus the preceding month.

€3.5bn Eurobonds issued in July pushed debt up to RON545.3bn at the end of the month.

Inflation hits 3.8% in August, driven by higher prices in transport, construction materials and food.

Consumer price inflation was driven up by higher prices of fuel, construction materials and some food items.

Features

Serbia was one of the best performers in the entire emerging Europe region in 2020 and is now on track for rapid growth this year.

Behind the scenes with an American negotiator who helped forge a radical new level of US engagement in Central Asia after 9/11.

The world got its first delivery of carbon-free steel last month, setting a pair of green goalposts for the industry’s future. Progress for the moment and future, all the same, will require changes in production processes, feed stock and fuels.

Country's image as a business haven seems to have reached its limits. Raft of scandals, major failed investment deals and a corrupt, unreformed judiciary have nearly ground investment to a halt.

Last year sales jumped 45% to €2.5bn, fuelled by lockdowns and changing consumer patterns.

Blogs

Turkey’s monetary policy chaos has deepened following a strange presentation by the central bank chief. Analysts are scrambling to update their expectations.

Romania moved from having a relatively stable and functioning centre-right ruling coalition to an explosive political situation with no credible mediator to defuse it.

Erdogan ‘gets it wrong’ again. Statistical authority says inflation in August moved up to 19.25%. Work of academics implies rate is actually 49%.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy finally had his first face-to-face meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden on Wednesday, September 1. The talks went on for two hours, instead of the scheduled one and covered a long shopping list of wishes.

Flat broke Turks will be thrilled to hear of mammoth defence HQ that will “instill fear in enemies and trust in allies”.

bneGREEN

Finland’s Betolar is pioneering the production of low-carbon cement by using alternative industrial waste products in a process that could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80%.

Reports in the country’s press of severe water depletion becoming more and more frequent.

Emerging Europe's fertiliser and electricity exporters to the EU face a guessing game to estimate the costs of the EU's CBAM.

Summer 2020 was one of the hottest ever recorded in Ukraine. With the agriculture sector generating about a tenth of the country’s GDP and employing 22% of the population, experts suggest that Ukraine is more sensitive to climate change than many.

The cost of the EU’s proposed CBAM may turn out to be less than initially feared by exporters into the EU, a new report from Sandbag and E3G, two pro-green think-tanks, have found.

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