Latest Updates

ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan spikes Nato accession talks with Sweden and Finland

Turkish leader leaves US and Europe wondering what his price might be for unblocking what was supposed to be a routine process.

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COMMENT: Sanctions are working, but the West risks isolating Russian reformers instead of galvanising them

As the war rages on, more and more Russians report feeling the effects of sanctions. Under pressure to keep up the impressive rate of new sanctions, the West risks isolating liberal reformers from Russia's business community instead of oligarchs.

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NEMETHY: Where are US markets? Where are they heading?

Whereas in previous crises the Fed tried to actively stem crises, currently it seems to be proactively inducing the crisis.

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Just another day in Ukraine's hell

Ukrainian refugees seek shelter from heavy shelling in a school's basement as Russian troops grind ever closer.

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PPF agrees to sell Russian banking assets

Czech financial group finally sells out to a group of investors led by Ivan Tyryshkin, chairman of the fintech SPB Exchange.

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Switzerland inches towards Nato as neutrality is put to the test

The Swiss defence ministry is compiling a report on the options for increasing Swiss security. One possible result is that the country will re-interpret its neutral status and move closer to Nato.

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Nordic Nato accession set to reinforce Baltic states' security

The accession of Finland and Sweden to Nato will transform the picture in the Baltic region but more military deployments are still needed, argue Baltic experts.

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bneGREEN: Serbia’s new era of digital agriculture

Digitisation of agriculture is already helping farmers to respond to climate change and raise production, according to the BioSense Institute in Serbia’s Novi Sad.

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bneGREEN: Climate change, war in Ukraine and rising prices create perfect storm threatening global food security

The war in Ukraine has interrupted grain exports from the country and could create a global food crisis as vulnerable wheat importing countries in Africa and the Middle East face shortages and rising prices.

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Macron urges Sofia and Skopje to solve their dispute amid tensions in Europe

Romania hopes to unlock Black Sea natural gas projects with revised Offshore Law

Poland and European Commission strike rule of law deal to unlock billions from pandemic recovery fund

Macron urges Sofia and Skopje to solve their dispute amid tensions in Europe

Pressure on Sofia to lift its veto and allow North Macedonia to start EU accession talks has increased since Russia's invasion of Ukraine raised fears of destabilisation in the Western Balkans.

Romania hopes to unlock Black Sea natural gas projects with revised Offshore Law

The amendments have been expected for years to unlock several investment projects in the country’s Black Sea perimeters that could bring in 6 bcm of gas a year from 2027.

Poland and European Commission strike rule of law deal to unlock billions from pandemic recovery fund

Brussels will assess the real value of the pledged changes before deciding ultimately on unlocking funds that could total €4bn this year.

News

Amid sanctions, Kazakh firm stops supplying Russian steelworks

Kazakh companies are treading carefully doing business with Russia.

Nine dead after Tajikistan launches ‘anti-terrorist operation’ in GBAO

Restive region has seen series of protests since death in custody of activist arrested as kidnapping suspect. No evidence of terrorists in midst of protesters has been presented by authorities.

Serbian officials blame bomb hoaxes that paralysed Belgrade on refusal to sanction Russia

Primary schools, shopping malls and restaurants were targeted by hundreds of bomb threats on May 16, shutting down much of the Serbian capital.

EU opens loophole for Russian gas-for-rubles scheme

The EU said that companies could keep buying Russian gas through Gazprombank without breaching sanctions for Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, with the condition that they consider their obligations fulfilled once they pay in euros or dollars

Iran, Tajikistan unveil military drone factory in Dushanbe

Allies step up defence cooperation as security situation in Afghanistan deteriorates. Iranians have rapidly become a big regional drone power.

Amid sanctions, Kazakh firm stops supplying Russian steelworks

2 hours ago

Nine dead after Tajikistan launches ‘anti-terrorist operation’ in GBAO

5 hours ago

Serbian officials blame bomb hoaxes that paralysed Belgrade on refusal to sanction Russia

1 day ago

EU opens loophole for Russian gas-for-rubles scheme

1 day ago

Iran, Tajikistan unveil military drone factory in Dushanbe

1 day ago

More News

Tech

Albania’s notorious ‘Tik Tok judge’ sacked

A media storm erupted in Albania when videos on Tik Tok showed Enkelejda Kapedani posing in designer clothes in her office and driving a BMW.

Hungary’s leading IT firm teams up with Rheinmetall to develop digital combat system solutions

JV with 4iG aims to develop digital combat system solutions as well as ground and flight simulation systems for the provision of the most modern soldier training.

‘Market disruptor’ TBC UZ makes digital bank inroads in Uzbekistan

The fintech is reporting eyecatching market growth figures.

Turkish scientists work on charging mobile phones using wearable organic solar cells

Small panels weaved on to a shirt or coat could mean never having to bother with a charger.

Travel tech company OYO acquires Croatia's Direct Booker

Acquisition to strengthen OYO Vacation Homes’ presence in the strategically important Croatian tourism market.

Albania’s notorious ‘Tik Tok judge’ sacked

6 hours ago

Hungary’s leading IT firm teams up with Rheinmetall to develop digital combat system solutions

2 days ago

‘Market disruptor’ TBC UZ makes digital bank inroads in Uzbekistan

8 days ago

Turkish scientists work on charging mobile phones using wearable organic solar cells

8 days ago

Travel tech company OYO acquires Croatia's Direct Booker

9 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

COMMENT: Constanta concerns

Five questions on the minds of business leaders and policymakers in Romania.

Sberbank faces a meltdown from its vast commercial real estate loan book

Sberbank, Russia’s largest lender, is facing a meltdown from the collapse in its commercial real estate loan book, which is estimated at RUB1.8 trillion ($28bn).

STOLYPIN: The sick man of Europe

Is Putin ill? Is Putin mad? Is Putin about to be toppled by a coup? The rumour mill is grinding on overtime, and although most of the lurid claims are implausible to say the least, they do remind us of Putin's absolute control over the system.

RIMMER: Turkey’s ‘Gandhi’ makes Erdogan ‘The Comeback Kid’

One last act of selflessness and devotion to his nation is required of Turkish opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. He must forgo the opportunity of taking on Turkey’s despot and allow someone with box office appeal to take his place.

NEMETHY: How will the war in Ukraine affect Emerging Markets?

We have all heard the adage that a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon could affect the weather patterns on the other side of the planet. Might the war in Ukraine also have such unintended consequences?

COMMENT: Constanta concerns

7 days ago

Sberbank faces a meltdown from its vast commercial real estate loan book

9 days ago

STOLYPIN: The sick man of Europe

10 days ago

RIMMER: Turkey’s ‘Gandhi’ makes Erdogan ‘The Comeback Kid’

13 days ago

NEMETHY: How will the war in Ukraine affect Emerging Markets?

17 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Russians trade TV news for social media as war-weariness sets in

Trust in TV news is declining among Russians, as social media news gains popularity. At the same time, Russian support for the war in Ukraine appears to be slipping, as does the belief that Russia is winning a global power struggle.

Net FDI in Bulgaria jumps four times y/y through March to €1.05bn

The new government's pledged to improve the economic and political environment has yielded results despite the war in Ukraine and soaring energy prices.

Romania puzzles analysts with robust 6.5% GDP growth in Q1

Romania’s GDP increased by a real 6.5% y/y in the first quarter of the year, surprising analysts who had expected more damage from the war in Ukraine.

Poland’s GDP expands 9.1% y/y in Q1, brightening outlook for the year

Full-year economic growth forecast at around 5% despite Ukraine-driven slowdown.

Low base and pre-election handouts lift Hungary's GDP growth by 8.2% y/y in Q1

The impact of sanctions on Russia, higher financing costs and lower purchasing power amid rising inflation are likely to dent growth in the coming quarters.

Russians trade TV news for social media as war-weariness sets in

5 hours ago

Net FDI in Bulgaria jumps four times y/y through March to €1.05bn

14 hours ago

Romania puzzles analysts with robust 6.5% GDP growth in Q1

1 day ago

Poland’s GDP expands 9.1% y/y in Q1, brightening outlook for the year

1 day ago

Low base and pre-election handouts lift Hungary's GDP growth by 8.2% y/y in Q1

1 day ago

More Data

Features

Western sanctions block $16bn-$18bn worth of Belarusian exports

Belarus' prime minister said that Western sanctions had blocked almost all the country's exports to the EU and North America.

Turkmenistan: Car and beauty bans further erode women’s rights

Fresh prohibitions have crushed hopes that newly appointed 40-year-old president Serdar Berdimuhamedov would pursue a more enlightened path.

EBRD 2022: Reforms and privatisation to drive Uzbekistan’s mid-term growth

Uzbekistan's growth slowed in 2022, but if the pace of reforms continues to be as fast as in the last few years it is expected to rebound to around 10% a year once the current health and geopolitical crises are over.

After war victory, Azerbaijan keeps increasing military spending

This year it is spending more than 10% more than it did before its 2020 defeat of Armenia, and is planning to spend even more in coming years.

What's behind Belarus' latest troops movements along the border with Ukraine?

While Belarus' latest troop increases along the border with Ukraine have worried many, these actions should be seen in the light of Lukashenko's aim of de-escalating tensions with the West while showing loyalty to Putin.

Western sanctions block $16bn-$18bn worth of Belarusian exports

6 hours ago

Turkmenistan: Car and beauty bans further erode women’s rights

1 day ago

EBRD 2022: Reforms and privatisation to drive Uzbekistan’s mid-term growth

3 days ago

After war victory, Azerbaijan keeps increasing military spending

6 days ago

What's behind Belarus' latest troops movements along the border with Ukraine?

6 days ago

More Features

Blogs

EBRD 2022: Russia and the war in Ukraine dominate the EBRD’s annual meeting

The three-month-old war in Ukraine dominated the agenda on the first day of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development meeting in Marrakech, the first in-person AM in three years.

ISTANBUL BLOG: With official inflation a hair’s breadth from 70%, Turkey is on the tail of Zimbabwe

Though academics who calculate inflation is actually 157% say it’s already far ahead of the rival basket case.

MOSCOW BLOG: Proxy war

Two big war developments: US President Joe Biden asked Congress to expand his mandate for presidential discretionary military spending to $33bn on April 28; German lawmakers approved a law that allows Germany to send heavy weapons (tanks) to Ukraine.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan’s cycles of economic madness now so ‘normal’ nobody utters a word

Regime treats Turkey like an economic guinea pig, say critics. Officials pushing all the buttons at the same time, attempting to avoid, but fuelling chaos.

BALKAN BLOG: What living without Russian gas would mean for Moldova

Gazprom cutting off gas supplies could trigger a chain of events leading to Moldova abandoning its neutrality.

EBRD 2022: Russia and the war in Ukraine dominate the EBRD’s annual meeting

8 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: With official inflation a hair’s breadth from 70%, Turkey is on the tail of Zimbabwe

13 days ago

MOSCOW BLOG: Proxy war

19 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan’s cycles of economic madness now so ‘normal’ nobody utters a word

22 days ago

BALKAN BLOG: What living without Russian gas would mean for Moldova

26 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

bneGREEN: Raising EU green targets will cost an extra €195bn

The European Commission is considering raising its renewable energy target for 2030 to 45% in new green plans to be published later in May.

bneGREEN: Renewables set for record growth in 2022, but 2023 is not so rosy

Renewables are again set to break global records in 2022, with 320 GW of new capacity forecast to come online and new solar projects in China and Europe driving growth.

EBRD 2022: Coal-dependent Kosovo prepares for leap to renewables

Kosovo, which relies heavily on coal power generation, is preparing to leapfrog entirely over natural gas power, straight to renewable energy.

bneGREEN: Will India become too hot to live in?

Behind India’s soaring temperatures lie a healthy appetite for cheap Russian fossil fuels, lukewarm enthusiasm for a fast reduction in CO2 emissions and not enough investment in climate adaption

Serbia to get Europe's largest agro-solar plant

Fintel Energija and MK Group signed a memorandum of understanding with PowerChina on the €340mn Agrosolar project in Kula.

bneGREEN: Raising EU green targets will cost an extra €195bn

5 days ago

bneGREEN: Renewables set for record growth in 2022, but 2023 is not so rosy

7 days ago

EBRD 2022: Coal-dependent Kosovo prepares for leap to renewables

8 days ago

bneGREEN: Will India become too hot to live in?

13 days ago

Serbia to get Europe's largest agro-solar plant

14 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

Kazakh companies are treading carefully doing business with Russia.

Restive region has seen series of protests since death in custody of activist arrested as kidnapping suspect. No evidence of terrorists in midst of protesters has been presented by authorities.

Primary schools, shopping malls and restaurants were targeted by hundreds of bomb threats on May 16, shutting down much of the Serbian capital.

The EU said that companies could keep buying Russian gas through Gazprombank without breaching sanctions for Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, with the condition that they consider their obligations fulfilled once they pay in euros or dollars

Allies step up defence cooperation as security situation in Afghanistan deteriorates. Iranians have rapidly become a big regional drone power.

Tech

A media storm erupted in Albania when videos on Tik Tok showed Enkelejda Kapedani posing in designer clothes in her office and driving a BMW.

JV with 4iG aims to develop digital combat system solutions as well as ground and flight simulation systems for the provision of the most modern soldier training.

The fintech is reporting eyecatching market growth figures.

Small panels weaved on to a shirt or coat could mean never having to bother with a charger.

Acquisition to strengthen OYO Vacation Homes’ presence in the strategically important Croatian tourism market.

Opinion

Five questions on the minds of business leaders and policymakers in Romania.

Sberbank, Russia’s largest lender, is facing a meltdown from the collapse in its commercial real estate loan book, which is estimated at RUB1.8 trillion ($28bn).

Is Putin ill? Is Putin mad? Is Putin about to be toppled by a coup? The rumour mill is grinding on overtime, and although most of the lurid claims are implausible to say the least, they do remind us of Putin's absolute control over the system.

One last act of selflessness and devotion to his nation is required of Turkish opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. He must forgo the opportunity of taking on Turkey’s despot and allow someone with box office appeal to take his place.

We have all heard the adage that a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon could affect the weather patterns on the other side of the planet. Might the war in Ukraine also have such unintended consequences?

Data

Trust in TV news is declining among Russians, as social media news gains popularity. At the same time, Russian support for the war in Ukraine appears to be slipping, as does the belief that Russia is winning a global power struggle.

The new government's pledged to improve the economic and political environment has yielded results despite the war in Ukraine and soaring energy prices.

Romania’s GDP increased by a real 6.5% y/y in the first quarter of the year, surprising analysts who had expected more damage from the war in Ukraine.

Full-year economic growth forecast at around 5% despite Ukraine-driven slowdown.

The impact of sanctions on Russia, higher financing costs and lower purchasing power amid rising inflation are likely to dent growth in the coming quarters.

Features

Belarus' prime minister said that Western sanctions had blocked almost all the country's exports to the EU and North America.

Fresh prohibitions have crushed hopes that newly appointed 40-year-old president Serdar Berdimuhamedov would pursue a more enlightened path.

Uzbekistan's growth slowed in 2022, but if the pace of reforms continues to be as fast as in the last few years it is expected to rebound to around 10% a year once the current health and geopolitical crises are over.

This year it is spending more than 10% more than it did before its 2020 defeat of Armenia, and is planning to spend even more in coming years.

While Belarus' latest troop increases along the border with Ukraine have worried many, these actions should be seen in the light of Lukashenko's aim of de-escalating tensions with the West while showing loyalty to Putin.

Blogs

The three-month-old war in Ukraine dominated the agenda on the first day of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development meeting in Marrakech, the first in-person AM in three years.

Though academics who calculate inflation is actually 157% say it’s already far ahead of the rival basket case.

Two big war developments: US President Joe Biden asked Congress to expand his mandate for presidential discretionary military spending to $33bn on April 28; German lawmakers approved a law that allows Germany to send heavy weapons (tanks) to Ukraine.

Regime treats Turkey like an economic guinea pig, say critics. Officials pushing all the buttons at the same time, attempting to avoid, but fuelling chaos.

Gazprom cutting off gas supplies could trigger a chain of events leading to Moldova abandoning its neutrality.

bneGREEN

The European Commission is considering raising its renewable energy target for 2030 to 45% in new green plans to be published later in May.

Renewables are again set to break global records in 2022, with 320 GW of new capacity forecast to come online and new solar projects in China and Europe driving growth.

Kosovo, which relies heavily on coal power generation, is preparing to leapfrog entirely over natural gas power, straight to renewable energy.

Behind India’s soaring temperatures lie a healthy appetite for cheap Russian fossil fuels, lukewarm enthusiasm for a fast reduction in CO2 emissions and not enough investment in climate adaption

Fintel Energija and MK Group signed a memorandum of understanding with PowerChina on the €340mn Agrosolar project in Kula.

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