Features
India's Modi meets Putin in first foreign trip following elections
Following the recent re-election of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, he unusually chose Moscow for his first foreign visit.
LONG READ: The war in Ukraine is inching towards a ceasefire as pressures mount
During a visit to Kyiv just after taking over the presidency of the European Council on July 1, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and asked him to call a ceasefire. Zelenskiy flatly refused.
Who is Iran’s President-Elect Masoud Pezeshkian?
Masoud Pezeshkian has been elected as the new President of Iran, securing over 16 votes in the second round of the 14th presidential election on July 6, but who is the new president-elect?
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COMMENT: Iran has no friend in Britain's Keir Starmer
With Keir Starmer’s Labour Party achieving a resounding victory in the UK general election on July 5, Iran faces a markedly tough stance from the new British government.
KSE: Ukraine’s budget deficit up to $5.2bn in 1Q24
In the first quarter 2024, Ukraine received minimal military assistance from its partners, which put an additional burden on the budget through additional domestic spending on military needs.
Slovakia's populist government tames the broadcasters
Robert Fico’s left-right government has followed the Viktor Orban playbook by tightening state control over the main public broadcaster, while private television channels have toned down critical coverage.
INTERVIEW: Georgian opposition politician Anna Dolidze
Georgia’s recent foreign agent law is a “geopolitical tool that Russia uses to demarcate its territory", says founder of the political party For the People.
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PODCAST: Emerging Global with Mathew Cohen on Argentina renewed
The latest episode of the Emerging Global podcast features an in-depth discussion on President Javier Milei's controversial economic reforms in Argentina.
Russia's machine tool industry has exhibited substantial growth despite sanctions, says study
Russia's machine tool industry has exhibited substantial growth despite recent US sanctions targeting importers of foreign CNC machine tools and the banks that finance these imports, Russia’s Higher School of Economics said in a recent report.
Hungary vows to use its EU presidency to "Make Europe Great Again"
Viktor Orban is taking on the baton from Belgium after a string of setbacks at home and on the international stage.
IPO boom gathers momentum in Russia
An IPO boom is underway in Russia. If in 2022 there was only one placement of the Whoosh company for RUB2.1bn, last year there were already eight IPOs collectively worth RUB45bn. And this year the number of IPOs will double again.
Russia’s coal sector battered by sanctions
Russia's coal industry, one of the country's largest raw materials sectors, is on the brink of financial collapse as it grapples with the severe impact of international sanctions.
KSE: Stimulating growth in Ukraine and policies for migrants’ return
The government in Ukraine needs to prepare to rebuild the economy and attract home the millions of refugees that have left the country to avoid the war.
US “strangulation” sanctions on banks causing rising panic in Russia’s CBR
The new US “strangulation” sanctions on foreign exchange are proving to be increasingly effective, disrupting Russia’s payments to “friendly countries” and leading to sharp falls in export volumes this year.
Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries have done little damage to Russia’s economy so far
Ukraine continues to attack Russian refineries with drones but as drones only carry a 5-50kg explosive payload, rather than the 500kg carried by bombers, they can’t destroy a refinery, only damage it.
EXCLUSIVE: Legal confusion in Germany as Frankfurt prosecutors investigate Russian tycoon Usmanov based on claims rejected by Cologne prosecutors
Documents seen by bne IntelliNews reveal that German prosecutors are divided on the validity of evidence used to justify the criminal investigation of sanctioned tycoon Alisher Usmanov in Germany.
Eurasian Development Bank moves into Central Asia’s Islamic finance sector
Regional development bank hopes to give new impetus to Islamic finance in Central Asia.
Perspectives: ISKP posing rising threat to Central Asia
Outreach campaign shifts into top gear.
Local, international and regional chains vie for Balkans’ expanding food retail market
Consumer markets in Southeast Europe are booming, in what is largely a catch-up story.
Mongolians to deliver verdict on fight against corruption and inequality in Friday election
Firm consensus sees country’s oldest party MPP as on course to retain power.