Tech
VK acquires edtech businesses in Russia and Brazil
In the past few months, Russian Internet major VK (previously Mail.ru Group) demonstrated a strong appetite for online education — both in Russia and abroad.
“A new Dreyfus affair:” Ilya Sachkov asks President Putin to be transferred from jail to house arrest
Ilya Sachkov, the top cybersecurity businessman who was arrested under charges of “state treason” in late September, has claimed he is innocent and asked President Putin to be transferred from jail to house arrest during the investigation.
Russian-founded incident management tool Amixr acquired by US major Grafana Labs
US open source software platform Grafana Labs has acquired a Russian-founded startup called Amixr. Launched in 2019, this company has developed an incident management platform that allows DevOps and SRE engineers to “optimize channels, recipients"
Rostec releases anti-spying and hacker protected smartphone
A smartphone with the function of mechanically disabling the camera and microphone running on a Russian operating system will be supplied to security forces and the state sector. A version of the device with Android 11 is already available in Russia.
New ESG Innovation Index praises Moscow city’s “tremendously effective public transport” and numerous edtech entrepreneurs
Moscow ranks second among Europe’s largest cities in the ‘Future City ESG Innovation Index,’ put together by Munich-based think tank DEEP Ecosystems.
Russian digital banking giant Tinkoff acquires payment automation service Jump.Finance
Tinkoff, the Russian digital banking giant, has taken control of Just Look, the company behind the Jump.Finance payment automation service. Tinkoff purchased a 51% stake under undisclosed terms.
Russia’s e-commerce trade growth expected to slow to 10% in 2021
The volume of Russia’s e-commerce trade is expected to slow to 10% in 2021 after it expanded by the pandemic lockdown bump of 59% in 2020, Russian Online Retail Association (AKIT) President Artyom Sokolov told Russian newswire PRIME.
Tech giant Yandex shakes up UK market with ultrafast grocer Yango Deli
The ultrafast format is taking cities by storm. Evgeny Chernikov, general manager of Yango Deli UK, talks about the company’s recent launch in London, what ultrafast groceries will look like in the future, and Yango Deli's plan to succeed.
Bulgaria's Payhawk valued at $570mn after CEE region’s second largest series B funding ever
Payhawk raised $112mn in a series B financing round led by San Francisco-based investor Greenoaks.
Serbia-founded HTEC Group acquires Silicon Valley's Momentum Design Lab
Launched at the University of Belgrade's startup incubator in 2008, HTEC now employs 1,000 people globally.
Seed-scattering drones replant fire-damaged forests in Croatia
Summer fires in Croatia often hit areas that are hard to reach overground.
Fans revive Durov brothers’ failed cryptocurrency
Toncoin was originally the brainchild of Russia’s social media tycoons the Durov brothers. It was taken over by an open community of developers, and is now worth upwards of $20bn.
Rio Tinto says “actively pursuing” plans to build battery gigafactory in Serbia
Rio Tinto's $2.4bn Jadar lithium-borates project in Serbia has the potential to position the company as the largest source of lithium supply in Europe for at least the next 15 years.
NEMETHY: Is bitcoin the new gold?
Much has been written about how bitcoin has taken lustre and market share from gold over the past decade. But has the death of gold been much exaggerated?
Lithuanian Conservative MP appears in his underwear in virtual meeting
Bronislovas Matelis had dressed only his top half for a call with fellow members of the parliamentary Committee on Governance and Municipalities — as revealed when he stood to take a phone call.
Bulgarian software company Melon signs strategic deal with Kosovo’s Frakton
Bulgaria-based software development services company Melon signs strategic investment deal with Frakton as part of its expansion in the Southeast Europe region.
Albania to use satellites and drones to fight drug cultivation
Satellites will also provide information on illegal construction and environmental pollution.
Romanian micro-financing platform Instant Factoring expands in Serbia
Romanian fintech says the potential of the Serbian market, as revealed by the growing amount of outstanding invoices and late payments, is increasing.
Hungary’s Pegasus spyware scandal takes new twist
A senior official from Hungary’s governing party acknowledged that the government had purchased Israeli spyware tool Pegasus, which was allegedly used to target journalists, businesspeople and an opposition politician.
Txt spk and WhatsApp putting the Albanian language in danger, PM says
PM Edi Rama tells students that misuse of the Albanian language in mobile communications puts it at risk.
