News

Thailand's SCBX acquires PPF's Home Credit Vietnam business for €800mn

Juthatip Kumarn February 28, 2024

PPF founded Home Credit Vietnam in 2008, becoming the second largest player in the Vietnamese consumer finance sector.

Russia’s Sberbank makes record $16bn profit in 2023

bne IntelliNews February 28, 2024

Russia’s largest state-controlled bank Sberbank (Sber) posted 5.5-fold year-on-year net IFRS profit jump to a record-high of RUB1.5 trillion ($16.3bn) and made a return on equity (ROE) of 25.3%.

Czech court maintains Liberty Ostrava's protection from bankruptcy

bne IntelliNews February 28, 2024

Liberty Ostrava has not been operating since December after its main energy supplier cut off power and went into bankruptcy.

Transnistrian politicians appeal to Russia for protection

bne IntelliNews February 28, 2024

Politicians in the Moldovan separatist republic of Transnistria called on Russia and the international community for help, accused Chisinau of "economic strangulation".

Czech plan reportedly secures 800,000 pieces of ammunition for Ukraine

Albin Sybera February 28, 2024

Czechs use worldwide arms contacts to locate ammunition stocks which “for political reasons” the supplying countries won’t be able to deliver themselves.

North Macedonia faces food price surge as price protection measures expire

Valentina Dimitrievska in Skopje February 28, 2024

North Macedonia had one of the highest inflation rates in the region, peaking in late 2022.

British man arrested after illegally trying to cross Russian border to meet online fiancée

bne IntelliNews February 28, 2024

A lovestruck Brit was arrested on February 23 after attempting to illegally cross the border from Poland into Russia, where he wanted to meet a girl he had met online.

Despite differences over Ukraine, V4 leaders stress the platform is not dead

Albin Sybera, Robert Anderson in Prague February 28, 2024

Split over Ukraine has led analysts and journalists to describe the group as the V2+V2 rather than the V4, and to speculate whether it had a function anymore.

Kalfalar, the Turkish village with a population of one

bne IntelliNews February 27, 2024

And 87-year-old Ibrahim Elaslan says he's never leaving.

Kyrgyzstan: Where are all the autos going?

Eurasianet February 27, 2024

Country’s balance of trade heavily favours imports over exports.

Hungarian central bank cuts key rate by 100bp to 9%

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 27, 2024

Hungary’s economy has seen strong and general disinflation as headline CPI last month fell 1.7pp on a monthly basis to 3.8%.

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy drops into Saudi in low profile visit

bne correspondent February 27, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Saudi Arabia on February 27 for discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Russia warns WWIII “inevitable” if West sends troops to Ukraine

Ben Aris in Berlin February 27, 2024

The Kremlin warned that WWIII would become “inevitable” if Western countries sent troops to fight in Ukraine, "In that case, it’s not going to be about probability, but inevitability, " presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Western Balkans power sector risks “complete meltdown” warns think-tank

bne IntelliNews February 27, 2024

Policy brief from think-tank CEPS says there is an “acute and imminent risk” of collapse due to outdated infrastructure.

Uzbekistan: Deadly cough syrup trials ends with lengthy convictions

Eurasianet February 27, 2024

An Indian national was handed the heaviest sentence: 20 years in prison.

China grants visa-free travel to Georgians

Tornike Mandaria in Tbilisi February 27, 2024

Despite Georgia's aspirations to join Nato and its status as a strategic partner of the US, the country has been actively seeking to strengthen not only economic but also political ties with China.

Macron says sending Nato ground troops to Ukraine should not be ruled out

bne IntelliNews February 27, 2024

French president says Russia now presents a greater danger and nothing should be excluded.

Belarus holds parliamentary elections, Tikhanovskaya hacks Minsk TV Billboards with protest message

bne IntelliNews February 27, 2024

Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya embarrassed Belarusian President Lukashenko after hacking 2,000 giant TV billboards in Minsk and broadcasting an anti-war message on the day of sham Belarus parliamentary elections.

Hungarian parliament finally ratifies Sweden's Nato membership

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 27, 2024

The saga has further strained Hungary’s ties with allies, undermined the country’s credibility and reinforced views that Prime Minister Viktor Orban serves Russian interests.

US claims sanctions success, says Russia’s financial flows with Turkey, UAE and Kazakhstan disrupted

bne IntelliNews February 26, 2024

Washington says secondary sanctions threat against financial firms has put “sand in the gears” of network used to help Kremlin get access to goods.

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