News
A maximum of RUB2-3bn are stolen from the Russian federal budget every year, says Kudrin
Audit Chamber Director Alexei Kudrin says a maximum of RUB2-3bn ($32.6-48bn) are stolen from the Russian federal budget annually, Vestnik reported on January 14.
A maximum of RUB2bn-3bn stolen from the Russian federal budget every year says Kudrin
The value of the Russian economy was $1.657 trillion in 2019, making the stealing equivalent to 1.9%-2.9% of GDP.
Hungarian central bank governor blasts flawed housing policy
MNB governor Gyorgy Matolcsy blamed the government for a lack of strategy that has contributed to spiralling prices.
Moscow sees record housing built in 2019
Moscow saw a record of 4.96mn sqm of housing space completed in 2019, up by 40% year-on-year, and highest level of residential construction since the 1965 mass housing blitz carried out by Nikita Khrushchev.
Romanian PM backs president’s plans for early elections
Installed by a heterogenous group of parties and MPs, and with term elections looming towards the end of this year, the scope of Ludovic Orban’s government to take action on issues such as tackling Romania’s budget deficit is very limited.
Economic crash means three-quarters of Turks now ‘prefer supermarket private labels’
Survey also shows 87% of consumers make point of comparing prices at supermarkets before heading to shops. Figure is up from 72% a year ago.
EU must deliver on enlargement promises says European Commission president
EU officials to start working on changes to the enlargement methodology soon in attempt to persuade French President Emmanuel Macron to approve start of negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia.
Iran’s admission it shot down airliner with missile sparks anti-regime street unrest
Pro-regime protesters, meanwhile, set alight union jack after UK ambassador detained after leaving vigil for victims at which chanting started.
Russia real estate legends to raise €140mn for fund with focus on last mile warehouses for the e-commerce sector
Three of Russia’s best known veteran real estate businessmen have come together to form L.O.P. to develop urban warehousing that targets Russia’s booming last mile e-commerce sector.
Sanctions-hammered Iran saw GDP shrink 8.7% in 2019 and can’t expect growth in 2020 says World Bank
Just six months ago forecast was for contraction of only 4.5% in face of US “economic war”.
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Turkey ‘to sign $2.7bn compensation deal for pre-war work carried out in Libya’
Backlog of Turkish contract work in conflict-torn country amounts to $16bn says business council representative. Ankara militarily backing Tripoli government in bid to ensure its survival.
House arrest for Baring Vostok Calvey and partners prolonged
Moscow’s Basmanny Court on January 9 prolonged the house arrest of Michael Calvey, US citizen and founder of leading Russian fund Baring Vostok private equity firm, until February 13.
Sales of hybrid cars in the Czech Republic up by 73% y/y in 2019
Sales of hybrid cars, combining an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, in the Czech Republic increased by 73% year-on-year to 8,346 cars in 2019, while the domestic automotive industry market declined
Lukashenko slams Russia for "making three times more money" from gas sales to Belarus than from Germany
Belarusian President says Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom earns "three times as much in Belarus than in Germany" from gas sales amid the lack of agreement with Moscow on new oil and gas subsidies for Minsk.
Iran’s started “big operations” in Middle East says general flaunting ‘Resistance Axis’ flags
Adds that Iranians were prepared to fire even thousands of missiles if US had militarily responded to Iraq airbase strikes. Up to 500 Americans could have died in ‘first phase’ he claims.
US, Canada ‘confident Iran downed Ukraine flight PS752 with missile’
Iranian civil aviation chief insists: “Scientifically, it is impossible that a missile hit the Ukrainian plane, and such rumours are illogical.”
Bulgarian environment minister arrested over water crisis
Neno Dimov was detained over illegal siphoning from a reservoir that deprived a major industrial town of water supplies. He is the first serving minister ever to be arrested in Bulgaria.
Industrial Development Bank of Turkey mandates lenders to sell eurobonds
Confidence said to be growing among issuers after US-Iran crisis made for a slow start to CEEMEA bond issuance.
Iran’s refusal to hand over black boxes incites suspicions over fate of Ukraine flight PS752
Aircraft crashed hours after Iranian missile attack on Iraq airbases began. Ukrainian president cautions against "speculation or unchecked theories" but little has yet been ruled out.
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Borsa Istanbul’s top lenders Garanti, Akbank downplay NPL concerns in 2020 guidance
Not a lot to choose between Turkey's two largest private banks but mismanagement of economy means there are reservations about both, says analyst.