Latest Updates

COMMENT: New rightwing Czech government will have a short honeymoon unless it learns lessons from the past

Billionaire populist Andrej Babis could make a swift return as president unless the coalition keeps corruption in check and addresses some of the country's worst social problems.

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MOSCOW BLOG: Emerged Russia’s new hard line with the West

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met yesterday on the sidelines of the OSCE conference and had an intense but “fruitful” 30 minute conversation.

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Blinken and Lavrov talks break up after 30 minutes

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appealed to his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to choose diplomacy over coercion in face-to-face discussions in Stockholm but the two sides remain far apart.

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bneGREEN: Russia's $6.5 trillion decarbonising plan will launch next year

Russia is revving up to launch a four-decade-long, RUB89 trillion ($1.2 trillion) investment campaign to reduce carbon emissions by 60% before 2050 from 2019 levels.

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Putin offers to start negotiations on a non-expansion of Nato to the east security deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the West to start talks on a security deal and legal guarantees that would prevent Nato from expanding East.

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COMMENT: Russia coal mine explosion also highlights environmental tragedy

A methane explosion killed 52 people at a coal mine in Siberia on November 25 – the worst accident in a decade. But coal mine methane has a profound impact on the environment too. But fixing the problem could generate hundreds of millions of dollars.

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World headlines on bewildering collapse of lira overshadow Turkey’s announcement of 7.4% growth in 3Q

International press increasingly referring to the “Erdogan currency crisis”. “Our money has no value”, Turks complain to New York Times.

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VISEGRAD BLOG: Zeman tries to show he is still in charge of Czech foreign policy

The Czech president is threatening to veto the appointment of the new foreign minister, who wants to return to Vaclav Havel's focus on promoting human rights.

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New American company seeks to realise Trans-Caspian pipe dream

Tajikistan press-gangs an army to defend long Afghan border

Omicron variant ends Romania’s stock market rally

New American company seeks to realise Trans-Caspian pipe dream

The new proposal’s modest scope, and new diplomatic developments, could finally make the pipeline feasible.

Tajikistan press-gangs an army to defend long Afghan border

The conscripts, generally Tajikistan’s poorest young men, are brutalised into service. And they are the country’s first line of defence.

Omicron variant ends Romania’s stock market rally

In the final week of November, Romania’s stock market indices posted their steepest decline since the initial COVID-19 shock in February-March 2020.

News

EU imposes fifth round of sanctions on Belarus over the migrant crisis

Brussels imposed its fifth round of sanctions on Belarus on December 2 in response to the migrant crisis engineered by Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko in November.

EU challenges China’s Belt and Road with €300bn Global Gateway

Bloc’s giant investment offer may appeal to countries worried by Chinese “debt-trap diplomacy”. Beijing warns against geopoliticising infrastructure.

Erdogan makes ‘Albayrak’s man’ new finance minister with Turkey still mired in lira crisis

Move came at end of first day of ‘front door’ interventions by central bank on FX market that reportedly burnt up in excess of a billion dollars.

Montenegro’s biggest industrial plant KAP to halt production amid surging electricity prices

Montenegrin power company EPCG plans to hike the price it charges for electricity from January in line with rising prices on international markets.

Kosovo clamps down over omicron fears

Pristina follows governments of Croatia and Slovenia in tightening border restrictions but also introduces stricter rules for people inside the country.

EU imposes fifth round of sanctions on Belarus over the migrant crisis

3 hours ago

EU challenges China’s Belt and Road with €300bn Global Gateway

1 day ago

Erdogan makes ‘Albayrak’s man’ new finance minister with Turkey still mired in lira crisis

1 day ago

Montenegro’s biggest industrial plant KAP to halt production amid surging electricity prices

1 day ago

Kosovo clamps down over omicron fears

1 day ago

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Tech

Romania’s software industry turnover set to rise by 11% in 2020

Turnover of the sector is expected to reach a new all-time high of over €9.2bn this year, according to economic data processing platform KeysFin.

IPO of Bulgarian cargo drone producer strongly oversubscribed

Dronamics' Black Swan can carry 350 kg of cargo 2,500 km at a cost up to 80% lower than any existing aircraft.

Croatia’s Konzum starts accepting cryptocurrency payments

Supermarket chain to accept payments in nine cryptocurrencies in project with local fintech Electrocoin.

4iG buys Digi's Hungarian telco assets for €625mn

The strategic partnership could create one of the leading telecommunications holding companies in the CEE region.

NEO: Samolet launches ecosystem for Russian real estate market

Russian real estate developer Samolet Group has launched a digital platform that enables customers to handle all their property-related needs in one place, as companies across industries develop their online ecosystems.

Romania’s software industry turnover set to rise by 11% in 2020

9 hours ago

IPO of Bulgarian cargo drone producer strongly oversubscribed

21 hours ago

Croatia’s Konzum starts accepting cryptocurrency payments

2 days ago

4iG buys Digi's Hungarian telco assets for €625mn

2 days ago

NEO: Samolet launches ecosystem for Russian real estate market

2 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

FPRI BMB Ukraine: 20 step plan to de-oligarchize Ukraine

On November 24, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers approved a 20-step plan outlining measures for implementing the “law on oligarchs” and the strategy for the development of the justice system in 2022–2023.

NEMETHY: The economic vulnerability of Central European economies

The global economy may be characterized as either “everything booms”, where virtually all asset prices have rapidly exploded in value, or steeply rising indebtedness. Which countries in CEE are most exposed to the risk of inevitable rate hikes?

HOMANS: Putin’s Choice – continue invading Ukraine or keep doing what he’s been doing?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear that he believes Ukrainians and Russians are “one people,” and wants Ukraine to return to the Russkiy Mir. Will he achieve his objective by invading or just wear Ukraine down?

COMMENT: The Romanian political crisis during the pandemic

On November 25 one of Romania’s most controversial and unnecessarily prolonged political crises, with profound economic and social implications, came to an end.

ING: Polish retail sales boosted by low base

Yearly retail sales in Poland have recovered after a soft third quarter. It's no surprise, given that this time last year the country was hit by COVID lockdowns.

FPRI BMB Ukraine: 20 step plan to de-oligarchize Ukraine

3 days ago

NEMETHY: The economic vulnerability of Central European economies

4 days ago

HOMANS: Putin’s Choice – continue invading Ukraine or keep doing what he’s been doing?

4 days ago

COMMENT: The Romanian political crisis during the pandemic

8 days ago

ING: Polish retail sales boosted by low base

8 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Russia's services PMI falls for second month due to impact of coronavirus

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Russia Services Business Activity Index fell further in November to 47.1, down from 48.8 in October and the second consecutive monthly fall as the post-COVID bounce-back peters out.

Romania’s industrial prices surge by 26.8% y/y in October

High energy costs were behind rise in industrial prices, which in turn are pushing up consumer prices.

Service sector and public spending save Hungary’s Q3 GDP

Hungary’s Q3 GDP grew 0.7% on a quarterly basis and by 6.1% in annual terms, decelerating from 2.7% and 17.8% in Q2.

Kazakh manufacturing PMI shows return to contraction in November

Strain felt from headwinds including material shortages, lack of labour and price pressures.

Poland’s PMI climbs to highest point since August

Poland's Purchasing Managers' Index grew 0.6 points to 54.4 in November

Russia's services PMI falls for second month due to impact of coronavirus

9 hours ago

Romania’s industrial prices surge by 26.8% y/y in October

9 hours ago

Service sector and public spending save Hungary’s Q3 GDP

1 day ago

Kazakh manufacturing PMI shows return to contraction in November

1 day ago

Poland’s PMI climbs to highest point since August

1 day ago

More Data

Features

DATACRUNCH: Croatia’s post-crisis rebound goes beyond tourism

Croatia is rebounding from the deep hit to the economy last year with a broad-based recovery, but reforms are needed for the country to build on this and take advantage of inflows of EU funds.

LONG READ: East Europe fares better than West in gas crisis thanks to pricing terms

Europe has made a concerted push to end long-term contracts and switch to shorter-term gas hub prices. Countries in northern Europe that made that change have been burnt by the current gas price spike but those in the south that didn't fared better.

Have Georgia’s crypto glory days passed?

More expensive electricity means global cryptominers are avoiding Georgia.

INTERVIEW: Kazakh gold miner AltynGold on a roll

London-listed gold miner AltynGold with assets in Kazakhstan reported strong first-half results, with revenue doubling year on year to $23mn and a net profit of $9.3mn for the period, compared to a loss in the same period a year earlier.

Russian retail investors return to bank deposits as interest rates rise

Thanks to a series of aggressive rate hikes by the CBR, Russian retail investors have started to put their money back into bank deposits after they invested heavily in the stock market after real interest rates fell to next to nothing.

DATACRUNCH: Croatia’s post-crisis rebound goes beyond tourism

3 days ago

LONG READ: East Europe fares better than West in gas crisis thanks to pricing terms

3 days ago

Have Georgia’s crypto glory days passed?

3 days ago

INTERVIEW: Kazakh gold miner AltynGold on a roll

4 days ago

Russian retail investors return to bank deposits as interest rates rise

4 days ago

More Features

Blogs

ISTANBUL BLOG: Central bank intervention throws good money after bad

Regulator says it’s moving against “unhealthy price formations”. It would do better to move against Erdogan’s unhealthy verbal formations if it wants to save the lira.

MOSCOW BLOG: Is Russia’s build-up of troops on Ukraine’s border a new Cuban Missile crisis?

Russia has clearly been building up forces close to Ukraine’s border, but as bne IntelliNews has reported, experts are convinced that it will not actually attack. So what is really going on?

BUCHAREST BLOG: The life expectancy of Romania’s grand coalition mark 2

Political rivals the PSD and PNL have united to end the political deadlock in Romania. But their previous short-lived grand coalition doesn’t bode well.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey on the edge

As Erdogan subjects nation to his mad economic experiments, there are the first signs of people taking to the streets and of the country’s export channels seizing up.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Contagion not the story in Turkey’s crisis but for exposure EU banking is the weak link

Market, meanwhile, still puzzled by five-minute delay in announcing rates decision.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Central bank intervention throws good money after bad

1 day ago

MOSCOW BLOG: Is Russia’s build-up of troops on Ukraine’s border a new Cuban Missile crisis?

4 days ago

BUCHAREST BLOG: The life expectancy of Romania’s grand coalition mark 2

6 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey on the edge

8 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Contagion not the story in Turkey’s crisis but for exposure EU banking is the weak link

12 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

Loan guarantee for Bosnia’s Tuzla 7 coal plant confirmed as illegal

Further blow for Bosnian Federation's plans to update coal-fired power plant with Chinese loan after US supplier GE pulled out in June.

bneGREEN: Russian metallurgical giants see growing demand for low-carbon metals

Metals demand is booming as increased use in transport products and energy transition projects to curb climate change begin to roll out in larger scale. And that is unlikely to stop anytime soon.

Serbia looks to nuclear as it embarks on green transition

Belgrade wants to increase energy security and is also exploring its options for reducing emissions.

bneGREEN: Russian business leaders call for international co-operation at COP

A panel of leaders from Russian and British companies have called for greater international collaboration during in a discussion which took place during the COP 26 climate conference in Glasgow.

bneGREEN: Satellites discover huge amounts of undeclared methane emissions

Satellites are detecting previously unknown emissions of methane from gas pipelines, oil wells, fossil fuel processing plants and landfills all over the world, with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan being particular culprits.

Loan guarantee for Bosnia’s Tuzla 7 coal plant confirmed as illegal

2 days ago

bneGREEN: Russian metallurgical giants see growing demand for low-carbon metals

11 days ago

Serbia looks to nuclear as it embarks on green transition

11 days ago

bneGREEN: Russian business leaders call for international co-operation at COP

14 days ago

bneGREEN: Satellites discover huge amounts of undeclared methane emissions

15 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

Brussels imposed its fifth round of sanctions on Belarus on December 2 in response to the migrant crisis engineered by Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko in November.

Bloc’s giant investment offer may appeal to countries worried by Chinese “debt-trap diplomacy”. Beijing warns against geopoliticising infrastructure.

Move came at end of first day of ‘front door’ interventions by central bank on FX market that reportedly burnt up in excess of a billion dollars.

Montenegrin power company EPCG plans to hike the price it charges for electricity from January in line with rising prices on international markets.

Pristina follows governments of Croatia and Slovenia in tightening border restrictions but also introduces stricter rules for people inside the country.

Tech

Turnover of the sector is expected to reach a new all-time high of over €9.2bn this year, according to economic data processing platform KeysFin.

Dronamics' Black Swan can carry 350 kg of cargo 2,500 km at a cost up to 80% lower than any existing aircraft.

Supermarket chain to accept payments in nine cryptocurrencies in project with local fintech Electrocoin.

The strategic partnership could create one of the leading telecommunications holding companies in the CEE region.

Russian real estate developer Samolet Group has launched a digital platform that enables customers to handle all their property-related needs in one place, as companies across industries develop their online ecosystems.

Opinion

On November 24, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers approved a 20-step plan outlining measures for implementing the “law on oligarchs” and the strategy for the development of the justice system in 2022–2023.

The global economy may be characterized as either “everything booms”, where virtually all asset prices have rapidly exploded in value, or steeply rising indebtedness. Which countries in CEE are most exposed to the risk of inevitable rate hikes?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear that he believes Ukrainians and Russians are “one people,” and wants Ukraine to return to the Russkiy Mir. Will he achieve his objective by invading or just wear Ukraine down?

On November 25 one of Romania’s most controversial and unnecessarily prolonged political crises, with profound economic and social implications, came to an end.

Yearly retail sales in Poland have recovered after a soft third quarter. It's no surprise, given that this time last year the country was hit by COVID lockdowns.

Data

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Russia Services Business Activity Index fell further in November to 47.1, down from 48.8 in October and the second consecutive monthly fall as the post-COVID bounce-back peters out.

High energy costs were behind rise in industrial prices, which in turn are pushing up consumer prices.

Hungary’s Q3 GDP grew 0.7% on a quarterly basis and by 6.1% in annual terms, decelerating from 2.7% and 17.8% in Q2.

Strain felt from headwinds including material shortages, lack of labour and price pressures.

Poland's Purchasing Managers' Index grew 0.6 points to 54.4 in November

Features

Croatia is rebounding from the deep hit to the economy last year with a broad-based recovery, but reforms are needed for the country to build on this and take advantage of inflows of EU funds.

Europe has made a concerted push to end long-term contracts and switch to shorter-term gas hub prices. Countries in northern Europe that made that change have been burnt by the current gas price spike but those in the south that didn't fared better.

More expensive electricity means global cryptominers are avoiding Georgia.

London-listed gold miner AltynGold with assets in Kazakhstan reported strong first-half results, with revenue doubling year on year to $23mn and a net profit of $9.3mn for the period, compared to a loss in the same period a year earlier.

Thanks to a series of aggressive rate hikes by the CBR, Russian retail investors have started to put their money back into bank deposits after they invested heavily in the stock market after real interest rates fell to next to nothing.

Blogs

Regulator says it’s moving against “unhealthy price formations”. It would do better to move against Erdogan’s unhealthy verbal formations if it wants to save the lira.

Russia has clearly been building up forces close to Ukraine’s border, but as bne IntelliNews has reported, experts are convinced that it will not actually attack. So what is really going on?

Political rivals the PSD and PNL have united to end the political deadlock in Romania. But their previous short-lived grand coalition doesn’t bode well.

As Erdogan subjects nation to his mad economic experiments, there are the first signs of people taking to the streets and of the country’s export channels seizing up.

Market, meanwhile, still puzzled by five-minute delay in announcing rates decision.

bneGREEN

Further blow for Bosnian Federation's plans to update coal-fired power plant with Chinese loan after US supplier GE pulled out in June.

Metals demand is booming as increased use in transport products and energy transition projects to curb climate change begin to roll out in larger scale. And that is unlikely to stop anytime soon.

Belgrade wants to increase energy security and is also exploring its options for reducing emissions.

A panel of leaders from Russian and British companies have called for greater international collaboration during in a discussion which took place during the COP 26 climate conference in Glasgow.

Satellites are detecting previously unknown emissions of methane from gas pipelines, oil wells, fossil fuel processing plants and landfills all over the world, with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan being particular culprits.

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