Latest Updates

Czech government remains colour blind on green issues

This could prevent it from tackling some of the country’s biggest problems, such as its dependency on Russian energy, soaring energy bills, worsening environmental problems, and its stuttering economic model.

Read Story

Government claims three quarters of foreign companies in Russia are still working

The Kremlin has now banned companies in the financial, fuel and energy sectors from leaving the country.

Read Story

Poland ups the ante in feud with Brussels over judiciary reforms

If Kaczynski and other PiS figures are to be believed, Poland no longer wants to meet the EU's milestones and will engage in direct opposition to the Commission.

Read Story

BALKAN BLOG: Southeast Europe’s ties to Russia prove hard to sever

Bulgaria shifts back towards Russian orbit after reformist government toppled. Montenegro could be next.

Read Story

What's the current outlook for Belarus' export sector?

After February 24, sanctions began mounting on Belarus due to its support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. So, what can we expect from Belarus’ foreign trade for the rest of 2022?

Read Story

Russian gas exports to Europe tumble in June

Russian exports of gas to Europe have tumbled by two thirds, but oil exports by sea have recovered to pre-war levels, according to the European Central Bank’s latest economic bulletin.

Read Story

Can we trust Russia’s economic statistics?

Russia’ state statistic agency RosStat and the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) have released a string of good economic results recently. Of course Russia’s economy has been badly hurt by sanctions, but by just how much? No one is sure.

Read Story

LONG READ: Is Russia’s economy headed for 'economic oblivion', as a report from Yale says?

Russia’s economy seems to be doing a lot better than was expected. The International Monetary Fund recently improved its growth outlook for this year.

Read Story

Western capitals wonder what kind of sanctions deal Erdogan may have cooked up with Putin

Mindful of Turkey’s own economic and strategic interests—and his poor re-election prospects—the Turkish leader met his Russian counterpart in Sochi.

Read Story

Russia’s international reserves up $3.6bn in one week to $571bn

Russian e-commerce turnover up 1.5-fold in 1H22

Moldova says it won't be able to make next payment to Gazprom

Russia’s international reserves up $3.6bn in one week to $571bn

Russia’s gross international reserves were up by $3.6bn in a week to $571.2bn, at the same time as individuals are buying record amounts of foreign currency.

Russian e-commerce turnover up 1.5-fold in 1H22

Following the imposition of sanctions and the voluntary withdrawal of hundreds of international brands, Russians have turned to e-commerce sites to buy hard-to-find foreign brands.

Moldova says it won't be able to make next payment to Gazprom

Failure to make the up-front payment may result in disruption of gas supplies in the first days of September.

News

Russia resumes oil supplies to Slovakia and Hungary but imports to Czechia remain halted

Hungary's MOL group pays for Transneft's transit fee to Ukrtransnafta, ending cut-off caused by 'administrative glitch'.

US charges Iran operative with plotting to kill former Trump hawk John Bolton

Justice officials say it was probable that Shahram Poursafi was attempting to avenge US killing of Iranian ‘Shadow Commander’ Qasem Soleimani.

Ukraine will receive $5.5bn in support from the US later this month

The United States is to send Ukraine financial assistance totalling $5.5bn. This includes $4.5bn for urgent budgetary needs and $1bn in military support.

John Malkovich to turn Skopje into Hollywood of the Balkans

Actor who calls himself a “son of the Balkans” plans to set up film and music studios in North Macedonia’s capital to shoot Hollywood-calibre movies.

Envoy says start made on construction of Turkish attack drone factory in Ukraine

Kremlin responds that plant would obviously be target for its missiles.

Russia resumes oil supplies to Slovakia and Hungary but imports to Czechia remain halted

18 hours ago

US charges Iran operative with plotting to kill former Trump hawk John Bolton

1 day ago

Ukraine will receive $5.5bn in support from the US later this month

1 day ago

John Malkovich to turn Skopje into Hollywood of the Balkans

1 day ago

Envoy says start made on construction of Turkish attack drone factory in Ukraine

2 days ago

More News

Tech

Home of the humbled lira, Turkey’s the biggest cryptocurrency market in the Middle East

Up to a fifth of Turks appear to have invested in digital money in the past two years.

Business Insider: Western tech majors have tested or used controversial Russian face recognition technology

According to a report published last week by US publication Business Insider, a range of Western tech firms are users of FindFace, a controversial face recognition technology developed by Russian startup NtechLab.

From 4G to 6G: How Russia seeks to develop mobile networks amid shortages of domestic frequency and foreign equipment

The Russian government intends to spend more than RUB30bn ($375mn at the pre-war exchange rate, $500mn at the current rate) on an R&D programme to deploy 6G until 2025.

Should I stay or go for founder of Russian internet major Yandex

The founder of Russian internet major Yandex, Arkady Volozh, could agree to a new shareholder and management structure for the company in exchange for the Kremlin’s permission to develop some of Yandex assets independently abroad

EVs in Uzbekistan bring problems and prospects

Number of imports up dramatically, but most market players doing little by way of providing electric vehicle servicing and infrastructure. That needs to change.

Home of the humbled lira, Turkey’s the biggest cryptocurrency market in the Middle East

8 hours ago

Business Insider: Western tech majors have tested or used controversial Russian face recognition technology

6 days ago

From 4G to 6G: How Russia seeks to develop mobile networks amid shortages of domestic frequency and foreign equipment

6 days ago

Should I stay or go for founder of Russian internet major Yandex

10 days ago

EVs in Uzbekistan bring problems and prospects

14 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

COMMENT: Emerging European tightening cycle coming to an end

The tightening cycle by central banks in Emerging Europe is coming to an end as regulators across the region start to get inflationary pressures under control, Capital Economics said in a note on August 8.

COMMENT: Does Russia have any friends left in Southeast Asia?

The geopolitical earthquake that is the Russian invasion of Ukraine has clearly strengthened alliances between Russia and China, but the war has wrecked trade relations in SE Asia and most countries are trying not to take sides.

COMMENT: Will an Italian right-wing victory in upcoming elections be another win for Putin in Europe?

On July 21, the Italian government headed by Mario Draghi collapsed, and elections were promptly called for September 25. The new right-wing government that is expected to win is worryingly pro-Russia.

COMMENT: War as a sign of weakness: failure of reforms and of branding of a Russian nation.

Putin’s war has so far achieved the opposite to all the declared goals: Nato has come even closer to its borders; Ukraine has become more militarised; long-time neutral Sweden and Finland have applied for Nato membership; and the West is united.

HESS: Putin doesn’t fit with China’s plans for an alternative global financial order

For Russian President Vladimir Putin, his invasion of Ukraine is not only an attempt to subdue, and possibly destroy, the Ukrainian nation; It is also the key front in his long-standing desire to upend the global order.

COMMENT: Emerging European tightening cycle coming to an end

3 days ago

COMMENT: Does Russia have any friends left in Southeast Asia?

7 days ago

COMMENT: Will an Italian right-wing victory in upcoming elections be another win for Putin in Europe?

7 days ago

COMMENT: War as a sign of weakness: failure of reforms and of branding of a Russian nation.

14 days ago

HESS: Putin doesn’t fit with China’s plans for an alternative global financial order

15 days ago

More Opinion

Data

CPI inflation in Moldova hits 33.6% y/y in July

The price of natural gas quadrupled compared to July 2021 and the price of electricity increased by 59%.

How do high gas prices push up the cost of power?

Russian supply woes have driven European gas prices to previously unimaginable levels, but why are electricity prices so high?

Russian inflation falls to 15.1% in July

Russia is now the only country in Europe where inflation is falling thanks to the determined action by the central bank that has been tightening monetary policy since March last year.

Russia’s current account surplus hits new all-time high of $166bn

In January-July Russia’s current account surplus rose to triple the level of the same period a year earlier, which was already a record.

Poll shows every other Russian supports continuing the war against Ukraine

52% of Russians support continuing the war against Ukraine, whereas 38% of respondents to a new poll by the Russian Field sociological agency were in favour of moving to peace talks with Ukraine.

CPI inflation in Moldova hits 33.6% y/y in July

18 hours ago

How do high gas prices push up the cost of power?

1 day ago

Russian inflation falls to 15.1% in July

1 day ago

Russia’s current account surplus hits new all-time high of $166bn

1 day ago

Poll shows every other Russian supports continuing the war against Ukraine

1 day ago

More Data

Features

Is Lukashenko preparing to help Russia reopen Ukraine’s northern front?

Recent Russian and Belarusian military activity on Belarusian territory could be laying the groundwork for Russia to reopen the northern front in its invasion of Ukraine.

Academic sheds light on Rahmon regime’s attempts to crush the Pamiris

Sniper used to kill Colonel Boqir, local leader long at top of hitlist. After brutal crackdown, GBAO region’s inhabitants fear they will be living under a securitised surveillance state.

Kyrgyzstan’s mining sector wilts as authorities seek total control

After seizing the country’s most profitable mine, Kyrgyzstan is using new regulations to drive out more private mining companies and place the bulk of the industry into the hands of a single state firm.

Belarus risks losing long-term potash deals unless it manages to find new ports

As Belarus has been blocked from using EU or Ukrainian ports to transport its potash, it has also been effectively shut out from the world market. If this problem isn't solved soon, Belarus could lose out on long-term deals.

Sanctions bring Russian car market screeching to a halt

Western car brands are leaving Russia en masse as sanctions cause a critical shortage of components. The Russian government promises that homegrown alternatives will fill the gap, but in the meantime, spiralling prices are causing demand to collapse.

Is Lukashenko preparing to help Russia reopen Ukraine’s northern front?

4 days ago

Academic sheds light on Rahmon regime’s attempts to crush the Pamiris

5 days ago

Kyrgyzstan’s mining sector wilts as authorities seek total control

7 days ago

Belarus risks losing long-term potash deals unless it manages to find new ports

8 days ago

Sanctions bring Russian car market screeching to a halt

11 days ago

More Features

Blogs

Turkmenistan: Come fly with me

Obsessing about sports, building bridges and speaking up for China. This and more in Eurasianet’s weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

KYIV BLOG: A financial crisis has begun in Ukraine

A financial crisis has begun in Ukraine. The hryvnia is in free fall. The national bank has ordered exchange kiosks not to display the exchange rate. The government is running a deficit it can’t cover and companies are defaulting on their bonds.

MOSCOW BLOG: West moving towards a “back to normal strategy”

Important day today. There are 17 ships in three Ukrainian ports cleared for grain shipments, of which 10 are ready to go, and it was just reported that the first one has set sail on its way to Turkey and then the rest of the world.

MOSCOW BLOG: Putin inflicts more pain as Ukraine teeters on edge of default

Didn’t I say this would happen? That Russian President Vladimir Putin would play silly buggers with the gas flow and that newswires would be buzzing with alerts for months to come.

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Why Tajikistan and Turkmenistan said no to a Central Asian ‘Visegrad Group’

Some analysts contend Moscow was not in favour of Kazakhstan’s proposal, but the opposite might actually have been the case.

Turkmenistan: Come fly with me

16 hours ago

KYIV BLOG: A financial crisis has begun in Ukraine

9 days ago

MOSCOW BLOG: West moving towards a “back to normal strategy”

10 days ago

MOSCOW BLOG: Putin inflicts more pain as Ukraine teeters on edge of default

16 days ago

CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Why Tajikistan and Turkmenistan said no to a Central Asian ‘Visegrad Group’

17 days ago

More Blogs

bneGREEN

Serbia to crack down on environmental crime

Interior minister warns those who destroy Serbia’s natural heritage will be prosecuted after new environmental crime unit files hundreds of criminal reports.

Shipping and agriculture suffer as drought causes dramatic fall in Danube

Water levels are critically low in Romania, which is both a major EU grain producer and a channel to export Ukrainian grain to international markets.

bneGREEN: Zero-carbon housing a key battleground for climate change

Zero-carbon housing is a key battleground in combating climate change and global warming, as the residential building sector across Europe has the potential to cut fossil fuel dependency and reduce emissions.

bneGREEN: Europe must double wind and solar deployment

EU countries need to double the rate of annual wind and solar capacity additions to reach the volumes required to meet the 1.5C aligned 2030 green capacities, think-tank Ember said in a recent report.

bneGREEN: Green output rises faster than power demand in 2022

Renewable power generation has grown faster than sluggish demand so far in 2022, driven by strong capacity additions, IEA data showed, dragging down global power sector CO2 emissions slightly despite rising coal use in Europe.

Serbia to crack down on environmental crime

2 days ago

Shipping and agriculture suffer as drought causes dramatic fall in Danube

3 days ago

bneGREEN: Zero-carbon housing a key battleground for climate change

9 days ago

bneGREEN: Europe must double wind and solar deployment

13 days ago

bneGREEN: Green output rises faster than power demand in 2022

20 days ago

More bneGREEN

Latest Updates

News

Hungary's MOL group pays for Transneft's transit fee to Ukrtransnafta, ending cut-off caused by 'administrative glitch'.

Justice officials say it was probable that Shahram Poursafi was attempting to avenge US killing of Iranian ‘Shadow Commander’ Qasem Soleimani.

The United States is to send Ukraine financial assistance totalling $5.5bn. This includes $4.5bn for urgent budgetary needs and $1bn in military support.

Actor who calls himself a “son of the Balkans” plans to set up film and music studios in North Macedonia’s capital to shoot Hollywood-calibre movies.

Kremlin responds that plant would obviously be target for its missiles.

Tech

Up to a fifth of Turks appear to have invested in digital money in the past two years.

According to a report published last week by US publication Business Insider, a range of Western tech firms are users of FindFace, a controversial face recognition technology developed by Russian startup NtechLab.

The Russian government intends to spend more than RUB30bn ($375mn at the pre-war exchange rate, $500mn at the current rate) on an R&D programme to deploy 6G until 2025.

The founder of Russian internet major Yandex, Arkady Volozh, could agree to a new shareholder and management structure for the company in exchange for the Kremlin’s permission to develop some of Yandex assets independently abroad

Number of imports up dramatically, but most market players doing little by way of providing electric vehicle servicing and infrastructure. That needs to change.

Opinion

The tightening cycle by central banks in Emerging Europe is coming to an end as regulators across the region start to get inflationary pressures under control, Capital Economics said in a note on August 8.

The geopolitical earthquake that is the Russian invasion of Ukraine has clearly strengthened alliances between Russia and China, but the war has wrecked trade relations in SE Asia and most countries are trying not to take sides.

On July 21, the Italian government headed by Mario Draghi collapsed, and elections were promptly called for September 25. The new right-wing government that is expected to win is worryingly pro-Russia.

Putin’s war has so far achieved the opposite to all the declared goals: Nato has come even closer to its borders; Ukraine has become more militarised; long-time neutral Sweden and Finland have applied for Nato membership; and the West is united.

For Russian President Vladimir Putin, his invasion of Ukraine is not only an attempt to subdue, and possibly destroy, the Ukrainian nation; It is also the key front in his long-standing desire to upend the global order.

Data

The price of natural gas quadrupled compared to July 2021 and the price of electricity increased by 59%.

Russian supply woes have driven European gas prices to previously unimaginable levels, but why are electricity prices so high?

Russia is now the only country in Europe where inflation is falling thanks to the determined action by the central bank that has been tightening monetary policy since March last year.

In January-July Russia’s current account surplus rose to triple the level of the same period a year earlier, which was already a record.

52% of Russians support continuing the war against Ukraine, whereas 38% of respondents to a new poll by the Russian Field sociological agency were in favour of moving to peace talks with Ukraine.

Features

Recent Russian and Belarusian military activity on Belarusian territory could be laying the groundwork for Russia to reopen the northern front in its invasion of Ukraine.

Sniper used to kill Colonel Boqir, local leader long at top of hitlist. After brutal crackdown, GBAO region’s inhabitants fear they will be living under a securitised surveillance state.

After seizing the country’s most profitable mine, Kyrgyzstan is using new regulations to drive out more private mining companies and place the bulk of the industry into the hands of a single state firm.

As Belarus has been blocked from using EU or Ukrainian ports to transport its potash, it has also been effectively shut out from the world market. If this problem isn't solved soon, Belarus could lose out on long-term deals.

Western car brands are leaving Russia en masse as sanctions cause a critical shortage of components. The Russian government promises that homegrown alternatives will fill the gap, but in the meantime, spiralling prices are causing demand to collapse.

Blogs

Obsessing about sports, building bridges and speaking up for China. This and more in Eurasianet’s weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

A financial crisis has begun in Ukraine. The hryvnia is in free fall. The national bank has ordered exchange kiosks not to display the exchange rate. The government is running a deficit it can’t cover and companies are defaulting on their bonds.

Important day today. There are 17 ships in three Ukrainian ports cleared for grain shipments, of which 10 are ready to go, and it was just reported that the first one has set sail on its way to Turkey and then the rest of the world.

Didn’t I say this would happen? That Russian President Vladimir Putin would play silly buggers with the gas flow and that newswires would be buzzing with alerts for months to come.

Some analysts contend Moscow was not in favour of Kazakhstan’s proposal, but the opposite might actually have been the case.

bneGREEN

Interior minister warns those who destroy Serbia’s natural heritage will be prosecuted after new environmental crime unit files hundreds of criminal reports.

Water levels are critically low in Romania, which is both a major EU grain producer and a channel to export Ukrainian grain to international markets.

Zero-carbon housing is a key battleground in combating climate change and global warming, as the residential building sector across Europe has the potential to cut fossil fuel dependency and reduce emissions.

EU countries need to double the rate of annual wind and solar capacity additions to reach the volumes required to meet the 1.5C aligned 2030 green capacities, think-tank Ember said in a recent report.

Renewable power generation has grown faster than sluggish demand so far in 2022, driven by strong capacity additions, IEA data showed, dragging down global power sector CO2 emissions slightly despite rising coal use in Europe.

Follow Us On

Most Read

Podcasts

The uncertainty by the war in Ukraine has driven up energy prices and allowed Russia to bring in record revenue from its Exports o....

Reports

Cookies on the bne IntelliNews website