Features
Awkward embrace as Iran and Saudi Arabia seal deal on restoring relations brokered by China
Agreement could have implications on reviving nuclear deal and could even help build ties between Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and Riyadh.
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Central Asia’s poorest farmers know the value of their land
Farmland and pastures across the region are far less productive after decades of monocropping.
Moldovans turn to tourism and online sex work to make ends meet
Moldova is often painted as small, struggling and stuck between the East and West. Its tourism industry was no different, at least until 2020. It has since borne the brunt of three global crises and has the battle scars to show for it.
Czech President Milos Zeman: a populist tragedy of our times
The Kremlin-backing head of state, who left office this week, is widely seen as without question the worst Czech president since the restoration of democracy in 1989.
Outgunned Ukrainian soldiers near Bakhmut wait for more Western ammo
With Ukraine firing more than 5,000 artillery rounds each day by some estimates, ammunition for the country's artillery systems is running low, despite the country inheriting massive stocks of 155mm shells following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Incoming Czech President Petr Pavel marks clean break from Zeman's 10-year rule
Pavel’s record election victory has widely been seen as a blow to the powerful populist trend in Central Europe, epitomised in the Czech Republic by Zeman and his ally, opposition leader Andrej Babis.
Bomb hoaxes disrupt education and daily life in North Macedonia
Thousands of fake bomb threats linked by officials to Ukraine war have disturbed the everyday lives of North Macedonia’s citizens for months, with schools being the main targets.
The endless battle for Bakhmut
Civilian life still continues in Chasiv Yar, a few kilometres from Bakhmut, the fortress city that has become Ukraine's Stalingrad.
Gender gap persists in Emerging Europe’s industries of the future
Women are underrepresented in the growing ICT and green energy sectors.
Western, Russian diplomats globetrotting to win support in ballooning sanctions battle
French President Emmanuel Macron is in Africa. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has just been to Central Asia before visiting India, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has just completed a tour of Africa, India and the Caucasus.
Russia cracks down on VPNs as restrictions on internet freedoms continue to increase
Moscow’s attempts to stifle internet freedom and further isolate the country from the rest of the world appear to be ramping up in the second year of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Croatian retailer Studenac on acquisition spree in market ripe for consolidation
Studenac aims to become one of Croatia's top three grocery retailers and increase its market share to over 12% though a combination of organic growth and acquisitions.
Sanctioned Russian banker Tinkov launches fintech project in Mexico
Prominent Russian oligarch Oleg Tinkov, the former owner of Russia’s only purely online bank, is behind the launch of an international financial startup in Mexico, banking sources have told bne IntelliNews.
Russia is successfully evading Western technology sanctions
Russia has managed to largely bypass Western sanctions on technology and semiconductor imports to supply itself with technology to keep its economy working and build sophisticated weapons.
Russomania slowly fades in Serbia as Putin’s hybrid war continues
Falling living standards and first hand accounts from Russians and Ukrainians living in Serbia are starting to challenge Serbs’ allegiance to Russia.
Estonia's far-right EKRE party should not be written off
Estonia’s radical right-wing party is catching up with the ruling liberal Reform Party, with just hours to go before the general election on Sunday.
Ukrainian refugees and Russian migrants bring economic benefits but also stresses to Emerging Europe
Looking forward to the end of the war, whenever it happens, policymakers are already speculating on how many of the refugees and migrants are likely to stay and how many will return.
Perspectives | China wants the Line D pipeline. Can Central Asia deliver?
Beijing is leaning toward buying additional Central Asian gas, despite reliability concerns.
Kyiv emerges warm and victorious from worst winter since World War 2
Wind and sleet greeted the first spring morning in Kyiv. Despite the miserable weather, March 1 marks another victory for Ukraine; the survival of the dreaded winter.
Russia’s McDonald's rip-off to produce “Happy Mealski”
After McDonald's pulled out of Russia when the war in Ukraine started last year, its restaurants were rapidly taken over by a Russian replacement called Vkusno I Tochka ("Tasty, period") which now plans to introduce its own Happy Meal, The Kids Combo
