Latest Updates

MACRO ADVISORY: The five Stans back in the Game

Now Central Asia has opened up, its major resources mean the rest of the world is paying more attention.

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Mongolia’s apocalyptic sandstorms

Herders tell how most ferocious storms in a decade stripped paint from cars, left hundreds of people missing and killed huge numbers of livestock. But there’s a limit to what can be done about the terrifying phenomenon.

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Ukraine’s security council lists 13 oligarchs

Ukraine’s Security Council has drawn up a list of 13 oligarchs in an effort to restrict their influence on politics and curb their ability to earn economic rents from the state.

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10 megatrends shaping emerging Europe in the post-pandemic 2020s

Visions of a new roaring twenties are seductive but climate change and geopolitics pose threats.

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Central Europe joins the EV revolution

Could electric cars and batteries generate the new high-tech sector the region so badly needs?

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Amnesty International restores Navalny’s Prisoner of Conscience status

Human Rights watchdog Amnesty International restored jailed anti-corruption activist and opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s Prisoner of Conscience status on May 7.

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CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Kazakhs’ loathing of encroaching China rises as Lake Balkhash falls

Beijing’s hopes of persuading the people of Kazakhstan it’s a force for good won’t be helped if China’s upstream water consumption causes a “second Aral Sea” disaster.

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US Secretary of State Blinken in Kyiv with promises of support and veiled rebukes for slow reform progress

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Ukraine’s top politicians in a show of solidarity in the face of Russian aggression.

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COMMENT: Was Russia preparing to invade Ukraine? A look inside Moscow’s strategy

The recent build-up and withdrawal of Russian forces at Ukraine's eastern border forms part of President Putin's coherent strategy to recover control of Ukraine and reverse the 1991 territorial losses stemming from the 1991 collapse of the USSR.

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Russia’s oil and gas reserves will last for another 59 and 103 years respectively, says natural resources minister

Moldovan left-wing coalition begins electoral campaign with anti-LGBT bills

Armenia asks Moscow-led CSTO to respond to Azerbaijan’s ‘provocative troop incursions’

Russia’s oil and gas reserves will last for another 59 and 103 years respectively, says natural resources minister

Russia has enough extractable oil still in the ground to maintain production for another 59 years and gas reserves that can be exploited for another 103 years.

Moldovan left-wing coalition begins electoral campaign with anti-LGBT bills

Socialists and Communists aim to stop a landslide for President Maia Sandu's PAS in the July general election by appealing to voters with traditional values.

Armenia asks Moscow-led CSTO to respond to Azerbaijan’s ‘provocative troop incursions’

France’s president Macron and US congressman Schiff express support for Yerevan.

News

Ukraine signs off on €1.3bn worth of French investment deals

Ukraine has signed off on €1.3bn worth of investment deals with France, the Ukrainian government said in a press release on May 13. The deal was signed during an official visit by French Economic and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire to Kyiv.

Medvedchuk reappears, denies treason charges

Ukrainian opposition leader and Russia-ally Viktor Medvedchuk reappeared at the General Prosecutor’s office on May 12 and denied charges of treason levelled again him and his allies earlier this week.

Russia expels senior US diplomat and Moscow Embassy spokeswoman as US stops issuing visas to Russians

As the tit-for-tat diplomatic clash between Russia and the US continues, the Kremlin has expelled senior diplomat and the spokeswoman for the US embassy in Moscow in the same week as the US embassy stopped issuing visas to Russians.

German retailer Penny plans €1bn investments in Romania by 2029

Penny outlines expansion plans for the rest of the decade after hiking both profit and turnover during 2020.

Azerbaijani forces 'advance 3 km into Armenia'

Armenian security council meets. Acting PM stresses there have been no exchanges of fire as Yerevan works to resolve situation peacefully.

Ukraine signs off on €1.3bn worth of French investment deals

5 hours ago

Medvedchuk reappears, denies treason charges

1 day ago

Russia expels senior US diplomat and Moscow Embassy spokeswoman as US stops issuing visas to Russians

1 day ago

German retailer Penny plans €1bn investments in Romania by 2029

1 day ago

Azerbaijani forces 'advance 3 km into Armenia'

1 day ago

More News

Tech

Free electricity in northern Kosovo allows bitcoin mining to flourish

The number of miners and cryptocurrency investors in Kosovo have increased in recent years as the value of bitcoin started to rise rapidly in 2017.

Russian mapping major 2GIS acquires Belarusian geo-marketing start-up

2GIS, a leading mapping service owned by Sber, is in the process of acquiring RocketData, a successful geomarketing start-up from Belarus.

Car-sharing service “for the people” launches in Moscow and St. Petersburg

The Moscow Department of Transport has launched a car-sharing platform, which it says is similar to US service Turo. Currently in test mode with 100 participants, the app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Bulgaria to get region's most powerful supercomputer

Bulgarian unit of France’s Atos completes Euro HPC supercomputer with a €11.5mn investment.

Payten acquires North Macedonia e-commerce company Grouper

Launched in 2011, Grouper serves more than 200,000 customers in cooperation with over 3,000 companies that sell their products and services online.

Free electricity in northern Kosovo allows bitcoin mining to flourish

1 day ago

Russian mapping major 2GIS acquires Belarusian geo-marketing start-up

2 days ago

Car-sharing service “for the people” launches in Moscow and St. Petersburg

2 days ago

Bulgaria to get region's most powerful supercomputer

3 days ago

Payten acquires North Macedonia e-commerce company Grouper

4 days ago

More Tech

Opinion

ING: Hungary's inflation is back to 2012 levels and above 5%

Headline inflation significantly accelerated in April, reaching a level not seen since end-2012. Fuel and tobacco triggered the acceleration, and there's more to come.

AFC CAPITAL: Uzbekistan’s Capital Markets Development Agency restructured as privatisation looms

On April 13, 2021, President Mirziyoyev introduced a sweeping set for reforms to the capital markets that deal with a slew of lingering problems. The state is planning to use the local stock exchange to privatise many of its industrial crown jewels.

RIMMER: The Zoom when it happened

If you want to mingle with the unelected and corrupt cabal at the apex of the Russian regime, what better way of effecting an introduction than by hiring the erm, corrupt and unelected cabal squatting atop ours? Prince Michael of Kent is available.

ING: Russian CPI slows in April, but no further relief seen till year-end

Russian inflation has come down a little but will remain stuck at about 5.5% for the rest of this year. The Central Bank of Russia is likely to keep tightening at the coming meetings.

ING: Hungary’s wages vs consumption puzzle continues

The stronger-than-expected wage growth remains puzzling, as based on the labour market data, the retail sector should not be in a downward spiral.

ING: Hungary's inflation is back to 2012 levels and above 5%

22 hours ago

AFC CAPITAL: Uzbekistan’s Capital Markets Development Agency restructured as privatisation looms

22 hours ago

RIMMER: The Zoom when it happened

3 days ago

ING: Russian CPI slows in April, but no further relief seen till year-end

3 days ago

ING: Hungary’s wages vs consumption puzzle continues

4 days ago

More Opinion

Data

Romania’s inflation up in April on higher fuel and electricity prices

Headline consumer price inflation in Romania rose to 3.24% y/y in April, the steepest level since January 2020.

Romania’s net wage hits record €726 in March

However, the growth in net wages in Romania has slowed down visibly from the high annual rates seen in the past.

Slovenia reports hike in demand for new workers in manufacturing and retail sectors

But a steep drop in job vacancies in accommodation and food service sectors shows fears of a slow summer for tourism.

Inflation in Belarus at 4.6% in April

Belarusian inflation in April was a modest 4.6% year on year, according to Belstat, while inflation is soaring in most of the countries around it.

Polish gross wages pick up growth to 6.6% y/y in Q1

An economic recovery of around 3%-4% is expected in 2021, driven by household consumption, on the back of faster wage growth and unemployment returning to normal.

Romania’s inflation up in April on higher fuel and electricity prices

15 hours ago

Romania’s net wage hits record €726 in March

15 hours ago

Slovenia reports hike in demand for new workers in manufacturing and retail sectors

1 day ago

Inflation in Belarus at 4.6% in April

1 day ago

Polish gross wages pick up growth to 6.6% y/y in Q1

1 day ago

More Data

Features

BRICKS & MORTAR: What happens if Russia’s mortgage subsidy programme ends?

Almost as soon as the double whammy of the coronavirus pandemic and a concurrent collapse in oil prices hit Russia’s economy last March, the government reacted by introducing a mortgage subsidy programme; that may end this summer.

Turkey's "crazy" canal would impact Eurasian trade, geopolitics

The project threatens the delicate regional military balance.

Russian ice cream consumption to hit new record of 3.1kg per person

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was in Moscow in winter to meet Stalin during WWII. Passing a group of Russians he asked his driver: "What are they doing?" "Eating ice cream, sir." He paused and said: “These people will never be defeated."

Baltic states want to ensure the golden goose keeps producing unicorns

Lithuania is starting to catch up with Estonia in terms of startups but the small size of the local talent pools is acting as a constraint.

DATACRUNCH: Russian economy makes a stronger than expected recovery

Russia’s economy contracted less than feared in 2020 and now it is bouncing back from the coronacrisis faster than analysts were expecting.

BRICKS & MORTAR: What happens if Russia’s mortgage subsidy programme ends?

6 days ago

Turkey's "crazy" canal would impact Eurasian trade, geopolitics

7 days ago

Russian ice cream consumption to hit new record of 3.1kg per person

8 days ago

Baltic states want to ensure the golden goose keeps producing unicorns

9 days ago

DATACRUNCH: Russian economy makes a stronger than expected recovery

10 days ago

More Features

Blogs

ISTANBUL BLOG: Criminal probe launched into inflation eggheads

Professors’ numbers show data from official statistical institute may be rather unreliable. AKP official, meanwhile, says polls putting party at under 30% popularity do not reflect the truth.

KYIV BLOG: Blinken in Kyiv

So as expected, there were no real newsmakers from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Kyiv yesterday where he expressed “strong support” for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Now you see it, now you don’t

Finance ministry again drops 10-year domestic bond auction from borrowing programme. Once more, ‘Erdoganomics’ is causing trouble for the Turkish economy.

CONFERENCE CALL: Losing the Western Balkans

The EU’s slow and sometimes confusing response to the coronacrisis in the Western Balkans made room for China to increase its influence.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Regime fails to see funny side of TikTok video mocking quite useless Turkish passport

Police detain two young people for satirical use of passport as oven mitt, bookmark and drink mat.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Criminal probe launched into inflation eggheads

4 days ago

KYIV BLOG: Blinken in Kyiv

6 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Now you see it, now you don’t

8 days ago

CONFERENCE CALL: Losing the Western Balkans

8 days ago

ISTANBUL BLOG: Regime fails to see funny side of TikTok video mocking quite useless Turkish passport

10 days ago

More Blogs

Latest Updates

News

Ukraine has signed off on €1.3bn worth of investment deals with France, the Ukrainian government said in a press release on May 13. The deal was signed during an official visit by French Economic and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire to Kyiv.

Ukrainian opposition leader and Russia-ally Viktor Medvedchuk reappeared at the General Prosecutor’s office on May 12 and denied charges of treason levelled again him and his allies earlier this week.

As the tit-for-tat diplomatic clash between Russia and the US continues, the Kremlin has expelled senior diplomat and the spokeswoman for the US embassy in Moscow in the same week as the US embassy stopped issuing visas to Russians.

Penny outlines expansion plans for the rest of the decade after hiking both profit and turnover during 2020.

Armenian security council meets. Acting PM stresses there have been no exchanges of fire as Yerevan works to resolve situation peacefully.

Tech

The number of miners and cryptocurrency investors in Kosovo have increased in recent years as the value of bitcoin started to rise rapidly in 2017.

2GIS, a leading mapping service owned by Sber, is in the process of acquiring RocketData, a successful geomarketing start-up from Belarus.

The Moscow Department of Transport has launched a car-sharing platform, which it says is similar to US service Turo. Currently in test mode with 100 participants, the app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Bulgarian unit of France’s Atos completes Euro HPC supercomputer with a €11.5mn investment.

Launched in 2011, Grouper serves more than 200,000 customers in cooperation with over 3,000 companies that sell their products and services online.

Opinion

Headline inflation significantly accelerated in April, reaching a level not seen since end-2012. Fuel and tobacco triggered the acceleration, and there's more to come.

On April 13, 2021, President Mirziyoyev introduced a sweeping set for reforms to the capital markets that deal with a slew of lingering problems. The state is planning to use the local stock exchange to privatise many of its industrial crown jewels.

If you want to mingle with the unelected and corrupt cabal at the apex of the Russian regime, what better way of effecting an introduction than by hiring the erm, corrupt and unelected cabal squatting atop ours? Prince Michael of Kent is available.

Russian inflation has come down a little but will remain stuck at about 5.5% for the rest of this year. The Central Bank of Russia is likely to keep tightening at the coming meetings.

The stronger-than-expected wage growth remains puzzling, as based on the labour market data, the retail sector should not be in a downward spiral.

Data

Headline consumer price inflation in Romania rose to 3.24% y/y in April, the steepest level since January 2020.

However, the growth in net wages in Romania has slowed down visibly from the high annual rates seen in the past.

But a steep drop in job vacancies in accommodation and food service sectors shows fears of a slow summer for tourism.

Belarusian inflation in April was a modest 4.6% year on year, according to Belstat, while inflation is soaring in most of the countries around it.

An economic recovery of around 3%-4% is expected in 2021, driven by household consumption, on the back of faster wage growth and unemployment returning to normal.

Features

Almost as soon as the double whammy of the coronavirus pandemic and a concurrent collapse in oil prices hit Russia’s economy last March, the government reacted by introducing a mortgage subsidy programme; that may end this summer.

The project threatens the delicate regional military balance.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was in Moscow in winter to meet Stalin during WWII. Passing a group of Russians he asked his driver: "What are they doing?" "Eating ice cream, sir." He paused and said: “These people will never be defeated."

Lithuania is starting to catch up with Estonia in terms of startups but the small size of the local talent pools is acting as a constraint.

Russia’s economy contracted less than feared in 2020 and now it is bouncing back from the coronacrisis faster than analysts were expecting.

Blogs

Professors’ numbers show data from official statistical institute may be rather unreliable. AKP official, meanwhile, says polls putting party at under 30% popularity do not reflect the truth.

So as expected, there were no real newsmakers from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Kyiv yesterday where he expressed “strong support” for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.

Finance ministry again drops 10-year domestic bond auction from borrowing programme. Once more, ‘Erdoganomics’ is causing trouble for the Turkish economy.

The EU’s slow and sometimes confusing response to the coronacrisis in the Western Balkans made room for China to increase its influence.

Police detain two young people for satirical use of passport as oven mitt, bookmark and drink mat.

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