Features
CEE needs a new growth model as FDI plunges
wiiw economist Richard Grieveson says the CEE region’s long-standing model of attracting FDI through low labour costs no longer works.
KSE: Ukraine is facing a $53bn budget shortfall, but economy is stable for now
Ukraine is in urgent need of additional financing from partners as the continuation of the war drives up defence spending and reconstruction needs, jeopardizes budget financing, weighs on the balance of payments, and slows economic growth.
PANNIER: Ruling family’s ‘palace in the sky’ cruel sight for Turkmenistan’s poor souls down below
Photos posted of renovated Boeing by US makeover manager offer further insight into "ultra-luxurious" world enjoyed by Berdimuhamedovs.
Russia tax service targets Russian accounts in UAE
The Russian Federal Tax Service (FTS) has ramped up its scrutiny of Russian nationals holding accounts in the United Arab Emirates, following the effective implementation of automatic tax information exchange between the two countries.
INTERVIEW: Can Albania’s tourism miracle last?
As social media brings in the crowds, the head of the Albanian Tour Operators Association tells bne IntelliNews Albania should turn away from mass-market tourism and focus on higher-value offerings.
Poland’s political arch-rivals kick off 2027 campaign marathon
Poland’s two largest political parties have fired the opening shots of the 2027 general election campaign, holding back-to-back conventions to set out rival visions for the country.
COMMENT: Taiwan’s equality paradox - when “progressive” doesn’t mean equal
Taiwan’s insistence that women should have access to every privilege of citizenship - from political office to professional advancement - but not its responsibilities, undermines the moral foundation of its democracy.
Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries goes on a mysterious M&A spree
Russian e-commerce giant goes on M&A spree Almost a year after the controversial merger with a leading outdoor advertising firm, Russia’s leading e-commerce site Wildberries is indulging in a fresh bout of eyebrow raising deals.
US expands oil sanctions on Russia
US President Donald Trump imposed his first sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies on October 22, the state-owned Rosneft and the privately-owned Lukoil in the latest flip flop by the US president.
Draghi urges ‘pragmatic federalism’ as EU faces defeat in Ukraine and economic crises
The European Union must embrace “pragmatic federalism” to respond to mounting global and internal challenges, said former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi of Europe’s failure to face an accelerating slide into irrelevance.
US denies negotiating with China over Taiwan, as Beijing presses for reunification
Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, told reporters that the administration of Donald Trump is not contemplating any agreement that would compromise Taiwan’s status.
Asian economies weigh their options amid fears of over-reliance on Chinese rare-earths
Just how control over these critical minerals plays out will be a long fought battle lasting decades, and one that will increasingly define Asia’s industrial future.
BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Espionage claims thrown at Imamoglu mean relief at dismissal of CHP court case is short-lived
Wife of Erdogan opponent mocks regime, saying it is also alleged that her husband “set Rome on fire”. Demands investigation.
Turkmenistan’s TAPI gas pipeline takes off
Turkmenistan's 1,800km TAPI gas pipeline breaks ground after 30 years with first 14km completed into Afghanistan, aiming to deliver 33bcm annually to Pakistan and India by 2027 despite geopolitical hurdles.
Looking back: Prabowo’s first year of populism, growth, and the pursuit of sovereignty
His administration, which began with a promise of pragmatic reform and continuity, has in recent months leaned heavily on populist and interventionist economic policies.
Emerging Europe’s growth holds up but risks loom, says wiiw
Fiscal fragility, weakening industrial demand from Germany, and the prolonged fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine threaten to undermine growth momentum in parts of the region.
The man who sank Iran's Ayandeh Bank
Ali Ansari built an empire from steel pipes to Iran's largest shopping centre before his bank collapsed with $503mn in losses, operating what regulators described as a Ponzi scheme that poisoned Iran's banking sector.
Andaman gas find signals fresh momentum in India’s deepwater exploration
India’s latest gas discovery in the under-explored Andaman-Nicobar Basin could become a turning point for the country’s domestic upstream production and energy security
The fall of Azerbaijan's Grey Cardinal
Ramiz Mehdiyev served as Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration head for 24 consecutive years, making him arguably the most powerful unelected official in post-Soviet Azerbaijan until his dramatic fall from grace.
Ambition, access and acceleration – Uzbekistan’s Startup Garage opens free academy for entrepreneurship
Aim is to train 50,000 young founders by 2030.