News
Turkey reportedly freezes all trade with Israel
Under pressure from religious conservatives, Turkish leader Erdogan is said to have blocked all exports and imports. Move draws angry rebuke from Israelis.
German chancellor says 4-year timeline for Montenegro's EU membership is realistic
Montenegro is the closest to accession among the Western Balkan countries, but progress has been stalled by political instability in recent years.
Shocking trial of ex-minister has shifted domestic violence attitudes in Kazakhstan, says brother
Country’s first court hearing to be screened online has included CCTV showing how wife died after torturous beating that lasted several hours.
Orban's government opts not to commemorate 20th membership of EU accession
Hungary has slid to second poorest member state under Hungarian strongman's corrupt rule.
Slovak parliament moves closer to approving foreign agent bill aimed at NGOs
NGOs which receive more than €5,000 from outside of Slovakia will be labelled “organisations with foreign support”.
Russia doesn’t like taking a back seat to China in Central Asia trade
But domestic economic woes may be slowing Beijing’s exports.
Fighting breaks out in Georgian parliament, halting vote on 'foreign agents' law
A debate to approve Georgia’s controversial 'foreign agents' bill in its second reading was disrupted after fights broke out in the chamber between members of the ruling party and opposition MPs on May 1.
Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian oil refineries cause domestic petrol prices to surge
Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries are causing a shortage of petrol on the domestic markets and have sent prices at the pump surging in the last few weeks.
Russia is producing weapons at a record pace, and Ukraine’s partners are trying to increase support for Kyiv
Russia is producing weapons at a record pace, and Ukraine’s partners are trying to increase support. Over the past year, Russia has learned to develop new weapons and ammunition faster than at any time in its modern history.
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Fighting between protestors and riot police breaks out in Tbilisi
Baton-wielding riot police attacked protestors, firing rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of demonstrators in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi late on the evening on April 30, as authorities tried to end weeks of demonstrations.
Lithuanian leaders back sending 29,000 military-age men back to Ukraine
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte believe that Lithuania should help Ukraine get back its military-age men living abroad.
Top Russian mobile operator MTS announces $86.5mn share buyback
Russia’s biggest mobile phone operator MTS is offering its international investors whose shares have been trapped in Russia by sanctions an opportunity to sell their shares at a discount and get a return on their investment.
Serbia's new government to have ministers under US sanctions for Russia links
Former spy chief Aleksandar Vulin, dubbed ‘Moscow’s man’ in Belgrade, to join Milos Vucevic’s new cabinet.
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Czech police point to Russia's GRU as investigation into ammunition explosion is shelved
Czech interior minister says that Russia is “transgressing valid international agreements” after it refused to cooperate with Czech authorities on the case.
Georgian oligarch Ivanishvili advocates repression, blames Western “Party of War” for country’s ills
Georgian Dream's founder's strong comments indicate that the party is not planning to back down, despite big demonstrations against the 'foreign agents' bill over the past two weeks.
Poland’s Tusk orders thorough probe into Orlen’s $370mn botched oil deal
Orlen's PiS-appointed CEO reportedly disregarded warnings from the company's security team about head of Swiss subsidiary's alleged Hezbollah links.
World's longest-serving central bank chief heading for another term in Romania
PM Marcel Ciolacu wants Mugur Isarescu to continue in post he has held since 1990 to ensure monetary stability.
France's EDF seen as favourite as Czech nuclear tender enters next stage
It is already clear that the estimated price of CZK160bn (€6.4bn), which the Czech government calculated in 2020, will be exceeded.
European banks still in Russia see profits quadruple, pay over €800mn in taxes
Western banks that have continued operations in Russia paid more than €800mn in taxes last year, marking a fourfold increase from pre-war levels, despite pledges to reduce their exposure following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Putin did not order death of Navalny, US intelligence agencies conclude
US intelligence agencies do not believe that the death of Alexey Navalny was ordered by President Vladimir Putin, the Wall Street Journal has reported.