News
Macron says compromise found for Sofia-Skopje dispute
North Macedonia urged to accept French proposal that would unlock its EU accession progress and that of neighbouring Albania.
Serbians turn against EU accession, pick Putin as favourite world leader
Poll shows 51% of Serbs would vote against joining the EU, while overwhelming 80% are against joining sanctions on Russia.
Belgrade accuses Kosovo of ‘threatening war’ with new entry rules for Serbs
PM Albin Kurti announces controversial new rules for crossing the border into Kosovo with Serbian ID cards and licence plates.
Belarus will make its Eurobond payments in Belarusian rubles
Belarus' Council of Ministers adopted a decree to service its eurobonds in Belarusian rubles after Minsk struggled to pay its debts through international clearing and depository systems.
Belarus could execute over 60 people on terrorism charges
Following the recent amendments to its law on the death penalty, Belarus could execute over 60 people on terrorist charges.
Albania ranked among world’s top cannabis producers
Despite government efforts to wipe out cannabis plantations, UNODC lists Albania seventh worldwide for cultivation and distribution of the drug.
PPF group confirms plans to sell Chinese operations
Czech investment group also says it is looking at acquisition opportunities in telecommunications, probably involving a merger with another financial or investment partner.
Uzbekistan hit twice in a week by Ukraine war sanctions
Tashkent loses bank deal and suffers blow as company accused by US of supplying microchips to Russian military-industrial complex.
Nato agrees 'fundamental shift' to counter Russia
Security alliance’s leaders agree a big increase in troop deployments on its Eastern Flank, more help for Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression, and a new Strategic Concept.
Bulgaria a step closer to early election as Socialists pull out of coalition talks
Pro-Moscow BSP says it won't continue talks on a new coalition with outgoing PM Kiril Petkov's Change Continues after mass expulsion of Russian diplomats.
Czech energy company CEZ switches away from Russian nuclear fuel
CEZ signs contract with US nuclear power technology company Westinghouse and French Framatome.
Romania reports new gas from Black Sea, expects 90% gas self-sufficiency
Energy minister says Black Sea Oil and Gas’ Midia development will boost self-sufficiency, as Europe tries to end dependence on Russian gas.
Hungary’s forint jumps after central bank’s aggressive 185bp rate hike
The forint has been of the weakest currencies in Europe, with widening budget and current account deficits making it exposed to external market movements.
Bulgaria expels 70 Russian diplomats
Mass expulsion is unprecedented for Bulgaria, which until recently was seen as one of Russia’s most loyal allies in the EU.
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Turkey drops opposition to Sweden, Finland joining Nato
Big boost for Western defence bloc as Madrid summit gets underway, with member states seeking to demonstrate unmistakable unity to Kremlin while the Ukraine-Russia war continues to rage.
Russia denies defaulting on $100mn bond coupon payment
Russia denied that it had defaulted on a $100mn bond payment, saying that the money had been sent to bond holders, in dollars, in May but it was not the Kremlin’s fault if the cash was not distributed to bondholders.
A maze of smuggler tunnels: the Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan border
The four smuggling tunnels found so far may only be a small part of the total.
Ukraine's Zelenskiy calls on the US to recognise Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism
Following a horrific Russian missile attack on a packed shopping mall in Ukraine's industrial city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on the West to designate Russia a state sponsor of terror.
Amnesty International issues damning report on Lithuania’s migration centres
NGO documents allegations of racism and violent pushbacks of asylum seekers.
At least a dozen killed in shopping mall bombing as Zelenskiy urges G7 leaders to impose more sanctions
At least 10 people were killed and more than three dozen injured after Russian missiles slammed into a packed supermarket in the middle of the day in Ukraine’s industrial city of Kremenchuk on June 27.
