News
Serbia revokes licences for Rio Tinto’s $2.4bn lithium project
Huge lithium project cancelled following weeks of mass protests in Serbia.
Georgian Airways files for insolvency, put up for sale
The flag carrier was hit hard by a 2019 Russian ban on direct flights, but the knockout blow was the pandemic.
Poland’s largest drug maker Polpharma reportedly in talks to take over Czechia’s Zentiva
Advent International, which bought Zentiva for €1.9bn in 2018 is reportedly considering selling the generic drugmaker for €3.5bn.
Zelenskiy plays down war fears as tensions continue to rise
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy played down war fears calling on the people to stop the runs on banks and food stockpiling, saying no war is imminent in a video released on January 20.
Moscow court lifts US investor Michael Calvey's restrictions on leaving home
The Meshchansky District Court of Moscow has lifted the house arrest restrictions on US fund manager Michael Calvey and the founder of investment fund Baring Vostok after he was arrested three years ago.
The UN’s civil aviation agency (ICAO) is not convinced by the Belarusian authorities' explanations
The UN’s civil aviation agency (ICAO) announced the completion of a report about the investigation into Belarus's diversion of a Ryanair flight in May last year, but is not entirely convinced by the Belarusian authorities' explanations.
Baltics boost own military capacities and pledge to send arms to Ukraine as tension mounts
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have pledged to offer Ukraine assistance, including in cyber security.
Slovakia faces latest COVID-19 wave with one of lowest vaccination rates in EU
Slovakia's poor vaccine performance is being blamed on the government's unclear policy direction, but the opposition has also played its part.
Hungary’s opposition alliance collects 470,000 signatures for referenda
The government is expected to refuse to allow the referenda to be held on the same day as the general election, at which it is already holding an anti-LGBT vote.
Hungary infringed EU rules in blocking VIG-Aegon merger, says EU Commission
Brussels says it has exclusive competence to deal with EU-wide mergers and that it doubts that decision was aimed at protecting Hungary's legitimate interests.
Gazprom threatens to cut off gas supplies to Moldova on January 21
With one day left to pay $63mn gas bill, Moldovan Deputy PM Spinu claims 'change of attitude' by Russian gas giant since pro-EU government came to power in Chisinau.
Montenegro’s government in crisis as deputy PM's party files no confidence motion
The government had been in a state of crisis for months as the divisions between its members — ranging from pro-EU to far-right and pro-Russian — became harder to bridge.
US warns Belarus to keep its commitment to neutrality
US warns Belarus to keep its commitment to neutrality in wake of increasing Russian military presence along the Belarus-Ukraine border.
US Secretary of State Blinken in Kyiv, warns Russia could attack “at very short notice”
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announced America's support for Ukraine and warned Russia could attack “at very short notice” amidst the Russian military buildup on Ukraine’s borders
Defence agreement between Slovakia and the US divides politics and society
The DCA would allow the US airforce to use two Slovak military airports and potentially other facilities without a request of rental payment for a period of 10 years.
Uzbekistan launches production of military drones
Unmanned aerial vehicles will be dual-use, with some civilian purposes. Flying drones has been banned in country since 2015.
New impetus between Bulgaria and North Macedonia at top-level Skopje meeting
Newly appointed prime ministers of both countries agree to a fresh approach as Skopje seeks to unblock its EU accession process.
Poland begins to suffer fifth wave of coronavirus pandemic
The number of new COVID-19 cases in Poland jumped 72% week-on-week
Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev appears for first time since unrest
Former president denies in video address that there is conflict among the country’s elite.
Mongolia's environment minister fired for failing to solve Ulaanbaatar's air pollution dilemma
When Urtnasan Nyamjav sent drones to assess the blight, choking city dwellers wondered why they didn’t merit a visit.
