News
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Tajik president’s 'nephews severely beat health minister after mother's COVID-19 death'
Unconfirmed reporting says that many of Emomali Rahmon’s relatives have been hospitalised with coronavirus symptoms in recent weeks.
Thousands protest over spyware scandal as Hungary's Fidesz boycotts national security committee
Viktor Orban's government has refused to deny accusations that it used Israeli spyware to watch journalists and political opponents.
Moldova’s president opens new parliament session announcing ‘zero tolerance for corruption’
As her PAS party prepares to form a new government, President Sandu says it will have to "find urgent solutions to a multitude of problems".
Kazakhstan bans agro exports amid drought
The measure may help herders suffering a massive die-off, but will disrupt supply chains that local farmers have been building for years.
Russian plan for free trade zone on disputed islands angers Japan
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said he plans "unprecedented" set of economic measures to support development of the Kuril Islands.
Iran protests spread to Tehran and Tabriz
Drought demonstrations in Khuzestan enter 12th day. Officials in the capital say protest there is a local matter over blackouts hitting commerce, but Iran analysts are watching closely.
Indignation against anti-LGBT propaganda draws record crowd at Budapest Pride
March draws 30,000 in protest against Fidesz's new law banning the depiction of homosexuality in schools.
High representative uses powers to ban genocide denial in Bosnia
Valentin Inzko's amendments to Bosnian criminal code welcomed in most of Bosnia and the region, but meet with opposition from Serb member of the presidency Milorad Dodik, who threatens secession.
DP World and Rosatom to develop Arctic shipping route
Developing the route that will cut up to 19 days off the journey time between Southeast Asia and Northwest Europe is part of Russia’s efforts to exploit the Arctic as global warming opens it up to sea traffic.
Erdogan prepares to crack down on Turkey’s increasingly influential independent media
Announcement of impending regulation comes amid smear campaign against outlets receiving financial support from US-based Chrest Foundation.
Looming new coronavirus wave prompts vaccination push in Southeast Europe
With the delta variant starting to spread in Southeast Europe, officials are warning of a new wave of the pandemic that may put pressure on hospitals as early as August or September.
Russia raises key rate to 6.5% amid strong inflationary pressure
Inflationary pressure higher and more persistent than forecast, says CBR, warning of signs of overheating in some sectors.
Erdogan’s relations with West in danger of renewed deterioration in ‘Varosha’ row
Merkel remarks that she “wants close relations with Ankara, but does not anticipate Turkey's accession to the EU”.
Ukraine makes surprise policy rate hike to 8% to fight inflation
NBU governor Kyrylo Shevchenko says further rate increase to 8.5% is planned with inflation expected to pass 10% soon.
US court rules Kyrgyzstan in contempt for pushing ahead with local legal action against Kumtor Gold
State’s seizure of control of gold mine from subsidiary of NYSE-listed Centerra Gold has shocked foreign investors.
Turkey extends 'undeclared state of emergency'
Erdogan administration has in fact held on to emergency regime powers ever since the failed July 2016 coup attempt. Yet a lot of reporting on the country fails to take that into account.
Hungarian PM announces referendum on anti-LGBT law
Referendum widely seen as diversion from Pegasus wiretapping scandal and the suspension of recovery fund money from Brussels.
Far Eastern Yakutsk city under threat from unprecedented forest fires
Raging fires have been an increasing occurrence in Siberian summers, with the trend widely attributed to climate change, which has caused temperatures in the vast Taiga forest to spike each year.
American personnel in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan reported as among ‘Havana Syndrome’ victims
Following cluster of Vienna incidents, US has stepped up investigation into possible attacks made with directed pulsed microwave energy.
Questions surround Serbian state telco’s €600mn Premier League deal
NGOs demand more details of Telekom Srbija’s huge broadcasting rights deal that some see as having political rather than economic motivation.
