News
Latvia eyes public spending cuts amid budget strain and MP rings alarm bells
Latvia’s government ministries have begun outlining a series of proposed cost-cutting strategies aimed at easing pressure on the national budget. More than 250 suggestions have been submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
US court orders Argentina to surrender controlling stake in YPF
A US court has ordered Argentina to surrender its 51% controlling stake in national oil company YPF as partial compensation for its controversial 2012 nationalisation of the energy giant.
Western Balkan leaders meet in Skopje to advance EU Growth Plan
Growth Plan aims to fast-track the Western Balkans' convergence with the EU through deeper market access, pre-accession funding and regional cooperation.
Turkey lifts Deutsche Welle ban
Turkey’s media watchdog RTUK has lifted a ban that was introduced to block Deutsche Welle Turkish back in 2022.
Emerging Europe growth resilient despite global risks, wiiw says
Economies across Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe are set to maintain solid growth in 2025 and 2026 but face downside risks from Middle East tensions, the war in Ukraine and US trade policy.
Trump formally ends US sanctions on Syria with July 1 executive order
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 30 formally ending US sanctions on Syria.
Iran MP calls Bob Vylan 'brother' after ‘death to the IDF’ chant
An Iranian MP has praised British rap-punk duo Bob Vylan following their recent highly contentious performance at the Glastonbury music festival in England, calling them a "brother."
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El Salvador’s Bukele offers to ‘ship inmates to Paris’ following fashion week controversy
El Salvador’s government has sharply criticised a Paris Fashion Week show by designer Willy Chavarría for featuring outfits resembling the prison-issue uniforms used in the country’s maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT).
Poland ends the last of Russian oil imports
Poland’s largest energy company, state-owned Orlen, has ended its last contract for Russian crude oil and halted these imports, declaring finally that it has “freed the region from Russian crude oil”.
UPDATE: Thailand's Constitutional Court rules to suspend Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
The court has agreed to consider her impeachment over a recent highly controversial audio clip that emerged as part of a territorial spat with neighbouring Cambodia.
Azerbaijan arrests Russian journalists as Yekaterinburg victims' bodies return home for fresh autopsy
FSB killings of two Azerbaijani brothers in Yekaterinburg triggered a strong diplomatic response from Baku.
Slovak MFA Blanár causes international outrage for his statements on forgiving Russia
Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs Juraj Blanár has caused international outrage for his statement about the need to “find some way of cooperation and maybe also of forgiveness” to Russia.
Hungary imposes mid-year austerity on state-owned companies
The Hungarian government is introducing further measures to stabilise the 2024 budget after earlier signs that this year’s fiscal plan has gone off track.
Serbian students blockade cities after police crackdown
Thousands of students and anti-government demonstrators blocked key roads and intersections across Serbia, after violent clashes between police and anti-government protesters at a mass protest on June 28.
Guatemala and Honduras deny signing US immigration deals despite Noem claims
Guatemala and Honduras have disputed claims by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that they signed immigration agreements to accept asylum seekers from third countries during her Central American visit.
Hard-left Jeannette Jara wins Chilean presidential primaries
Chile's Communist Party has achieved a historic milestone with Jeannette Jara securing the left's presidential nomination, becoming the first communist candidate chosen by a broad political coalition in the country's history.
Argentina prepares to host Mercosur summit
Argentine President Javier Milei gears up to host Mercosur heads of state in Buenos Aires this week as he continues his campaign to liberalise what he considers the regional trade bloc's restrictive regulations
Russian FSB kills two Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg, causing uproar in Azerbaijan
The killings triggered Azerbaijan's strongest diplomatic response since the AZAL aircraft downing in December 2024.
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United States and Russia angling for influence in Turkmenistan
Kremlin seems to be worried its grip on Ashgabat is slipping.
US lifts sanctions related to Paks nuclear plant upgrade
The expansion of the Paks II nuclear power plant could now gain "new momentum" following Washington's decision to lift sanctions related to the project.