News

Orban sacrifices president and former justice minister in paedophile cover-up case

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 11, 2024

Hungarian premier loses his top female henchmen to quell one of his regime's biggest crises.

Bosnian government makes push to adopt laws needed to unblock EU membership talks

bne IntelliNews February 11, 2024

Sarajevo warned it has just six weeks to adopt four key laws in order to get a green light for accession talks.

Fico’s coalition pushes judicial overhaul through Slovak parliament

Albin Sybera in Prague February 9, 2024

Legislative changes now likely to go to Constitutional Court and be reviewed by Brussels.

Orban tries to calm outcry over president’s pardon in paedophile case

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 9, 2024

The scandal has wrecked the ruling Fidesz party's carefully burnished image as a defender of the family and children against Western Europen "gender ideologies".

Digikala, Iran's Amazon, charged with selling products containing offensive images

bne IntelliNews February 9, 2024

Tehran General and Revolutionary Courts have charged Digikala, Iran’s biggest online shop, for selling products with offensive images offered on the website,

President Zelenskiy fires Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhnyi following months of rumours of discontent

bne IntelliNews February 8, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the leader of the country’s Armed Forces, Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, appointing General Oleksandr Syrskyi as his replacement.

Observers report Azerbaijan election marred with fraud

bne IntelliNews February 8, 2024

OSCE says it observed significant procedural errors and limitations on fundamental freedoms.

Russia looks to nudge US out of Iraq following air raids on militias

bne IntelIiNews February 8, 2024

Moscow hopes to exploit growing sentiment in Iraq in favour of expulsion of foreign troops.

Boris Nadezhdin’s presidential candidacy rejected

bne IntelliNews February 8, 2024

Only four candidates will be on the ballot for Russia’s presidential elections in March after the Central Election Commission (CEC) rejected the applications of the only anti-war candidate Boris Nadezhdin.

Czech central bank cuts key rate by 50 bps

Robert Anderson in Prague February 8, 2024

Policymakers react to macro-economic figures showing that growth is still struggling to accelerate, while inflation is falling fast.

European Parliament calls for independent probe into alleged vote-rigging in Serbia

bne IntelliNews February 8, 2024

MEPs say EU funding for Serbia should be halted if Belgrade fails to cooperate or if election irregularities are found.

Iraqi militia warns US of consequences after late night air strike in Baghdad

bne correspondent in Tehran February 8, 2024

Iraqi militia group Kata’ib Hezbollah on February 8 said the United States and other coalition forces in the region will be responsible for the consequences of the killing of two leaders of the group

Uzbekistan: Car buyers turning to foreign brands

Eurasianet February 8, 2024

China’s automakers are easily dominating market share for imports. Almost 80% of foreign-bought vehicles arrived from there in 2023.

Moldova starts screening laws as it prepares for EU accession talks

Iulian Ernst in Bucharest February 8, 2024

President Maia Sandu says step is crucial for the country's European path, as it sets the stage for accession negotiations.

Hungary’s oil giant buys Viktor Orban favourite childhood football club

bne IntelliNews February 8, 2024

Hungary's MOL Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Budapest-based Ujpest football club from Belgian businessman Roderick Duchatelet.

Serbia prepares for new push into African markets

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow February 8, 2024

Serbian Chamber of Commerce head says Africa is a market of the future thanks to demographics, rising purchasing power and natural resources.

Turkey’s finance minister Simsek reportedly asked Erdogan to remove central bank governor Erkan

bne IntelliNews February 8, 2024

Chief of regulator, previously billed as a Wall Street star who would help end country’s economic crisis, said she quit amid a “smear campaign”.

European Commission launches infringement procedure against Hungary over sovereignty law

Tamas Csonka in Budapest February 7, 2024

Fidesz is using the legislation to cut off opposition from foreign financing sources, be it micro-donations from private individuals or other larger funding from foreign donors ahead of the 2024 local government and EP elections.

Iran developing new nuclear reactor in Isfahan

Newsbase syndicate in Tehran February 7, 2024

Iran has begun building a fourth nuclear research reactor in the central city of Isfahan, days after it broke ground on a mega nuclear power plant (NPP) in the southern Hormozgan province.

Czechia and Hungary block EU sanctions against Israeli settlers

Robert Anderson in Prague February 7, 2024

Leading Czech figures sign open letter to the government to change its pro-Israel stance and stop ignoring the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

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