Hantavirus outbreak from cruise ship spreads across multiple countries

A hantavirus outbreak on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius has killed three and infected at least seven across multiple countries with reports from Europe of new possible infections.

Ukraine revises budget as EU loan unlocks billions for defence spending

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Ukraine expects to receive €45bn this year under the EU’s broader €90bn support programme, with the first tranche scheduled to arrive in June.

NABU charge former head of Ukraine’s presidential administration Yermak with corruption

Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities have charged Andriy Yermak, the former head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office and his close personal friend, with laundering UAH460mn ($10.5mn) linked to luxury real estate development near Kyiv.

Zelenskiy's former press secretary makes sweeping allegations in Tucker Carlson interview

Iuliia Mendel, who served as press secretary to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy from June 2019 to July 2021, gave a sweeping and damaging interview to American commentator Tucker Carlson on May 11, making a series of harsh allegations.

Nigerian billionaire Dangote favours Kenya over Tanzania for 650,000-bpd East Africa oil refinery

Africa's richest man says Kenya is emerging as the preferred location for a proposed $15bn–$17bn refinery, citing Mombasa’s deep port and large fuel market.

Hezbollah vows retaliation after Israel issues evacuation order in Lebanon ahead of strikes

Fugitive former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro spotted in the US

Warsaw hoped Hungary's new PM Peter Magyar would facilitate handing over Ziobro, who is wanted in Poland for fraud and leading an organised crime ring.

Czech weaponry companies weaken on Prague bourse after Putin hints at ending war in Ukraine

Shares of Czech defence companies listed on the Prague Stock Exchange weakened on the first day of trading this week.

North Macedonia starts preparations for 2026 budget rebalance amid global uncertainty

Government looks to preserve macroeconomic stability and support economic growth as global uncertainty grows, Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kocoska says.

Trump heading to Beijing for talks on trade, Iran and Taiwan

US President Donald Trump is set to visit China from May 13 for a round of high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping focused primarily on trade, security and mounting geopolitical tensions.

Colombia's battle-hardened veterans fuel Ukraine's front lines

Thousands of Colombian veterans are fighting in Ukraine's armed forces, drawn by salaries up to eight times their domestic military pensions, a flow of combat labour that has made Colombia the single largest source of foreign fighters for Kyiv.

UK accuses Russia of trying to influence Armenian politics, imposes new sanctions

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper says London will not stand by as Putin "seeks to sow lies and pro-Kremlin narratives abroad".

Iran's Pezeshkian backs negotiated end to war with US

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the country should consolidate its battlefield gains through negotiations with the US.

Bosnia peace overseer to step down after nearly five years

Christian Schmidt, who took office in 2021, has been one of the most controversial figures in Bosnia’s post-war politics.

Iraq drops out of Thai rice market due to Hormuz blockage

Thailand has not shipped any rice to Iraq in three months as the Middle East war halts deliveries to its largest market, with Bangkok losing more than 200,000 tonnes of regional exports and shipping costs up 20%

Slovak PM Fico holds urgent talks with state oil company after hinting that Moscow is in energy talks with US

Fico declined to give details on the urgent meeting with Transpetrol but hinted at US interest in energy deals with Russia.

EU plans to double military support for Moldova under European Peace Facility

Increased support comes as Moldova faces growing security concerns linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine and what Moldovan authorities describe as hybrid attacks and destabilisation attempts by Moscow.

Pakistan plans debut Panda bond issue to tap Chinese capital markets

Pakistan is also evaluating alternative external borrowing options, including Eurobonds and commercial debt facilities, as it looks to replace a $3.5bn funding arrangement from the United Arab Emirates and maintain adequate foreign currency reserves.

Peter Magyar sworn in as new Hungarian prime minister

Tens of thousands celebrate "transition to democracy" and end of Orban era.

Latvian defence minister resigns after drone crash

Andris Spruds said he is stepping down to prevent political disputes from undermining confidence in Latvia’s armed forces.