News
BYD moves European HQ to Hungary, sets up €250mn business and development
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD will relocate its European headquarters from the Netherlands to Hungary as part of a newly signed strategic cooperation agreement with the Hungarian government on May 15.
Viktor Orban's "bullet shield" and long-time chief prosecutor leaves post to secure job at Constitutional Court
Peter Polt is stepping down as chief prosecutor after more than two decades in the role, three years before his mandate was due to end, to take up a seat on the Constitutional Court, an institution already stacked with figures loyal to Viktor Orban.
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Brazil and Russia edge closer on nuclear deal
Brazil and Russia are expected to advance cooperation on small modular reactor (SMR) technology, Brazil’s Minister of Energy Alexandre Silveira said after a visit to Moscow with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Albanian PM shoots down Starmer’s hopes of asylum seeker “return hub”
Edi Rama firmly rejects allowing the UK to set up a “return hub” on Albanian territory, saying Tirana will only host migrants for Italy.
Syria’s Foreign Minister al-Shaibani meets US Secretary Rubio in Antalya amid sanctions lift announcement
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on May 15 that Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with his American counterpart, Marco Rubio, to discuss the details of lifting sanctions on Syria.
UAE honours US President Trump with Order of Zayed, invests $1.4 trillion in AI companies
US President Donald Trump arrived in Abu Dhabi on May 15 on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates, marking the final stop of his three-country Gulf tour, with the country expected to sign $1.4 trillion in deals.
Putin slaps Zelenskiy in the face, skipping the Istanbul meeting, sending a low-level delegation in his place
Russian president Vladimir Putin was a no-show at direct talks he proposed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and sent a low-level delegation instead that didn't include a single minister, in what has been called a “slap in the face”.
South Africa must develop its gas industry or face economic regression, says energy minister
South Africa expects a sharp decrease in natural gas supplies to industries in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces as imported gas from Pande and Temane fields in Mozambique runs low.
Trump says US very close to Iran nuclear deal during Gulf tour
US President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is "very close" to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, claiming Tehran had "sort of" agreed to the terms
Viktor Orban escalates crackdown on civil society and media with sweeping Russian-type foreign agents law legislation
Hungary's ruling Fidesz has unveiled a draft law that critics warn could cripple the country's remaining independent media outlets and civil society organisations, deepening fears over democratic backsliding and growing estrangement from the EU.
Colombia officially joins China's "Belt and Road" initiative amid private sector concerns
Colombia has formally joined China's Belt and Road Initiative despite strong opposition from the country's private sector, which warns the decision could severely damage domestic industries.
Lula presses Putin to attend Ukraine peace talks as Russian leader sends deputies instead
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva joined the chorus of voices piling pressure on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to personally attend proposed peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, but to no avail.
Central Europeans overwhelmingly oppose Trumpist narratives about free speech, 2025 Media Freedom Poll shows
Citizens of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia oppose the Trump administration’s narratives about free speech as allegedly not requiring the regulation of social media, with nearly 90% demanding that online platforms act against hate speech.
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Singapore unveils scale models of next-generation multirole combat vessels at IMDEX 2025
Although ST Engineering remained tight-lipped on the finer details of the six-ship class optimised as motherships for unmanned systems, the scale models offered valuable insights.
Former Philippines leader Duterte seeks removal of ICC judges over jurisdiction dispute
In a detailed 11-page submission dated May 12, Duterte’s chief lawyer Nicholas Kaufman requested the removal of Pre-Trial Chamber 1 Judges Rene Adelaide Alapini-Gansou and Maria del Socorro Flores Liera.
EU Council president urges Kosovo to de-escalate tensions in the north
Antonio Costa said Kosovo’s progress on its European path hinges on both calm in the north and the normalisation of relations with Serbia.
Turkey’s tourism boom at risk from growing image as “expensive country”, say industry reps
Once seen as more budget-friendly than Egypt or Tunisia, country now often described as on par with Spain, Italy and Greece for overall cost.
Ryanair cancels Israel flights until June 4, EasyJet extends suspension to end-June
Low-cost airline giant Ryanair has cancelled its flights to Israel until 4 June, according to Israeli media.
UPDATE: Qatar signs deal for 210 Boeing jets worth $200bn during Trump visit
Trump described the deal as "the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing" during his second stop on a tour of Gulf states after striking a string of deals with Saudi Arabia.
Serbia arrests ex-official linked to Trump hotel project in Belgrade
Serbian authorities have arrested a former official on charges of forging documents to facilitate a controversial real estate project backed by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.