News

Czechia signs nuclear memorandum with Great Britain

bne IntelliNews July 16, 2025

Czechia has signed a nuclear memorandum with the United Kingdom aimed at cooperation in nuclear energy, including the development of small modular reactors.

Fidesz offered billions to liberal Momentum to run in 2026 race to hurt Tisza Party's chances, ex-chair claims

bne IntelliNews July 15, 2025

Andras Fekete-Gyor said Fidesz offered money and logistical help if the liberal party would field candidates in the 2026 parliamentary race.

Slovak PM Fico delays approval of EU’s sanctions package again, blaming Slovak opposition

bne IntelliNews July 15, 2025

Slovak populist Prime Minister Robert Fico has again delayed approval of the latest 18th round of EU sanctions against Russia, blaming his latest blocking on the opposition parties in Slovakia.

Russia’s consumer spending motor runs out of fuel

bne IntelliNews July 15, 2025

A number of indicators point to the stagnation of consumer spending in Russia, which for years has been the main driver of economic growth.

China and Serbia to hold first joint military training exercise

bne IntelliNews July 15, 2025

China and Serbia will conduct their first-ever joint military training exercise later this month in northern China’s Hebei Province.

Baltic States face surge in fatal overdoses as nitazenes flood region

bne IntelliNews July 15, 2025

A powerful and little-known synthetic opioid called nitazene is fuelling a deadly drug crisis across the three Baltic States, with Estonia reporting a threefold rise in overdose deaths in recent years.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal quits as Zelenskiy prepares to reshuffle the government

Ben Aris in Berlin July 15, 2025

Move follows months of speculation over changes in the top ranks of Ukraine’s political leadership, as Zelenskiy looks to shore up his hold on power.

El Salvador's Bitcoin gamble pays off as reserves surge past $760mn

Mathew Cohen July 15, 2025

El Salvador's Bitcoin holdings have surged to more than $760mn as the cryptocurrency climbed above $120,000, vindicating President Nayib Bukele's controversial digital asset strategy while successfully navigating conditions imposed by the IMF.

Israel conducts airstrikes on Syrian forces after attack on Druze minority

bnm Gulf bureau July 15, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz have ordered the military to immediately strike the Turkish-backed Syrian regime's forces.

Trump's tariff threat stalls Mexico’s nearshoring boom and pressures Sheinbaum on crime

Alek Buttermann July 15, 2025

Trump’s 30% tariff on Mexican exports outside the USMCA has sparked a dual crisis for President Sheinbaum: worsening economic troubles at home and growing US pressure to act harder against organised crime.

Etihad Airways announces seven new routes from Abu Dhabi hub

bne IntelliNews July 15, 2025

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will launch seven new destinations from Abu Dhabi between November 2025 and March 2026, expanding its network across the Middle East.

German Defence Minister Pistorius confirms transfer of two Patriot system to Ukraine, but warns could take “months”

Ben Aris in Berlin July 15, 2025

Pistorius’ comments also confirm that new US-supplied military aid will not arrive in Ukraine soon.

Hungary to opt out of financing US weapons for Ukraine, foreign minister says

bne IntelliNews July 15, 2025

Péter Szijjarto says Hungary will not contribute to the financing of American weapons deliveries to Ukraine, should such a proposal be officially raised within the European Union.

European foreign ministers hit out at Georgian ruling party

bneIntellinews July 14, 2025

Statement condemned ongoing democratic backsliding by the ruling Georgia Dream party, which has consolidated power via crackdowns on independent media, NGOs, activists and opposition politicians.

RSF urges EU action over police violence against journalists in Serbia

Tatyana Kekic in Belgrade July 14, 2025

Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders warned abuses threaten the country’s EU accession process.

Trump promises weapons, secondary sanctions on Russia if no deal in 50-days, but lots of questions remain open

Ben Aris in Berlin July 14, 2025

US President Donald Trump announced that the US would supply Ukraine with billions of dollars of weapons “very soon”, including badly needed Patriot air defence missiles, and impose 100% secondary sanctions on countries doing business with Russia

US and Panama launch joint military exercises amid canal security concerns

bnl editorial staff July 14, 2025

US helicopters have arrived in Panama to begin collaborative training exercises with local security forces, as tensions mount over the strategic waterway's future amid competing US and Chinese interests.

Serbia weighs nuclear options

Tatyana Kekic in Belgrade July 14, 2025

Serbia is exploring the development of nuclear energy with two potential pathways – conventional nuclear power plants and small modular reactors.

Migration pushes EU population to record high, but CEE countries continue to shrink

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow July 14, 2025

Immigration outweighed the natural population decline in 2024 in just three of the newer EU member states – Croatia, Czechia and Slovenia.

Iran responds to Azerbaijan energy projects with Caspian Sea drilling

bnm Tehran bureau July 14, 2025

Iran has launched exploratory drilling operations in the Caspian Sea after years of neglecting the region due to sanctions constraints and cheaper extraction costs from southern oil fields.

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