COVID is back - a new "NB.1.8.1" strain is spreading across continents

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is back. Reports from health authorities around the world have detected a new highly contagious strain of the virus that has been spreading through Asia and has now reached Russia.

Slovakia's central bank governor found guilty of bribery

Governor of the National Bank of Slovakia Peter Kažimír has been found guilty of bribery in a high-profile case and has been fined €200,000, which can be turned into a one-year prison sentence if not paid.

Slovak PM Fico slams German Merz for his comments on EU taking action against Hungary and Slovakia

Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico slammed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for stating that Germany could propose EU block the EU funding for Hungary and Slovakia if the two countries diverge from EU policies.

Czech PPF bosses are ready to take on Netflix and HBO in PPF’s home markets

PPF executives say the group's local content gives it a competitive advantage over international players in small CEE markets.

BLOG: Efforts to tackle methane emissions continue, despite Trump’s regulatory rollback

Momentum behind improved methane monitoring, quantification and mitigation continues to build in the US – even without the same regulatory pressure.

Record temperatures around the world – Statista

A heat wave is sweeping across South Asia, with temperatures having reached 44°C in India’s Jaipur and 50°C in Pakistan’s Shaheed Benazirabad in April, Statista reports.

Opposition calls on health minister to resign after Slovakia fails to back WHO pandemic treaty

Prime Minister Robert Fico and other officials from the senior ruling Smer party have adopted a hardline conspiratorial line on Covid-19.

Slovak Supreme Court cancels acquittal of main suspect in murder of journalist Ján Kuciak

Kuciak’s murder rocked the country and sparked the largest mass demonstrations in the history of independent Slovakia.

Slovak unemployment dropped to 3.71% in April

Unemployment in Slovakia (PDU) dropped by 0.01 percentage point month-on-month to 3.71% in April, reaching the lowest level of unemployed persons on record since 1993 for the second consecutive month.

Data centre power use expected to increase 20-fold in next five years

The first data centres consumed as much power as 20,000 homes, but the largest today use the same amount of power as100,000 homes, and are on track to burn up 5mn households' worth of power by 2030 – the same amount of power that Japan consumes.

Brazil poultry sector hit as bird flu prompts global export bans

Brazil, the world's largest poultry exporter, has confirmed its first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza on a commercial farm, triggering immediate import bans from major markets including China and the EU.

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.

Slovak inflation eases to 3.7% y/y in April

COMMENT: Amid shrinking civic space, will the EBRD still uphold its democratic mandate?

As the global Democracy Index recorded a historic low in 2024, institutions tasked with upholding democratic values are under increasing pressure to adapt.

EBRD cuts 2025 growth forecasts citing tariffs and global uncertainty

Development bank lowers forecasts for Emerging Europe, Central Asia and North Africa as slowdowns in Germany and China take their toll.

Slovak industry returns to growth of 3.5% y/y in March

Slovakia’s industrial output increased by 3.5% year on year and by 0.7% month on month in March, registering the first month of growth this year.

Lithuanian activists hand out condoms on Victory Day to prevent 'another Putin' from being born

Activists gave out condoms at the entrance to the Antakalnis Cemetery in Vilnius, where the city’s Russian community were marking Victory over Fascism Day.

War is a growing concern across Europe – Statista

VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated on May 8 each year to mark the formal end of World War II in Europe, reports Statista.

Slovak Prime Minister Fico forced to fly around the houses on his way to Moscow

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was forced to take the long way round on his trip to Moscow to attend Russia’s Victory Parade on Red Square on May 9.

UK insect numbers plummet by two thirds in three years, Bugs Matter survey shows

The population of flying insects in the United Kingdom has fallen by two thirds in just three years, according to new findings from a nationwide “Bugs Matter” citizen survey, raising alarm among ecologists and conservation groups.