News
North Macedonia’s opposition VMRO-DPMNE celebrates twin electoral victory
VMRO-DPMNE wins both general and presidential elections as voters punish ruling SDSM for failure to tackle corruption.
China to intensify relations with Serbia after President Xi's landmark visit to Belgrade
Serbia is one of just three countries on President Xi Jinping's European tour.
Croatia’s HDZ, Homeland Movement agree on ruling coalition
Andrej Plenkovic to get a third term as PM after securing backing from rightwing Homeland Movement.
Ukrainian oligarch Kolomoisky faces life imprisonment for murder
Igor Kolomoisky, once considered Ukraine’s most influential oligarch and a supporter of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has been charged with an organised murder from over 20 years ago, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment.
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Premier Energy seeks to raise over €135mn with Bucharest IPO
Power and gas utility group Premier Energy's IPO kicks off on May 8, raising funds for its expansion into renewables in Romania and Moldova.
Korea turns to Uzbekistan in bid to meet demand for additional 3,000 automotive workers per year
Wider world of work both east and west appears to be opening up to Uzbek labour migrants.
China’s Xi Jinping arrives in Serbia on anniversary of Belgrade embassy bombing
Serbia has become a key partner of China in Europe, benefitting from Chinese investments into infrastructure development and industrial production.
New Ukraine funding deal gives EU members opt out on military spending using CBR frozen funds
Neutral EU member states will be able to opt out of a plan to use profits from Russia’s central bank frozen assets to purchase weapons for Ukraine.
Polish judge shows up in Minsk asking for political asylum
Judge Tomasz Szmydt says he is protesting against the actions of the Polish authorities that could potentially lead to military conflict with Belarus and Russia.
Von der Leyen says EU will close rule-of-law dispute with Poland
The Commission will present an analysis of the state of the rule of law in Poland at a General Affairs Council meeting on May 21.
Raiffeisen says pressure to cut Russian loanbook will complicate exit
Austrian lender suspends full-year target numbers after the ECB warning.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry calls on world to reject the legitimacy of Putin’s presidency
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it does not recognise Vladimir Putin as the democratically elected and legitimate president of Russia the day before he was due to be inaugurated for the fifth time.
Nothing concrete has yet emerged from nuclear plant talks with Russia, says Uzbekistan
Tashkent has received proposals from other countries, though as things stand there are no talks on alternatives to Russian bid, UzAtom director says.
Turkey reportedly still loading Azerbaijani oil for Israel despite “total trade ban”
Trade ministry said “all products” are subject to boycott, but tankers on Ceyhan to Haifa crude export route appear unaffected.
Live fish fall from the sky in Central Iran - video
In what looks similar to some sort of Biblical miracle, large live fish fell from the sky in Yasouj, a city in Central Iran, and were left flapping on the road, a video posted on local social media purportedly shows.
Rights groups call on Tajikistan to disclose whereabouts of “forcibly disappeared” opposition leader
“Devastating reports” say Suhrob Zafar may have lost ability to walk following torture. Turkey suspected of role in rendition.
OTP reportedly makes bid to buy Tallinn-based Luminor Bank
Luminor is the third-largest bank in the Baltic states and is reportedly valued at more than €2bn.
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Czech central bank lowers interest rate to 5.25%
CNB also improves its economic outlook for this year to 1.4% growth, up from the 0.4% growth it predicted in February.
Serbs see Russians as main ally, US as biggest threat
IRI’s Western Balkan survey also reveals Albanians and Kosovars most committed to EU and Nato membership; support flagging in other countries.
Turkey reportedly freezes all trade with Israel
Under pressure from religious conservatives, Turkish leader Erdogan is said to have blocked all exports and imports. Move draws angry rebuke from Israelis.