Baltic States
40% of Europe already in a drought before summer gets fully underway
As Europe slides into its third disaster season, 40% of the EU is already officially facing a drought before the hottest months of the year arrive. And this year’s droughts are likely to become even worse than previous heatwaves.
Estonia’s Eurovision singer’s Espresso Macchiato teasing Italians goes wild
After finishing third in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, Estonian artist Tommy Cash has seen his hit single Espresso Macchiato break into both the Billboard Global 200 chart in the United States and the UK Top 40.
Lithuania hands over probe into American soldiers’ deaths to US authorities
Lithuania handed over the investigation into the deaths of US soldiers at the Pabrade military training area to American authorities, Chief of Defence Raimundas Vaiksnoras said.
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.
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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.
Russian authorities release Green Admire tanker after seizure near an Estonian port
The Liberian-flagged tanker Green Admire, detained by Russian authorities on May 18 after departing the Estonian port of Sillamae, has been released and is now en route to its original destination, Rotterdam.
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.
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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.
Tensions in the Baltic Sea: Russia detains oil tanker that left Estonian port
Russian authorities detained a Greek-owned oil tanker, Green Admire, on May 18 after it departed from Estonia’s Port of Sillamae en route to Rotterdam, and was transiting Russia’s territorial waters along a previously agreed shipping corridor.
EBRD2025: What’s next for the Baltic energy sector after disconnecting from Russia?
Representatives of the energy sectors in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania outlined their plans for the coming years at the EBRD annual meeting in London.
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.
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.
Police issue dire warning after bear spotted in Tallinn, the Estonian capital
The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) issued a public safety warning following the sighting of a bear in the Nomme district of Tallinn on May 8, ERR.ee reported on May 9.
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.
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.
EU swaps China for Russia in procurement of rare earth metals
The EU is increasingly turning to China to source hard-to-find rare earth metals and dropping previous import deals with Russia.
Trump policies won’t harm Emerging Europe badly – and will actively benefit Russia
Latest wiiw forecasts show little direct impact on Central and Southeast Europe from Trump trade wars.
Russian and Belarusian agents accused of plotting attacks on exiled Belarusians in Lithuania
Lithuania’s domestic intelligence agency has accused Russian and Belarusian intelligence services of plotting to carry out violent attacks on Belarusian exiles residing in the country.
Incoming German government compromises on carbon offsets to boost flagging economy
Germany’s incoming government has conditionally endorsed the European Union’s proposed 2040 climate goal and backed the EC's recommended 90% emissions reduction target but only if international carbon offsets and carbon removals are permitted.