News

Thoughts of teenagers licking backs of “psychedelic toads” bother MPs in Kyrgyzstan

bne IntelliNews January 25, 2025

Lawmakers debate drug trafficking bill that would exclude imports of designated amphibians.

Putin says the Ukraine war "might not have happened" if Trump was president in 2022, as the two leaders flirt ahead of a mooted meeting

Ben Aris in Berlin January 24, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin the 2022 "crisis in Ukraine" might never have happened had Donald Trump been US president at the time, AFP reported on January 24.

Croatian shops nearly empty as boycott gets underway

bne IntelliNews January 24, 2025

One-day shopping boycott organised in protest against high prices.

Serbia goes on strike

Tatyana Kekic in Belgrade January 24, 2025

Large parts of Serbian society are out on strike on January 24, as students, cultural institutions and workers across various sectors stop work in solidarity with ongoing protests against the government.

Bomb threats to schools in Hungary traced to emails sent through Yandex platform, IT experts say

bne IntelliNews January 24, 2025

IT security experts said the bomb threats were traced to emails sent through the Russian Yandex platform, suggesting involvement from Russian actors.

President Pellegrini calls situation in Slovakia “serious” in wake of country-wide protests, PM Fico coup plot claims

Albin Sybera in Prague January 24, 2025

Slovakia’s President Peter Pellegrini said the situation in the country is “serious” following a security council meeting called after populist Prime Robert Fico claimed a plot to overthrow his government is taking place.

Trump says he wants to meet Putin “as soon as possible”, as Zelenskiy lobbies Davos for support

Ben Aris in Berlin January 24, 2025

US President Donald Trump said that he wants to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "as soon as possible" to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, speaking to delegates at the World Economic Forum in Davos by video link on January 23.

Expected settlement of energy crisis in Transnistria may have a security cost

Iulian Ernst in Bucharest January 24, 2025

Pro-Russian separatist region has picked a natural gas trader, Cyprus-based Ozbor Enterprises, to import Russian natural gas through the Turkstream and Trans-Balkan pipelines, and started military drills in the Security Zone.

Japan hikes rates in a move that goes largely unnoticed

bno - Taipei Bureau January 24, 2025

In the hour or so after Japan hiked interest rates to what is the highest level in 17 years, nobody seemed to care.

Human rights groups urge Zelenskiy to protect North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine

bno - Taipei Bureau January 24, 2025

Human rights organisations advocating for North Korean citizens have called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to refrain from repatriating two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia.

Taiwan set to cull 120,000 green iguanas

bno - Taipei Bureau January 24, 2025

Taiwan is planning to cull up to 120,000 green iguanas in a bid to protect its agriculture from the growing menace posed by the invasive species.

Death sentence for Chinese killer

bno - Taipei Bureau January 24, 2025

A Chinese court has sentenced Zhou Jiasheng, a 52-year-old man, to death for his role in a brutal knife attack in June 2024.

Indian energy supply unaffected by US sanctions on Russia

bno Chennai bureau January 24, 2025

India’s energy security remains steady despite new US sanctions targeting Russia.

Bulgaria’s new government gives up on January 2026 eurozone entry

Denitsa Koseva in Sofia January 23, 2025

Opposition politicians have accused the new government of deliberately sabotaging Bulgaria's adoption of the European single currency.

Trump sets 100-day deadline for Ukraine peace, Zelenskiy seeks US guarantees

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

US President Donald Trump has tasked his special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, with ending the war in Ukraine within 100 days.

Russia arrests Colombian fighter in occupied Kursk as mercenary crackdown widens

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

A Colombian citizen has been detained near the village of Alexandria in Russia's Kursk region on charges of terrorism and mercenary activity, as both Moscow and Kyiv grapple with the growing presence of foreign fighters in their ranks.

Putin faces mounting economic challenges amid pressure for Ukraine peace talks

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin is under increasing pressure to address Russia’s deepening economic woes as US President Donald Trump intensifies calls for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine.

Turkish Airlines resumes Damascus flights after 13-year hiatus

bnm Gulf bureau January 23, 2025

The first Turkish Airlines flight in 13 years landed in Damascus on January 23, carrying 345 passengers including the airline's CEO Bilal Eksi.

Saudi crown prince pledges $600bn US investment in Trump call

bnm Gulf bureau January 23, 2025

Saudi Arabia plans to invest $600bn in the United States over the next four years, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told former President Donald Trump in a phone call on January 22.

City of Budapest vows to exercise pre-emptive rights over plot for planned €5bn luxury project by UAE investor Eagle Hills

bne IntelliNews January 23, 2025

The Budapest municipality has vowed not to waive its pre-emption rights over a plot of land sold by the state to UAE investor Eagle Hills, which plans a €5bn real estate development on the site, Mayor Gergely Karacsony announced.

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