News
Armenian parliament passes bill on launching EU accession process
Bill adopted despite Russian criticism formally declares the start of Armenia’s EU accession process, but officials stress it does not constitute a formal membership application.
Bosnia’s Dodik defies travel ban to visit Israel and Serbia
Earlier this month Bosnia’s state authorities announced a central arrest warrant and travel ban for Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik.
US defers visa waiver after Romania bans far-right candidate from presidential election
Timing of decision raises speculation given top US officials’ support for Calin Georgescu.
Serbian president meets EU leaders in Brussels as protests continue to grow
The talks are part of a broader diplomatic push to strengthen Serbia's ties with Western partners amidst mounting domestic unrest.
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Progressive Slovakia and Smer are neck and neck in latest March poll
The largest opposition party, centrist Progressive Slovakia, maintains a narrow lead of 21.7% ahead of the ruling Smer party (21.2%) of the populist Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Russia, US discussing restarting Nord Stream gas deliveries to Europe
Moscow and Washington are currently in talks on the possibility of restarting Nord Stream gas pipelines deliveries to Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russia’s Channel One in an interview on March 26.
Hungarian central bank keeps rates on hold in first rate-setting meeting under new MNB leadership
Hungary's Monetary Council left the base rate on hold at 6.5% for the sixth straight month on 25 March at the first rate-setting meeting under the new MNB leadership in line with the consensus.
Kremlin demands sanctions relief in temporary Ukraine conflict ceasefire deal
The White House said that both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to ensure safe shipping in the Black Sea and will “develop instruments” to ban strikes on energy assets in two separate statements after a second round of negotiations wound up.
No country has agreed to resettle Palestinians, says acting Israeli envoy to Russia
No country has yet agreed to accept Palestinians in their possible future resettlement from Gaza, Acting Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alexander Ben Zvi has said.
Latvia faces scrutiny over massive heroin shipment to Germany
On March 23, Latvian Television’s investigative programme De facto reported on how a massive heroin shipment managed to pass through Latvia en route to Germany, despite prior intelligence warning of such an operation.
Russian region bribes schoolgirls to get pregnant
Russia’s Oryol Region has introduced a new decree offering schoolgirls RUB100,000 ($1,200) if they officially register a pregnancy with the social services while studying full-time.
Nitty gritty horsetrading gets underway at second round of Ukraine talks in Riyadh
The horse-trading got underway in earnest at the second round of ceasefire talks in Riyadh on March 23. Two negotiating teams from Ukraine and Russia met separately with their US counterparts to start setting the conditions for an end of hostilities.
Belarus' Lukashenko sworn in as president for the seventh time
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in for his seventh term in office on March 25 at the Independence Palace in Minsk, following his “victory” in presidential elections on January 26.
Israeli IDF troops engage in ground battle in Syria as airstrikes hit Palmyra
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed an engagement with “several terrorists” who opened fire on Israeli troops from southern Syria on the morning of March 25.
TNT ammunition depot in Czechia explodes
The cause of the explosion is currently unclear, but police said a “technical issue” is “the most likely cause”.
Iran dollar exchange rate soars past IRR1mn mark as Tehran reopens after Nowruz
The Iranian rial reached a record low against the US dollar on the first working day of the Persian year 1404, with the greenback trading at IRR1,030,000 in free market exchanges.
Rights watchdog documents forced mobilisation of Central Asian labour migrants in Russian military
Citizenship wielded as instrument of coercion.
Viktor Orban's rival launches "Voice of the Nation" consultation on economic and political issues
Hungary's opposition Tisza Party has launched "Voice of the Nation" referendum, aiming to gauge public opinion on a range of social, economic and political issues ahead of next year's elections.
Scandal surrounding Hungarian central bank’s investments spreads to Polish developer GTC
Hungary's central bank-linked foundations are facing renewed scrutiny over their investment practices after a scathing report from the State Audit Office triggered a sell-off in assets linked to their portfolio.
Who will be Serbia’s next prime minister?
Among the potential successors to Milos Vucevic are Finance Minister Sinisa Mali, former PM Ana Brnabic and Foreign Minister Marko Djuric.