News
Jailed Belarusian blogger Raman Pratasevich suddenly reappears on Belarus state television
Yesterday, the jailed Belarusian blogger Raman Pratasevich appeared on Belarus' state TV and showed support for the regime.
Hungarian central bank switches gear and raises base rate above forecast
The Monetary Council of Hungary’s National Bank raised the base rate by 50bp to 2.9% at its first monthly policy meeting of the year.
Another Nazarbayev head rolls as Kazakhstan’s Tokayev steps up purge after mass unrest
Central Election Commission Berik Imashev replaced. At sovereign wealth fund, officials announce lie-detector tests will be used in crackdown on corruption.
Czechia and Slovakia lagging behind European average in fighting corruption, says Transparency International
Slovakia rises four places to 56th under new government, while Czechia remains stuck on 49th after Babis government's 'unfulfilled promises'.
Farmers union leader and journalist named as two new targets of Poland’s Pegasus hack
Since the scandal broke, the Polish government has gone from denying any knowledge of Pegasus to admitting that Poland had bought it but not used it for political purposes.
Transparency CPI report ranks Hungary as second most corrupt country in EU
Hungary slipped four notches to 73th place in Transparency International's 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index ranking.
Belarusian hacktivists’ cyberattack on railway system to disrupt movement of Russian troops
The Belarusian Cyber-Partisans have targeted the state-owned Belarusian Railway, encrypting servers, databases and workstations in response to the presence of Russian troops in the country, the hacktivists announced via Twitter on January 24.
Croatian president clashes with government over Russia-Ukraine standoff
Ministers refute President Zoran Milanovic’s claim that troops will be withdrawn in case of an escalation of the conflict.
Explosion at Albanian Football Federation head’s home after voting scandal
FShF head Armand Duka is in a very public conflict with Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj, who has made accusations of corruption and pledged to "control football" in a secret recording.
Slovak parliament likely to approve defence agreement with the US
President adds statement to DCA to reassure MPs but opposition still demands referral to Constitutional Court.
Westinghouse corrals Polish companies to work on nuclear power plant
Westinghouse is one of three companies looking to build four to six reactors by the mid-2040s in order to reduce the carbon intensity of electricity generation.
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Western allies sending Ukraine arms, but not Germany
With the fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine mounting, many of its allies have ramped up arms deliveries to the embattled nation – but not all.
Kosovo defends tough COVID-19 rules that sparked complaints from neighbours
Officials from Albania and North Macedonia say Pristina’s new rules requiring booster jab or PCR test for entry to the country hinder freedom of movement in the region.
Turkey exempts pharma, meat and milk industries from gas cuts but country's energy crisis snowballing
Rolling power restrictions applied to factories. Situation worse than what was seen during Turkish balance of payments crisis at end of 1970s.
Baltics to send weapons to Ukraine as fears of Russian invasion rise
Estonia will send Javelin anti-armour missiles, while Latvia and Lithuania will send Stinger antiaircraft missiles.
Komarek's lottery operator Allwyn Entertainment to enter NYSE
Czech billionaire's lottery company expected to be valued at around $9.3bn.
Polls show Russian public opinion united on Ukraine
Data from surveys show that Russian sentiment is more homogeneous than in recent years on questions surrounding a potential conflict with Ukraine. Fears of war are high, America's allies are largely held responsible, but appetite for conflict is low.
Armenian President Sarkissian resigns
Sarkissian had appeared frustrated by his lack of influence and the way he was left out of key negotiations.
Nato rejects Russian request to withdraw from Bulgaria and Romania
Both Nato and the governments in Bucharest and Sofia have firmly rejected Russia’s request that Nato forces withdraw from countries that joined after 1997.
Russian troops concentrate in southeastern Belarus, increasing fears of invasion of Ukraine
Western fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine from Belarus are increasing as Russian troops concentrate in Belarus’ Gomel region. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy is playing down war fears, saying that no war is imminent.
