News
Launch of “Operation Broom” cleanup in North Macedonia marred by MP drug scandal
PM Zoran Zaev pledged to sack party and government officials who have performed poorly after voters punished the ruling coalition’s candidate for the government’s domestic failings in the recent presidential election.
European election in Poland a warm-up ahead of national vote
Political parties have been doing their utmost to rally voters for the Sunday vote in hope that a good result will set off a wave on which they will ride to a victorious night this autumn, when the national election takes place.
Yields on Russian OFZ sovereign treasury bills fall to 9-month lows as foreign demand rises
Russian Ministry of Finance ruble-denominated OFZ treasury bills were trading close to their highest levels in nearly two years in the first weeks of May.
Officials from nations “representing US” visited Iran says Iranian national security spokesman
“Message of power and resistance of Iranian nation was conveyed to them”. Ex-British navy chief, meanwhile, cautions Americans would need million or more soldiers to occupy Iran. Warns of Iraq War-style quagmire.
New Ukraine president under fire for proposal of referendum on peace with Russia
The team of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is considering holding a referendum on concluding agreements with Russia to bring peace in the Donbas war, head of the presidential staff Andriy Bohdan said on May 21.
Ukraine's PrivatBank launches legal battle against its former owners in US court
Ukraine's PrivatBank, nationalised in late 2016, has instituted legal proceedings against its former owners, Ihor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov, as well as "other individuals and companies", before a Court in Delaware in the US
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Kosovo considers extending 100% tariffs to Albanian products
Punitive tariffs already imposed on imports from Bosnia and Serbia could be extended to Kosovo’s closest ally Albania if it fails to remove barriers on Kosovan flour, beer and potatoes.
Moldova’s president asks Constitutional Court’s permission to dissolve parliament
Snap elections have become the baseline scenario in Moldova as none of the three major forces in the parliament managed to form a government after the February general election.
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Istanbul revote: Ousted mayor says AKP spent TRY80mn in three years on city’s website
Ekrem Imamoglu, who will fight an election rerun in what observers say is a crucial test of remaining democracy in Turkey, unveils alleged misspending.
Clearstream to link Ukraine to global financial system on May 27
Ukraine’s capital markets will be hooked up to the global financial system when it joins the Clearstream international payments and settlements system in a move that could revolutionise the government's ability to fund itself.
Problems with contaminated Russian oil not over in Poland and Germany
The transit of Russian oil via Druzhba pipeline has not yet been resumed due to persisting technical problems in Poland and Germany, Vedomosti daily and Reuters reported on May 21 citing unnamed market sources.
Ukraine constitutional crisis snowballs as parliament challenges president's announcement of snap elections
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's decree on the Verkhovna Rada's dissolution and call for early parliamentary elections could trigger a constitutional crisis in the country, the chairman of the nation's parliament's Andriy Parubiy says
Voters prepare to punish their ruling parties in European Parliament elections
Following domestic political scandals in several Central and Southeast European member states, many voters just want to give their ruling parties a kicking in this week's EU-wide vote.
Russia's advertising market slows to 4% growth in 1Q19
Advertising spending in Russia in 1Q19 stood at RUB111bn ($1.7bn), the growth of the ad market slowing down to 4% from 13% for the same quarter of 2018, Kommersant daily reported citing the data of Association of Communication Agencies of Russia (AKA
Poland’s leading newspaper accuses PM Morawiecki of shady real estate deal
The revelation comes only a few days before the election to the European Parliament, which the fiercely anti-government newspaper hopes the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) will lose.
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North Macedonia’s new president signs off 21 laws his predecessor refused to endorse
Gjorge Ivanov refused to sign the bills, on topics including financial support for investments and reforms to the security services, in protest against the change of the country's name to North Macedonia.
Serbia must improve business climate and tackle brain drain to ensure long-term growth, IMF says
Serbia has a positive near-term outlook after growth rebounded to a 10-year high in 2018, but deep reforms are needed to create a solid basis for future growth.
Turkey has closed its ports to Iranian oil: reports
If the move is confirmed it would fly in the face of aggressive rhetoric from Ankara in which it has said the US cannot deny it the right to import energy shipments from its neighbour.
Rouhani wants wartime executive powers to address “economic war” waged by US on Iran
Iranian president says Trump’s approach to tensions means "today’s situation is not suitable for talks and our choice is resistance only".
Ukraine faces political crisis as newly sworn-in President Zelenskiy dissolves parliament
Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the dissolution of the nation's parliament immediately after he was sworn in on May 20.