News
€511.3mn of funds for roads in Bulgaria spent on luxury properties, interior minister says
Minister Boyko Rashkov outlines large-scale corruption schemes the day after ITN quit the ruling coalition amid spat over funding for road construction.
China hectors Central Asia to steer clear of big power politics
Foreign Minister Wang Yi used a visit to Central Asia to talk about the United States. But his counterparts wanted to talk business.
Mystery aircraft crosses four Southeast European states
Unidentified aircraft ignored radio contact on route across Hungary, Romania and Serbia before landing in Bulgaria, where an investigation is underway.
War and pandemics see Emerging Market capital outflows of $5bn in May
Emerging Market securities suffered an outflow of $4.9bn in May 2022, according to estimates by the Institute of International Finance (IIF), continuing the episode started two months ago after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shook the world.
Czech president appoints more dovish central bank board members
Zeman appoints three new board members – replacing two that could have been reappointed – transforming the balance of central bank.
Claims Ukrainian grain shipped from Crimea to Turkey could test Ankara-Kyiv relations
“Primary contracts are signed with Turkey,” says head of Moscow-installed military-civilian administration in occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia.
Bosnia and Montenegro attend Open Balkan summit but Kosovo shuns event
North Macedonia's PM Dimitar Kovacevski says doors to Open Balkan, founded to improve regional economic co-operation, "remain open" to all Western Balkan states.
Merkel condemns the “barbaric” war in Ukraine in her first public comments
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has condemned Russia’s “barbaric” war in Ukraine in her first public comments since leaving her post earlier this year.
Bulgaria’s ruling coalition ruptures
PM Kiril Petkov vows to continue as head of minority government after ITN announces it is quitting Bulgaria's ruling coalition.
Kyrgyzstan: Prosecutors use 2010 ethnic unrest as cudgel against government opponents
Activists are bewildered by how the government has chosen to revisit the events of 2010 in this way.
Moldova brings in US federal prosecutor as new anti-corruption chief
Appointment of Moldova-born assistant US attorney Veronica Dragalin may mark a turning point for Moldova's sluggish and often controversial justice reforms.
Ukraine war puts Bosnian Serb secession plans on ice
MPs in Republika Srpska vote to delay withdrawal from Bosnian state-level institutions, seen as a step towards the entity's potential succession.
Iran points finger at Saudi Arabia, Turkey amid sandstorm crisis
More than a dozen ‘SDS’ occurrences have shut down big cities across the Gulf region in recent weeks.
Kazakhs vote to confirm removal of Nazarbayev’s grip on power
President Tokayev promotes referendum result as ending “super-presidential” rule. Some activists say it does nothing of the kind.
KLA veterans try to storm Kosovan parliament
Veterans angry at being left out of minimum wage increases tried to force their way into the parliament.
US sanctions two top Bosnian politicians over threats to region’s stability
US accuses Bosnian Federation President Marinko Cavara and Republika Srpska Health Minister Alen Seranic of pursuing ethnonationalist and political agendas “at the expense of the democratic institutions and citizens”.
Turkey scrimps on detail in explaining how May’s inflation is ‘only 73.5%’
Gone are the average prices recorded for each item in the CPI basket. ENAG contends inflation is 161%.
Czech authorities tighten rules for Ukrainian refugees
The Czech Republic is starting to show strains over how to cope with the slowing but continued influx of Ukrainian refugees into the country.
Controversial Bulgarian cultural centre in North Macedonia set on fire
Arson attack on centre named after a Nazi collaborator complicates efforts to mend relations between Sofia and Skopje and unblock North Macedonia's EU path.
Albania’s chief of defence set to become next president
Ruling Socialists prepare to elect their pick for president, Major General Bajram Begaj, with opposition MPs threatening a boycott.
