News
Turkmenistan douses the flames of “hell”
Crater fire in collapsed desert gas well raged for half a century. Adventurous tourists treasured site. Climate scientists hated it for its massive methane emissions.
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Fico’s Slovak ruling coalition split over backing sentenced central banker Kažimír for another term
Left-right ruling coalition of the Slovak populist prime minister Robert Fico is split over whether to back Governor of the National Bank of Slovakia Peter Kažimír, for another six-year term in office after the current one expired on May 31.
Wizz Air shares nosedive after release of 2024 earnings report, lack of guidance
Wizz Air shares plummeted in early trading on June 5, after the low-cost carrier posted a sharp drop in earnings and declined to provide financial guidance for the coming quarters.
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Bolivia’s Morales defies election ban and rallies supporters ahead of elections
Bolivia’s political tensions are escalating as former president Evo Morales defies a ban on his candidacy and mobilises supporters to demand his return to power.
Boss of Turkish fuel retailer Teco arrested as part of Imamoglu operation
Regime says it's targeting "tentacles" of "octopus-like" crime syndicate under Istanbul mayor. Critics scoff at bogus investigation aimed at removing political threat to Erdogan.
Arrests made after Serbian student leader attacked by mob in Belgrade
A Serbian student who has become a symbol of opposition to ongoing university blockades was attacked near Student City in New Belgrade.
Ukraine defaults on $2.6bn GDP warrants as restructuring talks stall
Ukraine has defaulted on $2.6bn worth of sovereign debt after opting not to make payments due June 2 on GDP-linked warrants, the country’s finance ministry confirmed, citing the need to prioritise broader economic stability and recovery.
Ecuador to allow foreign military bases on its territory
Ecuador's parliament has approved a constitutional reform allowing foreign military bases on its territory, marking a dramatic policy reversal as President Noboa seeks international assistance in combating violent drug cartels.
Iran achieves complete nuclear fuel cycle mastery, atomic chief claims
Iran has achieved complete mastery of the nuclear fuel cycle, the head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran announced on June 5.
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OECD forecasts Argentina will lead regional growth despite lingering inflation woes
Argentina is projected to lead Latin American economic growth with a GDP expansion of 5.2% in 2025 and 4.3% in 2026, according to the latest OECD Economic Outlook.
Russian farmers ask Putin to deal with Kazakh antelope invasion
Half a million saiga have crossed border. Protected animals are devastating crops and polluting water supplies.
Hungary’s flagship battery sector racks up $112mn losses amid demand slump
Hungary’s battery manufacturing sector, heralded as a pillar of the manufacturing sector, has posted combined annual losses of nearly $112mn, as weakening global demand and shifting trade dynamics hit the industry hard.
Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb destroyed fewer Russian bombers than claimed
Ukraine’s spectacular Operation Spiderweb on June 1 destroyed fewer Russian strategic bombers than Kyiv first claimed, according to satellite evidence released by the US firm Maxar.
Polish central bank holds rates but cuts seem imminent later this year
The decision to hold follows a cut of 50bp in May, the first reduction in NBP’s interest rates since 2023. The Polish inflation rate came in at 4.1% y/y in May, easing from 4.3% y/y the preceding month.
European Commission concludes Romania breached fiscal consolidation plan
Romania must come up with convincing corrective actions by the end of the month to prevent disciplinary measures.
Moldovan PM warns of Russian plan to deploy 10,000 troops in Transnistria
Dorin Recean says Moscow is intensifying efforts to interfere in Moldova's domestic politics to secure a more Kremlin-aligned government in Chisinau.
Vietnam abolishes two-child policy
The policy, introduced in 1988, was initially implemented to curb population growth following years of war and economic hardship. While enforcement varied, Communist Party members often faced career penalties for exceeding the two-child limit.
COVID-19 cases surge in Thailand
Of the newly reported cases, 9,304 were treated as outpatients, while 888 individuals required hospital admission due to the severity of their symptoms. One additional death was also recorded.
Georgian ruling party launches legal offensive against critical TV channels
Georgian Dream accused Formula and TV Pirveli of using anti-government terminology in their coverage.
EU selects 13 global strategic raw materials projects to boost supply security
European Commission publishes list with projects in Emerging Europe, Central Asia, Africa and elsewhere as bloc strives to reduce dependency on a handful of global suppliers.