News

Iran condemns Israeli attacks on Gaza, blames US complicity

bnm Tehran bureau March 18, 2025

Iran has strongly condemned the latest Israeli attacks on Gaza, describing them as "genocidal" and accusing the United States of complicity in the "massacre" of Palestinian civilians.

Serbian president sparks outrage with visit to Kocani fire victims

bne IntelliNews March 18, 2025

The president's ill-advised publicity stunt backfired spectacularly, with many accusing him of exploiting the tragedy for political gain.

Russian official urges women to wear mini-skirts to boost birth rate

bne IntelliNews March 18, 2025

Russia is experiencing its most severe demographic decline since the collapse of the Soviet Union, prompting politicians from President Vladimir Putin to local councillors to propose measures to increase the population.

Arab League and UN condemns brutal Israeli airstrikes on Gaza

bna Cairo bureau March 18, 2025

The Arab League's Ahmed Aboul Gheit has hit out at Israeli strikes on Gaza on March 18 in a sign of collapsing relations between the two sides.

Wild boars unearth World War 2 mortar shells in Polish forest

bne IntelliNews March 18, 2025

A group of wild boars dug up 21 unexploded mortar shells from World War 2 in a forest near the village of Bięcino in northern Poland, local police in Słupsk said on 17 March.

Iran, EEU free trade deal to take effect in mid-May

bnm Tehran bureau March 18, 2025

A comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union will come into force on May 15, paving the way for stronger economic ties and potentially doubling trade volumes.

Trump to have key phone call with Putin to discuss terms needed to end the Ukraine conflict

bne IntelliNews March 18, 2025

Russia will agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, US President Donald Trump said ahead of a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

More than 420 killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza, Hamas-run health ministry reports

bnm Gulf bureau March 18, 2025

More than 420 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes, according to the latest numbers out of the Hamas-run health ministry.

Lithuania links Russian intelligence to arson attacks in Vilnius and Warsaw

bne IntelliNews March 18, 2025

Lithuanian prosecutors have accused Russian military intelligence of orchestrating an arson attack on an IKEA store in Vilnius in May, the Prosecutor General's Office said on 17 March.

Washington leans on Budapest to back down from veto threats

bne IntelliNews March 18, 2025

Hungary's government has backed down on vetoing European Union sanctions on Russia following direct pressure from Washington.

Tensions rise over peace treaty talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia

Cavid Aga in Ankara March 18, 2025

Reports of ceasefire violations along the border have intensified, further complicating the fragile peace process.

Poll shows Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan most likely to win Romanian presidential election

Iulian Ernst in Bucharest March 18, 2025

Latest poll indicates Dan will face George Simion or another far-right challenger in the second round of Romania's May election — but political volatility makes the outcome hard to predict.

Hungarian lawmakers move legislation in fast-track vote to ban Pride March

bne IntelliNews March 18, 2025

Hungary's parliament has approved an expedited procedure to pass legislation that would effectively ban Pride marches, with a final vote expected on March 18.

Red Sea tensions escalate as US and Houthis launch attacks

Editorial March 18, 2025

The US and Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched fresh attacks amid growing concerns over the safety of Red Sea shipping routes.

Hungarian PM seems to backtrack from controversial "bedbug" analogy after uproar

bne IntelliNews March 17, 2025

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban offered a retrospective "interpretation" of his controversial speech on March 15, in which he referred to political opponents, judges, journalists and civil activists as bedbugs, causing widespread outrage.

Serbia invites FBI to investigate use of sonic weapon at protest

Tatyana Kekic in Belgrade March 17, 2025

Videos posted social media show protesters scattering after a loud sound, with some speculating that it was caused by a sonic cannon.

Putin extends diplomatic lifeline to Venezuela's Maduro in Victory Day invitation

bne IntelliNews March 17, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to Moscow's Victory Day celebrations on May 9, celebrating the 80th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

Former Georgian president Saakashvili gets a further 4.5 years in prison for illegal border crossing

bne IntelliNews March 17, 2025

Mikheil Saakashvili, president of Georgia from 2004-13, has been found guilty of illegally crossing the Georgian border in September 2021 and sentenced to four years and six months in jail by the Tbilisi City Court.

US pays El Salvador $6mn to house Venezuelan gang members in controversial prison deal

Alek Buttermann March 17, 2025

El Salvador has received 238 alleged members of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang and 23 MS-13 members from the United States, establishing what analysts describe as an unprecedented model of cross-border incarceration services.

Nightclub fire sparks violent protests in North Macedonia

Valentina Dimitrievska in Skopje March 17, 2025

Fury over systemic corruption as nightclub where 59 died in fire revealed to be operating without even minimal safety standards.

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