Slovak parliament passes resolution against anti-Russian sanctions after opposition boycott backfires

The Slovak parliament has passed a resolution urging members of the populist left-right cabinet of Robert Fico not to vote against new sanctions directed against Russia.

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.

Global energy investment to reach a record $3.3 trillion in 2025, but problems with grids remain – IEA

Global energy investment is projected to reach a record $3.3 trillion in 2025, despite continued economic uncertainty and heightened geopolitical risks, according to the International Energy Agency.

COMMENT: All three leaders in Poland, Slovakia and Hungary under pressure

All three of the leaders in Poland, Slovakia and Hungary are under pressure and looking at ways to shore up their hold on power.

40% of Europe already in a drought before summer gets fully underway

As Europe slides into its third disaster season, 40% of the EU is already officially facing a drought before the hottest months of the year arrive. And this year’s droughts are likely to become even worse than previous heatwaves.

COVID is back - a new "NB.1.8.1" strain is spreading across continents

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is back. Reports from health authorities around the world have detected a new highly contagious strain of the virus that has been spreading through Asia and has now reached Russia.

Slovakia's central bank governor found guilty of bribery

Governor of the National Bank of Slovakia Peter Kažimír has been found guilty of bribery in a high-profile case and has been fined €200,000, which can be turned into a one-year prison sentence if not paid.

Slovak PM Fico slams German Merz for his comments on EU taking action against Hungary and Slovakia

Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico slammed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for stating that Germany could propose EU block the EU funding for Hungary and Slovakia if the two countries diverge from EU policies.

Czech PPF bosses are ready to take on Netflix and HBO in PPF’s home markets

PPF executives say the group's local content gives it a competitive advantage over international players in small CEE markets.

BLOG: Efforts to tackle methane emissions continue, despite Trump’s regulatory rollback

Momentum behind improved methane monitoring, quantification and mitigation continues to build in the US – even without the same regulatory pressure.

Record temperatures around the world – Statista

A heat wave is sweeping across South Asia, with temperatures having reached 44°C in India’s Jaipur and 50°C in Pakistan’s Shaheed Benazirabad in April, Statista reports.

Opposition calls on health minister to resign after Slovakia fails to back WHO pandemic treaty

Prime Minister Robert Fico and other officials from the senior ruling Smer party have adopted a hardline conspiratorial line on Covid-19.

Slovak Supreme Court cancels acquittal of main suspect in murder of journalist Ján Kuciak

Kuciak’s murder rocked the country and sparked the largest mass demonstrations in the history of independent Slovakia.

Slovak unemployment dropped to 3.71% in April

Unemployment in Slovakia (PDU) dropped by 0.01 percentage point month-on-month to 3.71% in April, reaching the lowest level of unemployed persons on record since 1993 for the second consecutive month.

Data centre power use expected to increase 20-fold in next five years

The first data centres consumed as much power as 20,000 homes, but the largest today use the same amount of power as100,000 homes, and are on track to burn up 5mn households' worth of power by 2030 – the same amount of power that Japan consumes.

Brazil poultry sector hit as bird flu prompts global export bans

Brazil, the world's largest poultry exporter, has confirmed its first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza on a commercial farm, triggering immediate import bans from major markets including China and the EU.

Central Europeans overwhelmingly oppose Trumpist narratives about free speech, 2025 Media Freedom Poll shows

Citizens of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia oppose the Trump administration’s narratives about free speech as allegedly not requiring the regulation of social media, with nearly 90% demanding that online platforms act against hate speech.

Slovak inflation eases to 3.7% y/y in April

COMMENT: Amid shrinking civic space, will the EBRD still uphold its democratic mandate?

As the global Democracy Index recorded a historic low in 2024, institutions tasked with upholding democratic values are under increasing pressure to adapt.

EBRD cuts 2025 growth forecasts citing tariffs and global uncertainty

Development bank lowers forecasts for Emerging Europe, Central Asia and North Africa as slowdowns in Germany and China take their toll.