News
PPF group confirms plans to sell Chinese operations
Czech investment group also says it is looking at acquisition opportunities in telecommunications, probably involving a merger with another financial or investment partner.
Nato agrees 'fundamental shift' to counter Russia
Security alliance’s leaders agree a big increase in troop deployments on its Eastern Flank, more help for Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression, and a new Strategic Concept.
Bulgaria a step closer to early election as Socialists pull out of coalition talks
Pro-Moscow BSP says it won't continue talks on a new coalition with outgoing PM Kiril Petkov's Change Continues after mass expulsion of Russian diplomats.
Czech energy company CEZ switches away from Russian nuclear fuel
CEZ signs contract with US nuclear power technology company Westinghouse and French Framatome.
Romania reports new gas from Black Sea, expects 90% gas self-sufficiency
Energy minister says Black Sea Oil and Gas’ Midia development will boost self-sufficiency, as Europe tries to end dependence on Russian gas.
Hungary’s forint jumps after central bank’s aggressive 185bp rate hike
The forint has been of the weakest currencies in Europe, with widening budget and current account deficits making it exposed to external market movements.
Bulgaria expels 70 Russian diplomats
Mass expulsion is unprecedented for Bulgaria, which until recently was seen as one of Russia’s most loyal allies in the EU.
_1656444358.jpg)
Turkey drops opposition to Sweden, Finland joining Nato
Big boost for Western defence bloc as Madrid summit gets underway, with member states seeking to demonstrate unmistakable unity to Kremlin while the Ukraine-Russia war continues to rage.
Russia denies defaulting on $100mn bond coupon payment
Russia denied that it had defaulted on a $100mn bond payment, saying that the money had been sent to bond holders, in dollars, in May but it was not the Kremlin’s fault if the cash was not distributed to bondholders.
A maze of smuggler tunnels: the Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan border
The four smuggling tunnels found so far may only be a small part of the total.
Ukraine's Zelenskiy calls on the US to recognise Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism
Following a horrific Russian missile attack on a packed shopping mall in Ukraine's industrial city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the West to designate Russia a state sponsor of terror.
Amnesty International issues damning report on Lithuania’s migration centres
NGO documents allegations of racism and violent pushbacks of asylum seekers.
At least a dozen killed in shopping mall bombing as Zelenskiy urges G7 leaders to impose more sanctions
At least 10 people were killed and more than three dozen injured after Russian missiles slammed into a packed supermarket in the middle of the day in Ukraine’s industrial city of Kremenchuk on June 27.
Former Moldovan president Dodon indicted over 2008 electricity procurement contract
Dodon is also being investigated for bribe-taking and illegal financing of his Socialist party.
Tug of war emerging over what role Iran (and its oil) should play in new world order
France calls for efforts to get Iranian oil back on the market as Tehran re-enters nuclear deal talks, Tehran says it has applied to join BRICS and Israel secretly discusses defence coordination against Iran with Saudi Arabia.
Credit Suisse fined over laundering of Bulgarian cocaine traffickers’ money
Credit Suisse becomes first big bank group in Switzerland to be convicted in such a case after failing to prevent laundering of over CHF19mn.
Gold and an energy price cap on G7 summit agenda
Gold and a price cap on oil are among the items on the agenda as G7 leaders gathered in Bavaria in Germany to consider a seventh package of sanctions on Russia.
Petkov rejects ITN proposal for talks on new government
ITN says it would form new coalition government so long as Petkov steps down as premier.
_1656253806.jpg)
Russia promises to give Belarus missile systems with nuclear capabilities within months
The meeting between self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 25 brought the expected results of escalated tensions with the West and Ukraine.
'Massive' Russian bombardment of Ukraine from Belarusian territory
On June 25, Ukrainian intelligence reported that Ukraine had come under “massive” bombardment by Russian forces firing from Belarusian territory.
