News
Central Asia wary Russia will turn on ruble “printing press” to cope with cooling economy, say experts
If Russian economy slips into recession a consequent fall in migrant remittances would particularly hit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Hindi language poster in a Croatian supermarket sparks a culture war
Far-right junior ruling party furious at posters in Zagreb Kaufland supermarket, exposing tensions over the growing number of Asian migrant workers in Croatia.
Ukrainian ambassador summoned in Budapest over church arson case
Ukrainian nationalists blamed for arson attack on a Greek Catholic church in Ukraine's western Transcarpathian region — but similar provocations were traced back to Russian operatives.
EU threatens suspension of visa free travel for Georgians amid ruling party crackdown
The EU has warned Georgia may lose its visa-free travel privileges should the ruling Georgian Dream party not take steps to reverse its current course, which many Western countries have condemned as increasingly authoritarian and anti-European.
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Serbia polls spell trouble for Vucic
Recent polling suggests President Aleksandar Vucic would lose the next Serbian election by a large margin.
Signet Bank launches first Baltic bond fund in Latvia
Signet Asset Management Latvia of Signet Bank Group has established the Signet Baltic Bond Fund, described as the first open-ended mutual fund of its kind in the Baltic region
Russian Railways to propose more tariff changes
State rail operator Russian Railways (RZD) plans to revise freight tariffs, proposing a rebalancing that would raise rates on raw materials and fuel while cutting them for finished metal products
Emirates returns to Syria with regular flights to Damascus
Emirates has officially resumed service to Syria's capital Damascus amid clashes locally and with Israel.
Poland the biggest winner from EU’s €2 trillion long-term budget, Ukraine to get €100bn
EU Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin unveiled the largest ever EU long-term €2 trillion budget that covers 2028-2034 in Brussels on July 16.
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Brazil’s Embraer warns Trump tariffs could add $9mn per aircraft
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer faces a devastating blow to its business as US tariffs threaten to add $9mn to the cost of each plane, the company's chief executive has warned.
Svyrydenko appointed as new Ukrainian Prime Minister
Ukraine’s parliament appointed Yuliia Svyrydenko as the country’s new prime minister on July 17, marking the most significant reshuffle of the government since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Four EU countries bail out of paying for Trump’s weapons for Ukraine
At least four countries are already bailing out of commitments to pay the US for weapons supplies for Ukraine, raising a question mark over the level of support Ukraine can expect now that the Trump administration has withdrawn.
Brazil growth to slow to 2.3% in 2025 before recovering, IMF says
Brazil's economy is expected to moderate in the near term as inflation converges to target, before strengthening to 2.5% over the medium term, the IMF has said in a statement.
Egypt, other Arab states condemn Israeli airstrikes on Syria
Several Arab countries have strongly condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory, which targeted key sites linked to Syria’s Interior and Defence Ministries.
Iran claims 800,000 Afghans left voluntarily amid deportation programme
An estimated 800,000 Afghans have left Iran from the beginning of 2025 until July 16, with over 70% departing voluntarily and self-identifying as unauthorised residents, officials claim.
Iran to establish nationalised gold company centred in East Azerbaijan
The Governor of Iran's East Azerbaijan Province announced that a proposal to establish the National Gold Company with the province as its centre.
Syrian President al-Sharaa accuses Israel of sowing division after airstrikes
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa strongly condemned Israel in a speech, accusing it of deliberately “creating discord within Syria.”
Lebanese militant leader to be freed from French prison after 41 years
Lebanese sources report that a French court has issued a release order for Georges Abdullah, a prominent Lebanese militant who has been imprisoned in France for 41 years.
Myanmar - four months on from the M7.7 earthquake
In late March, a 7.7-magnitude quake struck central Myanmar - devastating regions such as Mandalay, Sagaing, Naypyidaw and Shan State - killing at least 3,700 people and injuring nearly 5,000, with thousands more missing
COMMENT: Slovakia’ Prime Minister pushes back on EU gas phase-out, demands a delay to the sanctions as EU cracks widen
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is becoming a major embarrassment for the EU plans to phase out all Russian gas imports by 2028.