Eastern Europe / News
Tusk says he will protect broadcasters TVN and Polsat from hostile takeovers
Polish commercial broadcasters added to list of strategic companies after rumours of interest from millionaire close to Hungary's Orban.
Russia hopes for deal on bases in Syria
Russia is seeking to secure agreements with Syria's new authorities regarding its military facilities in the country following the sudden overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad's government.
US finally approves $20bn contribution to the G7's $50bn Ukraine loan
After months of wrangling, the US finally released a $20bn loan to Ukraine on December 10, funded by profits from Russia’s frozen $300bn reserve assets, as part of a broader G7 $50bn loan to Ukraine, approved on June 13 at a G7 summit in Italy.
Qatar-Turkey-Europe gas pipeline ambition could be back on following fall of Assad
Plan was rejected by Syria 15 years ago as, according to some observers, Damascus moved to protect ally Russia’s interests.
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Moscow is “close to achieving all its war goals", says Russian spy chief
Sergei Naryshkin says Russia holds the "strategic initiative in all areas of the war" after over 1,000 days of fighting in Ukraine.
Notorious Russian activist demands Santa Claus be labelled ‘Foreign Agent’
Vitaly Borodin, a prominent pro-Kremlin activist, has called on Russian authorities to designate Santa Claus as a “foreign agent,” arguing the Western holiday figure undermines traditional Russian values.
Bulgaria threatens to cut transit of Russian gas to Serbia
Caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov warns Bulgaria could end gas transit to Serbia to avoid breaching new US sanctions on Gazprombank.
Russian soldiers ordering taxis to evacuate front line as army bans private cars
Russian forces in Ukraine are increasingly relying on civilian taxis to evacuate wounded soldiers from the front lines in the occupied Donetsk region.
Moldova's separatist Transnistria region prepares for the end of free Russian gas
Unrecognised republic faces heightened energy concerns as the current transit contract for Russian gas through Ukraine is set to expire on January 1.
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Toppled Syrian dictator Assad flees to Moscow
Diplomatic sources confirmed Russia has offered asylum to Assad.