News
European Commission triggers conditionality mechanism against Hungary
The move demonstrates that the EU is not planning to give way on Hungary's violation of EU values, despite Prime Minister Viktor Orban's landslide victory in a flawed election at the weekend.
Moldova’s partners pledge €695mn to help with Ukrainian refugees
With a population of around 2.4mn, Moldova is hosting nearly 100,000 refugees and is providing support to many more who pass through on their way to other countries.
Thousands in danger of poisoning as Russian forces hit chemical tank in Luhansk region
Russian troops hit a tank containing nitric acid in the city of Rubizhne, Luhansk Oblast, on April 5.
Uzbekistan stops shipping GM cars to Russia
Sanctions on Russia will help Uzbekistan’s GM plant meet demand at home.
Zelenskiy calls on UN to expel Russia or dissolve itself
Zelenskiy addressed the UN Security Council by video link, urging them to expel Russia from their ranks or, failing that, to dissolve themselves. Russia's ambassador to the UN said videos of apparent war crimes shown by Zelenskiy were unverified.
EC announces a fifth package of sanctions on Russia, targeting coal, high tech equipment and transport
The European Commission proposed new sanctions on Russia that will hit coal imports, trade and more banks in response to the massacre in Kyiv’s suburb of Bucha on April 3, where retreating Russian soldiers murdered civilians in cold blood.
West seeks Russian expulsion from UN bodies over Ukraine atrocities
American efforts to get Russia removed from the Security Council are more symbolic than practical, given that Russia would have a veto on its own membership. But Russia's position on the Human Rights Council and General Assembly could be in danger.
Pro-war motorcade shocks Berlin
Germany’s Russian community organised a mass motorcade in Berlin on April 3 in support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, shocking residents in the capital, which is admitting thousands of Ukrainian refugees a day.
Protest in Belgrade as observers point to shortcomings in Serbian elections
Several hundred people protested in Belgrade on the evening of April 4, the day after Serbia held general, presidential and local elections, demanding a recount of the votes.
Slovenia’s anti-corruption commission finds PM Jansa in conflict of interest
News concerning appointment of non-executive director at Slovenia's bad bank broke just weeks before Slovenia is due to hold general elections on April 24.
Serbia’s Vucic claims victory in presidential and general elections
Vucic says that the war in Ukraine had a huge impact on the results of the elections, causing Serbia to move dramatically to the right.
Moldova says no evidence of increased activity of Russian troops in Transnistria
Officials in both Chisinau and Tiraspol say no signs of military buildup on separatist Transnistria's border with Ukraine.
Orban secures fourth supermajority with 53% of the vote
The war in Ukraine completely changed the narrative of the campaign, sidelining the opposition issues of fighting corruption and returning Hungary to the European mainstream.
Serbians vote in elections marred by reports of irregularities and violent incidents
President Aleksandar Vucic and his SNS party are expected to win another victory as they promise voters stability.
Ukrainian civilians massacred in Kyiv suburb of Bucha by retreating Russian forces
Horrifying images emerged over the weekend of streets strewn with bodies accompanied by reports of summary executions and the systematic rape of women in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv that was retaken by the Ukrainian army as the Russian forces retreated.
Russia and India are setting up direct oil payment channel
Russian state development bank VEB.RF and the Reserve Bank of India have set up a direct payment channel as an alternative to SWIFT. Reportedly, the channel will serve transactions in rupee and rubles, most notably for Russian oil and gas.
$100bn copper investments needed to meet demand
As demand for electric vehicles, green tech and renewables grows, copper will become increasingly valuable over the next decade. To meet the projected supply gap for the metal, the world will need to invest $100bn in new mines by 2030.
Qatar pauses Russia investments
Qatar has become the most recent Gulf state to announce a pause on new investors in Russia.
Russia reportedly mulling uranium export ban
Russia is reportedly mulling an export ban on uranium, used by the US to generate electricity. Unlike bans on other commodity exports (such as aluminium or palladium), this would probably not cause insuperable problems for US or the global market.
Czech central bank once again hikes interest rates to 5%
CNB still sees inflation as the bigger threat to the Czech economy, despite the growing evidence of stagflation.
