Prominent Baluch Activist Stopped From Leaving Pakistan For U.S. Event
Mahrang Baloch, a leading rights activist for the ethnic Baluch minority, was prevented from leaving Pakistan to attend a ceremony in the United States, she wrote on social media on October 8.
Death Toll Rises in Bosnian Flooding Amid Warnings Of New Rainfall
The death count in the devastating floods in Bosnia-Herzegovina has risen to at least 22 while authorities on October 8 warned of additional rains and potential landslides in the coming days.
Ahead Of EU Speech, Orban Says Current Ukraine Strategy 'Does Not Work'
Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban – who has been assailed by the West for his often Russian-friendly stance – suggested that Ukraine cannot win its war with Russia and pressed again for negotiations.
Putin, Pashinian Agree To Withdraw Russian Troops From Armenia-Iran Border
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 8 announced an agreement that will see Russian border guards withdraw from the Armenian-Iranian frontier checkpoint as of January 1, 2025.
Vocal Kyrgyz Government Critic Released From Jail After Sentence Changed
Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court on October 8 changed the five-year prison term handed to vocal government critic and journalist Oljobai Shakir with three years of parole-like probation.
Pakistani Ex-PM Khan Charged With Attempted Murder Over Policeman's Death In Protests
Pakistan's police on October 8 charged the country's imprisoned former prime minister, Imran Khan, with attempted murder over the death of a policeman during violent protests last weekend by his supporters.
Yashin Advocates For Secession Rights In Russia's Federal Treaty
Ilya Yashin, a Russian opposition figure who was exchanged in a historic prisoner swap between Russia and the West in August, says Russia needs a new federal treaty that allows for regions to secede from the federation.
Turkmenistan Confiscates Passports Of Travelers With Bank Loans, Dealing Blow To Migrant Workers
Authorities in Turkmenistan, an authoritarian state known for its tight control over citizens, have begun confiscating the passports of individuals trying to leave the country if they have outstanding bank loans.
Jailed Azerbaijani Journalist Transferred To Georgian Prison Infirmary
Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadiqov, arrested in Georgia in August at Baku’s request, has been transferred to a prison medical facility due to his deteriorating health following a hunger strike that
European Parliament Blasts Russian Interference In Moldova Ahead Of Polls
A draft resolution from the European Parliament warns Russia to stop its "provocations and attempts to destabilize" Moldova ahead of a crucial presidential election and referendum. It also urges EU me
Top Romanian Court Bans Pro-Russia Candidate From Presidential Race
Romania's Constitutional Court has banned a pro-Russia euroskeptic far-right candidate from running in presidential elections next month.
Israel Kills Another Top Hezbollah Commander
The Israeli military said on October 8 that it had killed another senior Hezbollah commander, a day after marking the somber anniversary of a Hamas attack on the Jewish state that killed more than 1,200 people.
Wider Europe Briefing: The EU's New Plans To Target Russian Threats
In this week's newsletter, a new EU sanctions mechanism targeting malign Russian actions and Albania's recent progress on joining the EU.
Why So Many Hungarians Are Staying Child-Free
Despite government incentives, many Hungarians are choosing not to have children -- and are increasingly vocal about it.
Probe Launched Into Prison Labor Allegations Surrounding German Lawmaker's Farm In Belarus
German prosecutors in the land of Saxony have opened a preliminary investigation into reports that far-right lawmaker Jorg Dornau used prisoner labor at his farm in Belarus.
Russia Says It Repelled Ukrainian Drone Attack In Belgorod
Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defense systems repelled a Ukrainian drone attack early on October 8, shooting down 16 unmanned aerial vehicles.
Ukraine Calls Russian Strike On Grain Ship In Odesa 'Deliberate Terrorist Tactic'
Russia forces continued to hit the Odesa region – Ukraine’s important Black Sea port – with ballistic missiles, damaging a second foreign-flagged civilian vessel a day after striking the main city itself.
U.S. Approves Sale Of Sentinel Radar Systems To Romania
The U.S. State Department on October 7 said it had approved the sale to Romania of four Sentinel radar systems and related equipment worth some $110 million.
U.S.-Belarusian Lawyer's Prison Term Extended Amid Concerns Over Health
U.S.-Belarusian citizen Yuras Zyankovich -- who has been declared a political prisoner by human rights organizations -- has had his prison term extended by two years to more than 13 years in total in
Russia Accuses Medical Director Of Satanism Amid Crackdown On 'Nontraditional Values'
Russia's Federal Security Service has accused Ilya Zhuravlyov, the director of two medical centers in the Ulyanovsk region, of promoting Satanism as part of a broader campaign to spread LGBT propaganda.
Russian Military Court Jails Ukrainian Woman On Terrorism Charges
A Russian military court has sentenced Ukrainian Iryna Navalna, 26, to eight years in prison on charges of attempting to commit a terrorist attack and illegal possession of weapons.
Ukrainian PM Tells Slovakia's Fico That Russian Gas-Transit Deal Won't Be Extended
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico that Kyiv will not extend a gas-transit deal with Russia when it expires at the end of the year, a move certain to increas
Putin To Meet Iranian President As War Rages In Middle East
Vladimir Putin plans to meet with his Iranian counterpart, Masud Pezeshkian, this week amid fears the crisis in the Middle East threatens to spin out of control.
EU Summit Draft Strongly Backs Ukraine, Moldova, Chastizes Georgia
The European Union will continue to strongly support Ukraine in its fight against Russia's unprovoked invasion and will keep offering all its backing to Moldova in its efforts to join the 27-member bl
Georgia's Ruling Party Reviving Bid To Impeach Pro-Western President
Georgia’s ruling party, which has raised the ire of the United States and European Union with moves seen as bringing the Caucasus nation closer to Russia, has revived its bid to impeach pro-West Presi