News

Around the Bloc - 30 May

The important, interesting, or just downright quirky news from TOL’s coverage region. Today: protests in Mongolia; Orthodox squabbles in Eastern Europe; Russian nuclear threats; an uncertain future for Hungarian science; and weed-killing in the UK.

30 May 2019

News

Around the Bloc - 29 May

The important, interesting, or just downright quirky news from TOL’s coverage region. Today: tensions in Kosovo; shopping in London, Azeri-style; nature watching near Chernobyl; Lithuania and Sputnik; and Saakashvili the Ukrainian.

29 May 2019

Politics

Cell Door Slams on Romania’s Kingmaker

Many in Bucharest and Brussels are cheering, but it may be too soon to write off Liviu Dragnea.

By Ky Krauthamer

29 May 2019

People

Let Me Help You Find Bliss

They grew up in institutions where sexuality was punished and suppressed with drugs. Or they’ve remained involuntarily single. But the disabled too have sexual needs. 

By Petra Dlouha

28 May 2019

News

Around the Bloc - 28 May

The important, interesting, or just downright quirky news from TOL’s coverage region. Today: disrespecting Putin; Czech energy giant comes home; a surprising admission from Vucic; Kyrgyz women’s (lack of) safety; and data breaches in Russia.

28 May 2019

News

Around the Bloc - 27 May

The important, interesting, or just downright quirky news from TOL’s coverage region. Today: the people’s will in Romania; the pope and the Balkans; an ultra-marathon in Kazakhstan; women and football in Bosnia; and a noisy record in St Petersburg.

27 May 2019

News

Around the Bloc - 24 May

The important, interesting, or just downright quirky news from TOL’s coverage region. Today: Euroscepticism and protest in Prague; more political turmoil in Armenia; religious convictions in Russia; communist nostalgia in Romania; and Lithuania’s close-fought presidential election.

24 May 2019

Media

Internet Freedom in Central Asia Beset by ‘Technical’ Difficulties

Governments in the region routinely censor online speech for short-term political goals. Could Uzbekistan reverse the trend?

By Ky Krauthamer

24 May 2019

Politics

UK’s ‘Protest’ Election Looks Pro-Brexit

Central and Eastern European nationals in the UK hoping for a pro-EU or “soft Brexit” outcome are likely to be disappointed. By Victoria Roberts

23 May 2019

People

The Balkan Migrant Trap

Thousands of rejected asylum seekers are in limbo in non-EU Balkan countries, unwilling players in a game of international hot potato. By Rose Joy Smith

21 May 2019

Society

How Turkish Food Turned Sexy

Turkish chefs are experimenting with new ways of “sharing” food – increasingly through social media. By Emel Altay

20 May 2019

Conflict & Diplomacy

Summit Exposes Strains in EU Eastern Policy

The party to celebrate 10 years of the Eastern Partnership ended on a low note.

By Ky Krauthamer

16 May 2019

Media

CNN’s Perplexing Choice of Czech News Partner

A station whose management openly instructed reporters to put a negative slant on migration is about to join the American network’s stellar international team. By Jana Ciglerova

15 May 2019

Environment

Ukraine’s Tycoons Are Greedy for Green

One of Europe’s poorest countries rewards renewable power producers with some of the highest subsidies in the world.

By Ky Krauthamer

14 May 2019

People

Kovy Versus Czech Apathy

One YouTuber’s journey to inform Czech youth, stay true to his identity, and remain relevant online.

By Talia Wiener

13 May 2019

Politics

Pocketbook Issues Dominate Lithuanian Presidential Campaign

But whose pocket? The urban middle classes are doing just fine, while country people see their share of the pie dwindling fast.

By Ky Krauthamer

10 May 2019

Society

Fighting Turkey’s ‘Onion’ Terror

By blaming market players for the ‘food terror’ of high prices – instead of agricultural policy – the government plays an unsustainable game. By Merve Ozcelik

9 May 2019

Conflict & Diplomacy

Viktor Orban’s East-West Balancing Act

The Hungarian premier is banking – in more ways than one – on strengthening ties with all the great powers.

By Ky Krauthamer

8 May 2019

Education

The Priest and the Professor

A young man has discovered that he didn't have to choose between his calling to the priesthood and his love for teaching and for Romanian literature.  

By Polina Cupcea

7 May 2019

COLUMNS

Middle Europa

European Elections Spice Things Up

European Parliament elections have revealed a growing change in taste.

By MARTIN EHL

30 May 2019

Balkan Eye

Praising Stillness Amid the Whirlwind

During his state visit to Bulgaria in early May, the pope offered words of contemplation for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

By BOYKO VASSILEV

28 May 2019

Fourth Estate

Once Upon a Time in Kyiv

Ukraine struggles in a web of fairy tales spun by its eastern neighbour.

By PETER GROSS

22 May 2019

Middle Europa

A Banking Haven No More 

Latvia’s time as a financial bridge between East and West has come to an end.

By MARTIN EHL

6 May 2019

Fourth Estate

Taking Stock of Playboy Since 1989 

Looking back over nearly 30 years of local editions in TOL's region, can Playboy be satisfied with its track record?

By PETER GROSS

1 May 2019

Balkan Eye

Homes and a Scandal in Bulgaria 

How did the “Apartment-Gate” affair explode, when previous, bigger scandals failed to detonate?

By BOYKO VASSILEV

24 April 2019

Middle Europa

A Tale of Two Summits

China’s meetup with Central and East European countries was a stark contrast to the earlier EU-China event.

By MARTIN EHL

17 April 2019