Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Rare 700-year-old gold ring with Sri Lankan sapphire discovered in Slovakian castle
A rare 700-year-old gold ring has been unearthed at Zvolen Castle in Slovakia. The 18-karat piece is adorned with twin lion heads and set with an exceptionally rare purplish-red Sri Lankan sapphire. Beyond its beauty, the ring holds significant...

Eternal Hope and Prague Springs: Central Europe’s Mandela
Saturday, 21 June 2025 21/06/25 OPINION Eternal Hope and Prague Springs: Central Europe’s Mandela Greg Mills | 20 June 2025 Greg Mills writes on Václav Havel, the man who led Czechoslovakia into democracy ‘If we don't have hope, we don't have...

Sri Lankan sapphire found in 700-year old Slovakian ring
160 A stunning gold ring lost at a medieval castle in Slovakia over 700 years ago has been found to contain a Sri Lankan reddish-purple sapphire set in a band flanked by lions. Noémi Beljak Pažinová, an archaeologist at Constantine the Philosopher...

Hungary proposes holding Ukraine peace discussions
(MENAFN) Hungary has reiterated its willingness to host peace negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated on Thursday. Since the conflict intensified in February 2022, Hungary has taken...

Will Slovakia leave NATO?
“Neutrality would suit Slovakia,” Prime Minister Robert Fico declared just two days ago—sending ripples through the Western world. The idea that Slovakia might exit NATO is now making headlines, fuelling heated debate on political talk shows and...

How Post-Brexit Business Growth is Shifting to Central Europe
In the wake of Brexit, many businesses are rethinking their strategies for expansion and trade within the European Union. As companies face new barriers to the UK market, Central Europe has emerged as a key destination for post-Brexit business...

Hungary positions itself as a peace broker in Ukraine conflict, offers to host Putin-Trump summit
Hungary positions itself as a peace broker in Ukraine conflict, offers to host Putin-Trump summit As the war in Ukraine drags into its fourth year with mounting casualties and deepening geopolitical rifts, one European Union member is once again...

Wizz Air suspends flights affecting thousands of passengers, reopens base in Central Europe
Due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, which carries the risk of triggering a regional war potentially involving U.S. intervention, Wizz Air has decided to suspend its flights to two Middle Eastern destinations. The suspension...

Hungary powers up largest battery energy storage in green transition push
Hungary has just switched on its largest battery energy storage system (BESS) to date, stepping up its role in Central Europe’s growing grid-scale energy transition. The new 40 MW / 80 MWh system, installed at the Dunamenti gas power plant near...

Medieval gold ring found in castle in Slovakia has rare purple sapphire imported from Sri Lanka" target="_self" data-before-rewrite-localise="/archaeology/medieval-gold-ring-found-in-castle-in-slovakia-has-rare-purple-sapphire-imported-from-sri-lanka
A stunning gold ring lost at a medieval castle in Slovakia over 700 years ago has been rediscovered. The jewelry was likely worn by a bishop and includes an unusual Sri Lankan reddish-purple sapphire set in a band flanked by lions. "Such a ring...

PHOTOS: Hundreds celebrate International Day of Yoga in Budapest with a grand open-air session
The Amrita Sher-Gil Cultural Centre, Embassy of India in Budapest, successfully hosted a grand celebration of the 11th International Day of Yoga on Saturday, 21 June 2025, at the Dr. Koltai Jenő Sportközpont, Hungarian University of Sports...

Hungarian government agrees with the Germans: Israel doing the ‘dirty work’ for all of us
As regards the conflict between Israel and Iran, Gergely Gulyás, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, quoted the German chancellor who said after the recent G7 summit that Israel was “doing the dirty work for all of us”. Referendum on...

FAB25: The Global FabLab Gathering Comes to Central Europe
Mark your calendars for July 4–11, 2025, as the global FabLab community meets in Brno and Prague for FAB25. FAB25 is the official global event of the FabLab community, organized by The Fab Foundation (MIT), The Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT...

Renowned Historian, Prof. Andrzej Nowak, on the Future of Polish-Hungarian Relations
We have met Professor Andrzej Nowak of the Jagiellonian University and the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Budapest during his book-talk organized by the Waczlaw Felczak Foundation. We have asked the prominent Polish...

3 of the Best Treetop Walks in Europe: Switzerland, Germany, & Austria
Forest walks, sky bridges, treetop walkways—there are many names that describe elevated adventures out in nature. Though known by many names, the idea is the same. You take a raised pathway in order to explore a natural area from a semi-bird’s-eye...

Russian Influence in Central Europe Evolves From Disinformation to Democratic Erosion
The global fight against foreign influence has entered a precarious phase. In April, US President Donald Trump shut down the last State Department office specifically tasked with countering foreign information manipulation, raising concerns about...

Czech news in brief for June 18: Wednesday's top headlines
Chinese electric carmaker Nio will enter the Czech market in 2026, Auto Wallis Group announced. The company will distribute models including the ET5 sedan, EL6 SUV, and flagship EL8. Nio’s cars feature battery swap capability, with stations to be...

QS World University Rankings 2026: 3 Hungarian universities among the world’s top 2% – UPDATED
Hungarian universities have maintained a strong presence in international rankings, with the latest data revealing that three Hungarian institutions are now ranked among the world’s top two percent, the Minister for Culture and Innovation...

M+A Activity Up Nearly 20% in Hungary
Merger and acquisition activity in Hungary rose 19pc in 2024, outpacing the global average, data compiled by consultancy Deloitte shows. Local investors accounted for 54pc of transactions. Transactions in the energy sector jumped 60pc and...

Orlen Secures $459M for Massive Green Hydrogen Rollout, Cementing Poland’s Energy Transition
Poland’s biggest energy player, Orlen, got the green light for a huge boost in funding — PLN 1.7 billion ($459 million) in non-repayable grants to ramp up its green hydrogen efforts. This isn’t just pocket change; it’s a serious push to grow clean...