DEAR READER,
We’re keeping it short this week for our last brief before the summer break, so we are not featuring an expert opinion. We’ll be back on August 24th. Thank you for reading, sharing, and staying curious about this part of the world. Have a great summer!
Enjoy reading this week’s “brief”!
— Giorgi Beroshvili, Editor
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
🇷🇴 Romania summons Russian ambassador. Romania will summon Russia’s ambassador after three drones were shot down in the recent days, following what Bucharest described as repeated violations of its airspace by drones linked to Russia's war against Ukraine. An F-16 fighter jet intercepted the latest drone over the Black Sea five minutes after it entered Romanian airspace, while President Nicușor Dan said the first drone downed on Friday had been identified as a Russian-made Shahed drone. Romania condemned the incursions as unacceptable violations of both NATO and EU airspace, with NATO also assessing the latest drone to be of Russian origin. The incidents come as Bucharest strengthens its air defences after adopting legislation last year allowing military forces to shoot down drones that breach its airspace.
🇲🇩 Tofan wins parliamentary backing. Moldova's parliament approved the government of Prime Minister Vasile Tofan after the pro-European PAS party used its parliamentary majority to back his cabinet and programme. Tofan pledged to revive the economy, reduce the budget deficit, reform taxation, cut bureaucracy, privatise at least 10 state-owned companies and boost investment in technology and artificial intelligence. He also reaffirmed Moldova's European ambitions, aiming to sign an EU accession agreement by 2028, prepare for membership by 2030 and open all remaining negotiation clusters this year. Tofan replaces Alexandru Munteanu, who resigned earlier this month, and takes office as Moldova seeks to accelerate reforms while managing economic challenges and the impact of Russia's war against neighbouring Ukraine.
🇪🇪 Estonia tightens checks on illegal migration. Estonian authorities have stepped up border and transport inspections after detaining more than 30 undocumented migrants in Tallinn in recent days, most of whom are believed to have entered via Latvia after crossing from Belarus. Police say the migrants, many reportedly from African countries, were attempting to travel onward to Finland and Western Europe, with several intercepted at Tallinn's ferry terminal during routine patrols. The surge comes amid growing pressure on Latvia's border with Belarus, which Baltic governments describe as a form of hybrid warfare orchestrated by Minsk. Estonia has deployed additional border guard units to assist Latvia, while those detained are being held as their asylum claims are processed or face deportation if unsuccessful.
🇵🇱 PiS faces growing right-wing split. Poland's main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), is facing its deepest internal crisis since its founding, as former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki challenges party leader Jarosław Kaczyński's increasingly hardline direction. Kaczyński has shifted PiS further to the right in an effort to win back voters lost to the far-right Confederation and Confederation of the Polish Crown, including by nominating ultraconservative Przemysław Czarnek as the party's main candidate for the 2027 parliamentary election. Morawiecki, who has launched his own political initiative while insisting he will remain in PiS, argues the party must broaden its appeal to regain power. The public dispute has fuelled speculation over a possible split, with opinion polls showing support for PiS falling as rival right-wing parties continue to gain ground.
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ARTICLES OF THE WEEK
CARTOON OF THE WEEK
Statue of the week
Do you want to see more of Andrzej’s drawings? Check out our dedicated gallery page featuring his cartoons here.




