The rising superpower may confront some checks from its rivals in the Western Balkans this year – though probably not enough to significantly curb its regional ambitions. The second year of the COVID pandemic has deeply transformed global relations. Major world powers underwent significant political and economic changes while learning …

Corruption revelations, one of the worst COVID-19 death rates in the world, open warfare with the EU: no serious scandal has put much of a dent in the poll numbers of Poland’s ruling PiS party. Will anything happen in 2022 to alter that?As 2021 closed, the popularity of Poland’s ruling …

The Croatian government offered promises of renewal after the Petrinja earthquake but one year on, its actions have fallen short. BIRN uncovers how Petrinja was abandoned by the state, long before it was hit by an earthquake.The cafe in central Petrinja is crowded and buzzing with Saturday afternoon regulars. Outside …