Ex-Putin ally labeled him 'war criminal,' now in psych ward

Russian authorities have reportedly placed Ilya Remeslo, a prominent pro-war blogger and former loyalist, in a psychiatric facility. The move follows his abrupt public denunciation of President Vladimir Putin, whom he labeled a "war criminal."

Moldova to index pensions by 6.8% amid demographic pressure

Moldova will increase pensions by 6.84% starting April 1, 2026, amid concerns that the adjustment fails to cover rising living costs. The measure will bring the minimum pension to approximately €167 (3,254 MDL), costing the state budget €102.8 million (2 billion MDL).

Trump urges Israel to spare Iranian energy sites amid price surge

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he has requested that Israel refrain from further strikes on Iran’s natural gas infrastructure. The move follows a series of reciprocal attacks that have destabilised global energy markets and escalated tensions between Washington, Jerusalem, and Tehran.

Russia rules out joining Ukraine-U.S. talks scheduled for March 21

Russia will not take part in the Ukraine-United States negotiations planned for 21 March 2026, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday, as cited by BBC News.

Moldova aligns with EU to sanction Russian media figures

Moldova has officially aligned itself with a new package of European Union sanctions against the Russian Federation. The move expands the list of individuals facing restrictive measures for attempts to destabilise the region.

Moldova fuel price surge threatens double-digit inflation despite central bank rate hold

Rising fuel costs in the Republic of Moldova are poised to trigger a broad inflationary domino effect, potentially pushing the annual inflation rate into double digits by the end of 2026.

Ukraine sends top negotiators to US amid Middle East resource pivot

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 19 March that a high-level Ukrainian delegation is travelling to the United States for scheduled talks this Saturday.

EU summit deadlocked as Orban blocks €90bn Ukraine aid

European Union leaders failed to break a bitter deadlock during a high-stakes spring summit in Brussels. In talks stretching into the early hours of Friday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban refused to withdraw his veto on a €90 billion financial aid package for Ukraine.

Gold, silver plummet as Iran conflict sparks liquidity crunch

Gold and silver prices fell sharply on Thursday, 19 March, as a massive wave of selling hit global markets. Spot gold sank below the $4,600 per ounce threshold—approximately €4,213—amid escalating concerns over the conflict in Iran and rising inflationary pressures.

New digital tool exposes hidden loan costs for Moldovan consumers

The National Commission for Financial Markets (CNPF) has launched a new online tool allowing consumers to calculate the true cost of credit before signing any contracts. Unveiled during Global Money Week 2026, the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) calculator is now available free of charge on the regulator's official portal.

US intelligence warns of nuclear escalation as Putin bets on battlefield endurance

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Vladimir Putin remains convinced of a Russian military victory in Ukraine, signaling no immediate intention to halt hostilities. According to the Annual Threat Assessment, Moscow believes it can eventually force a peace settlement on its own terms by maintaining battlefield pressure.

Moldova’s sole prosthetic hub battles staff shortages

For many Moldovans living with amputations, the path to recovery runs through a single specialised facility in Chișinău. The Republican Experimental Centre for Prosthetics, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation (CREPOR) is the only institution in the country providing free prosthetic limbs and orthopaedic footwear to veterans and the disabled.