Russia
Slovakia faces cut-off of Russian gas pipeline supplies
Robert Fico’s attacks on Kyiv for ending gas transit have more to do with his close political ties with Orban and Putin, the cosy business links Slovakia has with Russia, and his domestic political problems, rather than energy security.
Russia seeks to expand its nuclear energy dominance with new international projects
Russia is constructing over 10 nuclear power units on foreign soil to help capitalise on burgeoning energy demands driven by artificial intelligence and developing markets, a senior Kremlin envoy has revealed
Ukrainian minister visits Damascus to meet new Syrian government
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha led a high-level delegation to Damascus on December 30 for talks with Syria's new rulers.
Moldova announces emergency measures as Gazprom set to halt gas supplies
Moldovan PM accuses Gazprom of weaponising gas supplies, introduces new measures to save energy.
Putin apologises for Azerbaijan Airlines disaster amid missile speculation
Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologised to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev for what he termed a "tragic incident."
Iran gains observer status in Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union
Iran was granted observer status in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) during the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting held in St Petersburg on December 27.
Russian missiles blamed for downing of Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet
Thirty eight killed as Flight J2-8243 engulfed by fireball on crash-landing. Twenty nine survive after back of plane breaks off during impact.
Damage of key infrastructure on the seabed of the Baltic raises security concerns, calls for Nato involvement
Estonia’s Elisa Eesti AS and CITIC Telecom CPC reported late on December 25 outages in three submarine communication cables between Estonia and Finland, the EstLink2.
Did Russia shoot down the Azal passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan?
Confusion reigns over what on December 25 brought down the Azal passenger plane, killing 38 of 72 people on board. Some evidence points to a bird strike, other evidence to a Russian missile.
Plane crashes in Kazakhstan on Baku-Grozny flight with nearly 70 onboard
An Azerbaijan Airlines flight traveling from Baku to Grozny crashed in Kazakhstan with nearly 70 passengers onboard on December 25. Two dozen survivors are in a critical condition, according to reports.
Russia sentences dual US-Russian citizen to 15 years on espionage charges
A Moscow court has sentenced US citizen Gene Spector to 15 years in prison on espionage charges.
Sanctioned Russian cargo ship sinks in Mediterranean after explosion
A sanctioned Russian cargo vessel, Ursa Major, has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria.
Slovakia’s Fico in surprise visit to Putin in Moscow
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made a surprise trip to Moscow on December 22 to hold rare face-to-face talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he seeks to secure gas deliveries ahead of the end of the Ukrainian gas transit deal next week.
Russian Muslims allowed to have four wives, religious council rules
Muslim men in Russia will be allowed to take up to four wives in religious marriages, the Council of Ulema – part of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims – has decreed.
Russian long-haul driver murdered in northern Iran
Iranian authorities are investigating the death of a Russian citizen who was found with gunshot wounds in the northern province of Gilan.
PANNIER: Why the Turkmenistan, Iran gas “friendship” is back on
In tough struggle to find new export markets, Turkmen even agree to Iranian contractors building infrastructure in tightly controlled Central Asian country.
Russia’s CBR keeps key rate at 21% under pressure
In a surprise decision CBR governor Elvia Nabiullina kept interest rates on hold at 21% as she comes under mounting pressure from Russian President Vladimir Putin and the oligarchs who accuse her of destroying the economy.
Russia’s arms exports slump, Kremlin preparing for possible war with Nato
Russian arms exports have plummeted by 92% since 2021, according to defence policy expert Pavel Luzin, as the Kremlin redirects all its military production to supplying the conflict in Ukraine.
North Korea’s missile support to Russia raises alarms at UN
North Korea’s involvement in supplying ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine has become a matter of serious international concern, as fresh evidence suggests that the regime is capable of producing and transferring missiles within months
Ukraine invasion was ‘spontaneous’ and unplanned, Putin claims
Russian President Vladimir Putin has described his decision to invade Ukraine in February 2022 as “spontaneous,” admitting the operation was carried out with minimal preparation.