Russia
Russia reaps harvest of chaos in nearby democracies
Allegations of interference surround recent elections in Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova and Romania.
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Uncertain future for Russian IT growth
Almost three years after the departure of major Western IT firms, Russia's tech market is on the rise, but the growth is unlikely to be sustainable.
Azerbaijan’s Aliyev lines up with Russia and Trump, admits Georgia interference
Azerbaijan’s president voices rightwing narratives and slams Western meddling in Rossiya Segodnya interview.
Russia's political repressions intensify in 2024
Political repression continued in Russia in 2024, as “justification of terrorism” overtook “discrediting the Russian army” as the most prosecuted “crime,” according to a detailed report by Russian civil rights groups.
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North Korean troops face heavy losses in Russia-Ukraine War as conflict intensifies
North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine have suffered significant losses, with “several hundred” killed or wounded during combat in the Kursk region.
Uzbek national arrested in Moscow bombing that killed Russian chemical defence chief Kirillov
Russian authorities have detained a 29-year-old Uzbek national suspected of organising the assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian military’s chemical and biological defence forces.
Uzbekistan’s Moscow embassy “clarifying” details on man detained after scooter-bomb assassination of Russian general
Speed of arrest of Uzbek suspect will inevitably prompt some scepticism over whether the accused is a scapegoat.
MOSCOW BLOG: EU under intense pressure to confiscate Russia’s frozen $300bn
The EU is under intense pressure to seize Russia’s frozen $300bn of reserves, as crises in funding the war in Ukraine and finding the funds to pay for reconstruction loom.
Russia sells stakes in Kazakhstan uranium JVs to China
Move kicks off debate on whether move illustrates a loss of Kremlin influence in Central Asia.
North Korean troops suffer casualties in Ukraine conflict
North Korean soldiers have been reported killed or wounded while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region of Russia, according to US officials.
Ukrainian bomb kills Russian Nuclear Forces general in Moscow
A senior Russian general has been killed in an explosion outside his apartment building in southeastern Moscow, in the latest targeted assassination reportedly carried out by Ukraine on Russian soil.
COMMENT: Russia’s losses in Syria are Turkey’s gains
Russia’s hand in the Middle East has been dramatically weakened by the departure of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey’s has been strengthened.
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Russia’s HIV crisis: 30,000 annual deaths of working-age people undermine dwindling labour force
Around 30,000 Russians of working age die annually from HIV, according to Vadim Pokrovsky, the head of Russia’s Federal Methodological Centre for HIV/AIDS Prevention.
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Russia to ban discounted alcohol in bid to crack down on problem drinking
The Russian government is planning to prohibit discounts on alcoholic beverages and restrict their placement near checkout counters as part of a broader initiative to reduce alcohol consumption nationwide by 2030.
Advanced economies have lower out-of-pocket healthcare spending
According to the Global Health Expenditure Database by the World Health Organization (WHO), the global average out-of-pocket expenses related to health across 192 countries made up 30% of all health expenditures per capita in 2022.
Assad breaks silence from Moscow
Disgraced former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued his first public statement from Moscow on December 16, detailing the circumstances of his departure from Syria.
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Ice-free Arctic Ocean could occur within years
Researchers have simulated Arctic ice trends starting from 2023. Their findings indicate that even with sharp cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, the initial ice-free day is unavoidable.
Geothermal energy poised for major global expansion, says IEA chief Fatih Birol
"Geothermal energy could see transformative global growth thanks to advancements in technology and expertise from the oil and gas sector," the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report groundbreaking report released on December 13.
First major oil spill by Russia's shadow fleet as major storm rips oil tanker apart in Kerch straits
A major storm ripped a Russian oil tanker apart, tearing off its nose on December 15. A total of two ships have reportedly sunk as a result of the storm and at least four crew members are thought to have lost their lives, TASS reports.
Russia withdraws equipment from Syrian bases, but will not abandon them, in new deal talks with HTS
Russia began to withdraw substantial amounts of equipment from its two bases in Syria on December 13, but it has not abandoning the country and is now in talks with the new Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) government on a new deal.