Russia
ISTANBUL BLOG: After “conquering” Damascus, Erdogan turns his eye to the Kurds
US controls eastern Euphrates airspace. Will Trump White House return mean Kurdish forces lose their air cover? In wider picture, fears Syria will become “second Afghanistan” are all too real.
SYRIA BLOG: Putin joins George W Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” club
Given the fall of the Assad regime, the Russian leader’s 2017 victory address at Russia’s Syrian air base of Hmeimim is set to age very badly.
What now for Russia in Syria?
The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) now poses complex challenges for Russia.
Moldova's separatist Transnistria region prepares for the end of free Russian gas
Unrecognised republic faces heightened energy concerns as the current transit contract for Russian gas through Ukraine is set to expire on January 1.
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Toppled Syrian dictator Assad flees to Moscow
Diplomatic sources confirmed Russia has offered asylum to Assad.
Zelenskiy backs Trump's call to end the war at Notre Dame meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy backed US President-elect Donald Trump’s call to end the war in Ukraine at their first meeting since the US November elections at the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris on December 7.
Iranian embassy in Damascus ransacked, Russian embassy on lockdown
Iran’s embassy in Damascus has been ransacked, with its items stolen by residents of the Syrian capital.
Erdogan sets Damascus as final target for “rebels” advancing in Syria
Since his regime’s hailing of its “reconquest” of Aleppo, Turkey’s leader has been in no mood to talk peace.
Putin fires Kursk governor amid ongoing Ukrainian occupation
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Aleksey Smirnov as governor of Russia's Kursk Oblast, only seven months after his appointment.
Syria’s conflict enters a dangerous new phase as rebels advance
Syria’s long-running civil war has entered a markedly more dangerous phase as opposition forces capture strategic cities and vital infrastructure. Military analysts and diplomatic sources say these developments.
ISTANBUL BLOG: As Syria rancour rises, Putin deadpans “congratulations” to Turkey on nailing 50% official inflation
The golden rule is that whoever does business with Erdogan eventually pays through the nose. Russia’s leader is no exception to this rule.
Druzhba oil flow to Czechia is resumed
The oil flow through the pipeline stopped on Wednesday, leaving the country dependent on its reserves and the oil flow from the west.
Russia is supporting North Korea’s nuclear programme, Nato claims
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has accused Russia of aiding North Korea's nuclear weapons development in exchange for military support.
Is Russia being dragged back into the Syrian war?
Russia faces mounting pressure to expand its military involvement in Syria as its longtime ally President Bashar al-Assad confronts the most serious challenge to his rule since 2016, with militant groups having launched a major offensive.
Hungary asks for exemption from US sanctions for Russia's Gazprombank
Foreign minister says the sanctions could cause serious difficulties for Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey and Serbia, which use the bank to pay for Russian oil supplies.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Has Turkey “re-conquered” Aleppo?
HTS militia that led attack dwells near Turkish border under Erdogan regime patronage, while FSA was directly established by Ankara. And both are not Syrian “rebels”, they are foreign mercenaries.
Emerging Europe winemakers sparkle as global wine production declines
Global production is set to fall 2% this year, but countries in Emerging Europe including Georgia, Hungary and Russia are bucking the trend, says the OIV.
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Assad's son defends his PhD thesis at Moscow State University
Hafez al-Assad, the eldest son of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in mathematics at Moscow State University (MGU), marking a significant academic achievement amid the ongoing civil war in Syria.
MOSCOW BLOG: Three of US’ key regional allies are in turmoil
Three of the US military outposts in key regions of the world are either under attack or in chaos. Israel in the Middle East, Ukraine in Europe and now South Korea in East Asia are all in turmoil thanks to the rise of geopolitical tensions.
UN plastic pollution talks collapse as volume of waste escalates
The failure of recent global talks in Busan, South Korea, to produce a landmark treaty to combat plastic pollution, has underscored the complexities and challenges of addressing one of the planet’s most pressing environmental and climate issues.