Russia
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.
Carlsberg backs down and sells nationalised Russian assets
Danish brewing major Carlsberg said that it will sell its Russian business on December 3, after a presidential decree by President Vladimir Putin released the Baltika Breweries from “temporary management” of state propeprty agency RosImushestvo.
Russian companies trapped in a debt spiral, borrowing heavily, despite sky-high interest rates
Russian businesses are still actively taking out floating rate loans, despite the sky-high cost of borrowing, in the hope that rates will come down, but pushing rates up as a result, The Bell reported on December 3.
The world has passed peak per capital CO₂ emissions, but overall emissions are still rising
The world has passed peak per capital CO₂ emissions, Our World in Data reported on December 3. However, emissions overall continue to rise.
Putin’s bodyguards are working food delivery and taxi jobs as wages stagnate
Employees of the Federal Guard Service (FSO) in Russia have turned to side jobs, such as taxi driving and courier work, due to stagnant wages and infrequent bonuses.
Investigation shows Russian money channeled to Romanian media and conspiracy theorists
Snoop investigation finds Kremlin-linked digital advertising firm AdNow channelled at least €2mn to Romanian media and influencers promoting conspiracy theories and far-right content.
Russia's robot industry struggles
Since the departure of global industrial robot manufacturers, Russia has been striving to establish local robot production as a substitute, but progress has been minimal so far.
Iraqi factions in Syria’s Aleppo to counter anti-government forces
Armed groups linked to Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) have entered Syria to support the Syrian army in its fight against rebels in Aleppo and nearby areas.
Russia sentences darknet drug lord to life behind bars
Stanislav Moiseyev, co-founder of the darknet marketplace Hydra, used by thousands of drug dealers for illegal trade, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Russian court.
Trump threatens BRICS with tariffs if they dump the dollar
US President-elect Donald Trump has warned the BRICS countries they will be hit with 100% tariffs if they attempt to set up an alternative currency to the dollar to settle trade deals.
Gas prices rising as EU storage tanks empty faster than usual
Gas withdrawals from EU underground storage tanks have accelerated as Europe suffers from the first cold snap of winter. Gas tanks were 85.5% full as of December 1, having peaked at 95.3% full on October 29, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe.
Turkey launches tender to export 0.1mn tonnes of durum wheat
A former wheat importer, Russia’s Black Sea neighbour now a wheat, barley, gas and oil exporter on re-exports of Russia products to overcome Ukraine War sanctions.
Russian authorities nervous over food prices on holidays
Ahead of the end-of-the-year holiday season Russian authorities are in talks with the leading supermarket again on price controls. The Kremlin is particularly worried about the soaring price of mayonnaise.
CSTO states express serious concern over terrorist threat in Afghanistan
Putin says country’s security situation stabilising, but killing of Chinese worker in Tajikistan in possible cross-border raid has raised anxiety.
Putin juggles a “friendly” state visit to Kazakhstan with chilling missile threats for Ukraine
Anticipated announcements on big economic deals failed to materialise. Warnings Moscow could hit Kyiv with game-changing “Oreshnik” strikes did.
Aluminium producer Rusal brings fresh legal claims in London High Court case against Russian oligarch Potanin
Russia’s leading aluminium producer Rusal has escalated its legal battle against billionaire Vladimir Potanin, CEO of Norilsk Nickel, by filing additional claims in London’s High Court, bne IntelliNews can report.
UK-hating Russian politician Dmitry Medvedev buys $4.4mn British-made luxury yacht
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council and a vocal critic of Western nations, has reportedly purchased a GBP3.5mn ($4.4mn) luxury yacht manufactured in the United Kingdom.
Fico boasts about Putin’s invitation to Moscow Victory Day Parade
Slovak populist premier's visit will be only the third by a leader of an EU member state since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Tusk calls for unity against Russia, proposes Baltic Sea policing mission
Polish premier's proposal follows recent severing of undersea communication cables linking Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania.
Wild central banking policies to crash-land the Russian economy are tanking the ruble
It’s not often you get to describe central banking decisions as “wild”, but some of the choices being made in Moscow at the moment are completely out of the box. The famed macro-economic management team is making some extreme choices.