Russia
Russia, China to set their own gold exchanges, cut ties with Western control
Russia and China are taking concrete steps to reduce Western influence over global gold markets, signalling a broader move towards monetary self-reliance and the redomiciliation of gold reserves away from traditional Western centres.
Intense fighting around Pokrovsk as Russia targets logistics hub
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 26 that fierce battles are raging around the key logistical hub eastern city of Pokrovsk, which Russian forces make making an intensified effort to capture.
IPCC releases dire sixth climate update in run-up to COP30
“Any further delay in global action to slow climate change and adapt to its impacts will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all”.
China is supplying Russia with new decoy drones and engines to boost Russia’s production
China is covertly supplying a new decoy drone using entirely Chinese technology as well as engines sent to Russia’s state-owned drone manufacturer Kupol that has allowed russia to boost drone strikes to 500 per day, NV reports.
COMMENT: Why Russia's economic model no longer delivers
At this year’s St. Petersburg Economic Forum—a once-prestigious event that has grown increasingly insular—Russian economic officials faced uncomfortable questions about the country’s future.
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Russia’s CBR cuts key rate to 18% to help cooling economy
The board of the Central Bank of Russia resolved to cut the key interest rate by 200 basis points from 20% to 18%, as strong disinflation trend in July untied the regulator’s hand in supporting the economy that slides from overheating to recession.
Putin’s public trust rating steady at 77.9% in July - VTsIOM
President Vladimir Putin’s public trust rating rose slightly to 77.9%, according to the latest data from the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM), TASS reported on July 25.
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Weekly deflation ahead of Russia’s CBR meeting
Russia's consumer prices fell by 0.05% week on week during the week of July 15 to July 21, following a slight increase of 0.02% the week before.
Strike breaks out at construction site where Russia is building Turkey’s first nuclear power plant
Rosatom blames unpaid wages on “unfriendly countries” blocking project funds. Launch of first reactor years behind schedule.
PANNIER: Stakes in fight against terrorism raised as Uzbekistan discovers ISKP cell led by teenage woman
Suspect in custody allegedly radicalised at Islamic school in Turkey. Development is disturbing for authorities.
ICJ declares healthy environment is a human right in landmark climate ruling
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a historic advisory opinion recognising a clean and sustainable environment as a human right, declaring that states which fail to curb emissions may be in violation of international law.
COMMENT: The war in Ukraine is over and its EU aspirations are dead for now
Ukraine’s war with Russia increasingly looks like it is lost. Ukraine is losing ground in the battle with Russia, albeit slowly. At the same time, Kyiv’s EU accession bid appears to be dead following a new law that guts anti-corruption efforts.
Earth overshoot day is already long past – Statista
July 24 marks this year's Earth Overshoot Day, the day that humanity’s demand for ecological resources exceeds the resources Earth can regenerate within that year, Statista reports. That day has already long passed.
India's Reliance Industries gets ready for the worst
India’s Reliance Industries Ltd. is facing renewed scrutiny over its crude procurement practices following the European Union’s latest round of sanctions targeting diesel derived from Russian oil
Russia’s HIV crisis accelerates due to wartime strains
Russia’s HIV epidemic, already severe before the invasion of Ukraine, has worsened dramatically under the pressures of war, with health authorities now facing what may become one of the country’s gravest long-term demographic crises.
Hungary holds trilateral talks on construction of new oil pipeline to Serbia with Russia
Hungary and Serbia are moving ahead with plans to build a new cross-border oil pipeline that could transport up to 5mn tonnes per year of crude, as both countries deepen energy ties with Russia despite EU sanctions.
Serbia facilitated arms transit to Ukraine despite Russian warnings
Serbia continued to permit arms shipments destined for Ukraine to transit its territory even after receiving direct warnings from Moscow, according to a BIRN investigation.
Kyrgyzstan remains tight-lipped over crypto exchange facilitating huge financial flows to sanctioned Russia
$9.3bn reportedly moved over four months.
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Fossil fuels lose ground as renewables lead on cost – but infrastructure and financing risks loom
The global energy system is reaching a defining moment as renewable power continues to undercut fossil fuels in price, scale, and resilience.
Breakthrough moment for Trans-Afghan Railway project hailed by Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan
Three countries agree to prepare feasibility study. Russia too would benefit from infrastructure linking Central Asia to Arabian Sea coast.