Russia
TNT ammunition depot in Czechia explodes
The cause of the explosion is currently unclear, but police said a “technical issue” is “the most likely cause”.
Rights watchdog documents forced mobilisation of Central Asian labour migrants in Russian military
Citizenship wielded as instrument of coercion.
More than 2bn people’s food and water supplies set to be disrupted by melting glaciers
The food and water security of approximately 2bn people will be negatively affected by the rapid retreat of glaciers, the United Nations has warned, and accelerating melt rates are expected to have severe and unpredictable consequences.
Global energy demand doubled in 2024 driven by extreme temperatures, but renewables covered 80% of the increase, says IEA
Global energy demand growth surged in 2024 to almost twice its recent average, driven by rapidly rising electricity use, the International Energy Agency said in its global energy review 2025 report on March 23.
Zelensky calls US talks in Saudi Arabia “constructive”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the talks between Ukrainian and US delegations in Saudi Arabia as “constructive and beneficial,” in his evening address on March 23.
Trump Ukraine envoy Witkoff dismisses Starmer’s Ukraine ceasefire plan, parrots Kremlin talking points
Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has criticised Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s proposal for an international force to support a ceasefire in Ukraine, and went on to parrot many of the Kremlin’s talking points.
Serbian deputy PM thanks Russian spy agencies for support during protests
Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin is a staunch proponent of Serbia's close ties with Russia.
Russian expansion will continue forever ‘as far as God wills,’ says long-time Putin ally
Russia’s territorial and ideological expansion will persist “as far as God wills”, according to Vladislav Surkov, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office and long-time adviser to President Vladimir Putin.
Is Ukraine heading towards Finlandisation?
A frustrated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for action, not protracted negotiations on March 22, ahead of the next round of US-Russia ceasefire talks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Welcome to the new transactional world order
Welcome to the new world order. Values and liberal democracy is giving way to a world run on the basis of deals.
COMMENT: Is the EU going to fall apart?
Is the EU about to break apart under the stress of taking over the full weight of supporting Ukraine, the need to rearm and the hundreds of billions that must be invested if it is to become competitive again?
ING: What a potential restart of Russian gas flows could look like
Growing optimism for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine has sparked discussions about the potential resumption of Russian gas flows to Europe. It might happen: a partial restart of flows could drastically change the outlook for the gas market.
ASH: Trump delivers on Putin’s plan to ensure Ukraine fails
Trump’s peace plan is proceeding at breakneck pace but the problem is that it is Ukraine’s neck that is on the line here.
Global cereal production grows faster than populations, says OWID
The world's population has more than doubled over the last 60 years, but global food production has managed to keep up, Our World in Data (OWID) reports.
Tether emerges as a key crypto for Russia's foreign trade.
Recent reports indicate that Russia has been increasingly using the crypto stablecoin Tether in international transactions in a bid to circumvent Western sanctions.
Russia's leading discount store Fix Price to move into Serbia
Russian discount retailer Fix Price is preparing to enter the Serbian market, with plans to open several stores by the end of 2025. This marks the company's second attempt to establish a presence in Europe.
Putin tells Russia's oligarchs that the return of Western business will not be easy or cheap
Russian President Vladimir Putin told the country’s leading oligarchs that Western companies that “slammed the door” on Russia when they left the country after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine will not be allowed to repurchase their assets cheaply.
Trump gets PR win, but Putin concedes little in 30-day ceasefire phone call
US President Donald Trump gained a PR win after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to pause attacks on Ukraine’s energy assets in a two-hour phone call on March 18.
Several EU countries back push to fund Prague-based RFE/RL in response to Trump axeing it
Member states want EU to fund Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at dismantling the Agency for Global Media.
Russian official urges women to wear mini-skirts to boost birth rate
Russia is experiencing its most severe demographic decline since the collapse of the Soviet Union, prompting politicians from President Vladimir Putin to local councillors to propose measures to increase the population.