Russia
Where elections are seen as fair or flawed - OWID
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month directing the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to compile lists of US citizens eligible to vote in each state, Statista reports.
Developing countries skip landlines and go straight to mobile phones - OWID
The concept of “leapfrogging” is popular in development. It suggests that, as they develop, lower-income countries can skip intermediate technologies or systems and go straight to the modern equivalent, Our World in Data (OWID) reports.
Russia markets discounted but sanctioned LNG to South Asia
Russia is again seeking to capitalise on the tightening global gas market by offering LNG from US-sanctioned facilities to energy-constrained buyers in South Asia at steep discounts.
Hungary’s energy ties to Russia set limits on post-Orbán pivot
Hungary’s incoming prime minister Peter Magyar may ease tensions with Brussels, but he says he won’t end imports of Russian oil and gas for now.
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Belarus's Lukashenka calls on citizens to mobilise for economic survival
Belarus's Lukashenka has called on citizens to mobilise and prioritise the economy, warning of an unpredictable global situation and saying the state will no longer put public comfort ahead of economic performance.
Kremlin flags Hormuz risk, cautious on Magyar victory in Hungarian elections
The Kremlin has warned that a potential US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would deliver a direct shock to global markets, even as Moscow positions itself as both an energy anchor and a diplomatic intermediary in a rapidly widening crisis.
Russia warns of danger of war resuming as US blockade of Iranian ports takes effect
The Kremlin has warned that the danger of war resuming in the Middle East remains after US-Iran talks ended without result, as a US naval blockade of Iranian ports took effect on April 13.
Russia’s first IPO in 2026 priced at heavy discount
Electronic trading platform B2B RTS set its 2026 IPO price range at RUB112–RUB118 per share, giving it a market capitalisation well below expectations.
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Quality matters: how the Hormuz crisis tests refinery flexibility
The disruption highlights a key reality often overlooked in the oil market: while volumes may be globally fungible, crude quality is not.
Iran war is pushing the CRINK alliance closer together, turning it into a military alliance
One of the upsets of the war in Iran has been to drive the members of the CRINK alliance (China, Russia, Iran and North Korea) into a closer military cooperation that is not in the West's interests.
Russia deploys new jet-powered Geran-5 drone, poses problems for Ukraine air defences
Reports circulating on social media and pro-Russian channels claimed that Moscow has deployed a new jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle, Geran-5, in strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure that can overcome western-supplied air defence systems.
Pakistan’s Ghazab Lil-Haq operation and the prospect of regime change in Afghanistan
A Eurasianet partner post from the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst.
Megadeal rumored for Russian VTB Bank and e-commerce major Wildberries
Russia’s second largest state controlled bank VTB and the country's largest e-commerce marketplace Wildberries are discussing a potential merger or integration, according to RBC business portal.
PANNIER: Taliban look north for friends
Faced by a hostile Pakistan to the east and south, and a conflict-wracked Iran to the west, Afghanistan’s rulers turn to Central Asia for options.
CEVF 2026 provides window on Central Asia’s growing venture ecosystem
Held for the first time in Uzbekistan, event offered 800 investors, founders and tech leaders insights into innovation landscape.
Battery costs have declined by 99% in the last three decades, making electrified transport a reality – OWID
Over 20mn electric cars were sold globally in 2025 — some for as little as $10,000. Even just two decades ago, that would have been impossible. The reason it's possible now? Batteries have gotten much cheaper.
Zelenskiy proposes a new European version of Nato
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has proposed the creation of a new European-centred security bloc that would include Ukraine, the EU, the UK, Turkey and Norway, as concerns mount over the future of US support for Nato.
EU paid €2.88bn for Russian Arctic LNG in first quarter
The EU paid an estimated €2.88bn ($3.33bn) to Russia for liquefied natural gas from the Yamal Arctic LNG project, majority owned by Novatek (NVTK.MM), in the first quarter of 2026.
Oil price spike: How does the Kremlin tax its oil industry?
Oil prices have spiked and that should produce a huge windfall for the Kremlin which has been desperately short of cash to fund its war machine in Ukraine since the start of this year.
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Russia emerges as 'strategic energy partner' for Global South thanks to Iran
Russian oil hit a 13-year high before the ceasefire as Moscow pivots to "strategic energy partner" for the Global South. Kremlin says it is fielding "an enormous number" of requests for energy supplies as trade flows shift.