Russia
Rosatom and Brazil's NBEPar launch joint venture for critical minerals extraction
Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom and Brazilian private holding company NBEPar have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture for the extraction and processing of critical minerals in Brazil, the companies said.
Lukashenko and Kim Jong Un sign friendship treaty in Pyongyang on first-ever visit
Lukashenko and Kim Jong Un have signed a friendship treaty in Pyongyang, deepening ties between two of Putin's closest allies as both nations face western sanctions over their support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
Telegram traffic 'dying' in Russia as Rostelecom reports WhatsApp already dead
WhatsApp is effectively dead in Russia and Telegram is "dying right now."
Russian bloggers target Trump's mental fitness as president warns Iran time is running out
military bloggers are amplifying unverified claims about Trump's mental fitness as the US president says Iran is "strange."
Extreme heat will kill more people in poor countries than the rich
Poorer countries are projected to suffer sharply higher mortality from the increasing frequency of extreme heatwaves than wealthier nations, with death rates potentially rising by as much as tenfold.
Tajikistan adapting its approach on Afghanistan
Bolstering border defences while stepping up diplomatic engagement.
Israel strikes Iranian Caspian port used by Russia to supply arms, food
More evidence emerged that the CRINK alliance (China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea) are supplying Iran with arms on March 24, after an Israeli strike on a Caspian sea smuggling route used by Moscow to supply Tehra
EU delays Russian oil sanctions
The European Commission has removed a proposal to fully phase out Russian oil imports from its near-term agenda, delaying a key element of its RePowerEU strategy aimed at ending reliance on Moscow’s energy supplies.
Drones hit Estonian power plant chimney, crash in Latvia after Ukraine’s attack on Russia’s Primorsk
The Baltic states are experiencing spillover effects from a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Baltic seaport of Primorsk.
Ukraine attacks Russia's Primorsk export terminal in effort to cut Kremlin off from windfall oil profits
Ukraine has hit Russia's largest Baltic export oil terminal at Primorsk and set it on fire in an effort to prevent the Kremlin from capitalizing on sky high oil prices due to the war in Iran.
Russia sells gold bars for the first time in 25 years to fund budget deficit
Russia began selling physical gold from its central bank reserves for the first time in 25 years, as the government seeks to plug a widening budget deficit driven by sustained military spending.
Iranians freeze gas supplies to Turkey following Israeli strike on South Pars
Ankara yet to comment on whether it could face significant gas shortages.
Russian government delays fiscal cuts on Iran war windfall revenues
Russian government is welcoming windfall rise in oil and gas revenues and from Iran war and reportedly delays 2026 budget consolidation
Sri Lankan workers arrive in Russia as South Asian labour migration grows
The first Sri Lankan labour migrants have arrived in Russia, with some reporting unpaid wages in Pskov, as Moscow seeks to fill a growing workforce gap with workers from South and Southeast Asia
Russia's small businesses losing ground as shadow economy grows
73% of Russian SMEs report falling profitability after new VAT rules took effect, with nearly half saying the shadow economy is growing in their sector.
Kremlin tells Kyrgyzstan to cool it on language issue
Russian embassy complains about language bullying.
Appetite for Turkmen gas could rise in China, Turkey and Europe amid Hormuz crisis
Disruption to Middle East supplies may have concentrated minds. Is Central Asia gas a better bet?
Serbia to extend Russian gas deal through October
Serbia expects to extend its current natural gas supply arrangement with Russia by the end of March, securing deliveries until October under a short-term annex agreement.
Is the CRINK alliance helping to arm Iran?
Are the members of the CRINK alliance (China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea) arming and abetting Iran? The informal cooperation between America's main geopolitical adversaries were already cooperating militarily before the start of the Iran war.