Russia
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US, Ukraine sign watered down minerals deal
The governments of Ukraine and the US have signed off on a watered down and much fairer minerals deal, giving US President Donald Trump a PR boost and ensuring Kyiv will continue to have some access to US support on April 30.
Putin and Lukashenko speak on Union State ties and united historical memory at Volgograd forum
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening political and economic integration between their two countries.
Battle of Russia’s supermarket titans continues as Magnit closes the gap with rival X5 after acquisition of high-end retailer Azbuka Vkusa
The battle for market share between Russia’s two leading supermarket chains Magnit and the X5 Group saw a strategic shift after Magnit acquired control of high-end supermarket chain Azbuka Vkusa (The ABC of Taste).
Russia proposes joint aviation venture with Belarus as part of expanded industrial cooperation
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to establish a joint aviation enterprise with Belarusian specialists as part of deepening industrial cooperation between the two countries.
Caspian Sea may become next Aral, but who is to blame?
Some forecasting even indicates the decline of the body of water could pose a threat to the shipping section of the rapidly expanding Middle Corridor transit route.
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Chipping point – the climate toll of AI chip-making in East Asia
The meteoric rise of AI is sparking a parallel and largely overlooked environmental challenge: the significant climate impact of chip manufacturing, particularly in East Asia, says a new report from Greenpeace.
Poland imposes sanctions on MyPrice Russian discount supermarket chain
Poland has imposed sanctions on the MyPrice Russian discount supermarket chain, which recently returned to operate in two locatiosn in Poland.
Trump policies won’t harm Emerging Europe badly – and will actively benefit Russia
Latest wiiw forecasts show little direct impact on Central and Southeast Europe from Trump trade wars.
BRICS seeks new global alignment at Rio ministerial summit
The expanded BRICS alliance has emerged as a potent diplomatic force at its foreign ministers’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on April 28 ahead of the July meeting.
Global military spending surges to $2.7 trillion – Statista
Global military spending hit $2.7 trillion last year, according to the latest data by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Statista reports.
Hungary and Slovakia warn EU against scrapping unanimity rule over Ukraine membership bid
The leaders of Hungary and Slovakia warned on April 28 against changing the European Union’s unanimity rule, after proposals emerged to bypass their opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession bid.
Putin declares three-day Victory Day ceasefire to mark 80th anniversary of end of WWII
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a second temporary ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine for the May 9 80th anniversary of the end of the WWII that will last three days.
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Venezuela embraces Russian GLONASS in challenge to US satellite dominance
Russia is accelerating the expansion of ground correction stations for its GLONASS satellite navigation system across Latin America, with Venezuela set to become the latest country to host the technology within weeks.
The countries losing population fastest – Statista
In 2023, Ukraine was the country losing population the fastest as the Russian invasion is driving its citizens from their homeland in scores.
COMMENT: Embracing “Greater Central Asia” has become a strategic imperative for US
Wider region increasingly seen as arena in which major powers’ interests, such as in sourcing critical minerals, collide and converge.
Unemployed Iraqi engineers block Lukoil’s site in Basra
Unemployed engineers from northern Basra demonstrated today in front of the West Qurna 2 oil field operated by Russian company Lukoil on April 27.
Ukraine makes the US a counteroffer peace plan that starts with unconditional immediate ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has come back with a counterproposal to US President Donald Trump’s “final offer” to end the conflict in Ukraine that calls for a complete ceasefire before any other points can be discussed.
US postpones sanctions on Serbia’s NIS until June 27
Sanctions on NIS were first introduced by Washington on January 10 as part of a broader package targeting Russian-linked entities in response to the war in Ukraine.
Russia’s unemployment stays at record 2.4% low in 2M25
Russia’s unemployment rate remained at a historic post-Soviet low of 2.4% in the first two months of 2025, according to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, who credited job creation and rising incomes for the improvement in labour market conditions.
Russian and Belarusian agents accused of plotting attacks on exiled Belarusians in Lithuania
Lithuania’s domestic intelligence agency has accused Russian and Belarusian intelligence services of plotting to carry out violent attacks on Belarusian exiles residing in the country.