Russia
BRICS nations formulate first ever joint Climate Crisis policy
The BRICS bloc approved its first coordinated climate finance framework on May 30, marking the group’s first unified policy to fund climate action and setting the foundation for a shared position ahead of the COP30 meeting due to be held in Brazil.
Russia demands Ukraine's de facto capitulation with Istanbul demands
Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul for the second direct ceasefire talks on June 1 that made little progress in laying out the groundwork for the mooted 30-day ceasefire suggested by the Trump administration in March.
START missile treaty exposed Russia’s nuclear bombers to Ukrainian drone attack
The conditions of the START missile treaty signed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Joe Biden in January 2021 exposed Russia’s strategic nuclear bomber fleet to the devastating Operation Spiderweb drone attack.
Russian overdue mortgages double in 3M25 – CBR
The volume of overdue debt on mortgage loans increased by 9.6% in a month, the amount of bad mortgage has almost doubled (+96%) over the first three months of this year, the Central Bank of Russia reports.
Russo-Ukraine ceasefire talks in Istanbul break up with no progress
Russia and Ukraine held direct talks for the third time since the war started on June 2, but the meeting broke up with no real progress made.
Russia’s manufacturing PMI back in the black at 50.2 but only just
Russia’s manufacturing sector PMI returned to marginal growth in May after two months of contraction, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index data from S&P Global, published on May 31.
Ukraine’s audacious Operation Spiderweb drone attack destroys nuclear bombers deep inside Russian territory
Operation spiderweb unleashed a swarm of Ukrainian drones, launched from trucks, that destroyed a third of Russia’s nuclear-capable long-distance bombers, parked on the runway thousands of kilometres from the front line.
CITIES IN PERIL: Cities confront the rising tide of climate change
Fast and chaotic urban population growth combined with climate challenges on multiple fronts are putting cities at risk around the world.
COVID is back - a new "NB.1.8.1" strain is spreading across continents
The coronavirus (COVID-19) is back. Reports from health authorities around the world have detected a new highly contagious strain of the virus that has been spreading through Asia and has now reached Russia.
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Bolivia's $2bn lithium deals with China and Russia suspended by court ruling
A court in Potosí halts $2bn lithium projects with Russia’s Uranium One and China’s CBC in Bolivia, home to the world’s largest lithium reserves, over legal and environmental concerns tied to direct lithium extraction plans.
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Russia’s inflation stabilises at below 10%
Russia’s consumer prices rose by 0.06% week on week during the period of May 20 to May 26, down from 0.07% in the previous week, according to the latest data from RosStat.
Polish farmers call for sanctions to stop a flood of Russian cucumber imports
The cucumber rules supreme in the cuisine of Eastern Europe. No salad is complete without a humble cucumber, which is a staple on any kitchen table across the region. But now a cucumber war has broken out between Poland and Russia.
Critical delay hits Russia’s building of Turkey’s first nuclear plant as $7bn fails to show up
Moscow believed to be seeking financial concessions from Ankara.
Trump boosts US nuclear power
US President Donald Trump is seeking to usher in a nuclear renaissance in the United States. He has signed executive orders to boost the non-emissions energy technology.
Washington receives Ukraine draft of conditions for ceasefire deal with Russia
The United States has received a draft proposal for implementing the ceasefire from Ukraine and is now waiting for the Russian version, US Special Representative for Ukraine, during remarks reported by Vedomosti on May 27.
Slovak PM Fico slams German Merz for his comments on EU taking action against Hungary and Slovakia
Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico slammed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for stating that Germany could propose EU block the EU funding for Hungary and Slovakia if the two countries diverge from EU policies.
Russia escalates drone and missile strikes on Ukraine as EU and US weigh stronger response
Russia launched more than 900 drones and dozens of missiles at Ukrainian cities over a three-day period starting on May 23 in a devastating barrage, killing at least six people and injuring 24 others, Ukrainian authorities report.
COMMENT: Falling oil revenues and rising costs triple Russia’s budget deficit, but to a manageable 1.7% GDP
Russia has already spent more than a third of the planned budget expenditures for this year as costs in all three of the major spending categories – housing, social, and military – are up y/y.
Serbia extends Russian gas supply deal until end-September
The temporary extension announced just days before agreement was due to expire as Belgrade and Moscow negotiate a new long-term energy deal.
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Panama tightens ship registry rules to combat Russian sanctions-evading fleet
Panama has moved to impose stricter rules on ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfers in response to growing international scrutiny over its role in facilitating sanctions evasion.