Russia
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.
Russia’s CBR keeps key interest rate at 21%
The board of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) resolved to keep the key interest rate unchanged at 21% at the policy meeting of April 25, according to the press-release of the regulator.
Sanctioned tycoon Usmanov wins another legal victory against German daily
Russian-Uzbek businessman Alisher Usmanov has won another legal victory in his campaign to clear his name after German newspaper Münchner Merkur was ordered to retract a series of articles that formed the basis for investigations and sanctions.
Russian state takes over yet another e-commerce leader, online marketplace Avito
Russia’s state-owned Rosselkhozbank agricultural bank has acquired a 50% stake in Avito, the country’s largest classifieds platform, as part of a broader trend of strategic e-commerce acquisitions by the state.
Moscow slams Japan's Ukraine loan as 'treachery'
Moscow has in recent decades made repeated moves to bully Japan into remaining silent on a number of territorial issues, most famously over possession of the Kuril Islands east of Hokkaido.
Serbia’s Vucic to attend Moscow Victory Day parade despite EU warnings
Brussels has warned that Vucic’s presence at the May 9 parade could effectively end Serbia’s European integration process.
IMF: Enhancing financial stability for resilience during uncertain times
Capital markets are essential for driving economic activity, providing mechanisms for raising funds and allocating resources efficiently. The stability of these markets and the financial institutions that intermediate them are critical.
IMF: Global debt to exceed pandemic levels soon
Global public debt is set to rise to 95% of GDP this year and will continue to climb in the next years to top 100%, says the IMF.
Ukraine recalls ambassador to Brazil as tensions grow over Lula's Moscow visit
Ukraine has recalled its ambassador to Brazil without naming a successor, leaving its embassy in Brasília under a chargé d’affaires until at least 2026, the foreign ministry confirmed.
Rising CO2 and temperatures make rice more toxic – The Lancet
Rice, the most widely consumed grain in the world, is likely to become increasingly toxic as global temperatures and carbon dioxide levels rise, according to new research published in The Lancet on April 17.
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Equinor mulling appeal or legal action over Trump administration’s halting of massive wind farm off New York
Norwegian oil super major Equinor was just starting to construct an 818-MW wind farm off New York when the Trump administration unexpectedly halted the fully permitted $5bn endeavour.