Durov: Father of 100 children is a mysterious and controversial Telegram founder
Paris, France - Russian-born tech entrepreneur Pavel Durov has founded wildly popular social networks, cryptocurrencies, amassed a multi-billion-dollar fortune and locked horns with authorities, in Russia and around the world.Still a few months shy of his 40th birthday, the man once dubbed the "Russian Zuckerberg" after Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg now...
Scholz pledges support for Ukraine, but silent on battle tanks
Despite pressure on him to authorize delivery of tanks to Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged support to the war-scarred country for "as long as necessary". Germany's allies in Europe have implored the country to agree to the export of Leopard heavy tanks to help Ukraine repel Russia's invasion.
Energy security key driver of climate investments
The US Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Biden last year, is the most significant climate pact since the Paris Agreement in 2015, says IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.Europe will return to Russian gas, says Qatar energy minister
ABU DHABI, UAE - European countries will eventually resume higher imports of Russian gas, Qatar's energy minister and gas company CEO predicted on Saturday, warning that market volatility could last for years.Russian gas exports to Europe plunged after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine but Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, head of QatarEnergy, said...Europe looks at GCC for LNG supplies amidst crisis
The year 2022 witnessed several deals involving Gulf nations and leading natural gas consumer countries that seek to secure their LNG supplies in both near and distant future.
Sweden says it can’t fulfill Turkey’s demands for approving NATO membership
Most of Turkey's demands have involved Sweden because of its more robust ties with the Kurdish diaspora.
Russia says its military following ceasefire in Ukraine despite attacks
Russian President Vladimir Putin had unilaterally ordered his forces to pause attacks for 36 hours for the Orthodox Christmas.UAE dispatches generators in aid to power-starved Ukraine
Abu Dhabi, UAE- The UAE has dispatched a second consignment of household generators for the Ukrainian civilians affected by the ongoing war with Russia.In December, the UAE announced that it's sending 2,500 household generators to civilians affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine that has disrupted energy infrastructure and caused...
Erdogan asks Putin to announce ‘unilateral’ ceasefire in Ukraine
Erdogan's call for a ceasefire followed a proposal earlier Thursday by Russia's spiritual leader Patriarch Kirill for an Orthodox Christmas truce this week.Germany uses more renewable energy, still falls short of CO2 goal
The setback comes despite a record 4.7 percent drop in energy consumption last year, partly in response to soaring fuel prices because of the war in Ukraine. But the energy saving gains were wiped out by the government's decision to burn more coal and oil to make up for the...
Two World Bank entities provide US$75bn in financing last year
Washington, United States--Two World Bank entities provided a record $75 billion in financing last year, said a letter by its president, as developing countries faced crises like climate change and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.The aid comes as countries emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic were hit by fallout from war in Ukraine...Gas prices fall to lowest level in Europe since Ukraine war
EU nations have adopted a mechanism to cap natural gas prices, but analysts say it will likely have only a limited impact on reducing what businesses and households pay.
European gas prices fall to lowest level since record high in 2022
A mild winter has enabled countries to tap less gas from stocks that were built up in anticipation of cuts in supplies from Russia, which was Europe's main supplier before the war.
War-themed video game fuels wave of misinformation
Footage from the war-themed Arma 3 video game has been used repeatedly in recent months in fake videos about the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
World leaders rue loss of former Pontiff Benedict XVI
Russia's President Vladimir Putin said he was "an eminent religious and state figure, a convinced defender of traditional Christian values".
UN General Assembly refers Israeli occupation to ICJ in Hague
United Nations, US--The UN General Assembly on Friday asked the International Court of Justice to consider consequences for Israel over its occupation of Palestinian territories, a day after the Jewish state's most right-wing government ever took over.The General Assembly voted 87-26 with 53 abstentions on the resolution, with Western nations split...Hundreds protest signs of Damascus-Ankara thaw
Hundreds of Syrians in the rebel-held north protested against signs of a thaw between Ankara and Damascus after their defense ministers met in Moscow for the first time since 2011. Several hundred demonstrators gathered in Al-Bab, a town controlled by rebel factions long backed by Ankara. "We will not reconcile,...Oil prices show no volatility as Russia unveils export ban
New York, US--Russia on Tuesday banned oil sales to countries and companies that comply with a price cap agreed by Western nations, briefly helping to lift crude prices."The supply of Russian oil and oil products to foreign legal entities and individuals is prohibited if the contracts for these supplies directly...
Russia to ban oil sales to countries complying with price cap
The price ceiling of $60 per barrel agreed by the European Union, G7 and Australia came into force in early December and seeks to restrict Russia's revenue.Ukraine to call for Russia’s removal from UN Security Council
Kuleba said the question of Russia's veto-wielding permanent seat in the UN Security Council -- also held by the United States, Britain, France and China -- was already being discussed around diplomacy circles.
Kuwait exports first shipment of quality diesel to shortage-hit Europe
Kuwait City, Kuwait-- Kuwait National Petroleum Company has exported the first shipment of the advanced diesel fuel to the European markets in light of the severe shortage of energy sector in the continent.Kuwaiti media reports said the company shipped 66,000 tons, and the shipment was produced with special specifications that...
Putin accuses the West of trying to ‘tear apart historical Russia’
"At the core of it all is the policy of our geopolitical opponents aiming to tear apart Russia, the historical Russia," Putin said. "They have always tried to 'divide and conquer'... Our goal is something else -- to unite the Russian people," he said.
Turkey says Ukraine war ‘will not end easily’
Turkey, which helped broker a deal with the United Nations for the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea this summer, is seeking to bring together Russian and Ukrainian leaders for negotiations to end the war. It already hosted a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in...Ukraine says grain harvest dropped almost 40 percent
Kyiv, Ukraine--Ukraine estimates its grain harvest fell by around 40 percent year on year due to the Russian invasion, a representative for the country's industry told AFP Friday."We expect a grain harvest of 65-66 million tonnes" by the end of the year, the head of the Ukrainian Grain Association Sergiy Ivashchenko...
Russia says may cut oil output following price cap
Introduced alongside an EU embargo on seaborne deliveries of Russian crude oil, the cap aims to ensure Russia cannot bypass the embargo by selling its oil to third countries at high prices. Russia has said the cap will not affect the Ukraine offensive and expressed confidence it would find new...German consumers look to 2023 with upbeat mood
A survey undertaken in Germany has revealed that consumers are heading into 2023 feeling upbeat as government interventions take some of the sting out of soaring energy costs. Pollster GfK said its forward-looking survey of around 2,000 people inched up by 2.3 points to reach minus 37.8 points for January.
Gas giant Algeria slams EU gas price cap
Algeria "doesn't support the idea of limiting prices", Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab said, speaking a day after EU energy ministers agreed a temporary ceiling to mitigate a severe energy crunch following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Energy markets must stay free so upstream" investments can continue, he told a press conference,...
Turkey slams Sweden for refusing to extradite reporter
Sweden's Supreme Court cited the risk of Turkey's "persecution based on this person's political beliefs" when it blocked the request on Monday.
Germany cuts the ribbon on first LNG terminal
Germany plans to open four more government-funded LNG terminals over the next few months as well as a private terminal in the port of Lubmin.
Recession in Germany to be lower than predicted, says Ifo Institute
Ifo's positive outlook came a day after a closely watched survey showed German investor confidence rising again in December.
EU eyes all acceptable energy price cap as winter arrives
Several EU countries, including France, Poland and Spain, want a price cap lower than the one proposed by the European Commission, with fewer conditions attached. Some EU countries including Germany, the Netherlands and Austria, view a too-rigid price cap as a threat to supplies, comporting the risk that deliveries could...
Erdogan urges Putin to ‘clear’ Kurd forces in northern Syria
Erdogan told Putin in a phone call on Sunday that is was "important to clear the (Kurdish fighters) from the border to a depth of at least 30 kilometers," his office said.
Russia oil embargo, price cap disrupts tankers
Russia has assembled a "shadow fleet" of more than 100 vessels seeking to circumnavigate the Western sanctions regime. These ships are reportedly using non-Western insurers and selling oil at higher prices to countries that have not subscribed to the new sanctions.
EU seeks more sanctions on Iran for Russian drone supply
The EU is set to impose more sanctions on Iran for drone supplies to Russia and a crackdown on protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, European diplomats said. The new measures will target around eight individuals and organizations involved in the manufacture and delivery of drones Moscow has used...Saudi Arabia, UAE mediation efforts aid the US-Russia prisoner swap
The mediation efforts were led by the Emirati president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.Turkey seeks proof of insurance from Russian oil tankers as EU imposes price cap
Istanbul, Turkey - Turkey said Wednesday it has started requesting proof of insurance from tankers loaded with Russian crude oil after Western powers imposed a price cap to punish the Kremlin for its war on Ukraine. But a Turkish official denied that the measure was slowing the passage of oil...Xi Jinping reaches Saudi as China seeks energy cooperation
The trip -- only Xi's third overseas journey since the coronavirus pandemic began, and his first to Saudi Arabia since 2016 -- comes after US President Joe Biden's visit in July, when he pleaded in vain for higher oil production.Oil rises as China eases Covid restrictions, Russia price cap
World oil prices rallied after more easing of Covid containment measures in China and as a price cap on Russian crude agreed by the EU, G7 and Australia came into force. Brent North Sea crude and WTI advanced over 2.5 percent, also after OPEC and its Russia-led allies decided to...
OPEC+ to maintain current output level amid uncertainty
Major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to maintain their current output levels. Representatives of 13 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries led by Riyadh, and their 10 allies headed by Moscow, decided to stick to a production cut of two million barrels per...OPEC likely to hold oil output levels steady
Vienna, Austria— Major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia look set to maintain their current output levels at a meeting Sunday, ahead of fresh sanctions against Moscow coming into force. The 13-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is due to consult with 10 other oil-producing nations, including...Kremlin rejects $60 oil cap Ukraine says will ‘destroy Russia’s economy’
The $60 oil price cap will come into effect on Monday or soon after, alongside an EU embargo on maritime deliveries of Russian crude oil.Ukraine welcomes Russian oil price cap agreed by EU, G7
Ukraine welcomed a US$60 price cap on Russian oil agreed by the EU, G7 and Australia, saying it would "destroy" Russia's economy. The price cap, previously negotiated on a political level between the G7 group and the European Union, will come into effect with an EU embargo on Russian crude...Energy crisis driving climate-friendly power savings, says IEA
PARIS, FRANCE - Russia's invasion of Ukraine has driven countries across the world to boost energy efficiency, creating "huge potential" to tackle high prices, security and climate change, the IEA said on Friday. Governments have scaled up fossil fuel subsidies to cushion the impact of rising energy costs on households...European stocks, oil steady before US jobs data and OPEC output decision
Traders are growing confident that the Federal Reserve will slow its pace of rate hikes after Fed boss Jerome Powell this week indicated that the days of jumbo 0.75-percentage-point increases were over.
OPEC set to stick or cut more amid plan to cap Russian oil price
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - Major oil producers are expected to stick to their current output strategy or even slash production further when they meet on Sunday in the face of falling prices, a potential Russian oil price cap and an embargo on Russian crude shipments. At their last ministerial session...
Eurozone’s unemployment drops to record low
The reading -- the lowest since Eurostat started compiling jobless figures in April 1998 -- was an indicator that the economies of the 19 EU nations using the euro had bounced back after the Covid pandemic. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was markedly less than the 7.3 percent recorded a...Hackers dump Australian health data online, declare ‘case closed’
In November the hackers demanded health insurer Medibank pay US$9.7 million to keep the records off the internet -- or one dollar for each of the company's impacted customers, which included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.Europe’s inflation declines for first time in 17 months: EU agency
Boosted by soaring energy and food bills triggered by Russia's war in Ukraine, the rate of price increases had hit a new historic record every month since November 21. The November figure will decrease pressure on the European Central Bank to further increase interest rates, although its president has expressed...Britain eyes digital trade accord with Ukraine, boost in bilateral relations
Britain's Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko will meet in London to unveil the deal, the government said in a statement. "Trading digitally is particularly important in the current conflict, where damage to Ukrainian infrastructure and warfare makes it much harder to trade physically," the statement...H&M plans revamp, to cut 1,500 jobs worldwide as it leaves Russia
Swedish fashion retailer H&M said Wednesday it would cut some 1,500 jobs worldwide as a result of a cost-cutting programme launched following its decision to leave the Russian market. "The programme relates to administrative and overhead costs, and also entails reducing the workforce by around 1,500 positions," the company said...SpaceX postpones mission to put Japanese lander on Moon
The US space agency wants to develop the lunar economy in the coming years by building a space station in orbit around the Moon and a base on the surface. It has awarded contracts to several companies to develop landers to transport scientific experiments to the surface.
