Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin are likely to discuss a deal on supplying Russia's flour to African countries, according to TASS."Both leaders spoke earlier about plans to process Russian grain into flour in Turkey and sending it to the poor nations of...

Johannesburg, South Africa -- Russia's special military operation pursues the goal of ending the war in Ukraine unleashed by a number of Western countries and their satellites, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of BRICS leaders."Russia has decided to support the people who are fighting for their culture,...

Moscow, Russia -- One fourth of all investors in state securities have been forced to leave the Russian market due to sanctions, Russia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said at a meeting of the Council for strategic development and national projects headed by President Vladimir Putin."We see that a considerable part...

Tehran, Iran-- Iran will boost military cooperation with Russia as the two countries look to strengthen strategic partnership.According to the commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari, "the Iranian army is ready to boost military cooperation with Russia."Heidari made the remark in a meeting with the...

South Africa has revealed potential BRICS expansion plans at the Johannesburg summit, with keen interest shown by Middle Eastern nations, notably UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Haftar, who backs the country's eastern administration, is close to Russia's private Wagner mercenary group, whose troops guard military and oil infrastructure in the country. "This is the first official visit of a Russian military delegation to Libya," Moscow's defense ministry said.

The market has raised prices in response to Saudi production cuts, anticipating tighter supplies. This shows producers' efforts to prevent oil prices from dropping significantly.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Russia still has not heard any reaction from international organizations regarding the assassination of journalist Darya Dugina as well as other ‘atrocities’ committed against media representatives, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday."A year after the tragic death of Darya Dugina we have not heard a...

"Russian warplanes carried out air strikes on the western outskirts of Idlib city, targeting a military base belonging to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)... killing at least eight fighters," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. HTS, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, controls swathes of...

Damascus, Syria - Syria's reentry into the Arab League in May was anticipated to herald positive changes for the country's fortunes. Diplomatic relations warmed, with a normalization agreement signed with Saudi Arabia and a tense, Russia-brokered meeting between Turkish and Syrian foreign ministers. However, despite these diplomatic strides, Syria's economic...

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that companies from his country plan to expand their activities in Russia despite sanctions and political difficulties.Orban made the statement at a meeting with the head of Russia’s Tatarstan region Rustam Minnikhanov in Budapest, TASS news agency reported."It has been noted...

Jakarta, Indonesia--Indonesian President Joko Widodo departed for South Africa on Sunday to attend the BRICS summit in Johannesburg amid speculation that the country could join the group as its latest member.The meeting, which brings together major emerging economies countries led by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, will be held...

Moscow, Russia - Moscow has expanded its stop-list as a retaliatory measure barring 54 UK citizens from entering Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, quoted by Russian news agency TASS.The list now includes Lucy Frazer, UK secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, "who is promoting Russia’s international...

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the composition of the country’s delegation to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). It will be led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.The delegation also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin, Chairman of the Federation Council’s Committee on...

The speedy filling of storage facilities means the bloc is "in a much more stable position than it was this time last year," when Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent energy prices soaring, EU Energy commissioner, Kadri Simson, said.

Turkey’s top diplomat Hakan Fidan is planning to discuss the results of these discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Kuleba, Turkish media reported. Officials say a stalemate could lead to an escalation of food crisis and possible military tensions.

The Sukru Okan vessel was flying the flag of Palau when it was fired on by the Russian navy last Sunday. Russian military personnel then boarded the ship to conduct an inspection, before letting it sail on toward the Ukrainian port of Izmail -- the main export route for Ukrainian...

Moscow, Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Thursday, in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi, the possibility of Iran joining the BRICS group in the future and issues of expanding cooperation in international and regional affairs.The talks also included Iran's participation as a full member of...

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The 11th Moscow Conference on International Security, held at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center here, saw high-level discussions between Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin and military representatives from Saudi Arabia and Iran.In a meeting with Talal Abdullah Al-Otaibi, military adviser to the Saudi defense minister,...

Moscow is open to equal defense cooperation with all nations seeking to protect their interests, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a video address to participants in the Army-2023 forum. “Russia is open to deepening equal technological partnership and defense cooperation” with countries seeking to protect their interests and independent...

Underfunded and run down by years of unrest, the zoo's dilapidated facilities make matters worse for its 900 animals, including Siberian tigers.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The international military-technical forum Army-2023 opens at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center here.About 1,500 prominent Russian companies of the military-industrial complex will present their products and 85 foreign companies and organizations from seven countries will also participate in the forum, TASS news agency reported.According to the...

BEIRUT, LEBANON – The US is responsible for the military escalation in eastern Syria, where terrorist groups such as the Islamic State (outlawed in Russia) intensified their activities recently, the Syrian Arab Republic’s foreign ministry said."US forces are sponsoring terrorists, who are responsible for the August 10 ambush on Syrian...

The spacecraft, which will remain on the Moon for a year, will be tasked with "taking (samples) and analysing the soil" as well as "conducting long-term scientific research", the Russian space agency said. The launch is the first mission in Russia's new lunar programme, which gets underway at a time...

Moscow, Russia - Moscow accused Poland and Finland of threatening its security on Wednesday and vowed a response to multiplying "threats" on Russia's western frontier from NATO members.Poland, Ukraine's staunch ally and neighbor, has strengthened security on its border with Belarus after Minsk became a new base for Russian Wagner fighters.Finland,...

Ankara, Turkey--Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that the revival of a deal with Russia to allow Ukrainian grain exports, brokered by Ankara and the UN, "depends on Western countries which must keep their promises"."I think a solution can be found," Erdogan added, referring to a recent telephone call...

Tehran, Iran-- In a defiant posture toward the West, Russia has declared that it will continue to enhance military cooperation with Iran, despite what it termed as enemies' opposition to the ties between the two countries.Deputy Foreign Minister of Russian Federation Sergei Alexeyevich Ryabkov said that the military cooperation between...

Through an arrangement that began in 2014, the UN delivered relief to the areas directly through the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey. But last month, the UN Security Council failed to reach consensus on extending the key aid route. The Syrian government has said it will allow humanitarian aid to pass...

Russia, which was not invited to the summit, said that a resolution was possible if Ukraine "stopped the hostilities and terrorist attacks" and if Western countries stopped arms supplies to Kyiv. It also called on Ukraine to cede its occupied territories to Moscow.

Moscow, Russia - Russia said Monday a peace settlement with Ukraine was only possible if Kyiv put down its arms, after talks were held in Saudi Arabia over the weekend without Moscow's participation.Representatives from around 40 countries including China, India, the United States and Ukraine took part in the peace summit,...

Tokyo, Japan - Iran's foreign minister visited Japan on Monday for the first time since 2019, in a rare trip to a G7 member country by the Islamic republic's top diplomat.The purpose of the visit by Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to the current chair of the G7 was not announced, but reports said...

The oil company's profits fell sharply to US$30.08 billion.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia-- More than 40 representatives of countries from around the world gathered in Jeddah, pledging to continue holding consultations that could pave the way for peace in Ukraine and end the deadly war.A meeting was held in Jeddah for national security advisors and representatives from over 40 countries...

TRENDS Infographics explores prominent Arab nations in the latest Global Soft Power Index, with the UAE leading the way by entering the top 10, a first for the Middle East.

Ankara, Turkiye - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday announced that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would visit Ankara during August, adding that the date has not yet been set."The date is not clear, but the foreign minister, head of the intelligence organization, they are all holding talks," Erdogan...

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, failing in its attempt to take Kyiv but seizing swathes of territory that Western-backed Ukrainian troops are fighting to recapture. Beijing, which says it is a neutral party in the conflict but has been criticised by Western capitals for refusing to condemn Moscow,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia will extend the voluntary 1 million barrels per day cut, announced in July, to the month of September, with the possibility of further extension.Saudi Press Agency, quoting an official source from the Kingdom's Ministry of Energy, said the country's production for the month of...

The mechanism, a price ceiling of $60 per barrel on Russian oil, was agreed and introduced by the European Union, G7 and Australia, in early December. Companies based in EU and G7 member states and Australia are banned from providing services enabling maritime transport, such as insurance, of oil above...

Brussels, Belgium - Europe's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports fell to the lowest level since the start of the Russian military operations in Ukraine after a drop in prices reduced the regions appeal.LNG deliveries fell 7% in July from a year earlier to 8.6 million tons, the least since November...

China accounts for 94 percent of the world's production of gallium -- used in integrated circuits, LEDs and photovoltaic panels -- according to a report by the European Union published this year. For germanium, essential for fiber optics and infrared, China makes up 83 percent of production.

Despite the drop, BP hiked dividend.

The talks to be hosted in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah next weekend will discuss a path toward peace in Ukraine, convening representatives from Kyiv, Western powers and developing countries. Russia is likely to miss the meeting just as it did not participate in a similar gathering last...

"I would like to note that the African continent is emerging as a new center of power right before our eyes. It has been demonstrating exponential growth in terms of its political and also economic roles. Everyone will have to reckon with this objective reality," adds Putin during the second...

MOSCOW, RUSSIA -  Egypt's president on Friday called on Russia and Ukraine to find "urgent solutions" to allow the resumption of Ukraine grain exports to Africa, after Moscow's withdrawal led to the collapse of a Black Sea pact.The Ukraine grain deal was agreed last year and allowed around 33 million tonnes...

Profits fell on lower refining margins, natural gas prices.

Moscow, Russia - Trade turnover between Russia and Africa reached $18 billion in 2022, which is one of the results of the Russia-Africa summit in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a plenary session of the Russia-Africa forum."I would like to note that last year trade turnover between Russia...

Gas prices had soared last year after Russia cut gas shipments to Europe while oil markets were also rocked by supply concerns. But natural gas prices fell sharply as European countries found new suppliers, built up reserves and experienced a mild winter.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - Internet privacy company Proton announced Wednesday a new VPN Observatory, tracking demand for its services to detect attacks on free speech in countries like Russia and Iran before they hit the headlines.Switzerland-based Proton said its new observatory would document spikes in sign-ups to its virtual private networks (VPNs),...

Avoided by western tourists, Iran is turning to wealthy Arab states and other nearby countries to bolster its sanctions-hit economy. It is also drawing visitors from Russia and China. Owing to the thaw in relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran is now interested in closer ties with the Arab world.

China's President Xi Jinping has pledged stronger ties with Algeria, highlighting the importance of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Algeria, Africa's largest natural gas exporter, has been seeking to join the BRICS economic group, and China has shown support for this goal.