Advertisement
Advertisement
World /

Russia & Central Asia

Related Topics:
Russia's alleged election meddling
Ukraine
Russia
Vladimir Putin
Espionage
Yevheniia Yeremina, 89, stands in her kitchen using a gas stove to warm her apartment, which has no electricity and heating, in Kyiv on January 26. Russia has often attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure amid its invasion. Photo: AFP
Ukraine war

Most of Ukraine’s Chernihiv region has no power after Russian attack

Meanwhile, although Putin’s regime has thwarted protests over the blocking of the popular messaging app, Telegram, there is still discontent.

videocam
China energy security

China’s Russian oil imports spike in early 2026, but Iran war changes outlook

Ukraine war

EU leaders clash with Hungary’s Orban for blocking Ukraine loan

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran’s exiled prince Reza Pahlavi plans to flip the script on Beijing

Pahlavi camp plays down China’s mediation, outlines plans to recalibrate ties with Beijing and Moscow in the event of a regime change.

videocam
31
A protestor in New York City holds an image of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, during a demonstration against the Iranian government. Photo: Reuters
A protestor in New York City holds an image of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, during a demonstration against the Iranian government. Photo: Reuters
Russia

Pro-Kremlin Russian blogger who turned on Putin sent to psychiatric unit

Ilya Remeslo made a career calling out Putin’s critics until an abrupt about-turn saw him denouncing the Russian leader as a ‘war criminal’.

videocam
Ukraine war

Kremlin says Ukraine peace talks on ‘situational pause’ amid Iran war

The Kremlin confirms halt as Russian newspaper claims the Middle East crisis could force Ukraine towards territorial compromise.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Pakistan

Pakistan announces 5-day pause on Afghan strikes for Eid

The temporary ceasefire comes after Monday’s hospital strike, the deadliest in an escalating conflict between the two neighbours.

videocam
An Afghan man walks next to the site where a drug rehabilitation centre was destroyed in an air strike in Kabul on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
An Afghan man walks next to the site where a drug rehabilitation centre was destroyed in an air strike in Kabul on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Ukraine’s Zelensky warns of ‘brothers in hatred’ as Iran war steals focus

Ukrainian leader visits London as the Middle East conflict overshadows the four-year war against Russia.

China-Russia relations

China, Russia look to boost transport links amid Middle East disruption

Increased use of Arctic shipping route among topics covered at inaugural China-Russia Logistics Business Forum.

4
Ukraine war

Zelensky to visit UK as Starmer says it is ‘vital’ to support Ukraine

‘We cannot allow the war in the Gulf to turn into a windfall for Putin,’ Starmer said ahead of Tuesday’s meeting in London.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the UK on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Ukraine war

Oscar-winner Penn skips Academy Awards ceremony to visit Zelensky in Kyiv

The ‘One Battle After Another’ star skips ceremony for his third Oscar win to meet President Zelensky and potentially visit the front lines.

American actor Sean Penn walks down a street in Kyiv on Monday. Photo: AFP
American actor Sean Penn walks down a street in Kyiv on Monday. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

One-way ticket: Emirates flies near-empty flights back to Dubai

Before the Iran war, the world’s largest international airline was chalking up hundreds of daily flights that were nearly full.

US, Israel war on Iran

To help Middle East nations fight drones, Ukraine wants cash and tech

This is about ⁠protection and a full assessment of how to counter Shahed drones, says Zelensky, after Kyiv dispatched dozens of experts.

videocam
US, Israel war on Iran

UK says Russia, Iran trying to ‘hijack global economy’ amid Hormuz closure

Foreign Secretary Cooper said Moscow and Tehran ‘benefit together’ from soaring oil prices.

videocam
11
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Ukraine war

Russia, Ukraine both claim frontline success while US-led talks on hold

Washington is now focusing on the Iran war, drawing the spotlight from Ukraine’s four-year fight to see off Russia’s bigger army.

videocam
Rescuers stand near bodies retrieved from the site of a strike on a residential building in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, on Saturday. Photo: EPA
Rescuers stand near bodies retrieved from the site of a strike on a residential building in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, on Saturday. Photo: EPA
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump and Putin discuss ‘quick’ ending to Iran war

However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say they will decide when war ends, and nation’s security chief warns Trump needs to avoid elimination.

videocam
84
Ukraine war

Ukraine protests Russia’s participation in Venice Biennale

Organisers have said Russia could participate for the first time since launching its all-out invasion in 2022.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Ukraine war

At least 7 killed in Ukraine’s Kharkiv as Russia strikes apartment building

Moscow struck its neighbour overnight with 29 missiles and 480 drones, President Zelensky said, with hits at 22 locations.

videocam
Rescuers work at the site of a fatal missile strike on a residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Saturday. Photo: EPA
Rescuers work at the site of a fatal missile strike on a residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Saturday. Photo: EPA
US, Israel war on Iran

‘We are decimating them’: US brushes off Russian help for Iran in war

The White House downplays Moscow sharing information with Tehran on US targets in the Gulf, saying it is not affecting military operations.

videocam
4
US, Israel war on Iran

Azerbaijan vows to respond after Iranian drones injure 4

Azerbaijan and Iran already have tense ⁠relations over Baku’s growing economic, energy and military ties to Turkey and Israel.

Russia

Russia may halt gas supplies to Europe amid Iran energy spike, Putin warns

The leader says the chaos triggered by the Iran crisis has led to the emergence of other buyers willing to pay top dollar for fuel.

videocam
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday. Photo: Sputnik via EPA
Ukraine war

Trump’s Iran attack sparks calls in Russia to abandon Ukraine talks

Some Russian hardliners are urging Vladimir Putin to double down on the war in Ukraine.

videocam
A billboard in Moscow advertising contract military service in the Russian unmanned systems forces. Photo: EPA
A billboard in Moscow advertising contract military service in the Russian unmanned systems forces. Photo: EPA
France

France to boost atomic arsenal, could deploy nuclear-armed jets to allies

France’s Macron says eight European countries have agreed to a ‘forward’ deterrence plan to bolster continental security.

Extreme weather

Record-breaking? El Nino may return in 2026, making planet even hotter

However, scientists say there’s a risk of 2026 being ‘the warmest year on record even without El Nino, due to the global warming trend’.

videocam
US, Israel war on Iran

Long Iran war could hurt Ukraine’s defence, says Zelensky

The president said if military strikes in the Middle East continue, the supply of weapons to fend off Moscow’s long attack could be affected.

videocam
A plume of smoke rises after another strike on Tehran, Iran, on Monday. Photo: AP
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW