Russia & Central Asia

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Russia's alleged election meddling

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Kremlin during their May 2025 meeting in Moscow. Photo: Reuters

How Putin’s focus on Ukraine war leaves allies Venezuela, Iran and Cuba exposed

Russia’s war in Ukraine leaves allies Venezuela, Iran and Cuba vulnerable, exposing security failures and eroding trust in Moscow’s global influence.

14 Jan 2026 - 6:48PM

Russia says fired new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in strike against Ukraine

9 Jan 2026 - 6:53PM

Russia slams West’s ‘axis of war’ as Kyiv says US guarantees ‘essentially ready’

8 Jan 2026 - 9:47PM

Ukraine’s allies agree to ‘robust’ security guarantees in push to end war

UK and France could deploy troops on Ukrainian territory after a ceasefire, but a big question mark hangs over Russia’s response.

7 Jan 2026 - 7:20PM

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) signs a declaration of intent along with France’s President Emmanuel Macron (centre) and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: AFP

Zelensky replaces security chief and hires Canada’s former deputy PM

Ukraine’s president taps elite ‘Alpha’ commander to lead the SBU and recruits Chrystia Freeland to drive economic development.

6 Jan 2026 - 1:59PM

Trump threatens India with tariff hikes to abandon Russian oil for trade deal

With Trump ally, Senator Lindsey Graham proposing 500 per cent tariffs, New Delhi faces ‘hard choice’ between Russian oil and vital US trade access.

5 Jan 2026 - 6:10PM

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Trump says Ukraine did not target Putin residence, disputing Russia’s claim

US president says no evidence Novgorod estate was targeted, even as Russia reports an uptick in drone interceptions in the Moscow region.

5 Jan 2026 - 1:04PM

Wreckage of a drone that was shot down allegedly during an attempted strike on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official residence in the northwestern Novgorod region. Russian Defence Ministry via EPA

Russia’s Medvedev floats kidnapping scenario involving Germany’s Merz

Following the US raid in Venezuela, Russia’s ex-president said the kidnapping of Germany’s chancellor would be an ‘excellent twist’.

5 Jan 2026 - 4:29PM

‘We miss our parents’: Afghanistan-Pakistan border closure leaves thousands in limbo

The colonial-era Durand Line has been largely closed since the October clashes that killed more than 70 people.

4 Jan 2026 - 11:58AM

Trump ‘not thrilled’ with Putin, says too many people dying in Ukraine war

After a US strike that captured Venezuela’s Maduro, Trump said: ‘I thought … one of the easier ones would be Russia, Ukraine. It’s not’.

4 Jan 2026 - 3:29AM

US President Donald Trump, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August. On Saturday, Trump said Putin was killing “too many people”. Photo: AP

Zelensky proposes appointing First Deputy PM Fedorov as Ukraine defence minister

In big government shake-up, Zelensky also said he is appointing spy chief Kyrylo Budanov as head of the presidential office.

3 Jan 2026 - 6:20AM

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister. Photo; Reuters

Ukraine says it faked death of anti-Kremlin Russian fighter Kapustin

Kyiv says it did so to protect the Russian Volunteer Corps leader, after his assassination was ordered by Moscow’s special forces.

2 Jan 2026 - 1:23AM

Russia claims Ukrainian drone strike kills 24 in occupied Kherson

Moscow accuses Kyiv of New Year’s Eve attack on civilians as diplomats scramble to save fragile peace talks.

2 Jan 2026 - 9:29AM

CIA concludes Ukraine did not target Putin’s residence in drone strike

CIA findings contradict Moscow’s allegations. Kyiv calls the claim a pretext to escalate war and stall peace talks.

1 Jan 2026 - 6:27PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year’s Address on December 31, 2025. Photo: EPA/Sputnik

Zelensky says deal to end war ‘10%’ away as Putin pushes for victory

Ukraine’s leader says the final stretch of negotiations will determine the ‘fate of Europe’ as Moscow toughens its stance.

2 Jan 2026 - 1:15AM

A soldier looks for FPV drones on the frontline near Kostyantynivka, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Tuesday. Photo: Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP

Russia will win in Ukraine, says Putin in New Year address

The president’s speech called on Russians to ‘support our heroes’ and came on the 26th anniversary of him coming to power.

1 Jan 2026 - 1:17AM

China food security

Xi renews call to boost grain output after trade war sharpens food security push

Beijing renews push to fortify domestic crop supplies and modernise agriculture amid a tense geopolitical climate.

31 Dec 2025 - 9:00AMvideocam

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US Nato envoy casts doubt on Russian claim Ukraine attacked Putin residence

Matthew Whitaker says it’s ‘unclear’ alleged attack on Putin residence happened, as Moscow vows retaliation for ‘terrorist act’.

31 Dec 2025 - 4:06PM

Satellite imagery shows Vladimir Putin’s residential complex in Roshchino, Novgorod Region, Russia. Photo: Planet Labs PBC via Reuters

Russia’s Medvedev warns ‘Grim Reaper’ stalks Ukraine’s Zelensky in vile threat

Reacting to Zelensky’s Christmas speech, the former Russian president warns of imminent death and says his corpse belongs in a curiosity shop.

30 Dec 2025 - 9:40PM

Russia’s nuclear-capable missiles enter service, heightening Ukraine tensions

After Trump-Zelensky talks, Putin projects power by deploying nuclear-ready Oreshnik missiles to Belarus as a warning to the West.

30 Dec 2025 - 8:14PM

Russia says Ukraine tried to attack Putin residence, but Zelensky denies it

Ukraine denies accusation as a fabrication after Trump said he was ‘angry’ when Putin told him about the alleged attack.

30 Dec 2025 - 6:25PM

Satellite imagery from 2023 shows Vladimir Putin’s residential complex in Roshchino, Novgorod, Russia. Photo: Planet Labs PBC via Reuters

Putin signs law allowing Russia to ignore foreign court rulings on Ukraine

Under the changes, Moscow can ignore international judgments on Ukraine, shielding officials from ICC warrants and war crime tribunals.

29 Dec 2025 - 9:44PM

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videolink in Moscow on December 26. Photo: Sputnik/AFP

Zelensky asked Trump for ‘historic’ 50-year guarantee against Russia

The Ukrainian president is seeking extended US security guarantees, exceeding the 15-year plan under discussion as part of peace talks.

29 Dec 2025 - 9:17PM

Trump predicts end to Ukraine war will be decided within ‘weeks’

After meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Zelensky and a ‘friendly’ call with Putin, US president claims a peace deal is closer.

29 Dec 2025 - 6:03PM

Iran launches 3 satellites into space from Russia

Iran’s space programme and related entities have been targeted by US sanctions, but Iran insists the satellites are intended for ‘observation’.

29 Dec 2025 - 12:31PM

A rocket blasts off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia on Sunday. Photo: Roscosmos via AFP

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