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New Cryptocurrency May Be Aiding Russia to Dodge Sanctions

This is Beirut, 25/07 13:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Russia could be turning to a new cryptocurrency called A7A5 to allow money to flow in and out of the country and avoid Western sanctions, experts have told AFP. Multiple rounds of international sanctions have been imposed on Moscow since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine seeking to ramp up economic pressure to halt the war. But the launch of ...

Zelensky Says Russian Negotiators Have 'Begun to Discuss' Possible Putin Meeting

This is Beirut, 25/07 12:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Ukraine Russia Volodymyr Zelensky Vladimir Putin

Negotiators from Moscow and Kyiv discussed the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during their talks in Istanbul this week, Zelensky said in comments released Friday. Ukraine has been pushing for a meeting between the two leaders and has expressed hope that Donald Trump, ...

Russian Rocket Puts Iran Satellite Into Space: Iran Media

This is Beirut, 25/07 11:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Iran Russia Satellite Rocket

A Russian rocket put an Iranian communications satellite into space on Friday, Iranian state media reported, the latest achievement for an aerospace program that has long concerned Western governments. "The Nahid-2 communications satellite was launched from Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome using a Soyuz rocket," state television said. Weighing 110 ...

Passenger Plane with Nearly 50 Aboard Crashes in Russia’s Far East, No Survivors Seen

This is Beirut, 24/07 11:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Russia Plane crash

A passenger plane carrying nearly 50 people crashed in a remote spot in Russia's far eastern region of Amur on Thursday, with no immediate signs of survivors, authorities said. The aircraft, a twin-propeller Antonov-24 operated by Angara Airlines, was headed to the town of Tynda from the city of Blagoveshchensk when it disappeared from radar at ...

Xi Urges Trust as EU Demands "Real Solutions" in Beijing Talks

This is Beirut, 24/07 09:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

China European Union Russia Ukraine

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and the EU must deepen trust in a turbulent world, but the bloc's chiefs called for "real solutions" to move past an inflection point as they met in Beijing on Thursday. China's leadership has sought to draw the European Union closer as it positions itself as a more reliable partner than the United States ...

Ukraine Demands Zelensky-Putin Talks, Russia Proposes Brief Truces

This is Beirut, 23/07 23:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Ukraine Turkey Vladimir Putin Russia

Ukraine on Wednesday proposed direct talks within weeks between its President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin, but Moscow tempered prospects for progress at a fresh round of talks in Istanbul on Wednesday. A Russian negotiator said his country agreed to the latest in a series of prisoner exchanges with Ukraine and proposed brief ...

Low Hopes as Ukraine and Russia Mull New Peace Talks in Istanbul Amid US Deadline Pressure

This is Beirut, 23/07 14:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Ukraine Russia Istanbul Volodymyr Zelensky Vladimir Putin

Russia said that it expected talks with Ukraine later on Wednesday in Istanbul to be "difficult," downplaying expectations of a breakthrough at a meeting between the two sides after nearly three and a half years of war. Delegations from the two countries have left for Istanbul and are expected to begin talks in the evening. The two ...

New Russia-Ukraine Talks Set for Wednesday

This is Beirut, 21/07 22:13 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Ukraine Russia

Russia and Ukraine will hold new peace talks in Turkey Wednesday as a follow-up to two rounds in Istanbul that made little progress on ending their war, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. While US President Donald Trump has increased the pressure by giving Russia 50 days to agree on a deal or face sanctions, Zelensky spoke only hours after ...

UK Sanctions 135 Oil Tankers of Russia's Shadow Fleet

This is Beirut, 21/07 20:12 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Kingdom Russia Sanctions Oil Ukraine

Britain on Monday slapped sanctions on 135 oil tankers in Russia's shadow fleet, in a bid to disrupt the flow of money helping Moscow fund the war in Ukraine. A shipping services company and an oil trading firm were also sanctioned as part of the crackdown on a fleet "responsible for illicitly carrying $24 billion worth of cargo since ...

US Treasury Chief Says China Talks Could Cover Iran, Russia Oil Buys

This is Beirut, 21/07 18:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States China Russia Iran Oil

The next round of US-China talks could include Chinese purchases of Russian and Iranian oil, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, a move that would shift the focus of trade negotiations into national security issues. US President Donald Trump has imposed fresh tariffs on allies and competitors alike this year, and Washington and ...

UK Joins New EU Sanctions Targeting Russia Oil Exports

This is Beirut, 18/07 17:45 - Reading : less than a minute

United Kingdom Europe Russia Ukraine Energy

The UK on Friday joined the EU's sweeping new package of sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war, targeting its energy sector by lowering a price cap for Moscow's oil exports. "We're striking at the heart of the Russian energy sector alongside the EU. Together we will continue to apply relentless pressure on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, ...

EU Agrees 18th Round of Russia Sanctions Over Ukraine War

This is Beirut, 18/07 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

European Union Sanctions Russia

EU countries on Friday signed off on a new package of sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, including lowering a price cap on Moscow's oil exports. The 18th round of economic punishment against Russia since its 2022 invasion was approved after Slovakia dropped a weeks-long block following talks with Brussels over separate plans to phase ...

Russia