Russia
Russia's Putin puts brakes on National Projects spending spree
Putin could extend his signature National Projects investment leap worth over $400bn from 2024 to as far as 2030 owing to the pressure of the coronavirus crisis.
Russian Norilsk Nickel reports third fuel spill as it wards off $2bn fine
The timing for yet another fuel spill is unfortunate as the company is contesting RUB148bn ($2.1bn) environmental damages estimated by the RosPrirodNadzor watchdog.
AliExpress sets ambitious goals in Russia, IPO possible
AliExpress Russia is aiming to reach $10bn gross merchandise volume by 2022-2023, and has not ruled out a future IPO.
International Fencing Federation announces coronavirus support plan
CHF1mn support plan to help fencers and fencing federations through the coronavirus pandemic that forced a halt to the sport.
Weekend of protests in Russian far east over Khabarovsk governor’s arrest
Thousands protested on July 11 and 12 after Sergei Furgal was detained on murder charges.
STOLYPIN: Russia’s opportunistic MENA policy: scavenging, not strategising
One crucial difference between today’s Russia and both the USSR and the US is that it will not – cannot – pay the price of empire, whether in blood or treasure.
Famous ex-defence reporter arrested, accused of treason
Ivan Safronov's arrest appears to be part of an escalating crackdown on Russian journalists by the Federal Security Service (FSB).
US intelligence memo admits there is “no evidence” of Russian payment of bounties to Afghans for killing US soldiers
The New York Times reported on June 3 that a CIA memo admits that intelligence agencies have “no evidence” that payments made by the Russian foreign military intelligence GRU to Afghan fighters were bounties for killing US soldiers.
Russia’s Watcom Shopping Index regains three quarters of ground lost to coronacrisis
Russia’s Watcom Shopping Index has recovered three quarters of the ground lost during the coronacrisis, according to the latest data for week 26 of this year, after restrictions in Russia were eased in June.
Russia Services PMI bounces back to 47.8 in June, up from 35.9 in May
The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Russia Services Business Activity Index registered 47.8 at the end of the second quarter, up notably from 35.9 in May, Markit said in a press release on July 3.
Evidence of massive ballot stuffing emerges in Russia's referendum on constitutional changes
Evidence of massive ballot stuffing emerged in a mathematician Facebook post of a statistical study of the voting results in the referendum on constitutional changes that would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to remain in office until 2036.
Suma Chakrabati leaves the EBRD a greener bank
Green financing reached close to 50% of the EBRD’s volume of investment in 2019, but as he leaves the bank Chakrabati warns of the need to put the green economy at the heart of the post-COVID recovery.
Russians, Serbians, Turks the biggest property buyers in Montenegro
Foreigners bought €169.99mn of property in the tiny Adriatic country in 2019.
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Nato nerves on edge as France pulls out of sea operation in major row with Turkey over Libya
Paris claims French warship targeted with Turkish weapons systems after it moved to check on suspected breach of arms embargo by cargo ship.
Russian vote through changes to constitution in referendum, Putin cleared to rule until 2036
With 99.9% of the vote counted, 77.93% of Russians voted for changes to Russia’s constitution and 21.26% against in a referendum on July 1. The turnout was 65%.
Russian corporate profits recovering, but still down by half on 2019 in April
Corporate profits started to recover in April, the last month with available data, but profits are running at slightly over 50% less than 2019 in March and April on a cumulative basis.
Russian petrochemical giant Sibur raises $500m in 5-year eurobonds with a record-low 2.95% coupon
Russian petrochemical giant Sibur Holding has issued a $500m 5-year eurobond on the Irish Stock Exchange with the lowest coupon yield ever for a Russian corporate of 2.95%, on June 30.
Russia’s June manufacturing PMI bounces back, recovers almost all coronacrisis lost ground
The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Russia Manufacturing PMI bounced back in June at the end of the second quarter, recovering almost all the ground it has lost during the coronacrisis to post 49.4 at the end of the second quarter
Macron accuses Erdogan of massively importing jihadists into Libya
Calls it a “criminal” intervention by “a country which claims to be a Nato member”.
Udokan: Alisher Usmanov’s Siberian copper valley
With its launch scheduled for 2023, Siberia's Udokan copper deposit is among the largest in the world.