ST. PETERSBURG | Xinhua | The value of Russia’s gold reserves has exceeded 150 billion U.S. dollars for the first time in contemporary history, due to the rise in gold prices, RIA Novosti news agency reported on Thursday. The value of Russia’s gold investments in November increased by 2.2 percent, …
Read More »Putin visits UAE, Saudi Arabia to discuss ties, regional issues
Dubai, UAE | Xinhua | Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday paid visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia to discuss ties and other issues of common concern. During Putin’s meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, the two sides explored …
Read More »How the West lost Russia
A visit to Russia and witnessing the lost opportunities for cooperation with the West THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | This week, I landed in St. Petersburg, my first time to visit Russia, to attend a BRICS conference. There were very few people at the airport, so I went through immigration …
Read More »Russia stays committed to nuclear test ban treaty after withdrawing ratification: foreign ministry
Vladivostok, Russia | Xinhua | Despite withdrawing its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Russia remains committed to the treaty and its obligations, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The ministry said in a statement that Russia is still a signatory to the CTBT and will …
Read More »Russia to increase defense spending in 2024: Kremlin
Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | It is necessary for Russia to increase defense spending in 2024, due to the hybrid war that is being waged against the country, the Kremlin said Thursday. “It is clear that such an increase is … absolutely necessary,” local media reported, citing Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry …
Read More »Russia places ICC president on Wanted list
Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has placed President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Piotr Hofmanski on the country’s wanted list, local media reported Monday. “Hofmanski Piotr Jozef, Polish. Wanted under an article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation,” TASS reported, citing …
Read More »DPRK ruling party hails Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia as big success
Seoul, N.Korea | Xinhua | The ruling party of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a politburo meeting on Wednesday, hailing the visit to Russia by Kim Jong Un, the DPRK’s top leader, as a success with desired results attained, the country’s state news agency reported Friday. In a …
Read More »The real threat to liberalism
Why democracy crusaders should worry less about Putin and more about its home front, the West THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, the liberal democracies of the West have been on a “moral” crusade against President Vladmir Putin. According to them, Putin is a tyrant, …
Read More »Kremlin condemns US decision to send depleted uranium shells to Ukraine
Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | The United States should be held accountable for the consequences caused by the delivery of depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday. The spokesman made the statement following Washington’s decision to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium ammunition for Abrams tanks, as …
Read More »Top Turkish diplomat’s Russia trip to clarify prospects for Istanbul meeting on grain deal
Istanbul, Turkey | TASS | Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s upcoming talks in Moscow will clarify the prospects for holding a meeting in Istanbul among the parties to the Black Sea Grain Initiative on revitalizing the now-defunct grain deal, a diplomatic source told TASS. “Ankara believes that the grain corridor …
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