AnewZ Morning Brief – 31 May 2026
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 31 May, covering the latest developments you need to know....
The Swiss government announced on Tuesday that the value of Russian assets frozen in the country has risen to 7.4 billion Swiss francs ($8.38 billion) by the end of March 2025, up from 5.8 billion francs last year, due to newly identified funds and ongoing investigations into sanctions violations.
The Swiss government has reported a significant increase in the value of Russian assets frozen within the country, reaching 7.4 billion Swiss francs ($8.38 billion) by March 2025, up from 5.8 billion francs the previous year. Officials attribute the rise to the identification and blocking of additional funds.
According to ISNA, the Swiss economy ministry linked much of this increase to a criminal investigation by the Swiss attorney general’s office into alleged sanctions violations and money laundering. While the ministry did not disclose specific details regarding the individuals or entities involved, it referenced an ongoing case that became public in August 2024. At that time, Swiss media, including Le Temps, reported that Switzerland had seized 1.3 billion francs and was investigating four individuals connected to sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Karimov.
The economy ministry also noted that multiple cases are under investigation involving potential sanctions breaches by Swiss companies using foreign subsidiaries in the goods sector. Among the frozen assets are real estate, luxury vehicles, private aircraft, and valuable artworks.
Switzerland, traditionally known for its neutral stance, has faced increasing international pressure to prevent sanctions circumvention, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
European companies are continuing to deepen their presence in China, with nearly seven in ten firms maintaining or expanding their supply chains despite global efforts to diversify, according to a new survey by the EU Chamber of Commerce.
BP has removed its chair, Albert Manifold, with immediate effect, citing concerns over governance and conduct. The company said its board had unanimously decided that Manifold should no longer serve as chair or director.
The dual-class share structure outlined in SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO) filing, which gives chief executive Elon Musk outsized control, has reignited one of Wall Street’s longest-running debates over corporate governance.
Kevin Warsh will be sworn in as chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve on Friday as policymakers consider higher interest rates to tackle inflation linked to the Trump administration’s Iran policy.
A government-mediated agreement has suspended an 18-day walkout by about 48,000 Samsung union members, easing fears of damage to South Korea's economy and global chip supply.
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