Protesters shut key route in Austria over truck and tourist congestion
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps i...
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that inflation in Russia has dropped below 7% year-on-year, marking what he called a “significant achievement” for the country’s economy.
Speaking at the annual VTB Investment Forum in Moscow, Putin said inflation was once estimated at double-digit levels in March but is now expected to fall to around 6% by the end of December, below both government and Central Bank forecasts.
“The reduction in inflation has been a significant achievement this year,” he told delegates, adding that Russia’s gross domestic product is projected to grow between 0.5% and 1% in 2025.
Addressing Russian and international participants at the forum, Putin said Moscow aimed to elevate cooperation with China and India “to a qualitatively new level” by strengthening the technological component of their partnerships. He said numerous joint projects were already underway in areas such as energy, industry, space, and agriculture.
“We have established a substantive dialogue on economic issues with President Xi Jinping,” Putin said. “We will also discuss these topics in detail during the upcoming visit to India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including increasing imports of Indian goods to our market.”
Putin begins a two-day visit to India on Thursday, his first in four years, where he is expected to pitch new deals in energy and defence, including sales of Russian oil, missile systems, and fighter jets. The visit comes as Moscow seeks to restore trade flows disrupted by Western sanctions and as New Delhi diversifies its energy sources.
Russia has long been a key arms supplier to India and, in recent years, one of its top oil exporters. However, India’s crude imports from Russia are set to hit a three-year low this month due to tighter sanctions, coinciding with a rise in its purchases of U.S. oil and gas.
Putin will be accompanied by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and a large business delegation, underscoring Moscow’s intent to strengthen strategic and economic cooperation with its long-standing Asian partners.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
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.
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).
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.
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.
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as scheduled on Sunday (31 May) because some players and officials had not yet received their visas.
Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), just days after the country's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade claimed at least 82 lives.
Thousands of people gathered across Colombo on Saturday night (30 May) as Sri Lanka's capital came alive with light and colour for Vesak, one of the most important festivals in the Buddhist calendar.
The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football team retained its Champions League title at Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Saturday night, after overcoming Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw following extra time.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda is continuing to spread, with 263 confirmed cases and 43 deaths reported as of 30 May.
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