live Iran, U.S. make competing claims over control of Strait of Hormuz
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
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.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of August, covering the latest developments.
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investigation into the cause.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday for talks focused on Gaza, Palestinian statehood and regional security.
Taiwan staged military defence drills on Wednesday as China concluded joint naval exercises with Indonesia in waters east of the island.
Washington’s counter-narcotics push is expanding as Colombia’s new conservative government backs deeper security cooperation.
Meta said it had removed more than 750,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under 16, as the country’s internet regulator weighs enforcement action over its teen social media ban.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment