Trump announces energy ceasefire as Ukraine says Russia kept striking energy sites
United States President Donald Trump has announced what he described as an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but the claim has not been confirmed by the Kremlin and Kyiv says Russian attacks on energy facilities continued after the announcement. The development comes as winter approaches and Ukraine faces renewed pressure on its power system. It also follows a reported easing of sanctions on Russian fuel, adding to the wider debate over Washington's approach to the war.According to the supplied material, Trump's move was linked to a deal negotiated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, under which the US Treasury... [Continue Reading]
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Diesel prices surge as Iran war and Ukraine refinery strikes squeeze global supply
Global diesel markets are under renewed pressure as supply disruptions linked to the war involving Iran and Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities continue to reduce exports. The latest reporting says the fall in diesel shipments has helped push prices higher in the United States, the United Kingdom and other markets. The issue has become a wider economic concern because diesel is central to road freight, shipping and other parts of the supply chain.The supplied material says United States President Donald Trump has blamed Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries for part of the global reduction in diesel exports, while... [Continue Reading]
Trump says EU paid Russia $250 billion for energy, signals pressure on Europe
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social at 12 October 2026 at 15:08 BST: "The European Union paid Russia 250 Billion Dollars for Energy, and the Fake News Media doesn't want to get near that story. I made the right choice for the American People, ALWAYS, AMERICA FIRST! TRUMP" Explanation: President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social at 12 October 2026 at 15:08 BST: The post signals renewed pressure on Europe over its energy ties to Russia, and frames the European Union as having financially supported Moscow at a massive scale. Politically, it reinforces a hardline America First stance that... [Continue Reading]
NATO commander says alliance would be ready to fight tonight if attacked in Warsaw warning
NATO's top military commander has issued a direct warning that the alliance would be ready to fight "tonight" if attacked. Speaking in Warsaw at a security conference, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich said NATO would respond forcefully if Russia or another adversary launched an assault on alliance territory. His remarks came after an appearance by Volodymyr Zelenskyy and were framed as a deterrent message amid heightened tensions in Europe.Grynkewich said he does not believe conflict is "imminent or inevitable", but set out what he described as a "theory of victory" for the alliance. He said NATO would destroy "anything... [Continue Reading]
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Germany warns Russia is using hybrid attacks and planning assassinations
Germany's domestic intelligence chief has accused Russia of using nearly all available means in hybrid attacks against the country and of planning assassinations on German soil. Sinan Selen said on Monday that Berlin expects further activity of this kind, including incidents similar to the drone case at Leipzig/Halle airport. The warning adds to a growing security dispute between Germany and Moscow amid wider European concern over hybrid threats.Selen did not provide details about the alleged assassination plans, and the intelligence service did not elaborate on who might be targeted or how such operations could be carried out. He said Russia... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine warns of retaliation as Russian strikes hit power grid and Kyiv faces drone attacks
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Ukraine will respond if Russia continues striking the country's power grid, after a day of attacks that included Russian drones over Kyiv and a targeted strike on a power station in Kharkiv. Speaking to European security officials in Warsaw, the Ukrainian president said Ukraine would retaliate if Moscow did not agree to an energy ceasefire this winter. He said he had been surprised by a post from Donald Trump about an "energy ceasefire" that, according to Zelenskyy, neither side had agreed to.Zelenskyy said the post appeared while Kyiv was under attack by Russian Shahed drones,... [Continue Reading]
Trump's Russia diesel sanctions relief draws legality challenge as Republican backlash grows
A Republican senator has questioned whether Donald Trump's temporary easing of sanctions on Russian diesel is lawful, adding a new domestic political challenge to the White House's energy and Russia policy. Thom Tillis said the move could violate congressional law and warned that his support for Trump's legislative priorities may depend on the administration reversing course. The criticism comes as the president seeks to lower diesel prices in the United States after a period of fuel-market pressure.Tillis made the comments during a Sunday interview on NBC News's Meet the Press, saying there was a "legitimate case" that the president was... [Continue Reading]
IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok overshadowed by war, debt and energy shock concerns
Finance officials from around the world are gathering in Bangkok for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, with the agenda dominated by the war in the Middle East, inflationary pressure and high debt. The meetings are being held outside Washington for the first time in three years, and officials say the gathering is taking place under unusually difficult global economic conditions. The event is expected to focus on risks to already sluggish growth, with energy markets and borrowing costs also high on the list of concerns.IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said 18,000 people were... [Continue Reading]
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Yandex says Vladimir data centre shut down after third drone attack this week
Yandex has said its data centre in Vladimir, east of Moscow, was damaged in a drone strike and that operations at the site were completely suspended. The Russian technology company said no one was injured in the attack, but some of its services were unavailable to users. It described the incident as the third strike on its facilities this week.The company said it was working to restore connectivity after the latest attack, while warning that the disruption could affect services used by millions of people. Earlier this week, Yandex said two of its five data centres had already been hit,... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Riyadh airport strike kills 12 as Pakistan declares emergency and Isaias batters US
Saudi Arabia remained on alert after a Houthi strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured more than 300, forcing operations to shut down and deepening regional tensions. 🔗Britain said it stands behind Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Donald Trump called for Ukraine to choose a new leader capable of reaching a peace agreement, a remark that added fresh pressure on Kyiv and its allies. 🔗In Pakistan, the government imposed a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, effectively suspending the provincial administration led by the opposition, in a sharp escalation of political control in the northwest.... [Continue Reading]
Russia eases diesel export curbs as US authorises SPR oil release
Russia said on Saturday it has lifted some restrictions on diesel exports with immediate effect, following an agreement between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to allow Russian diesel supplies to reach US and international markets. The announcement was made in Moscow and described as an immediate change to export rules. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in a statement that domestic production is sufficient to meet Russia's needs in full while still maintaining agreed export volumes to global markets. The source does not give details on which restrictions were removed, beyond saying only that some curbs... [Continue Reading]
Trump Announces Deal With Putin to Release Russian Diesel to Global Market
US President Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Vladimir Putin to release large volumes of Russian diesel into the American and global markets. The announcement, made on Friday and discussed again on Saturday, immediately drew criticism from Ukraine and raised questions about the impact of sanctions on Russian energy exports. According to the statements provided, the deal would begin with an immediate release of 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and another 1 million tonnes later.Trump said an additional 3 million tonnes could be delivered in the near term, depending on the operating capacity of... [Continue Reading]
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US, Europe and Ukraine hold Miami talks on joint plan to end war as winter nears
US, Ukrainian and European officials met in Miami on Friday in a renewed diplomatic push to seek a common proposal to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The talks were described by US envoy Steve Witkoff as "constructive" and focused on ways to de-escalate the conflict before winter. Witkoff said the meeting brought together the E3, the European Commission, Ukraine and NATO.According to Witkoff, the discussions covered energy resilience, grain exports, security guarantees and longer-term arrangements for Ukraine's and Europe's security to prevent future conflict. He also said the parties discussed support for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and economic prosperity, including EU... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Ukraine, Gaza and ICC tensions dominate as Florida storm weakens
Ukraine and Russia remained at the centre of the day’s diplomacy and fighting. In Miami, United States, Ukrainian and European officials held what Washington called productive talks on proposals to end the war, even as US envoy Steve Witkoff warned of the risk of escalation. Separately, Ukraine said Operation Vivaldi had disrupted a Russian plan to encircle the remaining Ukrainian positions around Lyman, while Yandex said two of its five data centres were hit by Ukrainian drones, disrupting the Russian tech group’s services. 🔗 🔗 🔗Pressure also mounted on international institutions after the United States imposed sanctions on the International... [Continue Reading]
Nord Stream sabotage suspect Serhii K due to go on trial in Hamburg next week
A Ukrainian suspect identified by German investigators as Serhii K is due to go on trial in Hamburg next week over the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. Prosecutors say he is accused of causing an explosion and of committing a war crime by attacking civilian infrastructure. The case centres on one of Europe's most significant acts of sabotage in recent years, which damaged pipelines carrying Russian gas to Germany.According to the investigation summary, the first blast struck at 02:03 on 26 September 2022, severing part of the Nord Stream system and sending gas to the surface of the Baltic Sea.... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine says Operation Vivaldi has disrupted Russian Donbas encirclement plan
Ukraine's counter-offensive around Lyman has disrupted what an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War described as Russia's plan to encircle the remaining Ukrainian-controlled territory in Donetsk. The operation, known as Operation Vivaldi, targeted the northern arm of a pincer movement that was meant to link advances from Lyman in the north and Dobropillia in the south-west. According to the assessment, the collapse of that northern thrust has forced Russian units onto the defensive and preserved Ukrainian supply routes in the area.The report said Ukrainian forces advanced along the Ridkodub-Nove-Novomykhailivka line in the north and the Yarova-Drobysheve-Stavky line... [Continue Reading]
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Putin offers help to end Iran-US war as Pezeshkian says talks continue in Turkmenistan
Vladimir Putin has said Russia will do "everything in our power" to help end the war between Iran and the United States, during a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Avazeh on Turkmenistan's Caspian coast. The comments came as the two leaders met on Thursday, adding a new diplomatic layer to an already active effort to halt the conflict. Putin praised what he described as Tehran's genuine efforts to resolve the war, while positioning Moscow as willing to assist.Pezeshkian said Iran and the United States had exchanged proposals aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.... [Continue Reading]
Montenegro detains pro-Kremlin blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk amid destabilisation warnings
Montenegrin police have detained Russian military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk in the Adriatic resort town of Risan, along with his wife and three other Russians, in a case linked by officials to warnings of destabilisation and hybrid warfare. Zvinchuk is the founder of Rybar, a prominent pro-Kremlin war blog with a large following on Telegram. The detention has drawn attention because it involves a figure long associated with Russian influence operations and online messaging around the war in Ukraine.According to local reporting, the group was detained on Friday by police and security agents on suspicion of spreading Russian influence. Montenegro's prime... [Continue Reading]
South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine amid North Korean POW disclosure row
South Korea has recalled its ambassador to Ukraine after a dispute over Kyiv's public disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. The move marks a further escalation in a row that has been building since late September and now involves both governments' foreign ministries. Seoul says the disclosure should have remained confidential, while Kyiv rejects that claim.The South Korean foreign ministry said it was recalling ambassador Park Ki-chang and cited what it described as the unauthorised disclosure of information about the handover. It also said the embassy in Kyiv would remain open and that consultations would... [Continue Reading]
Syria calls for probe as Black Sea cargo ship sinks after reported attack
Syria has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the sinking of the Togolese-flagged cargo ship Alfa Watan in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. The appeal comes as 10 crew members remain unaccounted for, including nine Syrians and one Egyptian. Syrian authorities also questioned why search and rescue operations were halted before the sailors were found.Mazen Aloush, from Syria's port authority, asked the International Maritime Organization and Bulgarian authorities to establish why the search was called off. He said the fate of the missing crew was still unknown and urged officials to use all available technical means to locate and... [Continue Reading]
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Questions over Trump operatives advising Dodik ahead of Bosnia election
Questions have emerged in Bosnia and Herzegovina after a report said two political operatives linked to US President Donald Trump advised Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik ahead of the country's parliamentary election on Sunday. The report said James Blair and Chris LaCivita visited Dodik and were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for their work. The disclosure has drawn criticism within the Republican Party and renewed attention on Dodik's political and legal position.According to the report, Blair and LaCivita were involved in advising Dodik during the run-up to the vote. Blair currently runs Trump's main fundraising organisation, while LaCivita is... [Continue Reading]
Russia faces pressure over reported second plague case in Siberia
The World Health Organization and Western governments are pressing Russia for clearer information after reports emerged of a second suspected plague case linked to a research institute in Siberia. The case centres on the death of a laboratory technician in the Irkutsk region last week, which has raised questions about possible exposure at the facility. Russian officials have rejected much of the reporting as false and say the cause of death has not been confirmed.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that Moscow should clarify media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause. The United States... [Continue Reading]
Russia asks Vietnam for aircraft wet lease as grounded fleet deteriorates
Russia has asked Vietnam to lease passenger aircraft with crews and maintenance support as its re-registered Western fleet continues to deteriorate. Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin said Moscow had proposed that Vietnamese carriers transfer aircraft to Russian airlines under a wet lease arrangement, and that Hanoi was studying the request. The proposal comes as nearly a fifth of the largest Russian airlines' planes are grounded.The request is tied to the strain on Russia's commercial aviation sector after sanctions imposed following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow passed a law that year allowing airlines to re-register more than 400... [Continue Reading]
Russia marks 20 years since Anna Politkovskaya's killing amid renewed press freedom concerns
Russia is marking 20 years since the killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, whose reporting on Chechnya and Vladimir Putin's rise made her one of the country's best-known investigative reporters. She was shot dead in the lift of her Moscow apartment block on 7 October 2006, and the anniversary has renewed attention on the state of press freedom in Russia. Her former editor says her work anticipated the direction the country would take under Putin.Sergei Sokolov, who edited Politkovskaya at Novaya Gazeta, said she had "predicted" Russia's trajectory in books published before her death. He said that at the time many... [Continue Reading]
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Has Russia's fuel crisis given Iranian oil an opening in Central Asia?
Iran's oil exports have struggled under a US blockade, but a Russian fuel crisis caused by Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure may be creating a new opening in Central Asia. Countries in the region have begun buying oil from Iran as Russian fuel supplies they have long depended on run short. The shift is emerging as Moscow faces mounting pressure from drone strikes on refineries linked to its war in Ukraine.In August, Tajikistan said it was receiving oil and petroleum products from Iran as Dushanbe faced uncertainty over supplies from Russia. Also in August, Tehran agreed to establish a joint... [Continue Reading]
Russia plague case under close US monitoring as hospital quarantine continues in Irkutsk
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is aware of and closely monitoring a suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia, after the unexplained death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia. Russian authorities have quarantined a hospital in the Irkutsk region and are tracing the woman's contacts. Local media reports also say nearly 200 people have been placed under medical observation.The CDC said the reported case remains unconfirmed, but stressed that plague is a serious bacterial disease that can be treated with antibiotics if recognised early. It said rapid identification and treatment of infected people are... [Continue Reading]
Lithuania moves to lift ban on storing nuclear weapons as Russia warns of retaliation
Lithuania's parliament has taken a preliminary step toward suspending a ban on storing nuclear weapons on its territory, in a move that has drawn a sharp warning from Russia. Lawmakers in the Seimas backed the proposal on Tuesday in Vilnius, but the change is not yet final. A second vote is scheduled for 12 January, and only then could the constitutional prohibition be removed.The measure passed with 106 votes in favour out of 141 possible, according to the parliamentary tally. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in July that political parties had agreed on a plan to suspend the ban, describing... [Continue Reading]
Massive drone attack on Moscow region kills two as damage reports widen
Russian officials said the overnight Ukrainian drone assault on Moscow and nearby areas involved 290 drones targeting the capital region, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 650 drones were heading towards the city. The attack killed two people and injured seven, according to regional governor Andrei Vorobyov, who said the dead were in Radumlya and Barbybino. Officials also said 47 houses, four apartments and three cars were damaged, and a warehouse fire was reported in the capital.Vorobyov said 185 drones were "destroyed or neutralised" over the wider Moscow region, while Sobyanin said most of the drones aimed at the city... [Continue Reading]
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South Korean fuel shipments to Russia via sanctioned tankers raise sanctions concerns
More than 176,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel, were shipped from several South Korean ports to Russian ports in July and August, according to port records and ship-tracking data. The cargoes were carried on seven tankers that made 14 voyages to Russia's far east. The findings point to a trade route that could complicate efforts to restrict supplies to Moscow during the war in Ukraine.Three of the vessels were under sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom and the European Union, and one cargo was transferred ship-to-ship in South Korean waters before continuing onward. That method can obscure the origin of... [Continue Reading]





