A 250-page study of almost 7,000 communications between Russian military personnel and their relatives in 2025 illustrated the reality of life in the combat zone for those fed into the “meat grinder” that is Putin’s “special military operation.”
Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine cost Poland an estimated €113.4 billion between 2022 and 2025, according to Statistics Poland. The losses include reduced economic output, higher inflation, lower real wage growth, and increased defense and Ukraine-related spending.
"A common theme of the targeting was Ukraine and military drone technology providers and supply chains," Anthropic wrote in a report on countering AI misuse.
The Russian Central Bank's board of directors on Sept. 11 decided to keep the key rate at 14%, the first time the regulator has opted not to cut it since mid-June 2025.
Central bank digital currencies can make cross-border faster and more efficient, said Herman Gref, CEO and chairman of the executive board of Sberbank.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Western sanctions and asked the BRICS bloc to deepen trade ties.
UK military chiefs say Putin entrenched in Ukraine war despite 1.5 million casualties, a plunging economy and yawning gaps in his labour force - and Ukraine faces a tough winter
Contrary to what Putin said in Vladivostok, it has not been more profitable for Russia to sell crude than to refine it domestically. August’s figures saw Russia’s overall exports dropping by 7% and revenue dropping by 8%, with seaborne crude revenues dropping 32% month-on-month, to a five-year low at $90 million per day.
Russia’s Central Bank kept its key interest rate at 14% on Friday, saying that rising fuel costs, driven…
Ukraine’s second IMF review has been pushed to December and will be combined with the third, delaying the next disbursement, a government source told Kyiv Post. IMF staff met opposition lawmakers during their September visit to discuss the legislative deadlock. Ukraine also faces a $32.6 billion financing gap for 2027 as Russian attacks raise costs and political resistance complicates efforts to secure more European aid.
Two European companies dominate the Arctic shipping network: Scotland's Seapeak and the Greek-linked shipping firm Dynagas. Together, vessels tied to these two European companies managed 72% of all Yamal LNG exports.
Ukrainian strikes on Russia's energy industry have "turned the tables on the world's once largest oil product exporter," according to a new report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air think tank.
Belgium imported no LNG from Russia in August. Just one month before, 100% of its LNG imports came from Russia.
Also in today’s newsletter: Hormuz talks and Russian assets
Downing Street gives more details of plan, saying it would be charged as a percentage of accommodation costs, not a flat feeTourists in England face nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb stays under new plansThe Centre for Cities, a thinktank that focuses on promoting growth in cities, has welcomed the government’s plans to let mayors in England impose a tourism tax. This is from its chief executive, Andrew Carter.The overnight visitor levy is a great step forward for fiscal devolution. This marks the first time that mayors in England have gained more autonomy over funding.The overnight visitor levy means places will get rewarded for doing what they need to attract more visitors and grow their local economies.Labour’s solution to every issue is always to hike taxes. This is just the latest method they’ve found to squeeze more money out of hardworking families and the economy.The hospitality industry has already been hit by colossal business rates hikes thanks to Labour, on top of their Jobs Tax and employment red tape that have driven up costs. Now hotels and other businesses face another blow that will harm local economies and discourage local tourism. VAT is already charged at 20% on hotels - much higher than in other countries - and now they’ll pay VAT on this tourism tax too: a Labour double whammy. Continue reading...