Latest news with #Russian
8 minutes ago
- Business
EU seeks to lower a price cap on Russian oil and discourage Nord Stream pipeline investors
BRUSSELS -- The European Union wants to lower a cap on the price of Russian oil to deprive the Kremlin of extra profits to fund its war in Ukraine as part of a new raft of sanctions aimed at forcing Moscow to the negotiating table, senior officials said on Tuesday. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc is 'proposing to lower the oil price cap from $60 to $45, which is lower than the market price, and lowering the oil price cap will hit Russia's revenues hard.' Kallas said the EU also wants to impose 'sanctions on the Nord Stream pipelines to prevent Russia generating any revenue in the future. In this way, it sends a clear signal we are not going back to business as usual.' All 27 EU member countries must all agree for the sanctions to enter force. In 2023, Ukraine's Western allies limited sales of Russian oil to $60 per barrel but the price cap was largely symbolic as most of Moscow's crude — its main moneymaker — cost less than that. Still, the cap was there in case oil prices rose. Oil income is the linchpin of Russia's economy, allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the armed forces while avoiding worsening inflation for everyday people and a currency collapse. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she assumed that the price cap would be discussed and agreed among the leaders of the Group of Seven major world economic powers when they meet in Canada on June 15-17. She said the United States and its G7 partners realize 'that the oil price has lowered so much that the effectiveness of the cap is to be questioned, and therefore we all want to lower the oil price from $60 per barrel down to $45 per barrel.' The Nord Stream gas pipelines were built to carry Russian natural gas to Germany but are not in operation. They were sabotaged in 2022, but the source of the underwater explosions has remained a major international mystery. The Commission has said that it wants to impose sanctions on the operating consortium to discourage investors from trying to use the pipelines in future. The blasts happened as Europe attempted to wean itself off Russian energy sources following the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and contributed to tensions that followed the start of the war. Von der Leyen noted on Tuesday that at the beginning of the war in 2022, 'Russia had 12 billion euros ($14 billion) of energy revenues from fossil fuels" from Europe per month. "And now we're down to 1.8 billion (euros).' The new EU sanctions would also target Russia's banking sector, with the aim of limiting the Kremlin's ability to raise funds or carry out financial transactions. A further 22 Russian banks will be hit with measures, von der Leyen said. An export ban worth some 2.5 billion euros would also be imposed, and the assets frozen of more than 20 Russian and foreign companies alleged to be providing support to the Kremlin's war machine. Von der Leyen said the sanctions are aimed at forcing Russia into serious talks about peace with Ukraine. 'We need a real ceasefire, and Russia has to come to the negotiating table with a serious proposal,' she told reporters. The EU has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia since Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Around 2,400 officials and 'entities' – often government agencies, banks and organizations – have been hit. It's last raft of sanctions, imposed on May 20, targeted almost 200 ships in Russia's sanction-busting shadow fleet of tankers, and tightened trade restrictions to stop produce that could be used for military purposes from reaching Russia's armed forces.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Business
- Time of India
Russian MPs back new state messaging app to combat WhatsApp and Telegram
Russian lawmakers on Tuesday voted for the development of a state-backed messaging app that would be closely integrated with government services, as Moscow strives to reduce its dependency on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. Russia has long sought to establish what it calls digital sovereignty by promoting home-grown services. Its push to replace foreign tech platforms became more urgent as some Western companies pulled out of the Russian market following Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Anton Gorelkin , deputy head of the Russian parliament's information policy committee which wrote the draft legislation, said Russia's app would offer messaging and calls, as well as other functionality that Telegram and Meta Platforms' WhatsApp do not have. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A casa do Padre Fábio de Melo chocou o mundo inteiro Weight Loss Groove Undo "The main competitive advantage of the platform will be the deep integration with government services," Gorelkin wrote on Telegram. The draft legislation must still pass through the upper house of parliament and be signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law. Live Events Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev last week proposed integrating government services with a national messaging app at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, highlighting Russia's shortcomings compared to other countries in this area. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories He praised state-controlled technology company VK, whose VKontakte social media site is accessed by almost 80 million Russians every day, for developing home-grown services such as VK Video, a Russian rival to Alphabet's YouTube. VK has been spending heavily on producing content and improving its technical expertise to boost its audience, lurching to a 94.9-billion-rouble ($1.21 billion) loss in 2024. YouTube's audience in Russia has dropped sharply in the last year to fewer than 10 million daily users from more than 40 million in mid-2024, as slower download speeds have made it harder for people to access. Russian officials have blamed the slowdown on Google, accusing it of failing to invest in Russian infrastructure and criticising it for refusing to reinstate blocked Russian channels. YouTube has said the slowdown was not caused by any actions or technical issues on its side. Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Internet Protection Society, a Russian digital rights group, said on Telegram that he expected Russia to slow the speeds of WhatsApp and Telegram to make space for the new state messenger, which he has warned may violate personal freedoms.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Global Times: Rail-born border city a living tapestry of China-Russia friendship with woven community life, cultural integration
BEIJING, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dubbed "a train-forged city," Suifenhe, located in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, was originally established in the late 19th century when Russians built train maintenance workshops and other facilities there following the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1903. Today, walking through this border city shaped by railroads and thriving through trade, one encounters a vibrant tapestry of Chinese-Russian culture - storefronts adorned with bilingual signs, candy-colored Russian architecture, clusters of foreign visitors, and local vendors fluent in both Chinese and Russian. A century later, the international waiting hall of the Suifenhe railway station bustles with activity. The cheerful voices of Russian study tour groups fill the air, while volunteers in blue vests, fluent in Russian bend down to patiently explain boarding rules to Russian children. From the roar of steam locomotives to the lightning speed of high-speed trains, railways have always been the lifeline of Suifenhe. The railways have breathed new life into the city, endowed it with endless vitality, promoted cultural and people-to-people exchanges, advanced its internationalization, and allowed advanced technologies and cultures to take root here. Iron threads of history "Suifenhe exists because of these rails - they symbolize the city's openness and progress," says Russian social media influencer Artem, a frequent traveler on the Suifenhe route who knows the city's history intimately. At No.38 Zhanqian Road stands the original Suifenhe Railway Station, its cream-and-yellow facade now housing the Chinese Eastern Railway Museum. Five hundred archival photos chronicle how railways transformed Suifenhe from a backwater town into a vibrant hub. The Chinese Eastern Railway was a branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Starting from Manzhouli in the west and ending at Suifenhe in the east, it formed a railway network with its southern branch from Harbin to Dalian's Lvshunkou, running horizontally and vertically. At that time, it was the longest railway within China's territory. When the railway opened, international flags fluttered everywhere across the city, earning Suifenhe another moniker: The "Flag Town." Suifenhe, also known as the "Window to East Asia," pioneered modernity in China's northeast region - its first trains, automobiles, electric lights, and telephones all arrived via these tracks. In 1987, Suifenhe and Russia's Pogranichny District launched cross-border trade with a symbolic exchange: 1,000 thermoses and 100 tons of apples for 30 tons of halibut and 50 tons of pollock. In the 1990s, both countries' peoples engaged in equal transactions and bartering at designated locations. The lively scene of every household setting up "stalls" on the streets, exchanging daily necessities such as snacks and toys for Russian leather goods, has become a vivid memory for many people in Suifenhe. As one of China's first group of border cities to expand opening-up, Suifenhe boasts two national first-class ports - road and rail - serving as a vital node in the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and a key port along the "eastern route" of the China-Europe Railway Express. The city's rail port now handles over 10 million tons of cargo annually, with nearly 900 train trips per year, according to local government. China-Europe freight trains departing here reach five European countries, while inbound trains serve 25 Chinese cities, cementing this border town's status as a genuine "international commercial hub." By the end of 2015, the railway route between Mudanjiang and Suifenhe was fully opened to traffic, ushering in Suifenhe's high-speed rail era. From steam locomotives to bullet trains, the railway has always been a driving force behind the city's vibrant development. "Trains now bring Russian tourists exploring Northeast Chinese cuisine and culture," says Artem, who promotes Suifenhe to his followers. "The new airport makes it even more accessible. The Russian-Chinese fusion here feels like home." Artem loves promoting Suifenhe's cultural and tourism highlights to Russian audiences on social media, with 220,000 followers. "Compared to my first trip here with my family 20 years ago, transportation is much more convenient now - they even opened an airport in 2024. Many Russian tourists take trains here to explore the food and culture of China's northeast region, and they always go home happy. The city's blend of Russian and Chinese charm makes everyone feel right at home." Cultural symphony of China-Russia harmony Throughout Suifenhe's urban areas and countryside stand numerous Russian-style buildings like Chinese Eastern Railway Museum. These structures preserve the architectural style of the early 20th century along the railway, serving as a "three-dimensional" testament to Suifenhe's urban development and the mutual exchange of Eastern and Western civilizations. Even more remarkably, this cultural fusion has found inheritors. Stepping into craftsman Song Lu's home in Honghualing village, Yongsheng town, Suifenhe, one is greeted by an array of Russian-style decor and ornaments - double doors in a 4:6 ratio, rustic cast-iron Russian stove doors, brightly colored kitchenware, and vividly patterned tapestries and carpets... In this brick-and-wood house, once inhabited by Chinese Eastern Railway employees, a load-bearing beam made from railway tracks spans the roof, and its clear Russian inscriptions seemingly pull history into the present. As a craftsman, Song holds a special legacy - a representative inheritor of the Heilongjiang provincial intangible cultural heritage of Russian-style carriage-making techniques. "When my grandfather went to Russia for business, he noticed that local four-wheeled carriages had large load capacities and steerable front wheels, making them much more agile than Chinese two-wheeled carriages. He learned the craft of building Russian four-wheeled carriages from a master there," Song explains while displaying a Russian-style cabinet he built."Grandfather brought the technique back to China, upgraded the Chinese two-wheeled carriage, and combined it with Chinese mortise-and-tenon joinery to make it more durable. Russian-designed wooden wheels have fewer curves, saving wood, but my grandfather used Chinese techniques to interlock the parts - no nails needed, yet still solid," Song told the Global Times. He noted that Chinese carpenters also made the carriage boards detachable, significantly increasing load capacity, stability, and ease of unloading, with replaceable accessories. The improved carriage quickly gained popularity locally. The craft was passed from grandfather to father, then to Song Lu. From childhood, he was immersed in Russian architecture and woodworking. Flipping through an old photo album of Suifenhe's history, he said fondly, "This was the street back then, and these are the Russian houses built along the railway. The wide eaves provided better wind protection and warmth, while the thick walls resisted moisture." In Song's workshop, the walls are lined with tools of all sizes, and large machines are arranged throughout - all his treasures for creation. "Preserving Suifenhe's Russian-style buildings requires original materials and techniques," he explained. As one of the few locals mastering these skills, he has participated in restoring century-old Russian landmarks and sculptures, as well as designing the local Russian cultural park. "Through the efforts, we hope to preserve more historical buildings that reflect cultural exchange and witness Suifenhe's development," he added. In Suifenhe, a century-old Russian bakery housed in a former Chinese Eastern Railway residence draws crowds even before entry with its rich wheat aroma wafting through the air. Owner Liu Lihua, a fifth-generation inheritor of this craft, recounts her family's bond with Russian breadmaking. During the railway's construction, Russian workers flooded into Suifenhe, bringing their culinary traditions. Rail authorities hired Russian chefs, spawning workshops for traditional staples like lieba (the Chinese transliteration of rye bread in Russian). Liu's great-grandfather, then a railway canteen helper, apprenticed under Russian baker Lucia - a mentorship immortalized by Lucia's portrait still displayed prominently in the shop. What began as homemade loaves for family gatherings grew into a neighborhood favorite, prompting Liu to open this bakery. Today, each golden-crusted lieba embodies Suifenhe's cultural blend - a daily delicacy for locals, and a living footnote about cross-border culinary exchange. Song of people-to-people exchanges The Suifenhe No.3 double-track railway tunnel, located 300 meters from the China-Russia railway border, was built in 1899. It is China's only "nested" double-track tunnel - one wide track for Russia and one standard track for China. For over a century, this tunnel has connected the Chinese and Russian peoples. In November 2023, Wang Xuehan, a student from Suifenhe No.1 High School, crossed this unique tunnel to stay with Lisa's family in Russia's Pogranichny. She participated in the "China-Russia student homestay exchange program" that the local government promoted annually. Lisa's family prepared fruits, seafood, and handmade gifts like bracelets and dolls, making Wang feel instantly at home. "I made Russian blini with my Russian classmates in a cooking class - we were covered in flour but laughed nonstop," she recalls to the Global Times. A simple hands-on lesson planted the seeds of friendship between the two nations. The following spring, the friendship continued in Suifenhe. Lisa and her sister Alina visited as promised, their suitcases filled with Russian specialties and heartfelt care. "They brought my favorite Russian candies and fresh shrimp," Wang recounted. Participating in school sports meets, playing traditional Chinese games, and experiencing paper-cutting... the trip left vivid memories for the sisters. Lisa wrote in Russian: "Every day in Suifenhe felt as warm as home." Today, the transnational friends still stay in touch. Since 2006, Suifenhe's homestay exchange program has seen over 400 participant exchanges. Annual events like the China-Russia international youth art festival and youth sports exchanges provide fertile ground for such friendships to grow. View original content: SOURCE Global Times Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- Business
- Straits Times
EU proposes lowering Russia oil price cap in new sanctions
An apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, in Odesa, Ukraine, on June 10. PHOTO: REUTERS BRUSSELS - The European Union on June 10 proposed slashing a price cap on Russia's global oil exports, as part of a new package of sanctions over Moscow's war in Ukraine. The move comes ahead of a Group of 7 (G-7) summit in Canada next week where allies will push US President Donald Trump to be more aggressive in punishing the Kremlin. 'We are ramping up pressure on Russia, because strength is the only language that Russia will understand,' European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. 'Our message is very clear, this war must end. We need a real ceasefire, and Russia has to come to the negotiating table with a serious proposal.' The European Commission, the EU's executive, suggested cutting the current oil price cap from US$60 to US$45 as Moscow drags its feet on a ceasefire in Ukraine. The cap is a G-7 initiative aimed at limiting the amount of money Russia makes by exporting oil to countries across the world. Set at US$60 by the G-7 in 2022, it is designed to limit the price Moscow can sell oil around the world by banning shipping firms and insurance companies dealing with Russia to export above that amount. To have most impact, the EU and other G-7 partners need to get the United States to follow suit and agree to the cut in level. But Mr Trump so far has frustrated Western allies by refusing to impose sanctions on Russia, despite President Vladimir Putin's failure to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire. 'My assumption is that we do that together as G-7,' Dr von der Leyen said. 'We have started that as G-7, it was successful as a measure from the G-7, and I want to continue this measure as G-7.' 'Massive' sanctions threatened Mr Trump last week said he had a deadline to sanction Russia 'in my brain', but warned that he may also target Kyiv if no advances are made in his peace push. European leaders in May threatened Moscow with 'massive' sanctions if it did not agree a truce. 'Russia lies about its desire for peace. Putin is taking the world for a ride. Together with the United States, we can really force Putin to negotiate seriously,' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. As part of its 18th round of sanctions since Russia's 2022 invasion, the EU also proposed measures to stop the defunct Baltic Sea gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 from being brought back online. Officials said they would also look to target some 70 more vessels in the 'shadow fleet' of ageing tankers used by Russia to circumvent oil export curbs. The EU in addition is looking to sever ties with a further 22 Russian banks and add more companies, including in China, to a blacklist of those helping Moscow's military. One EU diplomat described the latest proposals as 'one of the most substantive and significant packages we've discussed recently'. 'It will hurt Russia's ability to finance its war machine. Now let's see how the discussions evolve.' The sanctions will need to be agreed by all 27 EU countries, and could face opposition from Moscow-friendly countries Hungary and Slovakia. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Germany's Merz condemns Russian ‘terror against civilians' in Ukraine
A police investigator walking near an apartment building damaged by a Russian drone strike, in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on June 10. PHOTO: REUTERS BERLIN - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on June 10 slammed Russian 'terror against the civilian population' in Ukraine after Moscow escalated its bombardments there. Speaking at a press conference with his Dutch counterpart, Mr Dick Schoof, Mr Merz called the recent Russian attacks 'the most serious war crimes' and said Russia had 'attacked no military targets but the civilian population'. Mr Merz said that Russia's latest actions were 'anything but a proportionate response to the very precise Ukrainian attacks on military airfields and infrastructure in the last week'. 'Russia wanted to create a bloodbath and the fact that this only happened in a limited way is thanks to effective Ukrainian defence,' he said, adding: 'Once again, Russia is escalating instead of negotiating'. Mr Merz's comments come ahead of a Group of 7 summit in Canada on June 15-17 and a Nato meeting later in the month, where allies will push US President Donald Trump to be more aggressive in punishing the Kremlin. Mr Schoof agreed on the importance of supporting Kyiv, saying that Ukraine was fighting not only for its own security 'but also for the security of Europe... after a war of aggression that was started by Russia'. On the question of new sanctions on Russia from the European Union, Mr Merz said he had been in touch with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen in recent days 'and I encourage her to introduce this new round quickly'. 'There will be further sanctions on the banking sector, in the energy sector,' he said. Mr Merz said that while Kyiv's allies were 'ready for negotiations at any time, if negotiations are refused – and they are being refused on the Russian side', then the response must be 'military strength and massive economic pressure'. Ukraine's allies must send 'a signal of strength and deterrence' to Russia, Mr Merz said. 'This is unfortunately the only language that Moscow understands in the current weeks and months.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
