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Indian Ambassador to Estonia Ashish Sinha says Estonia can serve as India's gateway to northern European markets once the India-EU Free Trade Agreement takes effect, citing growing bilateral trade and digital collaboration. Estonian tech startups and the Latitude59 conference are also eyeing deeper ties with India, including a possible networking event there next year.
A gas explosion at a coal mine in Shanxi province, China, has killed at least 82 people and injured 182 others. Rescue efforts continue for two missing miners. Authorities have launched an investigation and placed a company official under control, while world leaders have offered condolences.
UN Under-Secretary-General Miguel Angel Moratinos, speaking in interviews with TASS after attending the KazanForum, said Western Europeans need to recognize a changed world of multipolar participation. He praised Russia's interfaith relations, support for the Alliance of Civilizations, and role in countering extremism while outlining plans to engage young diplomats.
SpaceX conducted its 12th uncrewed test flight of the Starship V3 rocket on May 22, 2026, achieving most major objectives despite engine failures and an anomaly that prompted a Federal Aviation Administration investigation. The flight, which included deploying 20 mock satellites and a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean, came after multiple delays and now faces a safety review.
Russia has secured the right to export beef to Indonesia after years of negotiations and inspections, according to Rosselkhoznadzor. The head of the agency says Russian exporters are ready to begin shipments as soon as pricing is agreed upon, opening a new market in Southeast Asia.
Russian stock indices closed lower on Friday amid oil price declines and geopolitical uncertainty. The MOEX Index fell, while the RTS Index also dropped. Analysts point to technical resistance and mixed corporate news as factors influencing trading.
Russia has requested an extraordinary UN Security Council meeting following a drone strike on a college dormitory in Starobelsk, which Moscow says was a deliberate Ukrainian attack. Russian officials accuse Western countries of supplying intelligence for the strike, while China has expressed concern and Denmark has said it cannot independently confirm the circumstances.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says negotiations between Moscow, Washington, and Kiev are not currently happening, though the US remains prepared to mediate if conditions change. Russian officials, meanwhile, insist they have received no signals from Kiev about readiness for talks and reiterate their conditions for progress.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the conflict in Ukraine will end when threats to Russia's security are removed, and emphasized Moscow's willingness to compromise. He also defended Russia's interests as aligned with the UN Charter, amid ongoing negotiations with the United States.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said trade with CIS countries rose nearly 6.5% year-on-year in January-February, and attended a council meeting in Turkmenistan, which holds the rotating presidency in 2026.
Iran’s Supreme Leader has directed that the country’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent must not be sent abroad, hardening Tehran’s position against a core U.S. demand. Roughly 440 kilograms of the material is believed to be held in Iran, short of weapons-grade levels but closer than civilian needs require. Officials on multiple sides differ sharply over whether and how any transfer could occur.
Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut announced that grain exports for the 2025-2026 season are expected to reach 60 million tonnes, including 50 million tonnes of wheat. Other forecasts from the Union of Grain Exporters and Producers suggest a slightly higher figure of 61.8 million tonnes, which would be the third-largest volume on record.
Russia's children's ombudswoman in the Luhansk People's Republic says 36 children were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on a college in Starobelsk, with nine hospitalized and three in grave condition. Casualty figures vary among sources, with reports of four to 21 killed, and Russia's President Putin has promised retaliation. Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian drone unit headquarters in the town.
The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, a proposed 2,600 km link from Russia to China via Mongolia, is moving closer to reality as contracts near finalization. With a capacity of 50 billion cubic meters per year, the project could significantly alter global energy trade, reducing China's reliance on LNG and potentially easing supply for other importers. However, analysts note hurdles remain, including pricing and geopolitical tensions.
As the US awaits Tehran's response to a draft peace agreement circulated by Donald Trump, control over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile remain key sticking points. Iranian officials assert the strait's strategic value, while Pakistani mediators push for a permanent ceasefire.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev criticise Western policies, accusing the West of aggressive, boundless tactics, including sanctions and military intervention, and of undermining international platforms.
Chinese and Russian officials project a 50% increase in mutual tourist flows for 2026, driven by the extended visa-free regime through 2027. First-quarter data shows a 50% growth, with outbound Russians up 60% and inbound Chinese up 25%. Industry estimates vary, suggesting a 30-40% increase in outbound flow to China.
Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed 217 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to the Defense Ministry. Ukrainian drone strikes on a college in Starobelsk left 35 injured, while four civilians were wounded in Donetsk. Multiple regions reported drone debris damage and disruptions.
As China and Pakistan mark 75 years of diplomatic ties, the relationship faces new strategic dilemmas amid a changing global order. The upcoming Beijing summit, with PM Shehbaz Sharif and CDF Asim Munir, is set to advance CPEC into its second phase and sign multi-billion dollar agreements, while security concerns and differing counterterrorism approaches add complexity.
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phan Van Giang in Moscow to discuss defense cooperation and regional security. Belousov described Vietnam as a long-standing and reliable partner, emphasizing the strength of bilateral ties.