"Our job—where we can'is to provide Latin America with a choice," a U.K. government minister said on Thursday.

Russia on Friday condemned an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump to build a new missile defence shield, accusing the United States of trying to upset the global nuclear balance and pave the wave for military confrontation in space.

At the same time, coal exports from Russia fell 7.9% to 196.2 million tons. China remains the main market for Russian coal, despite the European embargo and the redirection of exports to the Asia-Pacific region.

Once a global leader in cryptocurrency mining, China banned the activity in 2021, citing financial and environmental concerns. Russia is also becoming increasingly dependent on its neighbor at a time when its war-time economy is being choked by sanctions, with no end in sight.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago, the world has witnessed not only brutal conflict but also the complex web of international trade that continues to fuel Russia’s war efforts. One of the most alarming discoveries involves China,

With Western sanctions cutting off supplies, China has become Russia’s sole source of critical minerals used in weapons production—including nuclear arms—deepening concerns over Beijing’s support for Moscow’s war effort.

Russia and China are strengthening their cooperation on AI technology. Although China-Russia imports and exports have reached record levels, growth has slowed significantly compared to 2023.

Russia has suffered a major economic setback, after China and India halted their purchases of Kremlin oil. Oil and gas revenues are vital sources of revenue, accounting for between a third and half of Russia 's federal budget over the last decade. In particular, these revenues play a key role in helping Putin to finance his war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing the two countries’ close ties, a day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president.

China is seeking global leadership in key defence and military technologies amid fierce rivalry with the West - and Russia should learn from it, a Russian think tank has said. "By 2049, we can expect the PRC navy to achieve a combat potential comparable to the US Navy,

The crude oil market is adapting quickly to the new sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet of tankers, albeit by creating both short- and medium-term winners and losers.

Investment in Pituffik has been inconsistent, however, and its importance has waned since the Cold War. Renewed attention to Greenland could help the U.S. counter Russia’s growing Arctic dominance and China’s ambitions as a “near-Arctic” power.