Business
Russians become main tourists on luxury islands
Russians accounted for more than 11% of tourists to the Maldives this year, beating the Indians and Chinese
Russian bank launches SWIFT transfers in major Asian currency
Tinkoff bank has launched transfers in baht to all of Thailand’s banks via the SWIFT messaging system
EU sharply improves Russian economic forecast
Russia’s GDP will grow by 2% in 2023, driven by strong domestic demand, according to the European Commission
European Commission greenlights new Russia sanctions – RBK
The European Commission has accepted proposals for a 12th package of restrictions on Russia, RBK reports, citing sources
Pentagon using ‘banned’ Russian oil – WaPo
Banned Russian oil reportedly flows via a Greek refinery that serves the US military after multiple changes of ownership
Western economic dominance is over – Lavrov
The United States and its allies no longer dominate global finance as new powers emerge, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told RT
EU energy chief urges Hungary to ditch Russian gas
Budapest should end its dependence on Russian energy, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson says
EU state counts financial damage from weakened Russian gas transit
Slovakia has lost more than two-thirds of the income it used to get for transporting Russian gas, according to Eustream
UK poor unplugging fridges – study
Britons have been turning to ‘desperate measures’ to save on rising energy costs, according to a survey by the charity JRF
EU’s bold sanctions tango: Diamonds, Gazprombank, and the wishful thinking of ‘this time it’s different’
The European Union is weighing its next list of targets in another wave of sanctions against Russia to curb the country’s resilient economy
Hackers claim world’s largest bank paid ransom over cyberattack
China’s ICBC paid ransom after a hack against some of its US-based systems, cybercriminals claim
Ruble jumps to five-month high
The Russian currency has continued to strengthen on the heels of capital control measures introduced by the government
Apple to relax App Store rules in EU – media
US tech giant Apple will reportedly allow EU-based iPhone users to download apps hosted outside the App Store in line with bloc regulations
G7’s Russian oil price cap not working – FT
The Western price cap on Russian seaborne oil sales is not being enforced, export data shows
Indonesia could join BRICS – presidential candidate
Joining BRICS could benefit the Indonesian economy, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto says
EU to unveil new Russia sanctions – Borrell
Brussels is sorting out the finals details of its 12th package of sanctions on Moscow, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says