Republic in Central Asia and Europe, oil power, nuclear energy player
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been acquitted of charges including spreading false information and harming national security after 52 days in Kuwaiti detention and has left Kuwait, his legal team and rights groups have said. His arrest had highlighted an expanding crackdown on social media and press coverage in Gulf states since the US-Israel strikes on Iran began in late February.
Ukraine launched drone strikes on key Russian oil infrastructure in Novorossiysk, damaging a mooring point and igniting fires at oil reservoirs. The strikes target Russia's Black Sea export facilities amid ongoing conflict, impacting global oil supplies and Russia's energy exports.
Kazakhstan has redirected up to 100,000 metric tons of crude to the Baltic port of Ust-Luga and another 160,000 metric tons via the CPC in southern Russia, in a shift that follows attacks on the Druzhba pipeline and raises questions over supply to Germany and Berlin’s PCK refinery.
Vladimir Putin has overseen a scaled-down Victory Day parade in Moscow under heavy security, has said "the matter is coming to an end," and has offered to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country only after a final peace treaty is agreed. A US-brokered three-day ceasefire and a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap have been announced for the holiday.
The IAEA has sent a confidential report to member states saying its assessment of Iran's nuclear programme has not materially changed and that it remains unable to verify the current size, composition or location of enriched uranium stockpiles following U.S. and Israeli strikes. The agency is urging Tehran to restore safeguards access urgently ahead of the Board of Governors meeting.
During a state visit to Astana, Putin and Tokayev have advanced plans for a Russian-financed nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, with construction expected to start soon and commissioning targeted for 2035-2036. Rosatom will lead the project, which aims to boost regional energy capacity and deepen bilateral ties.
Oil flows through key Gulf routes have been disrupted as conflicts escalate. Countries are adjusting production and trade, while insurers assess risk. The Strait of Hormuz remains the focal point as sanctions’ adjustments and new toll discussions surface amid regional tensions.