US financier and philanthropist George Soros on Thursday pledged one billion dollars for a new university network project to battle the erosion of civil society in a world increasingly ruled by would-be and actual dictators and beset by climate change.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Sunday thanked US counterpart Donald Trump for intelligence that helped to foil attacks on Russian soil, the Kremlin said. Putin thanked Trump for the transfer, through special services, of information allowing the prevention of terrorist acts in Russia, the president's office said in a statement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping launched this Monday a gas pipeline that is the first of three ambitious projects intended to cement Moscow's role as top gas exporter.
Brazil will not get involved in a trade war, President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday, after US-foes China and Russia criticized growing protectionism as the global economy slows. Bolsonaro, who has been walking a diplomatic tightrope at the BRICS summit in Brazil this week as he seeks to strengthen ties with China without upsetting key ally Donald Trump, said Brazil “trades with the entire world.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is accusing Donald Trump of seeking a regime change in Venezuela as a way to divert attention from calls for his impeachment. Maduro made the statement on the return of his trip to Russia where he met President Vladimir Putin.
Vladimir Putin rebuked his French counterpart on Monday, saying he did not want yellow vest protests spring up like in France, after Emmanuel Macron urged the Russian leader to abide by democratic principles following weeks of protests in Moscow.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov completed a round of consultations with leader Nicolás Maduro and members of his staff during this past weekend in Caracas to strengthen the unshakable partnership with Venezuela, the Tass news agency reported.
Bolivia's President Evo Morales and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Thursday signed agreements in Moscow on energy, industrial, agricultural and military issues and discussed the Venezuelan crisis negotiations that are taking place in Norway between delegates of Juan Guaidó and Nicolás Maduro.
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a lightning visit to Rome on Thursday, including talks with the pope, hailing efforts by Italy's populist government to ease sanctions despite Moscow's ongoing crisis with the West. Rome's historic centre was on security lockdown for the visit, with 50 streets blocked to traffic.
China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin hit back at US global economic dominance on Friday as they took the stage together at Russia's showcase business forum.