S&P on Monday downgraded Russia’s credit grade to junk status. Rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded Russia’s credit rating to the speculative BB+ grade from BBB-. Analysts say that the decision of the rating agency was politically motivated. The speculative level means that securities that a BB+ state issues can only be good for short-term transactions to earn on their... 

An American economist says the political tensions between Washington and Moscow will speed up the demise of the US dollar in international transactions. “The political tensions between the United States and Russia has increased or speeded up the process of which nations are doing business between countries instead of dollars and doing it with their local currencies,” Mark Thornton, Senior Fellow... 

Vladislav Baumgertner handcuffed and led into a holding cell, as shown by Belorusian state TV chanel ‘Novosti’. Taken from a video by ONT TV channel. The CEO of Russia’s Uralkali, the world’s largest potash producer, has been detained and charged in Belarus for at least two months, and could face up to 10 years in prison for cutting out its Belarusian fertilizer partner. Belarusian...