RT’s multimedia project ‘Gateway to Russia’, designed for international audiences, has launched a free online Russian language course for beginners aiming to reach the A1 (Elementary) proficiency level. Lessons are currently available in English, with plans to roll out versions in additional languages later this year.

In addition to grammar, vocabulary, and phonetics, learners will explore Russian culture and everyday life. All course modules are connected by a cohesive storyline featuring an Englishman traveling by train across Russia.

The course comprises 21 main units plus a dedicated section on the Russian alphabet and pronunciation. Each unit includes reading and listening to dialogues, grammar explanations, vocabulary building, interactive exercises, video content, and listening practice. Every module concludes with a progress test.

The RT project ‘Gateway to Russia’ enables foreign users to not only learn the Russian language, but also deepen their knowledge of Russian history and culture. Additionally, it offers information on citizenship, education, and relocation to the country.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the renewal of an agreement with CFM International (CFM) through February 2033, supporting increased competition in the market for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for engines manufactured by CFM, a 50/50 partnership between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.

“Airlines have long struggled with the aftermarket business practices of manufacturers, which have limited competition and resulted in high costs for airlines. These pressures have become even more acute as limited maintenance capacity and aerospace supply chain constraints have driven up costs and grounded aircraft. A recent IATA study estimated that these challenges added $5.7 billion¹ to engine leasing and maintenance costs for airlines in 2025. 

The renewal of this agreement is well-timed. While not a panacea, the practical and pro-competitive aftermarket practices that this agreement obligates are essential for a healthy industry in the long-term. Critically, if used to its full potential, this agreement will also provide much-needed short-term cost and capacity relief for airlines as they work to meet customer demand amid ongoing aerospace supply chain failures. CFM should be commended for taking the lead with this important reform and other manufacturers must take notice and step up,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Global value chains have entered an era of structural volatility, according to a World Economic Forum report released today, forcing companies and governments to reevaluate how and where they invest and produce. The report finds that nearly three in four business leaders now prioritize resilience investments, with 74% viewing resilience as a driver of growth.

Set against a backdrop of geopolitical fragmentation, accelerating technological change and mounting resource constraints, the new report – Global Value Chains Outlook 2026: Orchestrating Corporate and National Agility – developed in collaboration with Kearney, examines how companies and governments can remain competitive as disruption becomes a permanent feature rather than a cyclical shock.

“Volatility is no longer a temporary disruption; it is a structural condition leaders must plan for,” said Kiva Allgood, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “Competitive advantage now comes from foresight, optionality and ecosystem coordination. Companies and countries that build these capabilities together will be best positioned to attract investment, secure supply and sustain growth in an increasingly fragmented global economy.”

The president of South Sudan has dismissed his interior minister, the wife of a detained opposition leader with whom he was running a unity government following a peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war. President Salva Kiir on Monday evening removed Interior Minister Angelina Teny, a senior opposition figure and the wife of detained First Vice President Riek Machar. No reasons were given for the dismissal. Kiir replaced her with Aleu Ayieny Aleu, a veteran loyalist who previously served as interior minister from 2013 to 2015. The move further weakens the 2018 peace agreement, which allocated the Interior Ministry to the opposition under a power-sharing arrangement. Machar, a former rebel leader who joined the unity government in 2020 following the peace agreement, remains in detention with several associates, facing treason charges linked to violence in Nasir in Upper Nile state. (Africanews)