putin

Another Russian exodus: Many who fled to Turkey move on again

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Another Russian exodus: Many who fled to Turkey move on again

Tens of thousands of Russians who fled to Turkey after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine have been leaving due to residency issues and soaring costs. The number of Russians with Turkish resident permits fell to 96,000, down by more than a third from 154,000 at the end of 2022. Many have headed to Serbia and Montenegro. Turkish inflation hit 70% last month, and basic banking has become difficult due to sanctions. Some Russians have also left due to struggles to get residence permits since early 2023.

Russia says Ukraine makes 60-drone attack on Russia, oil refinery halted

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Russia says Ukraine makes 60-drone attack on Russia, oil refinery halted

Ukraine launched a major attack on Crimea and Russian regions with missiles and drones, causing an oil refinery in southern Russia to halt operations. Russian air defenses shot down the missiles and drones. The Ukrainian-launched drones carried bigger charges than previous attacks, including steel balls. Russia has reported a rise in Ukrainian attacks on its territory, prompting President Putin to carve out a buffer zone in northeastern Ukraine. The White House reiterated its policy of not encouraging Ukraine to use U.S. weapons against Russian territory. Russia captured a village in Kharkiv region and considers Crimea and other regions part of Russia, while Ukraine and its allies reject this stance. President Zelenskiy is determined to eject all Russian troops from Ukraine and expects Russia to escalate its offensive. Ukraine lacks sufficient air defenses to defend itself, and the West is concerned about the outcome of a potential defeat for Russia.

A hidden factor impacting gold, and it ain, ’t CPI

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A hidden factor impacting gold, and it ain, ’t CPI

Gold prices are fluctuating as traders speculate on a potential rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September. Inflation data in the US is showing signs of improvement, impacting the Fed’s monetary policy decisions. Smart money is paying attention to the shift from a dollar-denominated trade system, with countries like China and Russia increasing their gold reserves to support their currencies. The price of gold is approaching all-time highs and is expected to continue its upward trend as long as it stays above the 50-day simple moving average.

Hugs but not the full socialist-era kiss for Putin, Xi in Beijing

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Hugs but not the full socialist-era kiss for Putin, Xi in Beijing

A new era of strategic partnership between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping began in Beijing, leading to rare hugs between the two leaders. Russia, facing Western sanctions, is increasingly reliant on trade with China, which is challenging U.S. supremacy. The leaders signed a statement opposing the U.S.-led world order and pledged cooperation in various fields. Putin then visited the city of Harbin before returning to Moscow.

Former Cypriot passport-holder Deripaska calls latest US sanctions ‘balderdash’

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Former Cypriot passport-holder Deripaska calls latest US sanctions ‘balderdash’

Oleg Deripaska dismissed the latest U.S. sanctions on companies connected to a scheme as nonsense. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Russian companies disguising ownership of a .6 billion industrial stake controlled by Deripaska, leading to Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International dropping a planned purchase. Deripaska, previously sanctioned by Britain and the U.S., has challenged the sanctions, calling them groundless and absurd. He was also stripped of his Cypriot citizenship after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and added to the E.U.’s sanctions list in April 2022.

Why is Russia holding nuclear exercises – and what to watch for?

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Why is Russia holding nuclear exercises – and what to watch for?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to practice the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in response to perceived threats from France, Britain, and the United States. The drills will involve missile forces in the Southern Military District, alongside aviation and navy units, with Belarus also participating. The significance lies in linking the drills to current tensions, with mock warheads likely to be used in training exercises. The message is seen as nuclear signaling to deter NATO and the West from escalating the conflict in Ukraine. There is speculation about Russia’s potential use of tactical nuclear weapons defensively, rather than offensively on the battlefield.

Georgian parliament passes ‘foreign agent’ bill amid protests

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Georgian parliament passes ‘foreign agent’ bill amid protests

Georgia’s parliament passed a “foreign agents” bill in its final reading, which now goes to President Salome Zourabichvili for approval. The bill requires organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents. Critics have compared the bill to Russian legislation and have called for further protests. The European Union has warned that the bill could hinder Georgia’s integration with the bloc. Despite opposition, the ruling party in Georgia insists that the bill is necessary for transparency and to combat foreign influence.

Nominee for Russian defence minister underlines need to take better care of soldiers

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Nominee for Russian defence minister underlines need to take better care of soldiers

Fact: Andrei Belousov, Russia’s new defense minister, emphasized the need for better access to housing, hospitals, and welfare benefits for soldiers.

‘Nothing unusual’ about nuclear weapons drill, says Putin

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‘Nothing unusual’ about nuclear weapons drill, says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that a planned military exercise involving the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in southern Russia and Belarus is not unusual and is part of regular training. This exercise was announced in response to perceived threats from France, Britain, and the United States. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko mentioned that this is the third such training exercise between the two countries. Russia and the United States hold the majority of the world’s nuclear warheads, with Russia having around 1,558 non-strategic nuclear warheads. There is uncertainty about the exact nature of the weapons supplied to Belarus and how they are stored. The Pentagon noted that there has been no change in Russia’s strategic nuclear forces despite the rhetoric surrounding the exercises.

Putin says there is ‘nothing unusual’ about tactical nuclear weapons drill

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Putin says there is ‘nothing unusual’ about tactical nuclear weapons drill

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that a planned exercise involving the practice deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in southern Russia with Belarus is not unusual. Russia announced the nuclear exercise as a response to threats from France, Britain, and the United States. Putin mentioned that these exercises are routine and part of training. Belarus has joined Russia in similar exercises in the past, with uncertainty surrounding the nature of the nuclear weapons supplied to Belarus. The Pentagon noted that despite Moscow’s rhetoric, there has been no change in Russia’s strategic nuclear forces.