Russia’s defense minister, Sergei Shoigu appears on a video call
Russia’s defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, has appeared in a video released by his ministry for the first time since a mercenary uprising demanded his ouster. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov discussed the aftermath of the Wagner rebellion on a call with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday. The unrest in Russia over the weekend
Rebuilding Ukrainian Economy
Ukraine’s economy shrank by more than a third at the start of the war. Agriculture has been hit hard by the bursting of the Kakhovka dam; many iron and steel facilities are destroyed or in Russian-occupied territory; foreign investors are understandably cautious; many workers are fighting or have fled the country. Thus policymakers, financiers and
China monopoly over rare earth minerals
China’s dominance in the supply and processing of critical minerals could prove threatening. Cobalt, graphite, lithium, nickel, the rare earths and more are called critical for good reason, Just as oil was weaponised by its suppliers in the 1970s. They are crucial to defence, smartphones and other digital technologies. A handful are essential to wind
Iran and America war over nukes
America wants to negotiate a tacit understanding that would offer Iran a dollop of cash to freeze its nuclear work where it stands. since Donald Trump withdrew America from the 2015 nuclear pact with Iran, American presidents have sought a new bargain with their old foe, Mr Trump, then president, predicted that tough sanctions would
Belarus “saved” Putin at the last minute from wagner
A months-long feud between Prigozhin and Putin’s military leaders had erupted in an open confrontation between the two parties on June 23. Lukashenko mediated between the Kremlin and Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the magnate behind the Wagner group. Several media clarified that Putin endorsed his intervention, the Belarussian leader managed to get Prigozhin to agree to
The Russian Wagner turmoil
Countries across the world on Saturday were mulling possible responses to the drama unfolding in Russia as the mercenary Wagner Group appears to be mounting a serious challenge to the country’s military and political leadership. Wagner’s actions look set to provide another major military distraction for Russia, already seeking to ward off a counteroffensive by
Kigali accused of backing M23
In March this year, DRC claimed that Rwanda had sent reinforcements in the form of troops and equipment to the M23 in DRC. While Kigali denies this, including in response to information requests from the UN experts who authored this report, both the European Union and the US have called on Rwanda to stop aiding
The synthetic drug threats
Synthetic drugs represent a grave and growing risk to the health and safety of people around the world. E.g. Illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are involved in more deaths of American adults under 50 than any other cause. Other countries face challenges from dangerous synthetic drugs including tramadol, methamphetamine, captagon, MDMA, and ketamine. Recognizing
Crypto Security
Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. It operates independently of a central bank, providing a new way for individuals to store and exchange value. Cryptocurrencies have the potential to revolutionize the world of finance. They offer unprecedented financial autonomy and efficiency, making them increasingly attractive to investors and everyday
Yevgeny Prigozhin challenge Putin
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military company Wagner Group, has become one of the prominent figures in Russia’s war against Ukraine. His harsh and unprecedented criticism of Russia’s military command has caused him to be seen as a potential threat to President Vladimir Putin. Wagner has adopted the sledgehammer as its symbol after