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For Evan Gershkovich, the dozen appearances in Moscow's courts over the past year have fallen into a pattern. Guards take the American journalist from the notorious Lefortovo Prison in a van for the short drive to the courthouse. The periodic court hearings give Gershkovich’s family, friends and U.S. officials a glimpse of him, and for the 32-year-old journalist, it’s a break from his otherwise largely monotonous prison routine. Friends and family say Gershkovich is relying on his sense of humor to get through the days. Every day, Milman said, “I wake up and look at the clock.”“I think about if his lunchtime has passed, and his bedtime," she said.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, He’s, Gershkovich, it’s, “ It’s, ”, Ella Milman, Milman, Nicholas Daniloff, Emma Tucker, ” Milman, Evan, Francesca Ebel, Josef Stalin's, he’s, Polina Ivanova, He's, Pjotr Sauer, ” Sauer, Mikhail Gershkovich, doesn't, “, Biden, Lynne Tracy, Gershkovich “, Vladimir Putin, Vadim Krasikov, ” Ebel, Journal's Tucker, I’m, Tracy Organizations: Wall, Journal, Federal Security Service, U.S, Associated Press, Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow Times, Washington Post, Financial Times, Arsenal, British, Guardian, West Locations: Lefortovo, Yekaterinburg, Washington, Russia, Ukraine, “, New Jersey, Moscow, Russian, Germany, Berlin, Georgian

Moscow CNN —Thousands of mourners gathered in Moscow for the funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny despite a heavy police presence and the threat of detention. APAround 20 minutes before Navalny’s funeral began, the live signal of the CNN team on the ground appeared to be blocked. The live feed organized by Navalny’s team also dropped. Mourners gather around the casket of Alexey Navalny during his funeral in Moscow on March 1, 2024. as the Kremlin critic's coffin is carried to the Moscow church hosting his funeral.

Persons: Alexey Navalny, clapped, “ Putin, ” Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s, Navalny’s, Frank Sinatra’s, ”, Dmitry Peskov, ” Maria Pevchikh, Navalny, CNN’s Matthew Chance, Putin, Lyudmila Navalnaya –, –, ” Marina, “, …, ’ ”, Tatiana, ” Tatiana, Yulia Navalnaya, “ I’m Organizations: Moscow CNN —, Kremlin, of, Police, AP, CNN, Navalny’s, Reuters Locations: Moscow, Russian, Moscow’s Maryino, Borisov, Russia, Ukraine, Siberia, St . Petersburg, Siberian, Novosibirsk –, Yekaterinburg, Germany

How the Russian Government Silences Wartime DissentJust days after invading Ukraine, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia signed a censorship law that made it illegal to “discredit” the army. The indignities of the crackdown, and the long arm of the Russia law, is being lost in the numbers. Nanna Heitmann for The New York TimesIn dry legalese, the court documents recount the Russian state’s case against these statements and protests. People’s “negative assessment” of the Russian military could adversely affect its performance, the court said, presenting a national security risk. And I very much don’t want this.”Sergei Platonov at district court in Moscow listening to his guilty verdict in November.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, ”, — schoolteachers, —, That’s, Ukraine —, pollsters, Andrei Kolesnikov, Demyan, Aleksandr T, Olga V, ” Maksim L, Omsk Diana I, Denis V, Russia ”, “, Maksim P, Anna S, Maria V, people’s “, Russia’s, Zaynulla Gadzhiyev, Mr, Bespokoyev, Marina Tsurmast, scrawled, Nanna Heitmann, Tsurmast, Gadzhiyev, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Aleksandra Y, Skochilenko, Selimat, Vladimir A, Rustam I, ” Yelena L, Aleksandr K, Olga P, Dmitri D, Sergei V, Eve, Daria Ivanova, Ms, Ivanova, “ you’ll, Anton Redikultsev, Redikultsev, Jan, Marina, Sergei P, ” Yuldash, ” Dmitri S, Peskov, Putin’s, Sergei Platonov, Platonov, Russian Gestapo ”, Polina, Kolesnikov, Anna Sliva, Sliva Organizations: New York Times, Times, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, OVD, Penza Yuriy V, Russia, ”, Ukraine ” “, YouTube, Bucha, Ukraine, Police, The New York Times, Armed Forces, Russian Federation, VK, Russian Gestapo, The New York Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, “, Omsk, Peace, Ukraine ” “ Ukraine, Bucha, Moscow, St, Petersburg, Iglino, ”, Novosibirsk, Siberia, Crimea, Ukrainian, Kalga, Russia’s, OVD, Coast, Primorye, Soviet

☆ Angola's new diamond mine opens against backdrop of weak demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Miguel Gomes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An employee looks at a rough diamond at "Flanders Manufacturing", as the G7 weighs a ban on Russian diamond imports to reduce revenues for Moscow's war in Ukraine, Antwerp, Belgium, October 30, 2023. Angola's state-controlled diamond miner Catoca found the Luele diamond deposit at the project, previously known as Luaxe, in 2013 in one of the largest discoveries in the diamond industry in more than half a century. De Beers, the world's largest rough diamond producer by volume, estimates 2022 global rough diamond production at 121 million carats. Demand for rough diamonds has been weak in recent months with India - cutter and polisher of 90% of the world's rough diamond - asking the global miners to stop selling it the gemstones to manage accumulated stocks. Catoca, in which Russia's sanctions-hit Alrosa (ALRS.MM) owns 41%, currently holds a 50.5% stake in the Luele project.

Persons: Johanna Geron, Catoca, Paul Zimnisky, De Beers, Luele, Richard Chetwode, Zimnisky, Miguel Gomes, Polina Devitt, Felix Njini, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Antwerp, Belgium, Rights LUANDA, Angola, U.S, China, India

☆ Ukraine likely took out over 70 Russians in a precision strike 14 miles behind the front line, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine likely killed over 70 Russian soldiers in a strike earlier this month, UK intel said. The attack struck a convoy of trucks 14 miles away from the front lines, the UK MOD said. AdvertisementUkrainian forces likely took out more than 70 Russian soldiers in a precision strike about 14 miles behind the front lines, the UK Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update on Friday. It's just the latest report of "mass casualties" inflicted on Russian troops by Ukrainian long-range precision strikes since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. An estimated 120,000 Russian troops and 70,000 Ukrainian troops have died since February 2022, US officials told The New York Times in August.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Polina Menshikh Organizations: intel, MOD, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, New York Times, Brigade, State Bureau of Investigation, Business, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Hladkivka, Kherson, Kumachove, Donetsk, It's, Ukrainian, Ukraine's, Russian, Zaporizhzhia oblast

☆ Ukrainian strike kills Russian actress performing in Ukraine, theatre says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A Russian actress has been killed in a Ukrainian attack while performing to Russian troops in a Russian-controlled area of eastern Ukraine, according to her theatre. The Russian theatre where actress Polina Menshikh, 40, worked said she had been killed while performing on stage in the Donbas region. Reuters could not verify details of the incident but military officials on both sides confirmed there had been a Ukrainian attack in the area on Nov. 19. Ukrainian commanders said their forces had struck what they said was a Russian military award ceremony, targeting Russia's 810th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade. Robert Brovdi, a Ukrainian military commander, said in a post on social media that 25 people had been killed in the strike and more than 100 wounded.

Persons: Polina Menshikh, Robert Brovdi, Ukraine's Brovdi, Vladimir Putin, Guy Faulconbridge, Timothy Organizations: Reuters, HIMARS, Separate Naval Infantry Brigade, Assault Brigade, Telegram, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russian, Ukraine, Donbas, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Ukraine's

☆ Ukrainian forces blew up a dance hall where an actress was performing for Russian troops: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Even staying away from the frontlines isn't safe for Russian and Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian forces shelled a dance hall where an actress was performing for Russian troops. Earlier this month, Russia attacked a military ceremony in Ukraine, killing soldiers. AdvertisementUkrainian forces blew up a dance hall in occupied eastern Ukraine, killing a Russian actress who had been performing for her country's troops, according to multiple reports. The attack killed about 20 Russian soldiers, the BBC reported, citing Ukrainian sources.

Persons: —, Polina Menshikh, Menshikh, It's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, BBC, Russian Telegram, Astra Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Kumachove

☆ LME appoints new technology manager to strengthen expertise for flagship project
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Traders work on the floor of the London Metal Exchange, in London, Britain September 27, 2018. The LME is the world's largest and oldest forum for metals. Its three-year-long flagship project to overhaul its electronic trading system faces up to a year of further delays and mounting costs, four people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters in October. From Jan. 15, Baldwin will join the LME, succeeding Mario Quonils who has decided to relocate back to Germany, the LME, owned by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (0388.HK), said in a statement. "Alistair's knowledge and expertise in running in-house technology platforms will prove invaluable in this regard," he added.

Persons: Simon Dawson, Alistair Baldwin, Baldwin, Mario Quonils, Alistair, Richard Leung, Polina Devitt, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: London Metal Exchange, REUTERS, Companies Hong Kong Exchanges, NatWest Markets, Reuters, Hong Kong Exchanges, HK, HKEX Group, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Germany

REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Global gold demand excluding over-the-counter (OTC) trading slipped 6% in the third quarter as central bank buying fell short of last year's record levels and consumption by jewellers declined, the World Gold Council (WGC) said on Tuesday. Gold demand shot to an 11-year high in 2022 due to the biggest central bank purchases on record. "With geopolitical tensions on the rise and an expectation for continued robust central bank buying, gold demand may surprise to the upside," said Louise Street, senior markets analyst at the WGC. Central bank demand totalled 337.1 tons, down from a record 458.8 tons a year before. QUARTERLY GOLD SUPPLY AND DEMAND (tonnes)** Source: World Gold Council, Gold Demand Trends Q3 2023Reporting by Polina Devitt; Editing by Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Louise Street, Polina Devitt, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Gold Council, Gold, Thomson Locations: Mendrisio, Switzerland, Central, Europe

Graphite is used in virtually all EV battery anodes, which is the negatively charged portion of a battery. Their announcement boosted China's exports in July as overseas buyers rushed to lock in supply, while the launch of the restrictions slashed exports in August-September. It also makes more than 90% of the final processed material for EV battery anodes. "We have been waiting for (China's) graphite exports to slow," said John Meyer at SP Angel. "Having overproduced synthetic graphite we reckon China is also keen to keep this material within China to meet rapid growth in EV battery demand."

Persons: Phil Noble, Tom Burkett, James Willoughby, Wood Mackenzie, Daisy Jennings, Gray, Willoughby, John Meyer, Polina Devitt, Amy Lv, Eric Onstad, Veronica Brown, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, EV, Global Graphite Advisory, Companies, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, SP, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain, BEIJING, China, Canada, Africa, Australia, Brazil, U.S, Wood, Japan, United States, South Korea, India

☆ WTA roundup: Zheng Qinwen advances at Zhengzhou Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

She will face Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina, who posted a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Russian qualifier Vera Zvonareva. Hana Bank Korea OpenBelgium's Yanina Wickmayer seized a 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory over third-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia to move on to the quarterfinals in Seoul. Wickmayer will meet Russian Polina Kudermetova, who breezed to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Kathinka von Deichmann of Liechenstein. Fifth-seeded Anna Blinkova of Russia coasted to a 6-1, 6-3 win over Australian Priscilla Hon to advance to the third round. Third-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium had little difficulty in her 6-1, 6-4 victory over Australian qualifier Daria Saville.

Persons: China's, Zheng, China's Zhu Lin REUTERS, Kim Kyung, Zheng Qinwen, Maria Sakkari, Sakkari, Kalinina, Vera Zvonareva, Italy's Jasmine Paolini, Caroline Garcia of, Ukraine's, Tsurenko, Donna Vekic, Wickmayer, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Kudermetova, Kathinka von Deichmann, Claire Liu, Arantxa Rus, China's Yuan Yue, Slovenia's Kaja Juvan, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Anna Blinkova, Russia coasted, Priscilla Hon, Elise Mertens, Daria Saville Organizations: Tennis Centre, Russian, Caroline Garcia of France, Hana Bank, Hong, Belarus, Thomson Locations: Hangzhou, China, Greece, Zhengzhou, Croatia, Hana Bank Korea, Russia, Seoul, Wickmayer, Arantxa, Netherland, Hong Kong, Brazil, Belgium

☆ Russian and Iranian emigres find haven in old Armenian factory
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Roman Churikov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Launched in 2022, the project is called Abastan - "shelter" in Armenian - and is open to participants and guests from around the world. Polina Ivanova, a co-founder of Abastan, said locals in the northern Armenian town of Tumanyan were at first bemused by the strangers in their midst. Arghavan Majd, a painter from Iran, said she found the atmosphere "more free" in Abastan and it was easier to make personal connections. Timofey Moskovkin, a Russian now working in a cafe funded by the charity, said local people in Tumanyan, a town of about 1,000 people, had treated him warmly. "We looked and saw the lights were on, it was beautiful, there was music and young people dancing," he said.

Persons: Polina Ivanova, Abastan, Majd, Mahsa Amini, Vladimir Putin, haven't, Danil, Timofey, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones 私 Organizations: Armenia Locals, Reuters, Georgian Locations: Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Tumanyan, Armenia, Soviet, revitalise, Abastan, Russian, Perm, Ararat, Soviet Union

☆ 'They're just meat': Russia deploys punishment battalions in echo of Stalin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

"Storm fighters, they're just meat," said one regular soldier from army unit no. He said he didn't know why the commander gave the order, but claimed that it typified how Storm-Z fighters were considered of lesser value than ordinary troops by officers. Three of the five Storm-Z fighters interviewed by Reuters, and the relatives of three other Storm-Z fighters, described nightmarish engagements that saw much of their squads wiped out. At a televised meeting with a small group of regular Russian servicemen, he said he was aware that two of their comrades, former prison inmates, had been killed in action. Three Storm-Z fighters said they were offered wages of about 200,000 roubles ($2,000) per month, though said they had been paid roughly half that amount, on average.

Persons: Polina Nikolskaya, Maria Tsvetkova, who've, Wagner, Reuters wasn't, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Josef Stalin, Artyom, Shchikin, Vladimir Rogov, Rogov, Shchikin's, Z, Igor, they'd, we've, Christian Lowe, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, REUTERS Acquire, Maria Tsvetkova LONDON, Convicts, Storm, Reuters, Kremlin, 237th, Intelligence Team, Institute for, Red Army, 291st Guards, Rifle Regiment, 291st, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Bakhmut, Russia, Russian, Ukrainian, U.S, Soviet, Mordovia, Zaporizhzhia, Geneva, France, Siberia

☆ $1 bln metals SPAC deal backed by Glencore, automakers collapses
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of commodities trader Glencore is pictured in front of the company's headquarters in Baar, Switzerland, July 18, 2017. In June, global miner Glencore (GLEN.L), Chrysler parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI) and Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) battery unit PowerCo agreed to back the deal through an equity investment. Weak economic data from the world's largest metals consumer China, which it has reported since August, affected the investors' appetite for the deal, a source, directly familiar with the situation, told Reuters. "The deal fell apart over price," said another source familiar with the situation, adding the price was higher than the buyers considered realistic after the nickel price declined. Reporting by Polina Devitt and Clara Denina; editing by Timothy Gardner and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Arnd, ACG, Glencore, Appian, Sibanye, Polina Devitt, Clara Denina, Timothy Gardner, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Appian Capital, Chrysler, Reuters, South Africa's, Thomson Locations: Baar, Switzerland, London, Appian, China, Stillwater

The plan could transform the global diamond supply chain, but implementation will depend heavily on India, whose diamond industry employs millions of people who cut and polish 90% of the world's diamonds. If it goes ahead as anticipated, it would split the global consumer diamond market. The EU bought 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) worth of Russian diamonds last year, based on data from Eurostat, as the EU has not banned Russian gem imports nor blacklisted Alrosa. As of 2021, global rough diamond sales totalled $16.4 billion, while demand for polished diamonds was $28 billion, the De Beers report showed. "I think the G7 officials involved with this are taking it quite seriously and I believe they will strictly enforce it.

Persons: Belgium's, Alrosa, De Beers, Paul Zimnisky, Zimnisky, Julia Payne, Polina Devitt, Clara Denina, Shivangi Acharya, Rajendra Jadhav, Toby Chopra, David Holmes, Veronica Brown, Jane Merriman Organizations: EU, Eurostat, De Beers, De, Industry, Belgian, Jewellery Export, Thomson Locations: India, Antwerp, BRUSSELS, LONDON, Ukraine, Belgium, Brussels, Russia, United States, INDIA, AFRICA, Africa

☆ London gold body aims to create secure global database
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Melted gold flows out of a smelter into a mould of a bar at a plant of gold and silver refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio, Switzerland, July 13, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies The London Bullion Market Association FollowLONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) on Thursday called for proposals from service firms to create a secure global database that would improve trust in the gold market's value chain. Gold refineries must source gold responsibly under the industry body's accreditation requirements, allowing them access to London's bullion market, the world's largest. The group's database of Russian gold bars held by banks in London helps to prevent sanctions evasion by Russian companies. Reporting by Polina Devitt; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Ruth Crowell, Polina Devitt, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, Bullion Market, Bullion Market Association, Thomson Locations: Mendrisio, Switzerland, London

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Thursday imposed sanctions on five Turkish companies and a Turkish national, accusing them of helping Russia evade sanctions and supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine. The move is part of a bigger package of measures hitting Russia with sanctions on more than 150 targets, including the country's largest carmaker. The U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on Denkar Ship Construction for providing ship repair services to previously designated vessels of a company connected to the Russian Defense Ministry. The U.S. also imposed sanctions on a major local copper producer - Russian Copper Company. The Treasury slapped sanctions on Finland-based logistics firms Siberica Oy and Luminor Oy, accusing them of sending a wide variety of electronics into Russia.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Jonathan Ernst, reconvenes, Wally Adeyemo, we've, Sanayi, Denkar, Ilker Dogruyol, Dogruyol, Tayyip Erdogan, Humeyra Pamuk, Daphne Psaledakis, Polina Devitt, Gleb Stolyarov, Don Durfee, Alexandra Hudson, William Maclean, Paul Simao Organizations: Cancer, White, REUTERS, Rights, Turkish, Ukraine, Reuters, NATO, Treasury, . Treasury Department, U.S . State Department, Denkar, Russian Defense Ministry, State Department, ID Ship Agency, GAZ Group, Russian Copper Company, Siberica, Luminor, U.S, Kurdistan Workers Party, European Union, United, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Russia, Moscow, Turkey, Washington, Ankara, Sweden, United States, Ukraine, Sea, Turkish, U.S, Finland, Kyiv, Hungary, London

The move in August by Russian companies to instead offer fertilisers at market prices could increase India's import costs and subsidy burden amid a rally in global prices, as a top exporter, China, tries to curtail overseas sales. "Russian companies are offering fertilisers at the market prices," the official said, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. Reuters Graphics"Russian companies were offering DAP at discounts of as high as $80 (per ton). DAP prices were around $440 per ton in July, he added. "The global fertiliser prices are rising just before crucial state elections in India.

Persons: Amit Dave, Rajendra Jadhav, Polina Devitt, Tony Munroe, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, United, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: Ahmedabad, India, Rights MUMBAI, LONDON, China, New Delhi, Russia, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Russian, Mumbai

☆ Meet the Prigozhins: What to know about the Wagner boss and the relatives who help run his business empire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Though little is publicly known about Yevgeny Prigozhin's family, many of them help run his vast business empire. At the time of writing, Prigozhin's family has not publicly responded to the condolences. Prigozhin's family members — many of whom were subject to Western sanctions from 2022 onward — have had varying levels of involvement in Prigozhin's business empire, the Financial Times reported in April. His son, Pavel Prigozhin, used to fight alongside the Wagner GroupPavel Prigozhin, son of Yevgeny Prigozhin. Polina was also named by the US Treasury Department as playing a role in Prigozhin's business empire.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin's, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Prigozhin's, Prigozhin's Wagner, Violetta Prigozhina, Molfar, Violetta, Prigozhina, Lyubov Prigozhina, Lyubov, Pavel Prigozhin, Pavel, Polina, Polina Prigozhina, Veronika, Russia —, Yevgeny, —, Veronika Prigozhina, EU Veronika Prigozhina Organizations: Service, Financial Times, Agat, Concord Management, Consulting, Swiss, US Treasury Department, Wagner, Wagner Group, Treasury Department, International Federation for Equestrian Sports, US, FT Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russia's Tver, Moscow, Russian, St . Petersburg, Syria, Lakhta, Ukrainian, Russia, EU, Petersburg

[1/2] The logo of Russian technology giant Yandex is on display at the company's headquarters in Moscow, Russia December 9, 2022. Maksut Shadaev, the head of Russia's ministry of digital affairs, told parliament in December that around 100,000 IT specialists had left Russia in 2022. It is not yet clear whether Volozh's comments may have any bearing on how Russia decides to proceed with the company. One of the sources said "hawks" in state companies believed nothing at all should be paid to foreigners. Two sources said VTB had never been a serious option as a buyer, given sanctions on the state lender.

Persons: Yandex, Maksut Shadaev, Ramzan Kadyrov, Arkady Volozh, Andrei Kostin, VTB, Alexei Kudrin, Alexander Marrow, Polina Devitt, Mike Collett, White, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, nationalising Nasdaq, Reuters, Yandex NV, Yandex, U.S, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, nationalising, Ukraine, Serbia, Yandex

"It is not going to be easy for them (Russia)," said one industry executive with knowledge of grains exports. Last year, Russia exported a record volume of wheat on ships chartered from international companies and traders. "Most of what is coming out is dealt with by Russian traders using (shadow) fleet ships, which international traders would not touch". The Black Sea remains a critical area for Russian exports, with other locations more complicated and costly. Russia's Black Sea terminals handle about 70% of the country's grain exports.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Eduard Zernin, Zernin, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus, Viterra, Dreyfus, Bunge, Denmark's, Mike Salthouse, Rosagroleasing, Victoria Mitchell, Jonathan Saul, Nigel Hunt, Polina Devitt, Gus Trompiz, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: General's, REUTERS, Russia's, Grain, Reuters, International Grains Council, Russian, Control, Thomson Locations: Russian, Odesa, Ukraine, Russia Russia, Moscow, Africa, Novorossiysk, Russia's Union, Russia, Turkey, China, Denmark's NORDEN, Bulgaria, Romania, United States, Europe, Taman, Russia's, ., London, Paris

☆ Lower production in Europe hits global steel output
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 25 (Reuters) - Global crude steel production fell 1.1% year on year to 943.9 million metric tons in the first half of 2023 due to lower output in Europe and the Americas, World Steel Association data showed on Tuesday. China's 2023 steel production is likely to continue hovering around the 1-billion ton mark for the fourth year in a row, analysts at Citi said in a note on Tuesday. Outside China, Citi expects steel output to rise in the second half of the year and drive full-year ex-China production to 847 million metric tons, up 3.6% from 2022. The World Steel Association also said that it estimated first-half production in sanctions-hit Russia, the world's fifth largest producing country, rose 1% to 37.5 million metric tons. Russia stopped disclosing its steel output as well as the bulk of export and import data after it invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Persons: Polina Devitt, Mark Potter Organizations: World Steel Association, Citi, Thomson Locations: Europe, Americas, China, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Russia accuses Ukraine of 'terrorism' after drone strike near Moscow army HQ
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Andrew Osborn | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The drone attack, though not serious in terms of its human cost or damage, was the most high-profile of its kind since two drones reached the Kremlin in May. [1/5]A member of the security services investigates the damaged building following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, July 24. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the RTVI TV channel Ukraine was guilty of what she called "an act of international terrorism." Citing emergency services, Russian state news agencies reported that drone fragments had been found near a building on Komsomolsky Avenue, which runs through Moscow. After May's drone attack on the Kremlin, U.S. drone experts concluded they might have been launched from inside Russia.

Persons: Nobody, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Maxim Shemetov, Mykhailo Fedorov, Fedorov, Maria Zakharova, Sergei Sobyanin, Andrew Osborn, Lidia Kelly, Simon Cameron, Moore, David Holmes, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Defence Ministry, Defence, Russian, Reuters, Kremlin, Russian Defence Ministry, Odesa, REUTERS, ACT, Foreign Ministry, Moscow, Thomson Locations: Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, MOSCOW, Crimea, Russian, Ukrainian, U.S, Melbourne

While there are no international sanctions on Russian metal, many consumers are shunning aluminium produced by Rusal (RUAL.MM), which accounts for 6% of global supplies. U.S. import tariffs on Russian aluminium and products are also prompting some consumers to "self-sanction". Some analysts estimate the discount for Russian aluminium at $100-$300 per metric ton, Norsk Hydro said. As LME aluminium prices are referenced in contracts between consumers, producers and traders, the dominance of Russian aluminium in the system is a problem, said Norsk Hydro's Chief Financial Officer Paal Kildemo. "There is still a risk that even more Russian aluminium will be delivered to LME further weighing on the reference price...

Persons: Paal Kildemo, Kildemo, Rusal, Pratima Desai, Polina Devitt, Eric Onstad, Veronica Brown, Jason Neely Organizations: London Metal Exchange, Norsk Hydro, Reuters, Britain's Financial, Authority, Norsk, Shanghai Futures Exchange, CME, Hydro, FCA, Thomson Locations: Norwegian

☆ Exclusive: Wagner fighters neared Russian nuclear base during revolt
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +20 min

Reuters GraphicsOnce the Wagner fighters reach more rural regions, the surveillance trail goes cold – about 100 km from the nuclear base, Voronezh-45. But in an exclusive interview, Ukraine's head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said that the Wagner fighters went far further. The only barrier between the Wagner fighters and nuclear weapons, Budanov said, were the doors to the nuclear storage facility. It is one of Russia's 12 "national-level storage facilities" for nuclear weapons, according to a report by U.N. scientists. Another female resident also said Wagner had widespread support in the town, and that many Wagner fighters are from Boguchar.

Persons: Wagner, Ukraine's, Kyrylo Budanov, Budanov, Alexander Lukashenko, Adam Hodge, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Matt Korda, Vladimir Putin's, Hans Kristensen, David Jonas, Amy Woolf, Jonas, Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Staff Valery Gerasimov, Shoigu, Oleksiy Danilov, Don, Anna Sandrakova, Maxim Yantsov, Mikhail Vedernikov, Talovaya, Alexei Yablokov, Kristensen, Alexsandr Lukashenko, Dmitry Peskov, Lukashenko, he's, Mari Saito, Tom Balmforth, John Shiffman, Phil Stewart, Polina, Maria Tsvetkova, Anton Zverev, Christian Lowe, David Gauthier, Stephen Grey, Reade Levinson, Eleanor Whalley, Milan Pavicic, Daria Shamonova, Janet McBride Organizations: Reuters, Kremlin, Belarusian, U.S, White, National Security, Nuclear, Federation of American, Federation of American Scientists, U.S . National Nuclear Security Administration, Library, Congress, Wagner, State, Staff, Russian, Defence Ministry, Defence Council, Main, Russian Defence, U.S . Congress, Telegram, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russian, Voronezh, United States, Ukraine, Russia, Rostov, Talovaya, Soviet, Washington, dabble, Syria, Libya, Mali, ., Pavlovsk, Elizavetovka, Vorontsovka, Buturlinovka, Talovaya district, Pskov, Soviet Union, Belarus, Minsk, he's, St Petersburg, Kyiv, London, New York, Paris, Villars, Istanbul, Gdansk

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