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☆ Putin just made one of his most explicit threats of nuclear war yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Russia's Vladimir Putin menaced the West with the prospect of nuclear war. The Russian president said that the West was risking "the destruction of civilization." AdvertisementRussia's President Vladimir Putin menaced the West with the prospect of a nuclear attack over its support for Ukraine. Putin made the remarks on Thursday in the opening minutes of his annual state-of-the-nation speech to Russian lawmakers and top officials. They outline conditions for how much of Russia's military defense system needs to be destroyed to trigger nuclear warfare, per the FT.

Persons: Russia's Vladimir Putin, —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: Service, Ukraine, NATO, Business Locations: NATO, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Putin likely chose Tucker Carlson because of his ignorance of Russia, and it showed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Putin likely chose Carlson because of his ignorance of Russia and its history. Putin steamrolled Carlson with two hours of dubious history that he used to justify war on Ukraine. AdvertisementTucker Carlson claimed to be venturing into territory no other Western journalist had dared in interviewing Russian president Vladimir Putin. But when the interview was released on Thursday, another likely reason Putin chose the former Fox News host for the two-hour interview became clear. In response to earlier allegations that he's a pawn of Putin , Carlson told Axios in 2022: "I could care less."

Persons: Tucker Carlson, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Putin, Carlson, Putin steamrolled Carlson, —, Vladimir Putin, MAGA, Big Vlad, showboat, Ian Garner, Rurik of, he's, Axios, I've, I'm Organizations: Fox News, Service, UN Human Rights, Ukraine, CIA, NATO Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Rurik of Novgorod, United States

[1/4] Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 16, 2023. Ten years on, the most senior EU leader expected to attend the third Belt and Road (BRI) Summit this week is Hungary's populist Viktor Orban, who will join guests including Russia's Vladimir Putin and a minister of the Afghan Taliban. Such Western doubts have coincided with Xi's assertive leadership and a deterioration in ties over trade, human rights, COVID-19 and Taiwan. Other analysts say economic slowdown both in China and globally, and rising commodity prices, have also cast a pall over the initiative. "It's not perfect, but it’s a process, and people are gradually realising it's so important: we need to build infrastructure.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Ken Ishii, Putin, Orban, Britain's, Viktor Orban, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Xi, Jinping, Matthew Erie, they've, Raffaello Pantucci, Ruby Osman, Tony Blair, Osman, Wang Huiyao, Wang, Joyce Zhou, Vineet Sachdev, Antoni Slodkowski, Don Durfee, Robert Birsel Organizations: Beijing Capital International Airport, Forum, REUTERS Acquire, Initiative, University of Oxford, Reuters, Washington, American Enterprise Institute, S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Tony, Tony Blair Institute for Global, Global Development Initiative, Monetary Fund, Sri, Center for, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Italy, Xi's, BEIJING, Western Europe, EU, Taiwan, United States, Ukraine, Erie, CHINA, America, Africa, Russia, Kazakhstan, Congo, Singapore, China's, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Center for China

[1/4] Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 16, 2023. Ten years on, the most senior EU leader expected to attend the third Belt and Road (BRI) Summit this week is Hungary's populist Viktor Orban, who will join guests including Russia's Vladimir Putin and a minister of the Afghan Taliban. Other analysts say economic slowdown both in China and globally, and rising commodity prices, have also cast a pall over the initiative. Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization think tank, said the BRI had "greatly pushed forward global awareness about the infrastructure deficit". "It's not perfect, but it’s a process, and people are gradually realising it's so important: we need to build infrastructure.

☆ 'Loyalty alone is not enough': Kremlin reveals the qualities Russia's Vladimir Putin values the most
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via a video link in Saint Petersburg on October 10, 2022. "But for Vladimir Putin, loyalty alone is not enough. Russia's president Vladimir Putin (R) and his spokesman Dmitry Peskov (L) attend the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting at the Congress Hall in Bishkek on December 9, 2022. Contributor | Getty ImagesDuring Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, as it calls its invasion, questions have been raised about the strategy and competency of Russia's military leadership. FILE - Businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, left, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin, around his factory which produces school meals, outside St. Petersburg, Russia on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Gavriil Grigorov, Putin, Andrei Kondrashov, it's, Dmitry Peskov, Vyacheslav Oseledko, —, Sergey Lavrov, Sergei Shoigu, Sergei Lavrov, Nikolay Patrushev, Mikhail Mishustin, Sergei Sobyanin, There's, Vladimir Solovyov, Nikolai Patrushev, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Sergei Medvedev, Dmitry, Yevgeny Prigozhin's, Alexander Ermochenko, Sergey Shoigu, Shoigu, Prigozhin, Wagner, Kirill Shamiev, Prigozhin Prigozhin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Alexei Druzhinin Organizations: Afp, Getty, CNBC, Economic, Kremlin, Security, Moscow, SVR, Russian Security Council, Ukraine, West ., Kyiv, Russian, Luhansk People's, Reuters, Wagner Group, European Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Saint Petersburg, Bishkek, Russian, Yerevan, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Luhansk, Luhansk People's Republic, Crimea, Moscow, Belarus, Prigozhin, St . Petersburg

☆ Kim Jong Un's latest alliance with Putin could make him a formidable force
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin are meeting in Vladivostok. But this time, it's Kim who has the upper hand, and many fear his new alliance with Putin will make him a formidable force. "If Russia pays in oil and food, it can revive the North Korea economy, which in turn could then also strengthen North Korea's weapons system. AdvertisementAdvertisementBut Putin, at this stage, likely sees challenging US influence in Asia, by bolstering North Korea, as a bigger priority. In the tumult that's resulted from the Ukraine war, Kim, a canny and ruthless player, could yet emerge as one of the big winners.

Persons: Kim Jong, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Putin, Kim, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, it's Kim, Victor Cha, Ellen Kim, Sergei Shoigu, JUNG YEON, Yang, Sergey Radchenk, Henry, Kissinger Organizations: Service, North, New York Times, Analysts, CSIS, Russian, Korean, Getty, Asian Institute for Policy Studies, BBC, UN Security Council, Guardian, China, US Locations: Vladivostok, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, North Korean, North Korea, Russia, Washington, Seoul, North, Asia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is traveling by train to meet with Russia's Vladimir Putin. Kim rarely travels abroad, but this train appears to be his favored mode of transport when he does. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. Not much is known about the Kim family train, a 21-carriage, khaki green train with a distinctive yellow line running across it. Photos from North Korean state media also provide a rare look inside the unusual vehicle.

Persons: Kim Jong, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Korean Locations: Wall, Silicon, South, Russia, Vietnam, North Korea, Wonsan, Korean

[1/5] U.S. President Joe Biden visits the Raj Ghat memorial with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and other G20 leaders, Sept. 10, 2023, in New Delhi. "Everything was reflected in a balanced form," Svetlana Lukash, the Russian G20 sherpa, or government negotiator, was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Interfax. "All members of the G20 have agreed to act as one in the interests of peace, security and conflict resolution around the world." The summit also admitted the African Union which includes 55 member states, as a permanent member of the G20. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine has left tens of thousands dead, displaced millions and sown economic turmoil across the world.

Persons: Joe Biden, India Narendra Modi, Kenny Holston, Jake Sullivan, White, Biden, Russia's Lavrov, Li, Svetlana Lukash, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Fumio Kishida, Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, Sergei Lavrov, Li Qiang, Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Krishn Kaushik, Sanjeev Miglani, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, White, Russian G20, House, British, Russian, European Union, Thomson Locations: India, New Delhi, Vietnam, DELHI, Russia, U.S, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Germany, Britain, Brazil, South Africa

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Leaders' Declaration had been adopted on the first day of the weekend G20 summit in New Delhi. "On the back of the hard work of all the teams, we have received consensus on the G20 Leaders Summit Declaration. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the declaration had "very strong language about Russia's illegal war in Ukraine". The declaration also called for the implementation of the Black Sea initiative for the safe flow of grain, food and fertiliser from Ukraine and Russia. Despite the compromise over the Leaders' Declaration, the summit had been expected to be dominated by the West and its allies.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Evan Vucci, Germany's Scholz, Modi, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Sergei Lavrov, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's, Biden, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Scholz, Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman, Japan's Fumio, Jon, Manoj Kumar, Katya Golubkova, Krishn Kaushik, Mayank Bhardwaj, Michel Rose, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Sanjeev Miglani, Jacqueline Wong, Kim Coghill, Alexander Smith Organizations: Indian, REUTERS Acquire, British, Foreign, INDIA, India's sherpa, Bharat, African Union, West, United Arab, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Ukraine, Russia, DELHI, Ukrainian, Moscow, CHINA, China, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Saudi, U.S, Delhi, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, United Arab Emirates

[1/3] A general view of the venue for the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. According to a draft of the summit declaration reviewed by Reuters, negotiators were unable to resolve disagreements over the wording on the war in Ukraine, leaving it to the leaders to reach a compromise if possible. According to another senior source in one of the G20 countries, the paragraph on the war on Ukraine had been agreed by Western countries and sent to Russia for its views. The official said Russia had the option to accept Western countries' views and give its dissent as part of the statement. The two-day summit is expected to be dominated by the West and its allies.

Persons: Amit Dave, Joe Biden, Biden, Sergei Lavrov, Creon Butler, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Rishi Sunak, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman, Japan's Fumio, Narendra Modi's, Manoj Kumar, Katya Golubkova, Krishn Kaushik, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Sanjeev Miglani, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Bharat, Reuters, White, Foreign, West, British, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, India's, Ukraine, Delhi, Russia, Western, EU, Saudi, China, Moscow

☆ G20 leaders can stop climate breakdown, but rules must change, U.N. chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Katya Golubkova | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, Sept 8 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said G20 leaders have the power to reset a climate crisis that is "spinning out of control" and urged them to reshape global financial rules which he described as outdated and unfair. "The climate crisis is spiralling out of control. But G20 countries are in control," he said. "Together, G20 countries are responsible for 80 per cent of global emissions. The U.N. chief also called on G20 leaders to ensure a stimulus of at least $500 billion per year towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Katya Golubkova, Ira Dugal, Chris Thomas, Philippa Fletcher, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Climate Solidarity, West, United Nations, United Nations Security Council, Thomson Locations: DELHI, New Delhi, Paris, Ukraine, Russia, United

☆ G20 members struggle for consensus on Ukraine as India gears up for summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] A model of G20 is pictured outside ITC Maurya hotel ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 8, 2023. Chinese President Xi Jinping is skipping the meeting and sending Premier Li Qiang instead, while Russia's Vladimir Putin will also be absent. The most important thing that can be done to support global economic growth is for Russia to end its brutal war in Ukraine, she said. The IMF has forecast lower growth for most G20 nations this year than in 2022. It is difficult to predict whether leaders will reach a consensus on a declaration but EU will support efforts made by India for a final communique, Michel told reporters in New Delhi.

Persons: Amit Dave, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman, Japan's Fumio, Rishi Sunak, Narendra Modi, Janet Yellen, saidWashington, Yellen, Charles Michel, Michel, Nikunj Ohri, Manoj Kumar, Krishn Kaushik, Aftab Ahmed, YP Rajesh, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, West, U.S, Financial Times, Treasury, IMF, Reuters, YP, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Ukraine, Saudi, Russia, U.S, Moscow

☆ Xi, Putin missing G20 summit not unusual, India's foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, delivers his speech in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post Ministerial Conference with India during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Jakarta, on July 13, 2023, where Myanmar's seat was left empty. BAY ISMOYO/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin skipping this week's G20 summit in New Delhi is not unusual and has nothing to do with India, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told the ANI news agency. Sherpas of the G20 countries are negotiating to build a consensus and arrive at a declaration at the Sept. 9-10 summit in New Delhi, Jaishankar said in the interview, which was aired on Wednesday. Asked if their absence would affect building a consensus and producing a declaration at the end of the summit, Jaishankar said: "We are negotiating right now...the clock did not start ticking yesterday." Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said he hopes to discuss digital issues and food security.

Persons: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Jaishankar, Putin, Xi, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, YP Rajesh, Jacqueline Wong, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: India's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, India, ASEAN Foreign Ministers, Indian, Reuters, World Bank, YP, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, DELHI, New Delhi, India, Ukraine

☆ Putin is desperate for North Korea's stockpile of weapons, but they're outdated and unreliable, say experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia's Vladimir Putin will host North Korea's Kim Jong Un in Vladivostok, reports say. But North Korea's shoddy weapons may not be effective, say analysts. Ben Wallace, the former UK defense secretary, meanwhile accused Putin of "begging" for outdated North Korean weapons in his desperation to secure new weapons supplies. But analysts believe that North Korea's weapons are in a shoddy state, and are unlikely to make a decisive impact in Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Russia is looking to North Korea for a large quantity of conventional weapons rather than sophisticated ones," said Go.

Persons: Russia's Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Kim, John Everard, Ben Wallace, meanwhile, Michael Kofman Organizations: Service, North, BBC, UN, Financial Times, Asan Institute, Policy Studies, Russia, CNA Locations: Vladivostok, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Moscow, Iran, Korea, Korean, Yeonpyeong, US, Seoul

☆ Chris Christie pins North Korean weapon advancements squarely on Trump: 'That happened on Donald Trump's watch'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

On it, he blamed former President Donald Trump for North Korea's weaponry advancements. Christie continued, this time pointing to Morgan's point of how Russia didn't invade Ukraine until Biden became president. "It's like calling the special counsel a 'crackhead,' it's like putting out a former president's address," Christie said. And after Trump dodged a question in a televised town hall about which country he wanted to win the war with Russia, Ukraine or Russia, Christie hopped onto the opportunity to take aim at Trump. "Donald Trump refused to say tonight that he wanted Ukraine to win the war with Russia," he tweeted.

Persons: Donald Trump, Donald Trump's, Chris Christie, Christie, Piers Morgan, Kim Jong, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Morgan, Russia didn't, Biden, Joe Biden, Trump Organizations: New, GOP, Fox, Service, North, Trump Locations: New Jersey, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, United States, Russia

☆ Biden warned China's Xi on West's investment after Putin meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File PhotoJuly 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden told Chinese President Xi Jinping following his meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin to "be careful" because Beijing relies on Western investment, according to excerpts from an interview with CNN. "Since Russia went into Ukraine, 600 American corporations have pulled out of Russia. And you have told me that your economy depends on investment from Europe and the United States. Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Sandra Maler and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Biden, Putin, Xi, Janet Yellen, Costas Pitas, Sandra Maler, Leslie Adler Organizations: REUTERS, CNN, U.S ., Treasury, Thomson Locations: Bali , Indonesia, Beijing, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, United States, China, U.S, Taiwan

☆ Take Five: Summer strife
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

1/ TIME FOR SOME NON-FARMInvestors betting on resiliency of the U.S. economy have found solace in the solid labor market. Economists polled by Reuters expect 200,000 new jobs were created in June, a slowdown from recent monthly growth. The jobs report comes after the Federal Reserve skipped raising rates in June after lifting them at 10 straight meetings. No doubt central banks have had some success in quelling inflation with rate rises. Still with the inflation fight far from over, expect companies to now face greater scrutiny from policymakers and consumers alike.

Persons: Lewis Krauskopf, Kevin Buckland, Naomi Rovnick, Amanda Cooper, Karin Strohecker, Jerome Powell, Tuesday's, Wagner, Vladimir Putin's, Dhara Organizations: Reuters, Federal Reserve, CHINA BLUES, Societe Generale, The Reserve Bank of Australia, Aussie, Reuters Graphics Reuters, IMF, Thomson Locations: United States, China, Japan, Lewis, New York, Tokyo, London, U.S, Beijing, Ukraine, Russia

☆ What could break as interest rates rise?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Sweden, where rates rose again on Thursday, is one to watch with most homeowners' mortgages moving in lockstep with rates. Reuters Graphics2/ REAL ESTATE: PART 2Having taken advantage of the low rates era to borrow aplenty and buy up property assets, the commercial real estate sector is grappling with higher debt refinancing costs as rates rise. "The single most important thing is interest rates. But not just interest rates; what it is equally important is the predictability of rates," said Thomas Mundy, EMEA head of capital markets strategy at real estate firm JLL. "If we were settled on an interest rate, real estate prices could adjust.

Persons: Richard Portes, Thomas Mundy, Banks, Florian, Ielpo, Jerome Powell, Markus Allenspach, Julius Baer, Nick Kraemer, Wagner, Vladimir Putin's, Putin, Tina Fordham, Chiara Elisei, Naomi Rovnick, Nell Mackenzie, Karin Strohecker, Vincent Flasseur, Kripa Jayaram, Sumanta Sen, Pasit, Dhara Ranasinghe, Alison Williams Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Reuters, Federal, Finance, London Business School, Lombard, Federal Reserve, Casino, Sweden's SBB, Fordham Global Foresight, Thomson Locations: Britain, Norway, Russia, Sweden, lockstep, London's, City, RUSSIA, Ukraine

☆ Analysis: Belarus leader, long the supplicant, feted in Russia after mutiny role
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Andrew Osborn | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speak during a meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi, Russia June 9, 2023. It was Lukashenko, according to his own narrative and Putin, who played a major role in ending a mutiny that threatened to destabilise the world's largest nuclear power. "Without Putin's support, the Lukashenko regime will not be able to survive," exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said on Twitter. High-profile Russian state TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov said Lukashenko deserved to be made a Hero of Russia and Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, on Tuesday lavished praise on the Belarusian leader. Independent Belarusian media outlet Zerkalo (the Mirror), which monitored Belarusian state TV coverage of Lukashenko's role, cited presenter Yevgeny Pustovoi as saying that Minsk was becoming "the peacemaker of Slavic civilisation".

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Lukashenko, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, you'll, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Vladimir Solovyov, Russia, Dmitry Peskov, Yevgeny Pustovoi, Zerkalo, Andrew Osborn, Mike Collett, White, Alex Richardson Organizations: Belarusian, Sputnik, REUTERS LONDON, Twitter, Russia's, Duma, NATO, Independent, Thomson Locations: Sochi, Russia, Kremlin, defusing, Belarusian, Moscow, Soviet, Belarus, Independent Belarusian, Minsk

☆ Analysis: Ukraine counteroffensive takes shape but main test still to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Moscow's strategy in the south likely aims to maximise Ukrainian casualties before Kyiv can reach the main Russian line of defences about 10-15 km (6-9 miles) away, according to Lee. The main thrusts have come near the Kyiv-controlled town of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia region and Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk region, about 80 km to the east. "My main concern five or six days into this main phase is that the progress appears to have stopped. Military analysts saw it as unlikely this would become the focus of the main Ukrainian offensive. Images shared by Russian military bloggers showed destroyed or damaged U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2 tanks, headline items of military aid sent by the West for the counteroffensive.

Persons: Rob Lee, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's, Ben Barry, Lee, Konrad Muzyka, Hanna Maliar, Muzyka, Maliar, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Jack Watling, Tom Balmforth, Mark Trevelyan, Mike Collett, White, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Western, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Reuters, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russian, West, Interior Ministry, Deputy, Troops, Military, Bradley, Leopards, Thomson Locations: Kyiv, KYIV, Ukraine, Russia, Crimea, Moscow, Kherson, Kharkiv, Poland, Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Zaporizhzia, Melitopol, Velyka Novosilka, Bakhmut

☆ How is Ukraine’s counter-offensive going so far?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Western equipment like battle tanks and armoured vehicles should help protect the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. "Ukraine's got choices," said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at International Institute for Strategic Studies. Those thrusts may indicate Ukraine's generals have their eye on Tokmak, an occupied town in Zaporizhzia region some 25 km from the front line. Military analysts saw it as unlikely this would become the focus of the main Ukrainian offensive. Images shared by Russian military bloggers showed destroyed or damaged U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2 tanks, headline items of military aid sent by the West for the counteroffensive.

☆ How a coup to force Putin from power could go down if he loses in Ukraine, according to former intel officers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Russia's defeat to Ukraine would be a tipping point, former intelligence officers told Insider. During his two decades in power, the Russian president has surrounded himself with an inner circle of hardline loyalists known as "the Siloviki." But in the chaotic fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Putin's grasp on power appears much less secure, former intelligence officers told Insider. The faltering invasion has prompted criticism of the Russian president that would have previously been unthinkable. Ingram cautioned that Russian defeat could provoke even broader global instability.

Persons: Russia's Vladimir Putin, —, Vladimir Putin's, he's, George Beebe, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Abbas Gallyamov, Dmitry Medvedev, Nikolai Patrushev, Vyacheslav Volodin, Vladimir Putin, Russia's, Mikhail Svetlov, Philip Ingram, Beebe, RIA Novosti Ingram, Ingram, Putin's, Ramzan Kadyrov, Kadyrov, Ben Noble Organizations: Service, CIA, Wagner Group, Kremlin, CNN, Russian Security Council's, Security, RIA, NATO, University College London Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Moscow, Kremlin, Crimea, Soledar

☆ How US allies can mitigate Trump 2.0
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

LONDON, May 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A return to the White House by Donald Trump would create challenges for the world’s other rich democracies. TRUMP IN POLYCRISISBiden has painstakingly created a consensus with his core allies since Putin invaded Ukraine last year. PREPARE FOR THE WORSTThe world’s other rich democracies - call them the G6 - cannot change the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Politicians in other rich democracies can also try to persuade Republican leaders that now is not the time to abandon Kyiv. If other rich democracies adopt a vigorous mitigation strategy now, they’ll be better prepared if Trump does return.

☆ Eurovision 2023: Seven to look out for in the Grand Final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Teya & Salena from Austria perform during the second semi-final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, Britain, May 11, 2023. REUTERS/Phil NobleLIVERPOOL, England, May 13 (Reuters) - The Grand Final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Liverpool, northern England, on Saturday, with acts representing 26 countries competing. The song's lyrics address originality in music, while the line "Zero dot zero zero three" refers to the royalty rate of $0.003 per stream which Spotify is said to pay. FRANCEFrance - one of the "Big Five" that has automatic entry to the Grand Final - has not won the contest since 1977. FINLANDKäärijä, a rapper and singer sporting bright green bolero-sleeves and a bare chest, was a huge hit in the arena in Tuesday's semi-final with "Cha Cha Cha", a celebration of cutting loose after a week of hard work.

☆ Chris Christie says Trump doesn't want a GOP debate because he's scared of his opponents: 'Obviously, he's afraid'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chris Christie said Trump avoiding GOP debates shows how scared he is of potential opponents. Trump said he may skip early GOP presidential debates, claiming he'd be "libeled" at the events. Christie said Trump is showing he's "afraid to get on the stage against people who are serious." Chris Christie said former President Donald Trump is trying to dodge a debate with other GOP candidates because he's "afraid" of his opponents. "This is a guy who seems like he's afraid," Christie added.

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