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☆ A sanctions loophole is allowing China to quietly send millions of dollars worth of military gear to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China is shipping huge amounts of gear to Russia, including bulletproof vests and helmets. The deliveries toe the line between civilian and military use, which lends deniability to China. The goods are non-lethal, but still useful enough to have a material impact on the war in Ukraine, per Politico. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. Drones and dual-use goods, however, won't trigger a response from authorities in the European Union, sources told Politico, as they aren't something that would have been explicitly agreed upon in sanctions.

Persons: Vladimir Putin's, Silva, Rika, Cindy Zheng, Zheng Organizations: Politico, Service, Privacy, China, European Union, RAND Corporation Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, Shanghai, Moscow

☆ Randstad flags tougher job market, earnings beat forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Olivier Sorgho | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 25 (Reuters) - Randstad (RAND.AS), the world's biggest staffing firm, on Tuesday flagged weaker demand in a "challenging" jobs market, even as it beat expectations for second-quarter core earnings. "We've had an enormous surge in demand post-COVID ... from there we have sort of gradually seen demand pull back," he added. The company's shares recouped early losses to rise 3.5% by 1013 GMT, as its quarterly core profit beat market forecasts. Underlying earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) fell 12% to 271 million euros ($299.8 million), but exceeded the 260 million seen in a company-provided poll. An employer survey from the World Economic Forum earlier this year found that employment could decrease 2% by 2027.

Persons: Sander van't Noordende, We've, Marc Zwartsenburg, Randstad, van't Noordende, Olivier Sorgho, Jacqueline Wong, Milla Nissi, Emma Rumney Organizations: ING, Economic, Thomson Locations: U.S, Britain, China, North America, Europe, Northern Europe, Asia, Pacific, America, Gdansk

☆ Exclusive: Hunter Biden's gallery sold his art to a Democratic donor 'friend' who Joe Biden named to a prestigious commission
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Internal gallery documents reveal that sales of Hunter Biden's art brought in $1.3 million. The messaging seemed to suggest that Hunter Biden's art patrons came from a rarified universe of collectors who had nothing to do with the hurly burly of politics. Hunter Biden did in fact learn the identity of two buyers, according to three people directly familiar with Hunter Biden's own account of his art career. In the past, Hunter Biden has privately suggested that he could arrange to have friends seated on the commission. In fact, according to the person familiar with Hunter Biden's account, Morris purchased the art through Biden's gallery.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali, Kevin Morris, Hunter Biden's, Joe Biden, Hunter, Hirsh Naftali, Biden, Kamala Harris, Hirsh Naftali's, —, Nancy Pelosi, Ian Sams, Bruce Weinstein, it's, Weinstein, Eric Schwerin, Barack Obama, Eric, Schwerin, Abbe Lowell, Lowell, Georges Bergès, Hunter Biden's gallerist, Hunter Biden deplanes, Elizabeth Frantz, Morris, Charlie Horne, Gurr Johns, he'd, Kedric Payne, Mattathias Schwartz Organizations: Service, Biden White, Biden White House, California Democratic, Democratic National Campaign, Commission, America's, RAND Corporation, Air Force, New York Times, Times, Department of Justice Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York, Los Angeles, California, Israel, Europe, Syracuse , New York

The South African Reserve Bank's (SARB) monetary policy committee (MPC) kept rates at 8.25% as inflation forecasts came in lower than previous ones and economic conditions improved. Kganyago said future rate decisions would continue to depend on economic data and risks to the inflation outlook. The bank expects inflation to fall back to the midpoint of the target range sustainably only by the third quarter of 2025. Jason Tuvey, deputy chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said in a note that rate cuts were likely to materialise only early next year. "The split vote suggests that inflation concerns continue to linger and it is likely to take some time before a majority on the MPC are in favour of rate cuts," Tuvey said.

Persons: Lesetja Kganyago, Kganyago, Jason Tuvey, Tuvey, Kuben Naidoo, Nellie Peyton, Tannur Anders, Kopano, Anait Miridzhanian, Promit Mukherjee, Rachel Savage, Alexander Winning, Olivia Kumwenda, Frances Kerry Organizations: South, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Capital Economics, MPC, Thomson Locations: PRETORIA

☆ Russian military leaders will likely start hiding critical information from Putin to save their own necks, researcher says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Top Russian military leaders will likely start hiding information from Putin out of self-preservation, a Russia researcher wrote for NYT. Those generals are "now even more dependent on Mr. Putin for their safety and positions," she added. Indeed, as Russia is at a critical point in its war against Ukraine, Russian military officials have shown more interest in sniping at each other. "In this atmosphere of suspicion and uncertainty, where prominent generals disappear and Mr. Putin is quick to blame traitors, self-censorship among top military leaders is likely to become more prevalent," Massicot wrote in a New York Times op-ed. But even though Russia is at a critical juncture in its war against Ukraine and the Russian army continues racking up losses, Russian military leaders have focused more on sniping at one another.

Persons: Putin, Dara Massicot, Massicot, Russia's, Sergei Shoigu, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Shoigu, Gerasimov —, Prigozhin Organizations: NYT, Service, RAND Corporation, New York Times, NATO, Russian, Mr Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Wall, Silicon

☆ Photos capture the crude cages Russian and Ukrainian crews are welding on their tanks and armor as a last-ditch defense
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russian and Ukrainian troops are outfitting their tanks and fighting vehicles with crude cages. Facing growing explosive threats, often from above, Russian and Ukrainian vehicle crews are constructing their own extra layer of defense. Collectively, both sides have lost thousands of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), and armored personnel carriers (APCs). But videos and photos of the Russian cages tell and different story, as they appear to look more temporary and perhaps not as well planned. Other images of Russian MT-LB armored fighting vehicles show the cages appearing to look more flimsy and without much structural integrity.

Persons: Mary, Gian Gentile, RAND's, Gentile Organizations: US, Service, Troops, RAND's Arroyo Center Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Iraq, RAND's Arroyo, Ukraine, quadcopters, Russian

☆ Political scientist discusses China-Japan ties and Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailGetting 'buy-in' from Saudi Arabia may help Japan push back on China influence: Political scientistJeffrey Hornung of Rand Corporation discusses Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's trip to the Middle East says Saudi Arabia is a "very important actor" in increasing Japan's political influence.

Persons: Jeffrey Hornung, Fumio Organizations: Rand Corporation, Japanese Locations: Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, East

☆ Sea drones, missile strikes and blockade: Ukraine's counteroffensive in Crimea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Ukraine War Analysis Sea drones and the counteroffensive in CrimeaOn Tuesday, Russia reported its forces had repelled a Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea. The reports highlight Ukraine’s counteroffensive in Crimea, which is being mostly waged through drone and long-range missile strikes. In the Black Sea, Ukraine has opened a new era of naval warfare by employing suicide sea drones — drones armed with explosives designed to ram into targets and detonate. On October 29, 2022, Ukraine used naval drones to attack Russian warships in the port of Sevastopol, home of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The Crimean Peninsula is connected to Russian-occupied southern Ukraine through just three vulnerable main roads that pass through swampy areas.

Persons: Scott Savitz, Zelenskiy, Sutton, he's, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, Yevheniia Horiunova, Vernadsky, EUTERS, Shamil Zhumatov, Michael, Archangel, Thomas Peter . Organizations: Russian, REUTERS, RAND Corporation, Fleet, Investment, Russian Navy, National University, Tourism Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Russia, Ukrainian, Russian, Black, Sevastopol, Handout, Sea, Moscow, Crimean, NATO, Kyiv, Water, Crimea Crimea, Yalta, St, Thomas Peter . Crimea

Blinken told reporters that he had sent a letter to every member of the Senate urging swift confirmation of dozens of nominees for State Department positions. The nominations are being held back by Republican Senator Rand Paul while he seeks information from the administration on the origins of COVID-19. The department said it currently has 62 nominees outstanding with the Senate, including 38 ambassadorial nominees. Separately, nominations for more than 250 positions in the U.S. military are also being delayed by a single Republican - Senator Tommy Tuberville. Most nominations are approved by Senate committees, and eventually reviewed by the full Senate, which is controlled by Biden's fellow Democrats.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden's, Blinken, Rand Paul, Paul, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, Patricia Zengerle, Simon Lewis, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: State Department, Republican, Senate, Defense Department, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ The counteroffensive in Crimea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Ukraine War Analysis The counteroffensive in CrimeaOn Monday, Moscow reported an attack on the Crimean Bridge, a crucial artery connecting occupied Crimea with the Russian mainland. While he's been reticent about Ukraine's goals for their ongoing counteroffensive, president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that Ukraine's forces will not rest until Crimea is brought back under Ukrainian control. Damage following an alleged attack on the Crimean Bridge that connects Russia with occupied Crimea, July 17, 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made several visits to the peninsula throughout the war to underscore his claim that Crimea is Russian soil. Water in Crimea Crimea has historically relied on the North Crimean Canal, flowing in from the Ukrainian mainland, for up to 85% of the water it needs for crop irrigation, industry and drinking water.

Persons: he's, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, Scott Savitz, Zelenskiy, Sutton, Yevheniia Horiunova, Vernadsky, EUTERS, Shamil Zhumatov, Michael, Archangel, Thomas Peter . Organizations: Russian, REUTERS, RAND Corporation, Fleet, Investment, Russian Navy, National University, Tourism Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Moscow, Russian, Black, Sevastopol, Russia, Handout, NATO, Kyiv, Crimean, Sea, Crimea Crimea, Ukrainian, Yalta, St, Thomas Peter . Crimea

☆ Blinken Calls Blockade of Diplomatic Nominees a National Security Risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Michael Crowley | More About Michael Crowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Vance of Ohio, have also blocked nominees for different reasons. “These delays are undermining our national security,” Mr. Blinken told reporters during an unusual appearance at the State Department’s daily news media briefing. The overwhelming majority of the stalled State Department nominees are career diplomats, and more than a third have been awaiting votes for about a year or more, he added. The aide noted that the vacancies put the United States at a disadvantage in its global competition with China, which many Republicans call their top foreign policy priority. Beijing has ambassadors in dozens of foreign capitals where the United States lacks them, the aide said.

Persons: Rand Paul of Kentucky, Biden, Ted Cruz of, Vance of, Mr, Blinken, ”, chargé d’affaires Organizations: State Department, Republican, State, Department, Democratic, Foreign Relations, World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund Locations: Ted Cruz of Texas, Vance of Ohio, United States, China, Beijing

☆ Russia's air force 'remains largely intact,' but more jets won't fix all its problems in Ukraine, NATO commanders say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

After 16 months of fighting, most of Russia's air force remains intact. And even though Russia has a vastly larger air force, other issues may keep it from operating effectively, according to two NATO air commanders. Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Rich Knighton at the Global Air & Space Chiefs’ Conference on July 13, 2023. Massicot and others say Russia's air force could still exploit its numerical advantage if Ukraine's air-defenses network falters, though other factors could inhibit Russian air operations going forward. "The Russians have recapitalized a fair amount of their tactical air force, and they've done a lot on the weapons front as well.

Persons: Rich Knighton, Knighton, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, James Hecker, " Hecker, Hecker, hasn't, We've, Dara Massicot, Johnny Stringer, Stringer Organizations: NATO, Service, Royal Air, Jets, Global Air & Space Chiefs, Conference, Air, British Defence Intelligence, Royal Air Force Air, Global Air & Space Chiefs ’ Conference, Space Power Association, YouTube, Ukrainian Air Force, Russian, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US Air Forces, NATO's Allied Air Command, Aircraft, Russian Ministry of Defense, Rand Corporation, British Air Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, London, Donetsk, Europe, Poland, Romania, Russian, Bakhmut, Kherson, Massicot

☆ Russia plans to build dozens of prison camps across Ukraine over the next few years, documents show, hinting Moscow's readying for a long war
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has been imprisoning Ukrainian civilians since the early months of the invasion. A document shows that Moscow plans to build 25 more prison camps in Ukraine by 2026, per AP. War analysts previously noted how Russia is prepared for a protracted war. The plan is another reflection of what war analysts have described as Russia's vision for a prolonged war after Ukrainian resistance dashed Moscow's hope for a swift victory. The think tank also added that a prolonged war is a narrative that Russia would want to push to discourage the West's support for Ukraine.

Persons: Dara Massicot, German Intelligence Agency Bruno Kahl, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Mark Milley Organizations: Service, Russia, Associated Press, RAND Corporation, German Intelligence Agency, Russian Security Council, Ukraine, Kyiv, US, Chiefs, Staff Locations: Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Vietnam, Kyiv, Washington

☆ Mitch McConnell says Congress can't pass an NIL bill unless universities get their act together
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mitch McConnell urged a majority of universities to get behind a single name, image, and likeness (NIL) bill. NIL has upended college athletics as states jockey to pass the most expansive law. His observation isn't surprising as some universities, governors, and lawmakers see a benefit in allowing each state to determine its own NIL standards. Having a more expansive state law is now an asset akin to a new practice facility or a massive weight room. Missouri's newly passed NIL law is regarded as one of the most expansive in the country, explicitly allowing coaches and school officials to talk about NIL with potential recruits.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, haven't, McConnell, Hugh Hewitt, I've, Charlie Baker, Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, Nick Saban, Rand Paul, Paul, LIV Golf Organizations: Service, Republican, NCAA, College, Auburn University football, Democratic Locations: Wall, Silicon, Massachusetts, Alabama, Sen, Saudi

Early Tuesday, a Ukrainian missile slammed into a hotel in the coastal town of Berdyansk that had been taken over by the Russian military. ‘Colossal support’Russian military bloggers have suggested that both Tsokov and Popov were capable soldiers who inspired loyalty among their men. Tsokov, 51, appears to have been a rising star in the Russian military. Senior Russian general, Ivan Popov, raised questions about the mass deaths and injuries of Russian military personnel. The loss of more capable commanders is another sign that Russia’s “special military operation” is looking less special by the week.

Persons: CNN —, Oleg Tsokov, Tsokov, Ivan Popov, Popov, Valery Gerasimov, vilely, Sergei Shoigu, ”, Vladimir Putin, Rybar, “ Popov, General Popov, “, Wagner, Oleg Surovikin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Surovikin, Prigozhin, Defense Andrei Kartapolov, Kartapolov, specter, OGPU –, Gerasimov, “ alarmism, Shoigu, George Hall, Russia Dara Massicot, Tweeting, Massicot, ” Rybar, upbraided, viscerally, Putin Organizations: CNN, Ukraine –, Southern Military District, Arms Army, Kremlin Press, Major, Institute for, Ukrainian, of Defense, Kremlin, Russia’s Aerospace Forces, State, Defense, Defense Ministry, Senior, Ministry of Defense, Surovik, George Hall of, RAND Corporation, Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian Armed Forces Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Berdyansk, Russian, Svatove, frontlines, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Senior Russian, St, Russia, Vuhledar

☆ US lawmakers consider changes to TikTok crackdown bill -senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ARLINGTON, Virginia July 10 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers are considering changes to address concerns about a bill that would give the Biden administration new powers to ban Chinese-owned TikTok, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee who has cosponsored the legislation said on Monday. Democratic Senator Mark Warner told Reuters that aggressive lobbying by the ByteDance-owned short video app TikTok against the Restrict Act "slowed a bit of our momentum" after it was introduced in March. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Warner's assessment of its lobbying. In March, Republican Senator Rand Paul blocked a bid to fast-track a separate bill to ban TikTok introduced by Senator Josh Hawley, who said the Restrict Act "doesn't ban TikTok. Attempts in 2020 by then President Donald Trump to ban TikTok were blocked by U.S. courts.

Persons: Mark Warner, Warner, TikTok, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, Biden, Donald Trump, Chuck Schumer, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler, Sonali Paul Organizations: Biden, Senate Intelligence, Democratic, Reuters, Commerce Department, Republican, Thomson Locations: ARLINGTON, Virginia, U.S, China, Montana

☆ Sweden's path to NATO membership cleared after Turkey greenlights bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to back Sweden's bid to join NATO, clearing the latter's pathway to become a part of the military alliance. "Completing Sweden's accession to NATO is a historic step that benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical time. The move was swiftly criticized and threatened to derail Sweden's NATO membership bid. NATO said Sweden and Turkey have cooperated closely to address the latter's security concerns since last year's summit. NATO's expansion along Europe's eastern flank with Finland and Sweden's membership could also make the military alliance "much stronger," Courtney added.

Persons: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jens Stoltenberg, Erdogan, Joe Biden, Erdoğan, William Courtney, Courtney Organizations: NATO, Turkey, PKK, Kurdish Workers ' Party, U.S, RAND Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, Turkey, Sweden, Finland, Syria, Sweden's, Ankara

☆ China has a reputation for exporting shoddy weapons, but its sales may get a boost from Russia's blunders in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

If Russia's arms exports falter because of the war in Ukraine, China's appeal may only grow. Despite the drawbacks, Chinese arms exports may get a boost from the war in Ukraine. Mazhar ABID/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesQuality concerns could be one reason for a pre-Ukraine decline in Chinese arms sales. On the other hand, SIPRI also found that German and British arms sales declined 35% and Israeli sales fell 15% during the same period. "As Russia's weapons availability may change as the war continues, China is prepared for when that time arrives."

Persons: Cindy Zheng, AAMIR QURESHI, Zheng, —, Mazhar ABID, SIPRI, NOEL CELIS Organizations: Service, RAND Corporation, Kamra, Getty, Nigerian Air Force, Pakistan —, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Germany's Puma, Getty Images Arms Locations: China, Beijing, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Islamabad, Africa, South Asia, Nigeria, Soviet, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Aslat, Karachi, Stockholm, Russia, AFP, Venezuela, Iran

☆ Former U.S. diplomat discusses Turkey's Erdogan and Sweden's NATO bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailReasons to believe Erdogan would cave over Sweden's NATO bid after his reelection: Ex-U.S. diplomatWilliam Courtney, adjunct senior fellow at Rand and former U.S. ambassador to Georgia and Kazakhstan, discusses Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's decision to back Sweden's bid to join the military alliance.

Persons: Erdogan, William Courtney, Rand, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's Organizations: NATO Locations: U.S, Georgia, Kazakhstan

Also, Russia's war in Ukraine has disrupted some military supplies to India, reinforcing New Delhi's long-term desire to diversify imports or replace them with home-built hardware, Indian defence officials said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that India intends to order weapons from the domestic arms industry worth over $100 billion over the next decade. "It is a reality, that we have to reduce dependence on Russia," said a senior Indian defence officer working on future capabilities of the Indian military, who declined to be identified. GAP WITH CHINAIndia still uses mostly Russian technology for traditional arms. Over time these purchases will reduce the share of Russian military technology used by India, but this would take at least two decades, Indian officials said.

Persons: Rajnath Singh, Narendra Modi's, Eric Garcetti, Washington, Arzan, Tarapore, Sukhoi Su, Bill Greenwalt, Derek Grossman, Grossman, Krishn Kaushik, David Brunnstrom, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: NEW, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Defence, GE, Stanford University, GAP, CHINA, U.S, Sukhoi, Pentagon, International, Rand Corporation, Thomson Locations: NEW DELHI, WASHINGTON, India, Ukraine, Russia, Stockholm, Indian, Washington, U.S, CHINA India, China, Pakistan, Russian, Australia, Japan, Moscow, DELHI

Lithuania is the only one of the three states to have a land link to a fellow NATO ally, Poland. The three Baltic states have also attracted journalists who have fled Russia. DEFENCESpurred by Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the three Baltic states sharply increased military spending. According to NATO estimates for 2022, all three exceeded the NATO agreement to spend 2% of gross domestic product on defence. Since the invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic states have requested the forces deployed are beefed up to 3,000-5,000 troops in each state.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Boris Pistorius, Andrius Sytas, Edmund Blair Organizations: NATO, RAND Corporation, European Union, Corruption, German, Thomson Locations: VILNIUS, Lithuania, Baltic, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Soviet Union, Siberia, Soviet, Russia, Belarus, NATO, Poland, Russia's Kaliningrad, Estonian, U.S, RUSSIA, UKRAINE, United States, West, Moscow, Vilnius, Russian, Crimea, Germany, Britain, Canada, British

☆ Russia is 'accepting risks' and dropping its guard against other threats to hold its ground in Ukraine, British military says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Shifting the bulk of its military to Ukraine has made Russia vulnerable elsewhere, experts say. The war has become a nearly all-consuming effort for Russia's military. Units from across Russia are now "bearing the brunt" of the Ukrainian counteroffensive that kicked off in early June, the British Ministry of Defense said in an update published Thursday. "The way Russia is accepting risks across Eurasia highlights how the war has dislocated Russia's established national strategy," the ministry said. "Russia has really made itself vulnerable globally," Dara Massicot, an expert on the Russian military at the Rand Corporation think tank, said in April.

Persons: —, Ukraine's, Ben Wallace, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, Dara Massicot, Adm, Tony Radakin, Radakin, ANATOLII STEPANOV, Christopher Cavoli, Cavoli, we've, Justin Bronk, They'd, Bronk, they're Organizations: Service, British Ministry of Defense, Russian, Eastern Military District, 61st Naval Infantry Brigade, NATO, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Arms Army, Rand Corporation, US European Command, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia, Belarus, Zaporizhzhia, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Crimea, Velyka, Donetsk Oblast, Bakhmut, Moscow, Russian, Oskol, Ukraine's Kharkiv, AFP, British, Kaliningrad, Finland

[1/3] One of Tiger Brands' most popular beverage products, Oros, is seen during production at a manufacturing facility in Germiston, South Africa November 17, 2022. This investment, sometimes at the cost of essential capital expenditure, will eventually be passed onto consumers, making food prices higher for longer, food companies, economists and lobby groups told Reuters. It comes at a time when South Africa is already struggling with acute unemployment, 14-year high interest rates and ballooning inflation and complicates efforts of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to ease interest rate hikes. Poultry producer Astral (ARLJ.J), diversified food producers AVI (AVIJ.J) and RCL Foods (RCLJ.J) have indicated in their recent earnings statements the mitigating measures would eventually translate into higher food prices. The listed food producers have collectively lost almost 15% in their market value since the beginning of the year.

Persons: James Oatway, Derek McKernan, Kobus, Pieter Taljaard, Thomas Funke, Charles Rossouw, Rosle, Cloete, Gertenbach, Tannur Anders, Anait, Promit Mukherjee, David Evans Organizations: Tiger Brands, REUTERS, Reuters, South African Reserve Bank, Reuters Graphics, Premier, RCL, Grain SA, Cane Growers ' Association, Food, Agricultural, Thomson Locations: Germiston, South Africa, JOHANNESBURG, Africa

☆ New Zealand, in recession and heading to polls, goes pragmatic on China trade
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WELLINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins trod a careful line on his first trip to China last week as leader, focusing on trade and economic opportunities but avoiding contentious issues such as human rights abuses in Xinjiang or security concerns. New Zealand has long been seen as the most conciliatory towards China among the Five Eyes security grouping, which includes Australia, the U.S., Britain and Canada. “(Hipkins's) visit certainly gave China a tick in the international legitimacy box and Beijing has gained at least as much from Hipkins' visit as New Zealand exporters,” Victoria University's Ayson said. New Zealand exporters were prominent in the visit with a delegation of 29 businesses travelling with the prime minister to China. The most recent polls from late May put a coalition of opposition parties National and Act ahead of a Labour-Green party coalition.

Persons: Chris Hipkins trod, Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, ”, Robert Ayson, “ Hipkins, Nanaia Mahuta, Xi Jinping, University's Ayson, David Capie, Derek J, Grossman, Biden, Lucy Craymer, Lincoln Organizations: WELLINGTON, Zealand, Labour, Victoria University, Labour Party, Centre, Strategic Studies, National, Green, RAND Corp, Wellington, “, Thomson Locations: China, Xinjiang, Zealand, Australia, U.S, Britain, Canada, Hong Kong, Pacific, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, Hipkins, New Zealand, Auckland, United States, India, Russia, Washington

☆ Putin expected to meet Xi and Modi at SCO Summit following Wagner insurrection
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —All eyes will be on Vladimir Putin this week, with the Russian president expected to make his first appearance on the world stage since the Wagner insurrection threatened his steel grip on power. In the brief, chaotic insurrection, Wagner – a private mercenary group led by warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin – took control of key military facilities in two Russian cities. Participants of the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. By contrast, Putin managed to end the Wagner insurrection before it reached the capital, without bloodshed. Modi made headlines at last year’s in-person SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, when he told Putin that now is not the time for war, appearing to directly rebuff the invasion.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Putin, Wagner –, Yevgeny Prigozhin –, Prigozhin, Xi, India’s Narendra Modi –, –, they’re, ”, Derek Grossman, Grossman, ” Grossman, Murat Kula, “, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Matsuda, ” Matsuda, “ Xi Jinping, Alexander Korolev, That’s, won’t, Korolev, India’s Modi, Modi, Joe Biden, RAND’s Grossman, India’s Organizations: CNN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Kremlin, RAND Corporation, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Russia, NATO, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Tokyo, “ Russia, China –, Kazakhstan, University of New Locations: Russian, Beijing, Moscow, Belarus, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, US, Russia, China, Samarkand, Central Asia, Iran, Ukraine, Europe, Asia, University of New South Wales, Australia, India, Washington, Indian, Goa, Delhi

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