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☆ How Trump could exploit a looming global struggle for rare-earth minerals
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The power grab over rare-earth minerals in Central Asia could be among the issues he will seek to exploit. AdvertisementA power struggle over rare-earth mineralsAt stake for the US in Central Asia is not just political power but access to the region's reserves of rare-earth minerals such as uranium, lithium, and tantalum. Rare-earth minerals are needed to make all sorts of products, from F-35 stealth fighters and smartphones to internet fiber-optic cables and MRI machines. It produces around 60% of the world's rare-earth minerals and processes nearly 90%, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "There are rare-earth minerals worth exploring/exploiting, and if the US/EU could strike a major deal with [Kazakhstan's capital] Astana, this would certainly contribute to breaking China's monopoly," said Wolff.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Xi, Putin, he'd, Wilder Alejandro Sánchez, ALEXANDER RYUMIN, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, John Herbst, Stefan Wolff, Wolff, Herbst, Trump Organizations: Service, Putin, The Republican, Biden, Getty Images, Center for Strategic, International Studies, University of Birmingham, BI, Trump, EU, Astana, Central Asia Summit, Getty Images Central, Central, China Locations: Russia, China, Central Asia, Mongolia, Saudi, Getty Images China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Xian, Shaanxi, FLORENCE, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Washington, Moscow, Beijing

☆ Tommy Caldwell: He lost a finger and survived a kidnapping. Then, this pro climber took on a 9,000-foot ‘death-trap’
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But after an agonizing Achilles injury that resulted in numerous surgeries, bolts in his foot and two years off climbing, Caldwell, then in his 40s, was worried about his future. Caldwell explains that the cycling portion of the trip helped with his rehabilitation and contributed to the adventure. You remove all expectation, it gives you the chance to do better than you think you’re going to do, and everybody else thinks you’re going to do. Tommy Caldwell climbing above Lake Louise in Banff National Park in Canada. Taylor Shaffer/National Geographic“You become addicted to it, but then, eventually, you’re going to come across things like adversity that you don’t plan.

Persons: Tommy Caldwell, –, Caldwell, Alex Honnold, Yosemite’s El, Ryan Valasek, Honnold, Taylor Shaffer, ” Caldwell, “, we’ve, Matt Pycroft, Alex, it’s, Beth Rodden, Caldwell grappled, Beth Radley, Jason Smith, John Dickey, ”, Rodden, Kevin Jorgeson, Wall, El, you’re, Achilles, We’re, ’, “ That’s Organizations: CNN, Alaska -, CNN Sport, Geographic, Islamic, of, El Capitan Locations: Yosemite’s, Alaska, Alaska - British Columbia, you’re, Colorado, of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz, Patken, Lake, Banff, Canada

☆ Myanmar’s internet freedom is now as bad as China’s, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —For the past decade, China has consistently ranked last in the world for internet freedom due to its all-pervading online surveillance and content control system dubbed the “Great Firewall.”But a new report out Wednesday shows that internet freedoms in China’s neighbor Myanmar are now just as lacking. The report from Freedom House, a US government-funded NGO, found that global internet freedom has declined for the 14th consecutive year. In a record 43 countries, people were physically attacked or killed in retaliation for their online activities, the report found. The Central Asian nation Kyrgyzstan showed the biggest drop in internet freedoms, according to the report, as President Sadyr Japarov ramped up efforts to silence digital media and suppress online organizing. The report also covers online disinformation campaigns and political interference in the run-up to elections, including harassment of independent researchers and fact checkers.

Persons: ”, Mao Ning, Sadyr Japarov, Kloop, “ Organizations: CNN, Freedom, Trust, United Nations, UN, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ”, Central, US Locations: China, China’s, Myanmar, Central Asian, Kyrgyzstan, Iceland, United States, ’

☆ Beth Rodden: After her kidnapping, she was ‘embarrassed’ to feel traumatized. Now, this climber is learning to be vulnerable
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Weeks after being taken hostage by captors from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, American climber Beth Rodden was back home – but plagued by nightmares of her ordeal. On their return to the US, Rodden was baffled to find that people within the climbing community were inclined to “celebrate” their ordeal. And obviously, this was a harrowing tale,” Rodden tells CNN Sport 24 years on from the incident. Rodden struggled with insomnia and nightmares, and although she went to a few therapy sessions she says she didn’t really open up. People that are postmenopausal that are older, younger – I feel like it’s just becoming a more inclusive, well-rounded community,” she added.

Persons: CNN — Weeks, Beth Rodden, Rodden, Tommy Caldwell, –, Caldwell, Beth Radley, Jason Smith, John Dickey, ”, ” Rodden, Rich Pedroncelli, “, ‘, It’s, ‘ You’re, ’ Rodden, Ryan Moon, There’s, Smith Organizations: CNN, Islamic, of, CNN Sport, “ Locations: of Uzbekistan, American, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz, Tajikistan, El Capitan, Davis , California, perfectionism, Yosemite, Oregon

☆ How ISIS has Europe and the US in sights after deadly Moscow attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

ISIS claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack. Maxim Shemetov/ReutersHe regards the Moscow attack as a “breakthrough success” for the group, demonstrating a level of planning not previously seen beyond south Asia. Russia’s support for authoritarian regimes in central Asia – which ISIS-K has described as Russia’s “puppets” – has deepened the animus. The attitude of the Russian government, both pre- and post- the Moscow attack, may not help it confront the threat. For ISIS-K, the Moscow attack is a coup.

Persons: Erik Kurilla, “, Sanaullah Ghafari, Edmund Fitton, Brown, Fitton, Amira Jadoon, ” Jadoon, Hans, Jakob Schindler, Christine Abizaid, ” Fitton, Maxim Shemetov, –, Gabriel Attal, ”, Jadoon, Putin, Abu Bakr al, Sinai, Vladimir Putin, Assad, Shamsidin, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Muhammadsobir Fayzov, Yulia Morozova, Shamil Hukumatov, ” Putin, ” Schindler, Alexander Bortnikov, they’ll, Rita Katz Organizations: CNN, Analysts, ISIS, Islamic, US Central Command, UN, Taliban, Russian, Clemson University, Counter, ”, K, US National Counterterrorism Center, –, Crocus City, US Defense Department, Paris, Central, Crocus City Hall, St, City, Tajik, Kyiv, SITE Intelligence Locations: State, Ukraine, Gaza, Moscow, Khorasan, Afghanistan, Europe, Asia, Russia, ‘, Islamic State, Pakistan, Iran, Crocus, United States, West, New York, Tajik, Kabul, Afghan, Kandahar, Central Asia, Baujur, Pakistani, Baluchistan, Iranian, Kerman, Germany, al Qaeda, Turkey, France, America, Russian, Sharm el, St . Petersburg, Syria, Kaluga, St Petersburg, Istanbul, Washington

☆ Central Asian migrants face xenophobic backlash in Russia after Moscow terror attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Sebastian Shukla | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The men had been in Russia as migrant workers on either temporary or expired visas, authorities said. But in the days since, that emotion – combined with the disturbing videos – appears to have unleashed a wave of xenophobia from some towards Central Asian migrant workers in general. Her organization offers legal assistance to migrants looking for help in Russia, often on a pro bono basis. We need to spread the word.”A user in another channel, with 200,000 followers, suggested there was no space for anyone to feel sorry for migrants in Russia. According to Umerov, there are some 7 million migrants in Russia, of whom around 80% are from Central Asia.

Persons: Moskovsky, “ I’m, Vladimir Putin, Shamsidin, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Muhammadsobir Fayzov, Yulia Morozova, Putin, ”, ‘ It’s, Valentina Chupik, Tong Jahoni, Temur Umerov, don’t, ” Umerov, Umerov, Emomali Rahmon, “ Putin Organizations: CNN, Moscow’s Crocus, Central, Crocus City Hall, Reuters, Soviet, Kazakhstan —, Human Rights Watch, Central Asia, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Hall, Russian, Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry, European Bank for Reconstruction, “, Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences, ISIS, Kremlin Locations: Moscow’s Crocus City, Tajikistan, Soviet, Central Asia, Russia, Ivanovo, Russian, Crocus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Illinois, Moscow, Central, Berlin, Ukraine, Kyrgyz, Tashkent, Western

☆ In the ultimate irony, Russia's obsession with Ukraine may have weakened its power over its other neighbors
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference at the Commonwealth of Independent States' head of states meeting on Oct. 13, 2023, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. This pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned agency Sputnik shows Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov attending a welcoming ceremony prior to their talks in Bishkek on October 12, 2023. In fact, she said, Kyiv's resistance highlighted to Russia's neighbors and partners that "Russian power is a bubble with only a nuclear button in its center." Russian President Vladimir Putin enters the hall during Russian-Uzbek talks at the Grand Kremlin Palace on Oct. 6, 2023. So it's fair to say that if you do not control Ukraine, you do not control the post-Soviet space," he told CNBC.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, —, Georgia —, It's, Emmanuel Dunand, Sadyr Japarov, Sergei Karpukhin, Vladimir Putin's, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Vira Konstantinova, Vladimir Milov, Putin, Milov, Milov —, — Putin, Igor Semivolos, Ilham Aliyev Organizations: Commonwealth of Independent States, Getty, Afp, Azerbaijan, Sputnik, Kyrgyz, AFP, CNBC, Russian, West, Center for Middle East Studies, Anadolu Agency Locations: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Moscow, Soviet Union, South Caucasus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Karabakh, Lachin, Nagorno, Kyiv, Transnistria, Moldova, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, USA, Turkey, Baku

☆ Kremlin laughs off rumors that President Putin uses body doubles
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a joint press statement with his Kyrgyz counterpart after talks in Bishkek on Oct. 12, 2023. Vyacheslav Oseledko | Afp | Getty ImagesThere has been long-standing speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin uses body doubles to stand in for him at public engagements for health or security reasons, but the Kremlin ridiculed the rumors Tuesday. "Everything is fine with him, this is absolutely another fake," Peskov said, according to a Reuters translation, denying a further question on whether Putin uses any body doubles. "This belongs to the category of absurd information hoaxes that a whole series of media discuss with enviable tenacity. It was during the most difficult time of the fight against terrorism," Putin said, without giving further details.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Vyacheslav Oseledko, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov Organizations: Kyrgyz, Afp, Getty, Kremlin, Russian Telegram, Putin, Russia's TASS Locations: Bishkek, Chechnya

☆ Russia's Putin visits Kyrgyzstan in first foreign trip since ICC arrest warrant
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Neither Kyrgyzstan nor China are members of the ICC, which was established to prosecute war crimes. At a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Putin underscored Russia's importance as the biggest investor in the Kyrgyz economy and said the two sides would further develop cooperation. "Our country is the main supplier of oil products to Kyrgyzstan, we fully supply Kyrgyz consumers with gasoline (petrol) and diesel," Putin told a briefing. Putin cited fast growth in Russian-Kyrgyz trade, which some in the West suspect is partly due to Kyrgyz intermediaries facilitating sanctions-busting by Russian businesses. The United States imposed sanctions on four Kyrgyz companies in July for re-exporting electronics components and other technology to Russia.

Persons: Putin, Vladimir Putin, Russia's, Sadyr Japarov, Japarov, Marlis Myrzakul, Olzhas, Andrew Osborn Organizations: Russian, Criminal Court, ICC, Kremlin, Forum, Commonwealth of Independent States, CIS, Moscow, Thomson Locations: Kyrgyzstan, BISHKEK, Central Asian, Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, Bishkek, Kyrgyz, Central Asia, Russian, China, Beijing, Soviet, Soviet Union, Armenia, United States, Kyrgyzstan's

☆ Putin to travel to Kyrgyzstan in first known trip abroad since ICC arrest warrant
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Putin to visit KyrgyzstanPutin also to attend CIS summitArmenian PM Pashinyan not to attend CIS summitMOSCOW, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin will visit Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, the presidential office of the Central Asian country said, in what would be the Russian leader's first known trip abroad since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest. Putin agreed in May during talks with Japarov to visit Kyrgyzstan, but there has been no official confirmation yet from the Kremlin that the Russian president will travel there on Thursday. The Russian leader is also due to travel to China next week for the third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. Neither Kyrgyzstan nor China are members of the ICC, which was established to prosecute war crimes. Pashinyan said on Tuesday that plans were proceeding for a meeting with the Azeri president to discuss a durable peace accord.

Persons: Putin, Kyrgyzstan Putin, Vladimir Putin, Sadyr, Japarov, Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Pashinyan, Ilham Aliyev, Lidia Kelly, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: CIS, MOSCOW, Central, ICC, Kremlin, Russian Federation, Forum, Russian Aerospace Forces, 999th Air Base, Commonwealth, Independent States, Thomson Locations: Kyrgyzstan, Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Kyrgyz Republic, China, Beijing, Moscow, Kant, Armenia, Bishkek, Soviet Union, Azerbaijan, Karabakh, EU, Brussels, Melbourne

☆ US adds three Chinese companies to forced labor entity list involving Uyghurs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The United States has added three Chinese companies to the forced labor entity list involving Uyghurs, according to a government posting on Tuesday, as part of an effort to eliminate forced labor practices the U.S. supply chain. The action targets Xinjiang Tianmian Foundation Textile Co, Ltd; Xinjiang Tianshan Wool Textile Co. Ltd, and Xinjiang Zhongtai Group Co. Ltd, according to the post. A 2021 law, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List (UFLPA), prohibits U.S. imports that are either produced in Xinjiang or by companies identified on the list, unless the importer can prove the goods were not produced with forced labor. The list identifies entities working with the government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to recruit and transport Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of the region. U.S. officials believe Chinese authorities have established labor camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang, China.

Persons: Doina Chiacu, Karen Freifeld, Susan Heavey Organizations: United, Foundation Textile Co, Wool, Co ., Xinjiang Zhongtai, Labor, U.S, Thomson Locations: United States, Xinjiang, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, U.S, China, Beijing

☆ At UN, Biden will ask world to stick with Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. President Joe Biden steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in New York, U.S. September 17, 2023. Biden, a Democrat, has made rallying U.S. allies to support Ukraine a leading component of U.S. foreign policy, arguing the world must send a clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he will not be able to outlast the West. But Biden has faced criticism from some Republicans who want the United States to spend less money there. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to visit Biden at the White House on Thursday and meet with some congressional leaders as well. After his speech, Biden will sit down with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss world hotspots.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Jake Sullivan, General Antonio Guterres, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Lula, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Sullivan, Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Heather Timmons, Grant McCool Organizations: Air Force One, REUTERS, General, Russian, Central, Democrat, NATO, Republican, UN, U.S, Reuters, White, House, Wednesday, Israeli, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Ukraine, Israel, Brazil, Russian, United States, Washington, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran

☆ Biden to meet with Netanyahu at UN General Assembly for first face-to-face meeting since Israeli PM returned to office
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Donald Judd | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President Joe Biden next week will hold his first face-to-face meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the Israeli leader came back into office. Biden will meet Netanyahu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, before hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington later in the week. Netanyahu has not been invited to the White House since he returned to office in December, a move widely interpreted as linked to the Biden administration’s disapproval of the Israeli government’s proposed judicial reforms. Netanyahu’s office trumpeted in July that he had been “invited” to meet Biden in the United States, but the White House pointedly declined to call it an invitation and previously wouldn’t say where the leaders would meet. On Wednesday, Biden will meet with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, joining the Brazilian leader for an event with labor leaders from both countries.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Israel, Jake Sullivan, ”, Zelensky, Sullivan, ” “, ” Sullivan, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Organizations: CNN, Israeli, United Nations General Assembly, Biden, White, Ukraine, Capitol, Wednesday Locations: Washington, United States, Israel, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Brazil

☆ China is eroding Russia's influence over old allies as the alliance it leads crumbles over Ukraine, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russian influence is waning despite formal alliances and the old ties of the Soviet Union. It is also home to most members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): Russian President Vladimir Putin's equivalent of NATO. Russia's influence on them is also being weakened by more countries competing for their attention, Graham said. AdvertisementAdvertisementHe said that "Russia's operation in Ukraine is undermining, eroding its ability to maintain its influence across the former Soviet space." "You're seeing the slow erosion of Russian influence."

Persons: Thomas Graham, Vladimir Putin's, Graham, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Stanislav Zas, Nikol Pashinyan, Alexander Lukashenko, Kassym, Tokayev, Sadyr Japarov, Emomali Rakhmon, Anton Novoderezhkin Organizations: Service, Yale, Collective Security, Organization, NATO, Moscow REUTERS, Russia, Armenian, Kazakh, Kremlin, Sputnik, REUTERS, Central, AFPTV, Getty Locations: Central Asia, Russia, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, China, Turkey, East, Caucasus, Moscow, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Central, Europe, Iran, Russian, Belarusian, Bakhmut, AFP, Azerbaijan, Soviet

☆ Russia targets neighbour Kazakhstan with army recruitment ads
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Filipp Lebedev | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic bordering Russia, is home to over 3 million ethnic Russians and has traditionally been one of Russia's closest allies. Clearly targeting Kazakhs, ads seen by Reuters feature Russian and Kazakh flags and the slogan "Shoulder to shoulder". The ads lead to a website that offers potential recruits a chance to join the Russian army in the Sakhalin region in Russia's Far East. Joining military conflicts abroad for pay is illegal under Kazakh law. In Kyrgyzstan, a local man was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May for joining Russian proxy forces in Ukraine's Luhansk region.

Persons: Russia's, Wagner, Mariya Gordeyeva, Gareth Jones Organizations: Russian, Astana, Moscow, Reuters, Human Capital Development Agency of, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Information, Social Development, Soviet Central, Thomson Locations: Kazakhstan, Soviet, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakh, Russian, Sakhalin, Russia's Far, Lysychansk, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine's Luhansk, Moscow, Bishkek

☆ Putin wanted his own version of NATO. Instead he has a failing alliance that has only made him look weaker since the invasion of Ukraine.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Putin wanted his own version of NATOPutin has long viewed NATO as a threat to Russia, even citing it as an excuse for his invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also said that CSTO members states' desires for closer ties with the US weren't new. Russian President Vladimir Putin in Armenia in November 2022. Graham also said the invasion of Ukraine meant Putin is less and less able to deal with CSTO members' complaints.

Persons: it's, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Thomas Graham, NATO Putin, Alexander Cooley, Cooley, Armenia's, Nikol Pashinyan, KAREN MINASYAN, Putin's, isn't Putin, Ilya PITALEV, ILYA PITALEV, Getty Images Graham, Russia's, ANATOLII STEPANOV, you've, Graham, CSTO, Sadyr Japarov, Stanislav Zas, Alexander Lukashenko, Kassym, Tokayev, AP Cooley, – Putin, Vladimir Voronin, Nikol, They've, Hayk Organizations: NATO, Service, Soviet Union, Security, Organization, Yale, Columbia University, REUTERS, Getty Images, SPUTNIK, AFP, CSTO, Kazakh, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, AP, Collective Security, Vladimir Voronin NATO, Putin, Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, UN, US, EU, Armenian Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Soviet, East, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, The Hague, Netherlands, Yerevan, AFP, Soviet Union, Moscow, Asia, Ukrainian, Oskol, Ukraine's Kharkiv, NATO, USSR, Dushanbe, tatters, Photolure, China, Turkey, United States

☆ A defiant Putin renewed calls for countries to trade with Russia using local currencies in his first international appearance after the failed Wagner mutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

At a trade summit, Putin said 80% of the Russia-China trade is now transacted in the yuan and the ruble. The Russian currency was used in 40% of all export transactions with SCO countries, Putin added. Founded in 2001, SCO member countries include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran. The tough restrictions against Russia spooked other countries so much that they are now lining up backup currencies for trade. Sanctioned countries like Russia and emerging nations like Argentina have recently started using the yuan for trade, primarily with China.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, —, Wagner, Xi Jinping, Xi Organizations: Service, Russia, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO —, SCO, CGTN Locations: Russia, China, Ukraine, People's Republic of China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Argentina

☆ U.S. bans imports from China-based Ninestar Corp over Uyghurs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Karen Freifeld | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 9 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday banned imports from China-based printer maker Ninestar Corp (002180.SZ) and a chemical company over alleged human rights abuses in China, according to a post for the Federal Register. DHS said the actions were taken as part of the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act (UFLPA), which was signed into law in December 2021. The act prohibits imports into the U.S. that are either produced in Xinjiang or by companies identified on an UFLPA Entity List, unless the importer can prove the goods were not produced with forced labor. “The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force will continue to hold companies accountable for perpetuating human rights violations in Xinjiang,” DHS Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers, who chairs the task force, said in a statement. Reporting by Karen Freifeld; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Sharon Singleton and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ninestar, Robert Silvers, Karen Freifeld, Doina Chiacu, Sharon Singleton, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Ninestar, Federal Register, Zhongtai Chemical Co, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Uyghur, Labor, Task Force, Thomson Locations: United States, China, China's, Xinjiang, U.S, Zhuhai

☆ Putin's Victory Day parade only featured a handful of world leaders, and most seemed reluctant to be there, report claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Vladimir Putin was joined by a small number of world leaders in Moscow for Victory Day. Their attendance certainly marked an improvement on last year, when no foreign leaders joined Putin in Moscow for Victory Day, which was held amid international condemnation of Russia's Ukraine invasion. "The late announcement of Central Asian leaders' attendance likely indicates their reticence to show direct and public support of the war despite Kremlin efforts to project power," said the ISW. Japarov was the only Central Asian leader to confirm his attendance well in advance, accepting his invitation on April 24, Vedmosti reported. Some of the Central Asian leaders who attended the Victory Day parade have been critical of Russia's invasion, and sought to steer a more independent path from Moscow while apparently seeking not to excessively aggravate the Kremlin.

☆ EU takes aim at Chinese firms in proposed new Russia sanctions - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A spokesman for the European Commission on Monday confirmed the proposal was sent out to member states and aimed at closing loopholes in Russia trade restrictions but declined to give detail. In what would be the EU's 11th package of sanctions against Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February, 2022, the bloc would introduce a new mechanism to cut its exports to third countries seen as involved in bypassing Russia sanctions. "It will be an empty vessels for now that can then be filled up as needed," said one EU diplomat. "The analysis... shows a sharp drop in direct exports from the EU to Russia following the introduction of sanctions in March 2022. "Both patterns are particularly pronounced for product groups partially or fully subject to the EU sanctions as well as goods that are similar to the sanctioned ones," the EBRD said.

☆ Build a stadium, FIFA's Infantino urges Kyrgyzstan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BISHKEK, May 6 (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged Kyrgyzstan on Friday to build a national football stadium to host international games and address the lack of infrastructure. The former Soviet republic has no modern stadiums built to international standards that can host FIFA-level matches, and its national team's FIFA ranking has fluctuated between positions 201 and 75, currently standing at 96th. "I spoke to the (Kyrgyz) president (Sadyr Japarov) about the national stadium of football," Infantino said. The men's football team qualified two times in a row for the Asian cup. Reporting by Marlis Myrzakul Uulu Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kyrgyz eco-activist's 'trashion' tackles a burning problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Kyrgyz artist and environmental activist Cholpon Alamanova poses for a picture in her workshop in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan March 30, 2023. Alamanova and her team of more than 80 women use the Kyrgyz traditional patchwork sewing technique, kurak, in order to recycle the textile waste, usually burned in landfills, into colourful blankets, clothes and accessories. In doing so, her workshop has become part of a global "trashion" trend promoting the use of recycled, used, thrown-out and repurposed elements to create garments, jewellery and art. The task engenders a warming feeling that motivates her to keep doing it, says Alamanova, while helping to keep alive the tradition. Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russia is preventing migrant workers from leaving the country as authorities consider more military call-ups, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia is keeping dual-citizen migrant workers from leaving the country, UK military intel says. It cited a report that said Kyrgyz workers were stopped by border guards as they tried to leave. Russia is "keeping open the option" of another round of military call-ups, per the update. The UK defense ministry said these reports come as Russian authorities are "keeping open the option" of another round of military call-ups. But this latest UK military update said that Russia's leadership is "highly likely" to continue looking for ways to meet the huge numbers of personnel required to launch any future offensive in Ukraine.

☆ Putin cancels annual marathon year-end TV news conference
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 12 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin will not hold his traditional televised year-end news conference this month, the Kremlin said on Monday, 10 months into Russia's stuttering invasion of Ukraine. But the war, which began on Feb. 24, has not gone well for Putin. His forces were beaten back from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on, and have suffered major battlefield setbacks in the east and south of Ukraine. He said Putin would find other ways to communicate with journalists, noting that he had held other news conferences, including on his trips abroad. Last Friday, Putin answered questions from reporters during a visit to the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

☆ Putin says loss of trust in West will make future Ukraine talks harder
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Kevin Liffey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Summary Putin: 'Trust almost at zero'Putin accuses West of betrayal over 2014/15 Minsk agreementsU.S.-Russia intelligence contacts continue, howeverLONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia's near-total loss of trust in the West would make an eventual settlement over Ukraine much harder to reach, although contacts between Russian and U.S. intelligence services were at least continuing. "We thought we would still be able to agree within the framework of the Minsk peace agreements. There is a question of trust," Putin said. "It turns out that no one was going to fulfil all these Minsk agreements," Putin said, "and the point was only to pump up Ukraine with weapons and prepare it for hostilities." Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a news conference following the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, December 9, 2022.

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