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☆ Russia Has No Plans to Deploy Nuclear Arms Beyond Belarus, Says Deputy Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Dmitry Antonov and Guy FaulconbridgeMOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will not deploy nuclear weapons abroad except in its ally Belarus but will find ways to counter any deployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in Britain, the deputy minister in charge of arms control said on Thursday. President Vladimir Putin said last year that Moscow had transferred some tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, blaming what he casts as a hostile and aggressive West for the decision. Asked by reporters if Russia would deploy nuclear weapons beyond Belarus, for example in South America, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said: "No, it is not planned." Separately, Ryabkov told Russia Today in an interview that U.S. plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Britain would not deter Moscow. Neither Britain nor the United States have confirmed reports of the planned deployment of tactical nuclear weapons.

Persons: Dmitry Antonov, Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Ryabkov, Ryabkov, Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy's, Guy Faulconbridge, Gareth Jones Organizations: Federation of American Scientists, North Atlantic Alliance, NATO, Russia Today Locations: Russia, Belarus, Britain, Moscow, South America, Israel, Gaza, United States, Suffolk, England, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Kyiv

☆ Hamas Studies Ceasefire Proposal After Deadly Israeli Hospital Raid in West Bank
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

By Raneen SawaftaWEST BANK/GAZA/DOHA (Reuters) -Hamas said on Tuesday it would study a new ceasefire proposal in the war with Israel in Gaza, hours after Israeli commandos killed three Palestinian militants in a raid on a hospital in the occupied West Bank. The raid underscored the risk of the Gaza war spreading to other fronts, while Israeli forces fought new battles with Hamas fighters in the Palestinian enclave. The Israeli undercover squad broke into the hospital, headed to the third floor and killed them using silenced pistols, hospital sources said. Since then, 26,751 Palestinians have been killed and 65,636 wounded by Israeli actions in Gaza, the Gaza health ministry said. TANKS IN ACTIONIsrael mounted a new push in northern Gaza after earlier reporting successes against Palestinian militants there.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, William Burns, Qatar's, Islamic Jihad, Ibn Sina, Mohammad, Najy Nazzal, Mai Alkaila, Mohammed Jalamneh, Israel, Christian Lindmeier, Alkaila, Al Shifa, Khan Younis, Crescent, Ari Rabinovitch, Daniel Williams, Nidal Al Mughrabi, Ali Sawafta, Emma Farge, Angus MacSwan, Timothy Heritage, Gareth Jones Organizations: BANK, Reuters, West Bank, CIA, Islamic, Hamas, Basel Al, Palestinian Health, United Nations, World Health Organization, WHO, Nasser, Health, Palestinian, Residents, Deir Al, Al, Amal Locations: GAZA, DOHA, Israel, Gaza, Paris, Cairo, Ibn Sina, Jenin, Basel, Geneva, Beach, Al, Israeli, Kuwaiti, Gaza City, Deir, Jerusalem, Doha, Ramallah, Clauda, Dubai

☆ Factbox-Key Takeaways From the World Court Decision in Israeli Genocide Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The top United Nations court for handling disputes between states was ruling in a case brought by South Africa. The court ordered Israel to refrain from any acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts in Gaza. WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION TO THE ICJ RULING? "The ICJ judges assessed the facts and the law, they ruled in favour of humanity and international law," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the ruling helped to isolate Israel on the world stage.

Persons: Israel, Joan Donoghue, Judge Julia Sebutinde, Aharon Barak, Barak, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Friday's, Riyad al, Maliki, Sami Abu Zuhri, Cyril Ramaphosa, Anthony Deutsch, Stephanie van den Berg, Gareth Jones, Angus MacSwan Organizations: HAGUE, Reuters, Court of Justice, United Nations, ICJ, National, Palestinian Locations: Israel, Gaza, South Africa, United States, Uganda, Nazi

☆ Erdogan, Eyeing More Trade With Iran, Says Turkey Weighing Opening New Border Crossings
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey is considering opening new border crossings with eastern neighbour Iran, President Tayyip Erdogan said late on Wednesday after talks with his Iranian counterpart, as they seek to revive sagging economic relations. Trade between Turkey and Iran peaked in 2012 at nearly $22 billion but has since fallen. Efforts to establish trade centres in border (areas) to increasing the economic development of our border provinces continue," he said. Turkey, a NATO ally, and Iran currently have four border crossings between them. Turkey, which has also been hit with U.S. sanctions for acquiring Russian defence systems, opposes what it calls unilateral economic sanctions as a policy.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, Ebrahim Raisi, Omer Bolat, Daren Butler, Gareth Jones Organizations: Turkish Trade Locations: ANKARA, Turkey, Iran, Tehran, NATO, Ankara

☆ UK Offers Cruise-Missile Swap to Germany to Aid Ukraine -Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN (Reuters) - Britain has offered Germany a swap of cruise missiles that could allow the German government a way to overcome concerns over a suggested delivery of missiles to Ukraine, Germen newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Wednesday. The paper cited government and diplomatic sources as saying that the British government has proposed to Berlin several weeks ago that it could export Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine and, in turn, receive the German Taurus missiles. The office of German chancellor Olaf Scholz has been analysing this proposal, the report added. A person familiar with the negotiations said that the proposed swap could potentially find support in Berlin. The German government has repeatedly said it will only act in concert with Washington on arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Persons: Handelsblatt, Olaf Scholz, Riham Alkousaa, Gareth Jones, Bill Berkrot Organizations: BERLIN, Taurus Locations: Britain, Germany, Ukraine, Germen, Berlin, Washington

☆ JCPenney has become TikTokers' unlikely beauty obsession
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

JCPenney has replaced its Sephora shops with JCPenney Beauty sections. JCPenney's revamped beauty department has become a destination for finding beauty brands TikTokers can't get at other beauty stores. Last summer, the retailer launched KimChi Chic Beauty in more than 600 stores, beauty trade publication Happi reported. JCPenney replaced Sephora shops with JCPenney Beauty. Beauty retailer Ulta hit $2.5 billion in net sales last quarter, an increase of more than 6%.

Persons: —, JC, Kailey, JCPenney, JCPenney's, Adam Ryan, Alexis Androulakis, @thelipsticklesbians, y’all, @JCPenney, ike, orth, Penney Organizations: JCPenney, Service, JC Penney, Sephora, Black, Black Enterprise, Alpha Locations: JCPenney, Staten Island

☆ Russia Is Acting to Thwart Ukrainian Attacks on Civilians, Infrastructure -Kremlin
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

They are striking people, civilians," he said, branding Sunday's attack on the city of Donetsk a "heinous act of terrorism". Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed or injured by Russian air strikes and shelling since President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of soldiers into Ukraine nearly two years ago. Moscow said Sunday's incident was the second serious Ukrainian attack on civilians in less than a month. In December, Russia said 25 people, including five children, were killed during a Ukrainian missile and drone attack on the western Russian city of Belgorod. Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of waging an unprovoked war of aggression aimed at seizing land.

Persons: Kyiv's, Novatek, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin, Andrew Osborn, Gareth Jones Organizations: Kremlin, Sunday, Ministry of Defence, Reuters Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, Baltic, Donetsk, Ukrainian, Belgorod, Kyiv

The website, beloved for being one of modern music’s true centers of gravity and renowned for its daily record reviews scored 0.0 to 10.0, will be folded into GQ, parent company Condé Nast announced Wednesday. Schreiber sold Pitchfork to Condé Nast in 2015. Says Snapes: “Music is so much more than a ‘men’s interest’ or leisure pursuit. Pitchfork paid close, longform critical attention to so many different types of music, and so many different niches. “It’s the independent, experimental artists that are going to suffer.”___ Maria Sherman writes about music for The Associated Press.

Persons: Condé Nast, Anna Wintour, ” Wintour, Ryan Schreiber, Pitchfork, Schreiber, ”, Laura Snapes, ” Snapes, “, ” Ann Powers, ” Powers, Wintour, Melissa Consorte, Condé, P4K, Consorte, Joanna Melissakis, Gareth Paisey, Yasmin Williams, Sam Sodomsky, Williams, Paisey, “ We’ve, Taylor Swift, ” ___ Maria Sherman Organizations: ANGELES, Pitchfork, GQ, Associated Press, Napster, “, SPIN, Blender, PITCHFORK, AP, Condé Nast, The Associated Press

☆ Polish Lawmaker Who Extinguished Hanukkah Candles Loses Immunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's parliament has voted to remove the immunity from prosecution of a lawmaker who used a fire extinguisher to put out Jewish Hanukkah candles in the country's parliament in December, an incident that caused international outrage. The vote opens the way for prosecutors to press charges against Grzegorz Braun from the far-right Confederation party for seven acts committed during 2022 and 2023, including the incident involving the candles. The largest opposition party, the nationalist law and Justice (PiS), also voted in favour of removing Braun's immunity. After extinguishing the candles in the parliament on Dec. 12, Braun took to the podium where he described Hanukkah as "satanic" and said he was restoring "normality". Asked later if he was ashamed of his action, he said: "Those who take part in acts of satanic worship should be ashamed."

Persons: Grzegorz Braun, Agnieszka Pomaska, Mariusz Dubowski, Braun, Alan Charlish, Gareth Jones Organizations: Civic Coalition, Warsaw, European Union Locations: WARSAW, Ukraine

☆ Taiwan Reports First Major Chinese Military Activity After Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Ben Blanchard and Michael MartinaTAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected 18 Chinese air force planes operating around Taiwan and carrying out "joint combat readiness patrols" with Chinese warships on Wednesday, the first large-scale military activity after the Taiwanese election. Taiwan's defence ministry said that starting around 7:50 p.m. (1150 GMT) on Wednesday it had detected 18 aircraft including Su-30 fighters operating off northern and central Taiwan and to the island's southwest. Eleven of those aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, or areas close by, working with Chinese warships to carry out "joint combat readiness patrols", the ministry added. Taiwan sent its own forces to monitor, its defence ministry said. There was no immediate response from China's defence ministry.

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Michael Martina TAIPEI, Democratic Progressive Party's, Lai Ching, Biden, Lai, Vincent Chao, Xi Jinping, Chao, We're, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Gareth Jones, Mark Potter, Jamie Freed Organizations: Taiwan, Democratic Progressive, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, U.S . State Department, U.S . Institute of Peace, U.S Locations: Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, U.S, United States, Washington

☆ Lava Engulfs Homes in Icelandic Town After Second Eruption
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Lava flowed into the Icelandic town of Grindavík on Sunday after a volcano erupted for the second time in less than a month. Thousands of residents were evacuated, according to the Associated Press. Photo: LIVEFROMICELAND.IS/APA second powerful volcanic eruption sent lava surging through an Icelandic town, engulfing houses and leaving them in flames. Lava flows from the eruption, which started at around 8 a.m. local time on Sunday, breached the barriers protecting the town of Grindavík, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said on Monday.

Organizations: Associated Press, Icelandic Meteorological Locations: Grindavík

☆ Volcanic Eruption in Iceland Sends Lava Gushing Toward Homes
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Lava flowed into the Icelandic town of Grindavík on Sunday after a volcano erupted for the second time in less than a month. Thousands of residents were evacuated, according to the Associated Press. Photo: LIVEFROMICELAND.IS/APA second powerful volcanic eruption sent lava surging through an Icelandic town, engulfing houses and leaving them in flames. Lava flows from the eruption, which started at around 8 a.m. local time on Sunday, breached the barriers protecting the town of Grindavík on Monday, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.

Organizations: Associated Press, Icelandic Meteorological Locations: Grindavík

☆ Lava From Volcanic Eruption Reaches Icelandic Town
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Lava flowed into the Icelandic town of Grindavik on Sunday after a volcano erupted for the second time in less than a month. Thousands of residents were evacuated, according to the Associated Press. Photo: LIVEFROMICELAND.IS/APA second powerful volcanic eruption sent lava surging through an Icelandic town, engulfing houses and leaving them in flames. Lava flows from the eruption, which started at around 8 a.m. local time on Sunday, breached the barriers protecting the town of Grindavík on Monday, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.

Organizations: Associated Press, Icelandic Meteorological Locations: Grindavik, Grindavík

☆ Celebrities are having full-blown golf complexes built in their gardens. Here’s how they’re doing it
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

From putting greens and par-three holes to full-blown course replicas, the sport is increasingly taking up residence in gardens and backyards as golf enthusiasts of all levels look to shorten their travel time to the tee. California in particular is especially prone to drought, with state officials encouraging its citizens to cut their water usage. Yet “the number one” factor that can hike prices for larger greens, Nappi explains, is — ironically — drainage. Though they don’t require watering, greens sculpted in areas susceptible to heavy rain — such as Florida or Georgia — invite the threat of standing water, which can lead to mold and ruin the playing experience. “You can make it look pretty and beautiful and they love it, but it better play right,” Nappi said.

Persons: Mark Wahlberg, Cindy Crawford, DJ Khaled, Josh Allen, ”, Dominic Nappi, Tim Venturi, Ken Venturi, Nappi, ” Nappi, “, Wahlberg, Los Angeles Times — Nappi, Tim Jackson —, Jackson Kahn, I’ve, “ There’s, Crawford, Rande Gerber, Allen, Jim Nantz’s, Courtney Richards, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, Tony Romo —, Dave Pelz’s, SYNLawn, Augusta National’s, Gareth Bale’s, —, Tiger Woods, ‘ Organizations: CNN, Back Nine Greens, Business, Nine Greens, Greens, British, Nine Greens Star, Hollywood, Los Angeles Times, Malibu, Bills, Wall Street, NASA, Welsh, Real Madrid, Tiger Locations: Southern California, Palm, California, backyards, Florida, Georgia, Beverly, Scottsdale, Buffalo, Miami Beach, American, Austin , Texas, Glamorgan, South Wales, Island, South Dakota

☆ The best red carpet looks from the British Fashion Awards 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —On Monday night, the British Fashion Council orchestrated its annual British Fashion Awards — a star-studded ceremony in London aimed at encouraging new, trailblazing designers, as well as honoring stalwarts of the industry. Across the red carpet, sequins, velvet and red tones conquered in what was a decidedly festive sartorial palette. Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesAnne Hathaway stunned onlookers in vintage Valentino. Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesRita Ora wore Primark, a nod to her latest collaboration with the high-street retailer. Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesPamela Anderson rocked the no makeup look once more, wearing a Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Europe/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Persons: Anne Hathaway, Gwnyeth Paltrow, Pamela Anderson, Taylor Russell, Paloma Elsesser, Kate Moss, Alexa Chung, Laura Whitmore, Sam Smith, Iris Law, Vivienne Westwood, Caroline Rush, Richard Quinn, Queen Elizabeth II, Neil Mockford, Loewe, Gareth Cattermole, Amal Clooney, Versace, Joe Maher, Dominic Lipinski, Lewis Hamilton, Wales Bonner, Getty, Michaela Coel, Suki Waterhouse, David Fielden, Valentino, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paltrow, Valentino Garavani, Giancarlo Giammetti, Gillian Anderson, Rita Ora, Isamaya Ffrench Organizations: CNN, British Fashion Council, Alexa, Getty Locations: London, British, LA, Europe

☆ Major Explosion Destroys Arlington House During Police Search
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An explosion leveled a house in Arlington, Va. on Monday night, as police attempted to execute a search warrant. Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the blast. Photo: Alex Wilson/Associated PressA home was destroyed by a massive explosion in a Washington, D.C., suburb as police were trying to execute a search warrant in response to reports of a man discharging a flare gun inside. Police visited a house in Arlington, Va., at around 4:45 p.m. ET Monday after receiving calls that a man had discharged a flare gun approximately 30 or 40 times into the surrounding neighborhood, the local police department said in a statement.

Persons: Alex Wilson Organizations: Police, Associated, D.C, . Police Locations: Arlington , Va, Washington

☆ Explosion Destroys Arlington House During Police Search
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An explosion leveled a house in Arlington, Va., on Monday night. Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the blast. Photo: Alex Wilson/Associated PressA home was destroyed by a large explosion in a Washington, D.C., suburb as police said they were trying to execute a search warrant in response to a man firing a flare gun into the surrounding neighborhood. Police visited a house in Arlington, Va., at around 4:45 p.m. Their initial investigation indicated a man fired a flare gun about 30 or 40 times from the house, the local police department said in a statement.

Persons: Alex Wilson Organizations: Police, Associated, D.C, . Police Locations: Arlington , Va, Washington

☆ Suspect Presumed Dead After Explosion Destroys Arlington, Va., House
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Gareth Vipers | Joseph Pisani | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An explosion leveled a house in Arlington, Va., on Monday night. Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the blast. Photo: Alex Wilson/Associated PressThe suspect who fired a flare gun from inside his Arlington, Va., duplex home, which later exploded, is presumed to be dead, police said. Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn said investigators are identifying the remains found at the property in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, and believe them to belong to the suspect, 56-year-old James Yoo .

Persons: Alex Wilson, Andy Penn, James Yoo Organizations: Police, Associated, Arlington County Police, D.C Locations: Arlington , Va, Arlington, Va, Washington

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony to receive diplomatic credentials from newly appointed foreign ambassadors at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, December 4, 2023. MOSCOW, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Oil output cuts agreed by the OPEC+ group will take time to kick in, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, as it confirmed that President Vladimir Putin would visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Putin will also host Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow the following day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Oil prices fell 2% last week after the OPEC+ announcement, but Brent crude futures were firmer on Tuesday. The visit comes after OPEC+ agreed last Thursday to voluntary supply cuts totalling about 2.2 million barrels a day, included an extension of existing Saudi and Russian voluntary cuts of 1.3 million bpd.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Pavel Bednyakov, Putin, Ebrahim Raisi, Dmitry Peskov, Brent, Peskov, Iran's Raisi, Dmitry Antonov, Vladimir Soldatkin, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones Organizations: Sputnik, Kremlin, United Arab, Palestinian, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, MOSCOW, OPEC, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, United States, Gaza, Israel, Iran

☆ ChatGPT, Oppenheimer and Indian entertainment top the most-viewed Wikipedia pages in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Sergio Padilla | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Given its massive surge in popularity, the page about OpenAI’s virtual chatbot ChatGPT was the most viewed page on Wikipedia this year, amassing more than 49.4 million page views. The Wikipedia entry about the series drew more than 38 million page views. Virat Kohli of India bats during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 Final between India and Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Ahmedabad, India. The page for the league itself received more than 32 million views and the 2023 season receiving more than 20 million views. Chris Pizzello/APThe Oppenheimer film received more than 28 million page views, the page about real-life physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer himself received 25.6 million views while the Barbie film received 18 million.

Persons: New York CNN —, ChatGPT, ”, Anusha Alikhan, Alikhan, It’s, “ Oppenheimer, Virat Kohli, Narendra Modi, Gareth Copley, Jawan, Pathaan ”, Barbie ”, ” Barbie, Oppenheimer, Chris Pizzello, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Taylor Swift, Elon Musk, Lionel Messi, Andrew Tate, misogynist influencer, Tate, Barbie, Cristiano Ronaldo, Matthew Perry, Lisa Marie Presley Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — Wikipedia’s, Wikimedia Foundation, CNN, Indian Premier League, Cricket, ”, United Nations, Internet, Mobile Association of India, eventual, Australia, ICC Men's Cricket, Narendra, Getty, Men’s Cricket, Warner Bros, Los Feliz Theatre, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Premier League Locations: New York, ” India, India, United States, United Kingdom, China, Australia, Ahmedabad, Wikipedia’s, Los Angeles, Gaza, Ukraine, Hamas, Israel, Romania, ChatGPT, Water

☆ Putin to visit UAE, Saudi Arabia this week - Russian news outlet
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this week, Russian news outlet Shot reported on Monday, citing Putin's aide Yury Ushakov. Markets reacted with scepticism to the deal because of doubts about whether the voluntary cuts would be fully implemented. The figure of 2.2 million bpd included an extension of existing Saudi and Russian voluntary cuts of 1.3 million bpd. Shot quoted Ushakov as saying Putin would go first to UAE and then to Saudi Arabia, where negotiations would take place mainly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE is a member of the court either, so Putin can travel to both countries without fear of being arrested under the ICC warrant.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Klimentyev, Yury Ushakov, Brent, Putin, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ushakov, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, United Arab, UAE, Soviet Union, Criminal Court, ICC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Saudi, China, United States, Ukraine, UAE

☆ Putin Greets Kids, Views 'Nuclear Button' as Re-Election Bid Nears
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Putin was given an explanation of a Soviet nuclear bomb design and shown a mock control panel for launching a nuclear test, before observing images of a blast and mushroom cloud through a viewing window. Since the start of the Ukraine war, Putin has frequently reminded the West of the size and capabilities of Russia's nuclear arsenal, saying anyone who tried to launch a nuclear attack against it would be wiped from the face of the earth. Putin was shown a replica of Stalin's office during his exhibition tour. Supporters of Putin dismiss that analysis, pointing to independent polling which shows he enjoys approval ratings of above 80%. They say that Putin has restored order and some of the clout Russia lost during the chaos of the Soviet collapse.

Persons: Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Trevelyan MOSCOW, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Oleg Saitov, Boris Yeltsin, Josef Stalin, Catherine the Great, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones Organizations: Kremlin, State Locations: Soviet, Ukraine, Belarus, Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union, Putin's Russia, London

☆ Deputy Russian army corps commander is killed in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Commander of Russia's Kantemirovskaya Tank Division Vladimir Zavadsky delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the anniversary of the unit's foundation in Naro-Fominsk in the Moscow region, Russia, June 28, 2020. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, deputy commander of Russia's 14th Army Corps, has been killed in Ukraine, a top regional official said on Monday. "Special military operation" is the term that Russia uses to describe the war in Ukraine, now approaching the end of its second year. Deaths of senior Russian officers, which military analysts have attributed in some cases to Ukrainian success in intercepting lax communications, have become rarer as the war has progressed. Zavadsky was a much-decorated officer and a former tank commander, said Gusev, adding that his death was a heavy loss that caused "transfixing pain".

Persons: Russia's, Vladimir Zavadsky, Alexander Gusev, Zavadsky, iStories, Gusev, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones Organizations: Russian Defence Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, 14th Army Corps, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Naro, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Russia's Voronezh

[1/5] Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the "Russia" forum and exhibition celebrating the country's major achievements in Moscow, Russia, December 4, 2023. Putin was given an explanation of a Soviet nuclear bomb design and shown a mock control panel for launching a nuclear test, before observing images of a blast and mushroom cloud through a viewing window. Since the start of the Ukraine war, Putin has frequently reminded the West of the size and capabilities of Russia's nuclear arsenal, saying anyone who tried to launch a nuclear attack against it would be wiped from the face of the earth. Supporters of Putin dismiss that analysis, pointing to independent polling which shows he enjoys approval ratings of above 80%. They say that Putin has restored order and some of the clout Russia lost during the chaos of the Soviet collapse.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Voskresensky, Putin, Oleg Saitov, Boris Yeltsin, Josef Stalin, Catherine the Great, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Kremlin, State, Thomson Locations: Russia, Moscow, Soviet, Ukraine, Belarus, Soviet Union, Putin's Russia, London

☆ UK military faces $22 billion equipment shortfall, watchdog says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Britain's armed forces face an equipment funding shortfall of 17 billion pounds ($21.6 billion) over the next 10 years, a public spending watchdog said on Monday, a concern for defence chiefs at a time of heightened geopolitical risks. The National Audit Office (NAO) put the estimate for the budget for new weapons and equipment at 305.5 billion pounds for 2023-2033, 16.9 billion pounds over budget, the largest deficit since its first report in 2012. Russia's war in Ukraine has highlighted the need for extra military spending across Europe, with Britain an important ally and provider of military equipment to Kyiv. The government raised spending on defence by an extra 5 billion pounds earlier this year, increasing it to about 2.25% of gross domestic product this year and next. "The Ministry of Defence acknowledges that its Equipment Plan for 2023–2033 is unaffordable," NAO head Gareth Davies said in a statement.

Persons: NAO, Grant Shapps, Shapps, Gareth Davies, Sarah Young, Bernadette Baum, Timothy Organizations: Audit, Soaring, Ministry of Defence's, Defence, Ministry, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Britain, Ukraine, Europe, Kyiv

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