Russia
As inflation slows and the ruble rallies, Russia is hoping to avoid a financial crisis
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pool | Reuters Russia believes it has swerved a financial crisis as its currency rallies and economic data improves, but strategists say the numbers mask some ugly truths for Moscow. Although inflation in the country is running hot, there are signs that price rises are slowing and will continue to do […]
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‘The stakes here are now massive’: Turkey is threatening to block NATO membership for Sweden and Finland
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks ahead of the peace talks between delegations from Russia and Ukraine at Dolmabahce Presidential Office in Istanbul, Turkiye on March 29, 2022. Arda Kucukkaya | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has doubled down on his opposition to Sweden and Finland joining the NATO alliance, […]
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Soldiers evacuated from besieged Mariupol steelworks; Turkey could block NATO bids from Finland, Sweden
Turkey says it won’t approve Finland, Sweden NATO bids Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan holds a news conference during the NATO summit at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 14, 2021. Yves Herman | Reuters Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated Ankara’s objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, saying Turkey will not approve […]
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Take a look inside the Finnish bunkers capable of withstanding a nuclear attack
HELSINKI, Finland — Blast proof, gas proof and offering protection from radiation and toxic chemicals — Finland takes its network of underground bunkers seriously. Located about 60 feet underground, this civil shelter in Helsinki can hold up to 6,000 people. Defying expectations of a dark, damp cave; it’s bright, clean and warm, complete with soccer […]
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NATO is about to get bigger and Putin is unhappy: Here are 3 ways Moscow could react
Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves Red Square after the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2022. Kirill Kudryavtsev | Afp | Getty Images With Finland and Sweden both announcing their bids to join the Western military alliance NATO, ending a decades-long history of military non-alignment, all eyes are on Russia and […]
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‘Londongrad’: How Russia’s war exposed the dark side of luxury London
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and resultant sanctions on President Putin’s oligarch elite, a spotlight has been firmly cast on the British capital and its complicity as a store for dirty money. When Russia mounted its war in Ukraine in February 2022, Britain was one of the first Western allies to impose sanctions on the […]
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Ukraine can win this war, NATO chief says; Finland and Sweden move to join military alliance rattling Moscow
Ukraine says it’s counterattacking in the east, pushing Russian forces back Ukrainian forces say they have pushed back the Russian military in the region around Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, and near the border with Russia. “The 227th Battalion of the 127th Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine of Kharkiv […]
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U.S., Europe race to improve food supply chains after India bans wheat exports
PARIS — The United States and the European Union are looking at how to improve food supply chains with export restrictions from India and other nations accentuating global problems, the EU’s trade chief told CNBC. G-7 foreign ministers warned over the weekend that the war in Ukraine is increasing the risk of a global hunger […]
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Russia has lost a third of its original ground force, UK says; NATO official confident on Finland, Sweden
NATO deputy secretary general ‘confident’ on consensus over Finland and Sweden NATO’s deputy secretary general said Sunday that if Finland and Sweden decide to apply to join the military alliance, “will be able to welcome them.” Speaking to reporters as he arrived at the informal meeting of foreign ministers in Berlin, Mircea Geoana said the […]
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Russia says it will act if NATO moves nuclear forces nearer its border; Ukraine makes territorial gains
Russian forces are withdrawing from Kharkiv, Ukraine says Civilians walk past an old checkpoint in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 12, 2022. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Russian forces are withdrawing from the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine said in an operational update Saturday. “Russian enemy did not conduct active hostilities in the […]
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