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Tag: Russia

  • BREAKING: Wagner boss, Prigozhin, feared dead in plane crash

    BREAKING: Wagner boss, Prigozhin, feared dead in plane crash

    The chief of Russian mercenary group, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is believed to have been killed in a plane crash, Russian state media reported Wednesday.

    The aircraft, a business jet, crashed in the Tver region northwest of Moscow, with all 10 people onboard killed, according to Russian authorities.

    While Russian officials said that Prigozhin was on the passenger list, it was not immediately clear if he was in the aircraft

    “An investigation of the Embraer plane crash that happened in the Tver Region this evening was initiated. According to the passenger list, first and last name of Yevgeny Prigozhin was included in this list,” Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport said in a statement.

    The plane was flying from Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow to St. Petersburg, state news agency Tass reported, according to a Google translation.

    The Russian Ministry of Emergency Services wrote on its Telegram account: “In the Tver region, near the village of Kuzhenkino, a private Embraer Legacy aircraft crashed while flying from Moscow to St. Petersburg. There were 10 people on board, including 3 crew members.”

    “According to preliminary information, all on board were killed. EMERCOM of Russia is conducting search operations,” the post read, according to a Google translation.

    The 62-year old paramilitary leader, once a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s, led a short-lived mutiny against the Russian government in late June after spending months vocally criticizing his country’s top brass. His forces, known for their particularly violent battlefield tactics, spearheaded a number of battles for Russia on the Ukrainian front.

    An apparent deal was made between Prigozhin and Putin after the aborted coup, which was meant to see the Wagner Group leader and his forces relocate to Belarus, with Prigozhin himself pledging to leave Russia for good. It is unclear why the aircraft he was listed as being on was near Moscow.

  • Global wealth projected to rise 38% by 2027, despite recent decline – Study

    Global wealth projected to rise 38% by 2027, despite recent decline – Study

    Global wealth, as measured in personal holdings of assets from real estate to stocks and shares, is projected to rise 38 percent by 2027, driven largely by emerging markets, a study published by Credit Suisse and UBS showed on Tuesday.

    The annual Global Wealth Report, which estimates the wealth holdings of 5.4 billion adults across 200 markets, says global wealth will reach $629 trillion over the next five years.

    The upbeat outlook comes despite 2022 recording the first fall in net global household wealth since the 2008 global financial crisis.

    In nominal terms, net private wealth dipped 2.4 percent last year, with the loss concentrated in more prosperous regions such as North America and Europe, the report showed. A stronger US dollar was a big factor.

    The largest wealth increases last year were recorded for Russia, Mexico, India and Brazil. The report forecast wealth in emerging economies, including the BRICS countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, will rise 30 percent by 2027.

    It expects the further increases in emerging markets to contribute to a reduction in global wealth inequality in the coming years.

    The largest declines last year came from financial assets, as opposed to non-financial assets such as real estate, which remained resilient.

    Broken down on an individual basis, this meant adults were $3,198 worse off by the end of last year.

    However, “global median wealth, arguably a more meaningful indicator of how the typical person is faring, did in fact increase by 3 percent in 2022 in contrast to the 3.6 percent fall in wealth per adult,” the report said.

    Median wealth has seen a five-fold increase this century, largely due to rapid wealth growth in China.

  • Suspected russian spies arrested in UK security probe

    Suspected russian spies arrested in UK security probe

    In a shocking revelation, the British authorities have apprehended three Bulgarian nationals suspected of espionage on behalf of Russia.

    The trio, identified as Orlin Roussev, Bizer Dzhambazov, and Katrin Ivanova, were detained in February as part of a significant national security investigation that has sent shockwaves through the intelligence community.

    The suspects stand accused of possessing fraudulent identity documents and are believed to have been operating under the command of Russian security agencies. The list of fabricated documents includes passports and identity cards for multiple countries, including the UK, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, and more.

    Orlin Roussev, one of the accused, arrived in the UK in 2009 and initially worked in the financial sector before transitioning to a business involved in signals intelligence, a field that centers on intercepting electronic communications. Meanwhile, Bizer Dzhambazov and Katrin Ivanova, who posed as a couple, resided in Harrow, London, for over a decade. Dzhambazov worked as a hospital driver, while Ivanova was employed as a laboratory assistant for a private health business.

    The counter-terrorism detectives of the Metropolitan Police, acting under the Official Secrets Act, apprehended the trio. These arrests come against the backdrop of increasing concerns about espionage and state threats emanating from Russia. The UK has previously been targeted by Russian operatives in incidents such as the poisoning of former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.

    The suspects are slated to stand trial at London’s Old Bailey in January, with the court expected to deliberate over charges related to the possession of false documents with nefarious intent. The trial is expected to draw significant attention, shedding light on the evolving landscape of espionage and foreign influence in the UK.

  • 2 persons killed in Russian shelling of Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia regions – Ukrainian Official

    2 persons killed in Russian shelling of Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia regions – Ukrainian Official

    A police officer was killed early this morning in Russian shelling on a town in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian officials have said.

    It comes after a 73-year-old woman was confirmed to have died in a separate attack in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, following Russian shelling of a residential building.

    The police offer was killed in town of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, while 12 others were injured, including four police officers, according to interior minister Ihor Klymenko via Telegram.

    He said Russian troops used a guided aerial bomb.

    Reuters news agency could not independently verify the details of the Ukrainian reports.

    Eastern parts of Kharkiv region and most of Zaporizhzhia region are directly adjacent to the front line, and Ukrainian forces have reported an increase in Russian attacks there in recent weeks.

    Earlier this month, Kharkiv regional authorities announced the mandatory evacuation of civilians from settlements closest to the front line in Kupiansk district.

    Ukrainian authorities said this week that Russia attacked a “civilian infrastructure object” in Zaporizhzhia on Thursday evening.

     

  • We destroyed 2 drones flying toward Moscow, says Russian defense ministry

    We destroyed 2 drones flying toward Moscow, says Russian defense ministry

    Russian defense ministry said its air defense system destroyed two drones flying toward Moscow.

    The ministry disclosed this in a statement.

    “Attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks by drones have been stopped this night over the territory of the Kaluga and Moscow regions,” the ministry said.

    It said two unmanned aerial vehicles flying toward Moscow were destroyed by air defense systems in the sky over the Kaluga and Moscow regions.

    No casualties or damage were reported, the ministry said.

     

  • Russian attacks continue to affect world’s most vulnerable – UN

    Russian attacks continue to affect world’s most vulnerable – UN

    The UN says attacks against Ukrainian port infrastructure are not isolated and with Russia’s termination of the Black Sea Initiative, are impacting on global food prices and affecting the most vulnerable people.

    Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for Secretary-General Antionio Guterres said this at a news conference in New York on Monday.

    The Danube port of Izmail, in the Odesa Region, was attacked on Aug. 2. The attack damaged facilities storing thousands of tons of food grain.

    “The secretary-general also condemned Russia’s intensification of attacks on Ukrainian ports, calling for the immediate cessation of all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine,” he said.

    The Black Sea Initiative enabled the export of millions of metric tons of food from Ukrainian ports, and together with the UN’s parallel accord with Russia on export of food and fertiliser, had been vital for global food security and price stability, including in areas hit hard by conflict and hunger, such as Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Yemen.

    Denise Brown, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, visited Izmail port on Saturday, three days after the attack.

    “The thousands of tons of grains that were damaged would have been enough to feed approximately 66 million people for a day,” she said.

    “Relentless attacks by Russian forces on grain stores and port infrastructure in Ukraine form an extremely alarming pattern of harm and may constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law,” she added.

    Meanwhile across Ukraine, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continues to sound the alarm about the plight of civilians already facing a dire situation, as the intensification of attacks affecting critical civilian infrastructure in the country will likely worsen the humanitarian needs, according to Haq.

    The $3.9 billion Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023 launched earlier this year, aims to reach some 11.1 million people across Ukraine with assistance, according to OCHA

    However as of end-July,  it had only been about 30 per cent funded, impacting humanitarians’ efforts at providing aid to those in need.

  • Coup: Russia backing Niger Junta – Ohanaeze

    Coup: Russia backing Niger Junta – Ohanaeze

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organization, has appealed to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt military operations in the Junta led Niger Republic.

    Ohanaeze warned that the military operations in Niger Republic would have devastating effect on Nigeria because the Junta government in the country has the backing of Russia.

    A statement by a factional Secretary-General of the group, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, called for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis in Niger Republic.

    He stressed the need for diplomacy and stability in ensuring the overall progress and prosperity of the West Africa region.

    The statement reads partly: “President Tinubu’s military operations in Niger Republic could potentially escalate tensions with the Ecowas member countries and heighten regional security concerns.

    “It is important to note that Russia’s alleged involvement and their support to Niger, Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso troops to counter President Tinubu led-ECOWAS troops will spell doom for member countries, Nigeria in particular.

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes that the governments of the USA and the UK are encouraging President Tinubu to combat the military junta in Niger Republic.

    “However, the organization warns that such military interventions may not go well for Nigeria.

    “It raises concerns about the potential fallouts from these operations, including increased instability, potential retaliation from the Niger/Mali/Guinea/Burkina Faso alliance backed by World Superpowers, and the potential diversion of resources away from pressing domestic issues in Nigeria.”

  • Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russia intercepts US drone over black sea, fends it off

    Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russia intercepts US drone over black sea, fends it off

    Russia said Saturday it scrambled an Su-30 fighter jet to “prevent a violation of the Russian state border” by a US Reaper MQ-9 military drone over the Black Sea.

    “As the Russian fighter approached, the foreign reconnaissance drone performed a U-turn away from the border,” the Russian defense ministry said.

    The ministry said the drone belonged to the US Air Force.

    “The Russian aircraft returned safely to its air base, there was no violation of the border,” it added.

    Incidents involving Russian and Western aircraft have multiplied over the Black Sea and Baltic Sea in recent months, as Moscow pursues its offensive in Ukraine.

    Tensions grew between Moscow and Washington when another US Reaper drone crashed after colliding with a Russian fighter jet over the Black Sea in mid-March.

    Moscow said in May it had intercepted four US strategic bombers above the Baltic Sea in two separate incidents in the space of one week.

    Russia also said it has intercepted French, German, Polish and British aircraft.

  • African leaders call for release of Russian cereals

    African leaders call for release of Russian cereals

    African leaders involved in peace talks over Ukraine have called for the unblocking of Russian grain and fertilizer exports to revive the deal on grain exports through the Black Sea, South Africa said on Thursday.

    The group has also called on the United Nations to take action to release 200,000 tonnes of Russian fertilizer stuck in European Union ports, said Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

    “Leaders called for specific measures to remove barriers to Russian grain and fertilizer exports, allowing for the resumption of full implementation” of the Black Sea deal, Magwenya said during the meeting. a press briefing in Pretoria.

    Last month, Russia withdrew from a UN-brokered deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea, leading to a spike in grain prices that hit hard affected the poorest countries.

    Moscow is demanding guarantees on another agreement concerning its own exports, in particular of fertilizers.

    The call to meet some of the Kremlin’s demands was made by Mr. Ramaphosa and six other heads of state, including Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, Egypt, and Macky Sall, Senegal, following talks with Mr. Putin in St. Petersburg last week, Magwenya said.

    In recent days, Russia has shelled ports in the Odessa region, which were crucial for grain exports enjoying safe passage under the deal.

    Egypt, South Africa and Senegal are part of a diplomatic effort by seven African countries to try to broker an end to hostilities between Kiev and Moscow.

  • Russia-Africa summit spurs economic promises amid geopolitical tensions

    Russia-Africa summit spurs economic promises amid geopolitical tensions

    Russia-Africa summit, held amid the ongoing geopolitical crisis between Russia and Ukraine, concluded last week with promises of debt forgiveness and food supplies aimed at bolstering economic ties between Moscow and African nations.

    While Western nations continue to isolate Russia, several African leaders have opted for a path of diplomatic neutrality, maintaining closer links with Moscow.

    The highlight of this year’s summit was President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of debt forgiveness for African countries. However, experts express skepticism about whether this alone will significantly sway African nations towards turning to Russia for economic partnerships.

    In this latest episode of Business Africa with Nadia Colombe, Ovigwe Eguegu, a policy analyst, shared his perspective on the matter, stating that debt forgiveness, while appreciated by some countries, may not be enough to alter the perception of Russia on the continent.

    Despite the crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s exit from the Black Sea grain deal, the Libyan grain market has so far remained relatively unaffected. Cereal dealers in Libya report that the soaring global grain prices and fertilizers have not had a significant impact on the country’s grain trade.

    Experts in the region encourage African countries to seize this crisis as an opportunity to invest in resilient food systems and agriculture. By bolstering domestic agricultural production and reducing reliance on external sources, African nations can enhance food security and mitigate the potential impact of global price fluctuations.