#Russia

#Russia

On Christmas Day 2024, a Russian-linked laundering network bought itself a very special present: a controlling stake in a Kyrgyzstan bank, later used to wash cybercrime profits and funnel money into Moscow's war machine, according to the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA). The network, exposed through the NCA's long-running Operation Destabilise, has been sucking up dirty cash across at least 28 UK towns and cities, converting it into cryptocurrency, and using that crypto to move funds through a bank it quietly acquired in Kyrgyzstan.

Within hours, there were reports about Epstein's correspondence with Steve Bannon, Larry Summers, and Michael Wolff. One Epstein e-mail suggested, but offered no proof, that Trump "knew about the girls," many of whom were later found by investigators to have been underage. Another missive from Epstein implied, mysteriously, that he had spent the first Thanksgiving of Trump's Presidency in Palm Beach, in close proximity to him, years after the two had supposedly broken off all contact. Several other e-mails also hinted at ongoing ties.

"The war of today is already being fought in space, and the war of tomorrow will begin in space," Macron said in Toulouse, France's space and aviation hub, which is home to its new space military command centre. "Space is no longer a sanctuary; it has become a battlefield," Macron said. He said that Russia in the wake of its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine was carrying out "espionage" activities in space.

"The European Union is tightening its visa rules for Russian nationals amid concern over what the bloc considers "sabotage and potential misuse of visas." Multiple-entry visas will no longer be issued, with applicants being required to apply for a new visa each time they sought to travel to the EU. In a statement released by the European Commission, they expressed the aim of the new rules were to protect public policy as well as security."

Italian officials have reacted with outrage after Russia used the partial collapse of a medieval tower in central Rome to claim that Italy's support for Ukraine has drained funds needed to preserve its cultural heritage. The Torre dei Conti, a 29m-tall fortified residence built near the Colosseum in the 13th century, partially collapsed on Monday (4 November), causing the death of a Romanian worker who was trapped under rubble for 11 hours.

Russia has reserves of 15 rare-earth metals totalling 28.7 million tonnes, according to the Natural Resources Ministry. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his cabinet to draw up a roadmap for the extraction of rare-earth minerals by December 1, as global interest in the metals heightens due to their use in modern technologies and a desire to reduce reliance on the Chinese-dominated market.

"Think of all the things you need each day to brush your teeth, get dressed, eat," Julia said. "In prison, life goes on, but you don't get any money."

Russian attack helicopters (such as the Mi‑28N) are now reportedly being equipped with the Igla‑S MANPADS via the Strelets system launcher modules in order to intercept Ukrainian long-range drones. While traditional guns and rockets on helicopters have been used in this role, the addition of MANPADS shows Russian awareness of the threat posed by smaller, faster aerial targets. How effective MANPADS are against low-heat small UAVs remains to be seen.

Last month the US president declared that Ukraine could regain all the land lost since the 2022 invasion (Why not?) adding that Russia had been fighting aimlessly and was in BIG economic trouble. But after a two-and-a-half hour phone call with Vladimir Putin, Trump swung back to Moscow-friendly talking points. Let it be cut the way it is, he said, referring to Ukrainian territory.