"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.
In a report published this week, the commission said Russian forces, operating under a centralised command, had systematically used drones to intentionally target civilians and civilian objects and cause harm and destruction. The report was compiled by the UN's independent international commission of inquiry on Ukraine, an independent body that reports back to the UN. The latest report looked at three regions of Ukraine in particular Kherson, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk which are
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.
Israel is committed to "regulating" its relationship with Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a summit in Tajikistan last week, citing confidential contacts with Israeli leaders. "We are getting signals from the Israeli leadership asking us to convey to our Iranian friends that Israel is not interested in any kind of confrontation," Putin said. Tehran, according to the Russian president, also wants to "work toward peace." Putin also made a point that the Iranian regime "must not possess nuclear weapons."
Russia is India's top oil supplier. Moscow exported 1.62 million barrels per day to India in September, roughly one-third of the country's oil imports. For months, Modi resisted US pressure, with Indian officials defending the purchases as vital to national energy security. A move by India to stop imports would signal a major shift by one of Moscow's top energy customers and could reshape the calculus for other nations still importing Russian crude.
Given that list, Rutte was in no mood to mince words. But he pointed out that despite all the trouble Russia can cause, people should not give in to fear that inflates its capabilities into something unstoppable. In four years of war and with more than 1 million casualties, Russia has largely failed to advance in Ukraine, for instance, and its global military ambitions have been hobbled after losing bases in Syria and having numerous Black Sea Fleet ships sunk by Ukrainian drones and missiles.
Melania Trump on Friday announced she's had discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin leading to an agreement to return Ukrainian children back home. On Friday, Melania appeared in the White House for a brief press conference on the situation in Russia. Since at least August, the Trump administration has taken notice of the Ukrainian children who have been abducted by Russian forces.
Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Russian parliament's Defense Committee, said Russia would respond harshly if the United States supplies Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, the state RIA news agency reported. "We know these missiles very well, how they fly, how to shoot them down, we worked on them in Syria, so there is nothing new," RIA cited him as saying. "Only those who supply them and those who use them will have problems," Kartapolov added.
