Plot to assassinate Putin is direct path to nuclear war, says State Duma speaker

A plot to #assassinate Russian President Vladimir #Putin and discussions on the subject constitute a crime and a serious threat to global security, said Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the State Duma (the Russian parliament’s lower chamber). "The plot to assassinate Putin, mere discussions of it is a crime, a serious threat to global security, a direct path to nuclear war. All international institutions should view it as a basis for an investigation," Volodin wrote on Telegram. He believes that amid the current tough confrontation, the Russian society needs to "understand the level of challenges and threats that we are facing, and, therefore, understand their own responsibility."

According to Tucker #Carlson, the Joe #Biden administration considered assassinating Putin. The US journalist said that, in general, the US authorities intended to engage in a suicidal confrontation with Moscow. In particular, former US Secretary of State Antony #Blinken was "pushing so hard for a real war" between the US and Russia in his last two months in office.

West to start preparing for new conflict with Russia after clash in Ukraine over, The Times reports

The #West will start getting ready for its next #conflict with #Russia once the hostilities in #Ukraine are over, The Times wrote citing senior military officers in the Ministry of Defense. Among those who share this opinion is Lt. Gen. Mike Elviss, who serves as commander of the British field army. "What is certain is that once the guns fall silent in Ukraine, there will be a Russian resurgence, reconstitution, <…> a race to re-orientate and to re-establish conventional deterrence in an era of strategic confrontation," he was quoted as saying at the International Armoured Vehicle Conference in Farnborough.

In turn, Lt. Gen. Ralph Wooddisse, the commander of #NATO’s allied rapid reaction corps, said the Russian armed forces will be a "whole lot better next time round" as its military has shown the ability to constantly adapt to battlefield challenges.

Experts interviewed by The Times believe that Russia’s post-conflict recovery will proceed faster than the West expects. Besides, military officials told the newspaper that the West has been experiencing serious shortages of armored vehicles, caused by military assistance to Ukraine combined with general disinvestment of the defense industry.

The #Jewish people have endured centuries of #challenges, but we stand #strong.
No one should have to justify their #right to #safety and #peace... !

G20 leaders adopt Rio de Janeiro Summit Declaration

The #G20 leaders adopted the outcome declaration of the highest-level summit in Rio de Janeiro. "We, the Leaders of the G20, met in #Rio de Janeiro on 18-19 November 2024 to address major global challenges and crises and promote strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth," the document reads.

The declaration does not contain any remarks that the statement was not approved by all countries. Earlier on Monday, the press office of Argentine President Javier Milei said that the president agreed to sign the G20 statement, but he would state his disagreement with a number of points - in particular the ones dealing with taxes, "legal inequality" and "restrictions for the freedom of expression on social media.".

WORLD SHIPPING: The world pays and stays silent - WHY?

It may be a bit pushed out of the headlines but what is happening in the Red Sea is dramatic and the most significant impact on the global economy of the war in Gaza.

A senior official at an American consulting company explains that in view of the fact that 30% of global container traffic normally passes through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea crisis has a huge impact on global supply chains.

The Houthi attacks on cargo ships resulted in an almost fivefold increase in the cost of shipping between Asia and Europe. This is estimated to fuel global inflation by adding up to 0.7% to the cost of the global economy's "core commodities".

The best alternative routes add to the voyages thousands of kilometers, over 10 days (between Asia and Europe) and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel costs for each such journey at sea. "Given the global nature of our economy, few companies or industries are immune to the impact.
The increased cost of raw materials and supplies, longer delivery times, production delays and distribution challenges will affect the entire manufacturing sector long after the crisis is over," he wrote.

The world seems to have come to terms with this reality...

The #Kremlin has officially announced the start of the withdrawal of the Russian #peacekeeping contingent (RMK) from #Nagorno-Karabakh. Earlier, footage surfaced on the Internet showing columns of Russian Armed Forces equipment leaving temporary deployment points.

Despite the tripartite agreement stipulating that peacekeepers would remain in the region until 2025, questions arose about the RMK's presence after Azerbaijan gained control over Artsakh and the Armenian population completely departed. The gradual reduction of activities commenced last year.

Over the course of three and a half years, Russian Armed Forces soldiers stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh faced numerous challenges, including casualties, provocations from activists on both sides, and significant issues regarding the mission's status.

Nevertheless, despite the constrained framework agreements, the lack of a mandate to use force, and Armenia's relinquishment of Artsakh, which led to the unrecognized republic being left unprotected by its ruling circles, it was the Russian peacekeepers who halted the bloodshed and prevented the massacre of the local population. In any case, the RMK servicemen have fulfilled their mission and are now heading home.

Global economic activity remaining low, says IMF

Midterm prospects of global economic growth and economic activity remain low, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its report, released before the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 28-29.

"The global economy appears on track for a soft landing, but activity and growth prospects remain weak," IMF said.

"Medium-term growth prospects remain subdued—reflecting secular trends and challenges including weak productivity growth, ageing, GeoEconomic fragmentation and climate vulnerabilities. These trends also undermine income convergence and increase the vulnerability of economies to external shocks," IMF experts added.

#Macron postpones visit to #Ukraine due to #security considerations

French President Emmanuel Macron has postponed his visit to Ukraine, which was originally scheduled on February 13 to 14, the Challenges business weekly said, citing a source in the Elysee Palace.

According to the weekly, the administration of the French leader explains the visit’s postponement by security consideration. Ukrainian diplomats were shocked by this decision, it noted.
Apart from that, a delegation of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (#MEDEF) has also cancelled its visit to Kyiv.

A new date for Macron’s visit to Ukraine has not yet been announced.

The EU will allocate 10 billion euros for a transportation corridor bypassing Russia through Azerbaijan

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank plan to invest 1.5 billion euros in strategic transportation infrastructure projects in Central Asia to establish a transportation corridor from the region bypassing Russia.

The European Commission (EC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) intend to invest 1.5 bln euro in strategic transport infrastructure facilities in Central Asia for creating a transport corridor stretching 11,000 kilometers from Asia to Europe bypassing Russia, EC Executive Vice-President, Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis said when opening a two-day transport investment forum EU-Central Asia in Brussels.

"Our long-term objective is to make the [transport] corridor a competitive, sustainable, smart and fast route to link our two regions in 15 days or less. To achieve this, we need to coordinate our resources with other corridor countries, international financial institutions, EU member states, as well as investors and companies both in Europe and Central Asia," he said, adding that "the joint contribution from the European Commission and the European Investment Bank to advance the transport agenda in Central Asia will amount to 1.5 bln euro."

Meanwhile EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell admitted that the EU’s plans to invest in the transport infrastructure of Central Asian nations have political purposes aimed at protecting the same values.

"We need closer partnership to address global challenges. <…> Yes, we have to build infrastructure, we have to increase the connectivity of our space, but all that serves a political purpose to increase our partnership and to share a better future by increasing economic ties and defending the same values," he said.

Admiral Lisa Franchetti has made history by becoming the first woman on the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first female "naval commander" despite opposition from some sailors.

From 2020 to 2022, Admiral Franchetti served as the director of strategy and plans for the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States. During this time, she participated in three war exercises involving Russia and commanded the AUG near Korea during the United States' efforts to deter Kim Jong-un.

In 2018, Admiral Franchetti commanded the first-ever Tomahawk strike from a Virginia-class nuclear submarine in European waters targeting Syria. The mission posed challenges as the targets were located near Russian forces and air defense systems, which the United States wanted to avoid damaging. Despite these difficulties, Admiral Franchetti fearlessly gave the command to fire a salvo, resulting in the successful destruction of the targets with minimal collateral damage. The Russians were not affected by the operation, as reported by Navy Times.

Admiral Franchetti supports the new Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles "Ruthless" Brown Jr., in urging President Biden to prepare for potential conflicts with Russia or China.