At least we have each other
Edward's weekly news roundup & open thread (August 27, 2023)
Welcome to Edward Slavsquat’s legendary weekend open thread and link-dump. By reading this sentence you are now contractually obligated to share your best URLs in the comments section, or at least say Guten Tag.
News from Russian media
The United States has doubled uranium purchases from Russia. [RBC]
A St. Petersburg court ruled that commuters in the city must be allowed to pay their fares in cash. [Katyusha]
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Moscow was working with other BRICS members to solve sanctions-related problems with settlements. [RIA Novosti]
Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov extended coronavirus restrictions in the city until December 31. Since the summer of 2022, “public health” measures in Russia’s second-largest city have been minimal. [TASS]
The ruble’s dollar exchange rate stabilized after the Bank of Russia increased the key rate to 12%, but no currency control measures have been taken. [RBC]
Norway is rebuilding a fence along its border with Russia in the Arctic to stop reindeer from wandering into the neighboring country. [Kapital Rus]
Russian lawyers have scored some noteworthy victories against government efforts to “digitalize” education. [Anna Rudneva]
Russians who went shopping recently experienced a real shock—pork, which only yesterday cost 250 rubles per kilogram, has risen in price by an average of 25-30%. [Free Press]
The Dutch brewing company Heineken sold its Russian division for 1 euro to Arnest group, which specializes in the production of perfumes, cosmetics and household products. [Vedomosti]
The IMF and BIS are building a global concentration camp, codenamed “CBDC” [Strategic Culture Foundation]
Despite plans to increase settlements in national currencies, the US dollar remains the main currency of the BRICS bank and is “programmed into the DNA” of the financial institution, Leslie Maasdorp, financial director of the BRICS New Development Bank, said in a recent interview. [Lenta]
In 2022, EU imports decreased by more than 58%. Exports plummeted by 54%. [Kommersant]
Links from around the interwebs
Laughing Hysterically Through Tears: A Russian-Style Conversation with Riley Waggaman [Tessa Lena]
BRICS Summit - the last nail in multipolarity’s coffin [Iurie Rosca]
Putin: Prigozhin Made a Serious Mistake [Rolo/Rurik]
A Synthetic Hegemonic Currency For a Multipolar Global Economy: Part 2 [Iain Davis/Geopolitics & Empire]
China’s Economy – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Part 2) [Austrian China]
Edward’s dispatches in foreign languages
Aprobada la ley sobre el rublo digital [Freelander]
Prigožin je MRTVÝ? [Reportéři on-line]
"Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus said the plane crash that killed Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin this week was likely an assassination by Russian President Vladimir Putin and proved Russia is a “mafia state.”
Hmm, mafia state, I guess it takes one to know one.🤔https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4171386-petraeus-prigozhin-killing-shows-russia-mafia-state/
Guten Tag Edward and friends/followers.
Your concise weekly overview much appreciated. I send it to a couple of people, who were delighted too.