Moscow Concert Attack: At least 133 dead in terrorist attack; ISIS claims responsibility; four gunmen caught while heading to Ukraine

By Ruzeki, Shadoww News 

March 22, 2024 

At least 133 people were killed and more than 200 injured when the terrorists stormed the building, firing indiscriminately and setting it alight. 

Russian authorities said 11 people were detained in total, and the four gunmen were caught while heading to Russia-Ukraine border.

The Islamic State terror group's claim was made through an ISIS-linked news agency and was not backed by any proof. 

What we know about the Moscow concert attack

• Men in camouflage broke into a Moscow concert hall and opened fire, shooting an unknown number of people. 
• The ISIS, which is believed to be a CIA and Mossad-backed terror group, has claimed responsibility but has not provided proof of the claim, which was made on ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram. 
• Russia officials said that at least 133 people are dead and more than 200 injured after the attack at Crocus City Hall on Friday. 
• A fire also started inside Crocus City Hall, a large concert venue northwest of central Moscow. 

Firefighters have evacuated about 300 people from the basement of the building and efforts are underway to rescue people from the roof, Russian emergency officials said. 

Russia security service said it was investigating the attack as a terrorist act. 

A popular rock band was scheduled to play what appeared to be a sold-out show at the venue, which has a maximum capacity of more than 9,000 people. 

Guards at the concert hall didn’t have guns, and some could have been killed at the start of the attack, Russian state media reported. 

According to some news outlets, the assailants fled before special forces and riot police arrived.

Reports said police patrols were looking for several vehicles the attackers could have used to escape. 

The U.S. had intelligence that ISIS could mount a mass casualty attack in Russia. In March 7, the U.S. embassy in Russia issued a warning about a possible extremist attacks, including at concerts, urging American citizens to stay away from large gatherings. 

Some Moscow concertgoers filmed events as they unfolded on Friday night, when gunmen opened fire inside a theater and people ran to take cover in fear for their lives.

Witnesses to today’s armed attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall told TASS news agency that they first mistook the gunfire for sounds of an installation being dismantled. 

The terror group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in Moscow.

The terror group, also known as ISIS and is believed to be backed by the US and Israel, did not provide any proof of its claim, which came from ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram. 

The ISIS terrorists have carried out a number of terror attacks, including the 2015 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and a recent terror attack in Kerman, which killed about 100 Iranians, in January 2024. 

Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, said children were among the victims of tonight's attack. 

Earlier, Russian officials released a preliminary casualty toll of at least 115 people dead and more than 200 injured. 

People and leaders from all over the world are among those who expressed their condolences to the victims of the attack at the Crocus concert hall in Moscow. 

Several regional leaders across Russia, have canceled public events this weekend over security considerations after the deadly concert attack in Moscow. 

Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said the number of rescue crews responding to the attack is growing and now includes more than 320 firefighters, 130 emergency vehicles and three helicopters dumping water on the burning concert venue. 

According to RIA news agency, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin was informed about the shooting at the Crocus concert hall "in the first minutes" of the attack.

We shall update this Breaking News as soon as new information is available. 

Opinion: A message to President Vladimir Putin of Russia concerning Wednesday's nuclear threats

By Ruzeki, Shadow News 

March 13, 2024 

President Vladimir Putin, as much as you mean well for the Freedom of Russia, I hate to say this, but I must say it anyway: 

"Your reckless nuclear rhetoric is dangerous to the existence of the whole world.

 

Think about it, what happens when Russia nuke the US/NATO?

 

I'm afraid the US/NATO will nuke Russia back, and the nuke cycle continues until the whole planet is full of mushroom clouds.

 

These nukes will release enormous amounts of energy in the form of blast, heat and radiation. Nearly seven billion people in Africa, Europe, Asia and America will be killed; these include the people who view you as their hero.

 

A few million (privileged; politicians & wealthy individuals and their immediate families) will be safe in their bankers...but the majority of us, with nowhere to hide, will be wiped off the face of the earth.

 

Let's try to negot. for a peace deal in #UkraineRussiaWar as well as in Gaza." 

The risk of nuclear weapons use is the highest it has been in decades. Nuclear threats and other reckless behaviour from nuclear-armed states are elevating the risk that conflict escalates into a global catastrophe.  

But it does not have to be this way. Together, we can take meaningful action to rid the world of these threats of nuclear weapons. 

How can we do that?

The current nuclear threats by Russia and the US must never become “normal”. Every voice raised against nuclear weapons and nuclear threats reduces the risk, and can really help prevent their use. 

So, I urge my readers to use your voice on social media, in public rallies, in phone calls or emails to your elected representatives, any other available means.  

The important thing is to speak out against these threats before it is too late. 

It’s time to stop the madness! 

You don’t need to be an expert to speak out against nuclear weapons and call out how dangerous and unacceptable nuclear weapons are. But information is power, and having the facts can help you find new ways to take action in ways that are meaningful to you. 

Massacre at Babyn Yar in late September 1941

By Ruzeki, Shadow News  

September 29, 2023 

In late September 1941, Nazi German perpetrated one of the largest massacres of World War II at Babyn Yar ravine outside Kyiv, Ukraine. 

Summary: 

• Babyn Yar in Kyiv was the site of one of the largest mass shootings of Jews in German-occupied Europe. It occurred on September 29–30, 1941. 
• Nazi Germans continued to perpetrate mass murders at this killing site until just before the Soviets re-took control of Kyiv in 1943. 
• During this period, Germans shot Jews, as well as Roma, View This Term in the Glossary Ukrainian civilians, and Soviet POWs. 
• In the decades after the war,  Babyn Yar symbolized the struggle over the memory of World War II and the Holocaust in the Soviet Union. 

On September 19, 1941, Nazi German forces entered the city of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Along with a large part of German-occupied Ukraine, the city was incorporated into the Reichskommissariat Ukraine, which had been established on September 1 with Erich Koch as administrator (Reichskommissar). 

Before the German invasion, some 160,000 Jews resided in Kyiv. This was approximately 20 percent of the total population of the city. 

Following the start of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, approximately 100,000 Jews fled Kyiv or were already serving in the Soviet military. 

By the time the Germans occupied Kyiv, there were about 60,000 Jews remaining in the city. Most of those who remained had been unable or unwilling to flee earlier. This included mostly women, children, the elderly, and those who were ill. 

During the first week of the German occupation of Kyiv, there were two major explosions. These explosions destroyed the German headquarters and areas around the main street of the city center (Khreshchatyk Street). 

A large number of German soldiers and officials were also killed in the blasts. Though the explosions were caused by mines left by retreating Soviet soldiers and officials, the Germans used the sabotage as a pretext to murder those Jews who still remained in Kyiv. 

On September 29–30, 1941, German police units and their auxiliaries, under the guidance of members of Einsatzgruppe C, murdered a significant number of the Jewish population who remained in Kyiv. 

The massacre occurred at a ravine called Babyn Yar (Babi Yar). At the time, the ravine was located just outside the city. 

The victims were summoned to the site, forced to undress, and then compelled to enter the ravine. Sonderkommando 4a, a special detachment from Einsatzgruppe C under SS-Standartenführer Paul Blobel, shot them in small groups. 

According to reports sent to the headquarters in Berlin, 33,771 Jews were massacred during this two-day period. 

The massacre at Babyn Yar was one of many mass shootings perpetrated by the Nazi Germans beginning in 1941. It was also one of the largest mass killings at a single location during World War II. 

The ravine at Babyn Yar was a killing site for two years after the September 1941 massacre. There, Germans stationed at Kyiv murdered tens of thousands of people, both Jews and non-Jews; including patients from a local psychiatric hospital, Roma (Gypsies), Soviet prisoners of war, and civilians. 

The killings at the Babyn Yar ravine continued until the fall of 1943, only a few days before the Soviets re-took control of Kyiv on November 6. 

It is estimated that some 100,000 people, Jews and non-Jews, were murdered at Babyn Yar. 

With the Red Army approaching Kyiv in August 1943, Germans embarked on a cover-up operation to conceal what had been happening in Babyn Yar. 

To cover up the mass shootings at Babyn Yar, the Germans ordered 321 prisoners from Syrets to dig up the mass graves and burn the remains of victims. Eighteen inmates who escaped into hiding testified about those crimes to the Soviet authorities in November 1943. 

In January 1946, 15 members of the German police were tried in Kyiv by the Soviet court for the crimes committed at Babyn Yar. 

In the immediate decades after the war, Babyn Yar became a symbol of struggles over the memory of World War II and the Holocaust in the Soviet Union. 

Despite many efforts, there was no memorial at the site until the Soviets installed a monument in 1976. Deemphasizing the Jewish tragedy at Babyn Yar, the text on the monument referred to thousands of civilian victims without indicating that the vast majority of them were Jewish. 

BREAKING: The Wagner PMC boss Yevgeny Prigozhin killed in a fatal plane crash in Russia.

By Ruzeki, Shadow News. 

Yevgeny Prigozhin in fatal plane crash, Russian state media and officials report.

According to emergency ministry, all 10 people on the plane, including three crew members, died in the crash. 

A private jet alleged to be carrying Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose Wagner PMC group launched a failed mutiny in June, has crashed on a flight from Moscow to St Petersburg. 

The Russian officials said a man with Prigozhin’s name was among the passengers, without elaborating further. 

If confirmed, Prigozhin’s death would mark a spectacular end to his career. After playing a prominent role in Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Prigozhin in June led his paramilitary force on a historic, abortive mutiny march on Moscow. 

Viral videos shared on social media channels known to be close to the Russian security services showed graphic images of a crash site in the Tver region north-west of Moscow, near the village of Kuzhenkino. 

The footage appeared to show emergency services approaching the burning carcass of a plane. Eight bodies have been recovered from the site, authorities said. 

The Russian investigative committee said it had opened a criminal case in relation to the crash. Rosaviatsiya, the Russian aviation agency, said it had launched a commission and was searching for the plane’s black box. 

A post by Grey Zone, a Wagner-connected social media channel, claimed Russian anti-aircraft defences had shot down the plane. It said that residents heard “two bursts of characteristic air defence fire” before the crash. “This is confirmed by inversion traces in the sky in one of the videos,” it added. 

President Vladimir Putin was speaking at a concert to commemorate the second world war in the Kursk region near the border with Ukraine when the crash was reported. 

The US president Joe Biden, who is on holiday in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, told reporters he did not know for a fact what happened but, was not surprised as not much happens in Russia that Putin is not behind. 

Prigozhin is a former Kremlin caterer known as “Putin’s chef”, he emerged as one of the most important leaders of Russia’s war effort before souring on the military’s leadership to such an extent that he launched a coup against Kremlin in late June. 

Under an agreement with the Kremlin, Wagner fighters decamped for exile in neighbouring Belarus, whose leader Alexander Lukashenko brokered the deal. 

Last month, Prigozhin said that Wagner fighters would eventually redeploy to Africa, where the group continues to fight as mercenaries in several conflicts. 

Prigozhin appeared in a video on Monday saying that he was in Africa on a mission to make Russia even greater on all continents. 

Although Prigozhin appeared to have been reintegrated into the Russian security establishment, most analysts had predicted they expected Prigozhin would face retribution. 

According to flight tracking site Flightradar24, the aircraft, an Embraer Legacy, was the same plane that Prigozhin had regularly used to travel around Russia and as far away as Africa.

Recently, the jet had been making trips to Belarus. 

When the Embraer jet last broadcast its position, it was flying at 28,000ft near Tver and moving at a ground speed of 513 knots. The route appears to be the aircraft’s normal flight path to St Petersburg, a run it last made on July 6. 

Video of the crash and its aftermath posted by social media with ties to Russian security services showed the plane rapidly descending from the sky, before crashing to the ground in a ball of flames. 

This developing story shall be updated once new information about the Wagner PMC boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is available. 

Africa-Russia Summit: Africa Turn Towards Russia for strong economic, diplomatic and security relations

By Ruzeki, Shadow News.  

What are the prospects for cooperation between Russia and Africa? 

The areas of increased co-operation between Russia and Africa are in the areas of agriculture, energy, security, education and health. 

-What are the challenges and advantages of Africa-Russia cooperation? 

Apart from Western countries putting pressure on Africa not to cooperate with Russia, the other challenges which Russia faces, regarding increasing co-operation in Africa is logistical, financial and infrastructure. The West has the advantage of dominating certain African nations economically. 

Now, the advantages that Russia has unlike Western nations is historical and cultural, Russia was never involved in colonialising Africa and during the cold war, contributed to a number of African nations gaining independence from former western colonial powers. 

-What are the positive aspects of the Russia-Africa Summit memorandum? 

- The positive aspects of the recent Russia-Africa Forum were 4 joint declarations signed between Russia and all heads of states, including the head of the African Union. 

Moreover, Russia planning to increase the number of embassies in Africa, where since the 1990s, was closed down. 

Additionally, Russia announced it will provide grain for free after its withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal, where Africa was provided with little to no grain. Importantly, Russia announced it would write off a total of $23 billion in debt obligations. 

Russia will continue grain supplies to the African continent. Actually, in 3-4 months, free grain will be sent to Africa.

The potential stumbling blocks to Russia’s ability to deliver grain is logistics, considering the risks of undersea drone attacks in the Black Sea by the Ukraine forces. 

The way to overcome this is potential setback is to increase the transit of grain via the North-South Transport Corridor to have a secure route to facilitate deliveries to Africa. 

- Reasons why a number of countries on the African continent are preparing to join the BRICS and prefer to cooperate not with Europe and the United States, but with Russia, China and their allies. 

The main reasons why BRICS looks attractive for the number of African nations wanting to join is economics. Especially, as each nation has undergone the same or similar experience of development (neo-liberalism and its disastrous effects). 

BRICS has surpassed the G7 in terms of total GDP value and wealth. The group members never interfere with a nation’s internal affairs. Especially, as certain western nations which have historically and to this day, continue to openly sponsor colour revolutions to topple governments, and force controversial policies on nations which don’t abide by their demands. 

The emergence of new multilateral institutions such as the BRICS new development bank, African Development Bank and Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank, provides a new source of funding to support key projects in African nations and breaks the monopoly of financial loaning from the World Bank and in the worst-case scenario, the I.M.F. 

Each member of the BRICS has played a key role in supporting the interests of African nations at other multilateral institutions such as the G20, supporting the application of the African Union to become a member. 

- How could Africa-Russia improve interaction in the cultural sphere? 

Russia must increase its cultural exchanges in education, sports, art and media. As these kind of exchanges are necessary to understand what makes each nation unique and areas of cooperation. 

- What is BRICS to Africa?

For Africns, the BRICS bloc provide alternative economic development models for other developing nations to pursue, instead of the failed neo-liberal policies which continue to be promoted by western nations despite the failed promises of neo-liberalist policies in Africa. 

Russia-Ukraine war: The Black Sea grain deal expires!

By Ruzeki, Shadow News 

Monday July 17, 2023 

According to the Kremlin, Russia won't extend the Black Sea grain deal, which expired today. This will stall the export of Ukrainian grain to the European market. 

The Black Sea Grain Deal – was brokered between Russia and Ukraine by the United Nations and Turkey.

The deal has allowed over 30 million metric tonnes of graina to be exported from war-torn Ukraine since August, 2022. 

About 70 percent of these grains went to the European market whereas only a third went to developing countries, especially in Africa and Asia. 

On Monday, Russia announced that the black sea grain deal, which had been extended several times, will be terminated on Tuesday. 

Here’s a look at the deal and what it means for the world: 

What’s the Black Sea grain deal?

In July 2022, the deal was signed by Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov at Istanbul’s lavish Dolmabahce Palace. 

The deal created a safe corridor for Ukraine’s grain exports from three Ukrainian ports – Odesa, Yuzhny and Chornomorsk. 

Under the agreement, a coalition of Turkish, Ukrainian and UN staff monitored the loading of grain into vessels in Ukrainian ports before navigating a preplanned route through the Black Sea, which is heavily mined by Ukrainian and Russian forces. 

Ukrainian pilot vessels guided commercial vessels transporting the grain in order to navigate the mined areas around the coastline using a map of safe channels provided by the Ukrainian side. 

The vessels then crossed the Black Sea towards Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait while being closely monitored by a joint coordination centre in Istanbul, containing representatives from the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey. 

Ships entering Ukraine were inspected under the supervision of the same joint coordination centre to ensure they were not carrying weapons. 

What was the objective of the deal? 

Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine on February 24 led to a de facto blockade of the Black Sea, resulting in Ukraine’s exports dropping to one-sixth of their prewar level. 

Kyiv and Moscow are among the largest exporters of grain in the world, and the blockade has caused grain prices to rise dramatically. 

The deal aimed to help avert famine by injecting more wheat, sunflower oil, fertiliser and other products into world markets, including for humanitarian needs. 

What has the deal achieved?

The current deal has helped to bring down prices and ease a global food crisis. 

Prices for wheat, the main ingredient in bread, have fallen about 17 percent so far this year while corn is down about 26 percent. 

Ukrainian grain has played a direct role in easing a global food crisis with 725,200 tonnes, or 2.2 percent of the supplies, shipped through the corridor used by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as aid to countries such as Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen. 

According to the International Rescue Committee, the grain deal is a lifeline for the 79 countries and 349 million people on the front line of food insecurity. 

However, as of Monday, almost 8 million tonnes of goods have been shipped to China, nearly 25 percent of the 32.9 million tonnes exported, according to the UN, while almost 44 percent of exports were shipped to Europe. 

Why did Russia terminate the deal? 

For months, Russia had been saying that conditions for the deal’s extension had not been fulfilled. 

Last week, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said that he wanted an end to sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank. 

Other demands include the resumption of supplies of agricultural machinery and parts, lifting restrictions on insurance and reinsurance, the resumption of the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline and the unblocking of assets and the accounts of Russian companies involved in food and fertiliser exports. 

The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid. Because some conditions of the Black Sea agreements concerning Russia have not been implemented. 

Can the Black Sea grain corridor operate without Russia? 

Ukraine’s ports were blocked until the agreement was reached in July 2022 and it is unclear whether it would be possible to ship grain since Russia withdrew. 

Additional war risk insurance premiums, which are charged when entering the Black Sea area, are expected to go up and shipowners could prove reluctant to allow their vessels to enter a war zone without Russia’s agreement. 

War risk insurance policies need to be renewed every seven days for ships, costing thousands of dollars. 

Can Ukraine export more grain through the EU?

Ukraine has been exporting substantial volumes of grain through eastern European Union countries since the conflict began. There have, however, been many logistical challenges, including different rail gauges. 

Another issue is that the flow of Ukrainian grain through the eastern EU has caused unrest among farmers in the region who say it has undercut local supplies and been purchased by mills, leaving them without a market for their crops. 

As a result, the EU has allowed five countries – Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia – to ban domestic sales of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, while allowing transit for export elsewhere. As it stands, this will be phased out by mid-September.

Larger harvests are also expected in the eastern EU this summer and key ports, such as Constanta in Romania, are expected to struggle to handle the volume of grain they are likely to receive, leading to congestion and shipping delays. 

We shall update this story as soon as new information is available! 

Follow Ruzeki on Twitter for live updates on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and other geopolitical news! 

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Russia-Ukraine war LIVE UPDATES: President Putin will punish those behind armed rebellion; Wagner chief-Prigozhin controls Rostov military HQ

By Ruzeki, Shadow News 

Updated on Sat. June 24, 2023 at 10:30 EAT 

Russia accuses Wagner's Prigozhin of leading "armed rebellion". 

Yevgeny Prigozhin has vowed to take ‘revenge’ after accusing Russia’s military of targeting his forces in a rocket attack. 

Here is what President Vladimir Putin has said so far in his latest televised address to the nation:

Putin gave an emergency televised address on Saturday morning as the Wagner mercenary chief leads an armed rebellion

Putin said Russia is fighting “the toughest battle for its future”

He said the Wagner “armed mutiny” is a “stab in the back” to Russia. He called the rebellion treason and said anyone who had taken up arms against the Russian military would be punished.

He said he would do everything to protect Russia, that the Russian armed forces “have been given the necessary orders” and that “decisive action” would be taken to stabilise the situation.

Putin said: “I will do everything possible to defend my country….And those who have organised an armed rebellion will be held accountable. Those who have been drawn into this, I call on you to stop your criminal actions.”

He also told viewers: “Personal interests have led to the betrayal of our country and the cause that our armed forces are fighting.” 

Here's the latest we're covering

• The Wagner private military group claims to have taken control of key military facilities in two Russian cities, Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh. 

• It comes after Russia's FSB security service accused its boss Yevgeny Prigozhin of calling for an "armed rebellion" when he vowed retaliation after claiming Moscow's military killed a "huge amount" of his mercenaries in a strike on a camp. 
In a stunning series of late-night developments, the FSB urged Wagner fighters to "stop the columns" and detain their leader. 

• Russian state TV interrupted programming Friday night to report a defense ministry statement claiming Prigozhin's comments did not correspond to reality. 

• Security has been stepped up around Moscow — whose mayor said "anti-terrorist measures" are being carried out — and in Rostov, state media reported. 

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has addressed the nation in a televised speech. 

• Russia's Ministry of Defense appealed to Wagner forces to "safely return to their points of permanent deployment" on Saturday, after the private mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed to have taken control of military facilities in two Russian cities. 

• Russian security forces have cordoned off the building of the Wagner Center in St. Petersburg, according to Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti. 

This development shall be updated as soon as new details are available. Follow Ruzeki on Twitter for live updates from Moscow. 

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De-dollarization of the World Economy is underway and it is gaining momentum!

By Ruzeki, Shadow News 

08 June 2023, Nairobi 

• One of the most intriguing financial trends of 2023 is the de-dollarization movement led by Russia, Brazil, India, China, Africa, Saudi Arabia and Iran. This is an effort to reduce the role of the U.S. dollar in international trade. 

• Rivalry with China, fallout from Russia-Ukraine war and the recent wrangling in Washington over the U.S. debt ceiling have put the dollar's status as the world's dominant currency under fresh scrutiny. 

• Russia's sanctions-imposed exile from global financial systems last year also fuelled speculation that non-U.S. allies would diversify away from dollars. 

• De-dollarization, which is the decline of the United States dollar as the world’s dominant reserved currency, is underway, and it’s gaining momentum all over the world. 

For over 100 years, the U.S. dollar has been the world reserve currency, which means it has been the dominant foreign currency held by central banks to carry out international transactions and settle international debt. 

However, in the last 20 years, the dollar’s dominance in countries’ reserves has decreased from 70% to 58%, according to the International Monetary Fund. 

This trend has been accelerating since 2022, when the U.S. and its NATO allies froze Russia’s dollar reserve as a response of the country’s special operation in Ukraine. 

Since then, several countries have been looking for alternatives to the U.S. dollar. Some are discussing the creation of new currencies for international trade, while others are buying an increasing amount of gold to diversify their reserve. 

In 1931, amid the Great Depression, the US dollar replaced the Great British pound as the world’s preferred reserve currency. 

During world war I & II, the United States supplied the allies with the majority of their weapons and munitions. Most allies paid for the weapons with gold, meaning that by the end of the World War II, the US possessed most of the world’s gold. 

This was set in stone in 1944 when 44 countries agreed on the Bretton Wood system. The international delegation agreed to peg the world’s currencies to the dollar rather than to gold since the dollar was itself linked to gold. The US dollar was now the world’s official reserve currency. 

Some economists expect de-dollarization to occur as emerging economies in the Global South grow and seek to diversify the composition of their reserve currencies. 

In 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) noted that “the US dollar’s share of global reserves has declined”. 

There are economic, political, and strategic reasons most countries want to shift away from the dollar. Since the end of the Cold War, the US has been the world’s sole superpower, meaning that the world order has been unipolar. 

However, some states like China and Russia would prefer the world to be multipolar, wherein there would exist multiple poles of world power. De-dollarization would assist in the transition from unipolarity to multipolarity. 

Another incentive for countries to diversify the composition of their reserve currencies, particularly those with poor bilateral relations with the US, is that the US can wield the preponderance of its currency as a geopolitical weapon. 

Sanctions imposed by Washington can be especially potent because of the centrality of the dollar in international finance. Even US allies like Saudi Arabia are wary of US sanctions since their culture could make them a target for Washington’s ire. 

One approach to de-dollarization is Local Currency Trade (LCT), whereby states conduct trade with one another using their own currencies. The currencies are converted based on exchange rates. 

Earlier this year, China and Brazil announced that they would engage in LCT, as opposed to using the dollar. The BRICS bloc of countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa- is developing a new currency to compete with the US dollar. Moscow and Beijing are aggressively leading the charge toward de-dollarization. 

Other countries that have already started trading in their local currencies include United Arabs Emirates, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Venezuela, Kenya, Malaysia, Egypt, India, Argentina, Turkey, Zambia, Algeria, Morocco, Afghanistan, and others in the global south. 

It is argued with this major development, the value of the dollar is going to lose its sheen very soon. Increased investment in BRICS countries would lead to an increase in spending and economic development. Consequently, it is predicted that if the BRICS nations follow forward with their plan and create a new currency, it might help stabilise their economies. 

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Ukrainian assassination attempt on Russian President Vladimir Putin foiled

By Ruzeki, Shadow News 

Moscow claims that Kiev regime attempted to strike the President's residence with two UAVs on Tuesday night.

On Tuesday night, the Kremlin reported that Ukraine launched two drone attacks intended to strike the Kremlin residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

In a statement, Moscow considers the incident an act of terrorism and assassination attempt. 

The aircraft were downed using electronic warfare measures and caused no casualties or damage. Both unmanned aircraft fell on the grounds of the Kremlin in Moscow. This is according to the president’s office. His schedule was not affected.

The incident happened ahead of Victory Day and the parade on May 9, when foreign guests plan to be present. 

The statement noted that Russia reserves the right to retaliate in a manner, place and time of its choosing. 

Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the president was absent from the Kremlin when the drones were downed. 

President Putin was at the presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryovo in Moscow Region, which is located to the west of the capital. 

There is footage circulating on social media, which purports to show the aftermath, with a plume of smoke rising against the night cityscape from the territory of the historic seat of Russian power. 

Another short clip appears to show the moment one of the drones exploded over the Kremlin Senate, which hosts the presidential administration and also serves as a working residence of the Russian head of state. 

It was not clear what caused the blast, though two people can be seen in the video on the dome of the building. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky for first time since Russia-Ukraine war

By Ruzeki, Shadow News 

Published at 3:22 PM of Wednesday, April 26, 2023

On Wednesday, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in their first phone call since the start of Russia’s special military operations in Ukraine. 

President Zelensky believes this meaningful call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine’s ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of the bilateral relations. 

The call was also reported by the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Today's call comes after Xi Jingping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month. 

China has claimed neutrality in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Beijing calling for resolution in the conflict. 

According to Beijing, the “legitimate” security concerns of Ukraine and Russia must be taken into account. Chinese officials believe NATO ambitions and the US intervention is fueling the conflict. 

This story shall be updated as soon as full details of the Xi-Zelensky call are available. 

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A UNITED FRONT: Xi Jingping and Vladimir Putin hold talks at Kremlin, Moscow.

  By Ruzeki, Shadow News 

Summary 

Xi Jingping and Vladimir Putin meet for ceremony, talks and later state dinner.

Japanese PM Kishida arrives in Ukraine to meet Zelenskyy. 

Full details of Xi’s talks with Putin on Ukraine peace plan not yet made public. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping is meeting with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin for formal talks at the Kremlin. The second day of his three-day official trip. 

It’s Xi’s first visit since the Russian special military operations in Ukraine — and Beijing has billed the trip as a peace mission but has not yet indicated if a formal call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky will also take place. 

Xi has invited Putin — his “dear friend” upon arrival for the state visit — to visit China later this year. It’s another show of support for Moscow despite the recent International Criminal Court  arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin. 

Putin and Xi appear to be positioning themselves as the leaders of a new global order opposed to the Western power. The U.S. has accused Xi of providing “diplomatic cover” for Putin after the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest. 

Key Updates now

• Xi and Putin take part in a signing ceremony of joint documents, according to the Kremlin. 
• Details have not been made public but they are expected to agree to formally deepen relations and economic cooperation. 
• Moscow has become increasingly dependent on Beijing to keep its economy afloat, as the war curbs its exports of oil and other commodities. 
• Beijing has portrayed itself as a potential negotiator, issuing a 12-point proposal for ending the conflict. 
• The media has portrayed the visit as Xi’s bid for leadership of the non-Western world. 
• Meanwhile, the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has arrived in Kyiv to meet with Zelensky and show support. 

Day Two, Tuesday: 

The large golden doors swung open and TV cameras tracked presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin as they strode toward each other from either side of the Kremlin’s St. George’s Hall, marking the beginning of a highly anticipated meeting. 

The gilded hall, with its marble floors and golden chandeliers, is the largest in the Kremlin and is dedicated to Russia’s military glory. Xi and Putin met in the middle of a long red carpet, smiling as they shook hands, before taking their positions. 

As their national anthems played, the Russian and Chinese presidents stood solemnly side by side, dwarfed by two large national flags. 

The grandiose optics, as well as their matching red ties, were a message: the image of a new, united front against the West. 

The ceremony preceded the main official talks on the second day of Xi’s three-day state visit to Russia. 

We shall keep updating you as new information about Xi and Putin talks is available. 

Russia-Ukraine War: ICC issues arrest warrant for the Russian President Vladimir Putin over war crime allegations.

By Ruzeki, Shadow News 

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

The ICC alleges President Putin is responsible for war crimes, and has focused its claims on the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia. 

The ICC believes the crimes were committed in Ukraine since February 24, 2022 - when Russia started its special military operations. 

Moscow has denied the allegations and labelled the arrest warrants as outrageous. 

It is highly unlikely that much will come of the move - the ICC has no powers to arrest suspects, and can only exercise jurisdiction within its member countries - and Russia is not one of them. 

However it could affect the president in other ways, such as being unable to travel to some countries. 

In a statement, the ICC confirmed it had reasonable grounds to believe President Putin committed the criminal acts directly, as well as working with others. It also accused Mr Putin of failing to use his presidential powers to stop children being deported. 

The US President Joe Biden said the arrest warrant of President Putin is justified. Despite the US not being a signed member of the ICC, it believes Mr Putin committed war crimes and should face trial at the Hague. 

Russia's commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, is also wanted by the ICC for the same crimes. 

Maria Lvova-Belova has been accused of supporting efforts to indoctrinate Ukrainian children taken to Russia. 

The ICC said it initially considered keeping the arrest warrants a secret, but decided to make them public in the event that it stopped further crimes from being committed. 

The ICC prosecutor Karim Khan told the press that children can't be treated as the spoils of war, they can't be deported. 

Reactions to the warrants came within minutes of the announcement, with Kremlin officials instantly dismissing them. 

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said any of the court's decisions were null and void and the former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev compared the warrant to toilet paper. 

The Russian opposition welcomed the ICC announcement. Led by a close ally of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Mr Ivan Zhdanov said in a tweet that it was a symbolic step but an important one. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated he was grateful to Mr Khan and the criminal court for their decision to press charges against aggressive Russia. 

The Ukraine's Prosecutor Andriy Kostin emphasized the decision was historic for Ukrainians and that it was only the beginning. 

Russia is not a signed member of the ICC therefore, there is no chance that President Vladimir Putin or Maria Lvova-Belova will appear in the dock at The Hague. 

The ICC relies on the cooperation of governments to arrest people. According to international experts on politics and relations, Russia is not going to cooperate with the ICC nonsense. 

However Mr Khan pointed out that no-one thought Slobodan Milosevic, the Serbian leader who went on trial for war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo, would end up in The Hague. 

While Putin is the head of a G20 nation, and about to shake hands with China's Xi Jinping in an historic meeting, Mr Putin is now also a wanted man, and this might place restrictions on which countries he can visit. 

On August, South Africa will host the 15th summit of BRICS nations, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and the host- South Africa. South Africa is a signed member of the ICC, it is unlikely that South Africa will arrest President Vladimir Putin because of its deep relations with Moscow. 

Some experts have said the ICC is on the way to losing members, which have strong ties with Russia. 

This developing story shall be updated as soon as new information is available. 

THE ANNIVERSARY: It's now one year since Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.

By Ruzeki and Faith C., Shadow News. 

Good morning from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

It’s one year since Russia launched its full-scale special military operation in Ukraine - the biggest war on European soil since WWII. 

We'll be with you throughout the day, reporting on the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war and how this war has changed the world. 

Summary

1. ■ A year ago today, Russia launched a full-scale special military operation on its neighbour Ukraine, triggering the largest war in Europe since World War II. 
2. ■ Since then, tens of thousands of people have died, entire cities have been destroyed and millions have fled the country. 
3. ■ Join us as we mark this sombre occasion, hearing the voices of Ukrainians and Russians, and explaining how things are after 12 months of offensive and defensive tactics of both sides. 
4. ■ Many families in Ukraine have been torn apart, millions have been displaced, and thousands of lives have been lost at the frontlines and beyond. 
5. ■ Shadow News will answer your questions about the war - and we'll be joined later by our US correspondent Natasha for live coverage of this one year anniversary. 

What led to the invasion?

Ukraine and Russia have a long, complicated history. Ukraine became independent in 1991, following the fall of the USSR, and gradually grew closer to the European Union and the West.

Russia had long resisted Ukraine's move towards the EU and the West's defensive military alliance Nato.

For years, President Putin denied Ukraine its own statehood, culminating in a lengthy 2021 essay saying that Russians and Ukrainians were one people.

He frequently accused Ukraine of being taken over by extremists, ever since its pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted in 2014 after months of protests against his rule.

At that time, Russia retaliated by seizing the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea. An uprising in the east by Russian-backed separatists sparked a war that claimed some 14,000 lives.

In 2021, Putin began deploying big numbers of Russian troops close to Ukraine's borders.

For months Putin had denied he would invade his neighbour. Announcing the invasion on 24 February 2022, he accused Nato of threatening Russia’s “historic future as a nation". 

What happened on this day last year

02:30 (all times in GMT) In a televised speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the launch of a “special military operation” in Ukraine

03:27 The first explosions are heard in Kyiv, and more blasts are reported across the country as Ukrainians wake up to war

04:58 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirms reports of nationwide missile strikes

11.56 Nato activates its defence plans, which include more than 100 jets on standby and 120 allied ships at sea, from the Arctic to the Mediterranean

12:03 The UK's then-Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, addresses the nation, saying: "Our worst fears have come true and all our warnings have proved tragically accurate. President Putin of Russia has unleashed war… without any provocation and any credible excuse"

18:50 There are reports that the port city of Mariupol has been coming under heavy fire

21:40 Almost 2,000 people are arrested at anti-war protests in 40 cities across Russia

22:59 Zelensky calls for general mobilisation and imposes martial law. He reports that 137 Ukrainians died on the first day of the assault.